Cleaning heatsink

kwg001 · 19 May 2020 at 11:38

Hi All,

Quick question, I am not sure if this is already mentioned somewhere. I couldnt find it. I have the CPU fan below.

COOLER MASTER MASTERLIQUID ML120R

After using it for 8 months or so, I can see there is a little build up of dust in the heatsink inbetween the fans. I am guessing this is relatively normal, and its going to need to be a lot more serious before the perfomance is affected.

However, it led me to wonder, is it worth taking it off, cleaning and replacing, or just buy a new one and replace?

Appologies if this is covered somewhere else or in the wrong place.

Thanks in advance,
Kris

VaderDSL · 19 May 2020 at 11:39

Just compressed air through it, or a vacuum cleaner will be fine.

kwg001 · 19 May 2020 at 11:40

Thanks.. not sure why I didnt think of compressed air!

frustin · 19 May 2020 at 12:11

kwg001 said:
I am guessing this is relatively normal,

Yes that's "normal". What's the fan set up inside your case? do you have more air being pulled in (fans on the front), than being pushed out (at the back/top)? if so then that's positive pressure and air/dust wont be being pulled in via gaps in the case, only through the front fans. if you have positive pressure, you can add a dust grill to those front fans.

Quartz · 19 May 2020 at 12:16

kwg001 said:
Thanks.. not sure why I didnt think of compressed air!

Just make sure you hold the fans still while blowing the air through so as to not damage them.

kwg001 · 19 May 2020 at 12:39

frustin said:
Yes that's "normal". What's the fan set up inside your case? do you have more air being pulled in (fans on the front), than being pushed out (at the back/top)? if so then that's positive pressure and air/dust wont be being pulled in via gaps in the case, only through the front fans. if you have positive pressure, you can add a dust grill to those front fans.

Yes, there are three fans at the front pulling air in, and the one at the back, plus just a vent at the top, so I will do that.

kwg001 · 19 May 2020 at 12:40

Quartz said:
Just make sure you hold the fans still while blowing the air through so as to not damage them.

Thanks, I think I would have to go between them to get at the heat sink anyway.

doyll · 19 May 2020 at 13:49

Best with compressed air is to blow air in opposite direction of what fan flows air. With compressed air is pushing out dust and lint the opposite direction fan has pushed it in instead of just push it in tighter. Hope that makes sense.

kwg001 · 19 May 2020 at 16:17

doyll said:
Best with compressed air is to blow air in opposite direction of what fan flows air. With compressed air is pushing out dust and lint the opposite direction fan has pushed it in instead of just push it in tighter. Hope that makes sense.

ah yes, that makes sense!