Radiator images and CPU temperature, before and after 18 months without being cleaned

Akagi

Akagi

Akagi

Caporegime
Joined
29 Jul 2011
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In acme's chair.
So I left my radiator for a whole year and a half without cleaning it.
I clean and dust the inside of my computer regularly, but I neglected to clean out the radiator because I thought it too much hassle.

Here is a picture of the radiator before I cleaned it, idle temperatures were around 35°C and Prime95 temperatures were around 86°C at this point.

IMAG0409_zpsa8b1b6c1.jpg


And after cleaning the idle temperatures are at 25°C and the Prime95 temperatures are around 66°C... Whoops :p

IMAG0412_zps1922b59f.jpg


You can see through it! shock horror!

I did also replace the stock Antec TIM with some AS5.

Can anyone beat a 20°C temperature drop after cleaning the radiator? :)

*edit* it was actually 14 months because I had to RMA my first radiator after 4 months.
 
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Should be banned for a month for neglect of equipment lol, you would not be laughing if something went bang because of it. Say clean your rad every 3 months and it would be probably take half the time due to less dust build up.
 
OLDPHART said:
Should be banned for a month for neglect of equipment lol, you would not be laughing if something went bang because of it. Say clean your rad every 3 months and it would be probably take half the time due to less dust build up.
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I didn't really think much of it because the temperatures were perfectly acceptable even while gaming, the only time they crept a little too high was during stress testing.

The only time I really get to see the temps is when the system is idle or near idle, and the temperatures crept up 10°C over the course of 18 months while idle, and I use the PC every day, and the seasons were causing the temperature to change anyway. So in a way, I just didn't really notice.
 
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How did you clean it so effectively? I occasionally point a vacuum cleaner at mine and try to brush the dust off with little effect. I'm reluctant to take the tubes off and rinse it in the sink.
 
A combination of compressed air and the vacuum cleaner with that brush attachment thing on it. :)
 
Ah, cunning. Compressed air from one side with the vacuum cleaner positioned on the other? Yep, will try that. Cheers
 
For the OP:

If you installed some fan filters on your intakes you would avoid such a huge build up dust in the future. Just a thought. :rolleyes:
 
JonJ678 said:
Ah, cunning. Compressed air from one side with the vacuum cleaner positioned on the other? Yep, will try that. Cheers
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Hmmm... I didn't do both at the same time :p you thought that up for yourself, and now I shall steal the idea from you :D

PredatorUK said:
Hmm thats a good idea I definitely need to clean out mine, scared of what it looks like now!
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Haha, bear in mind that I left mine for waaaay too long and I dont have a dust filter at the rear of the case.

RetrogamerX said:
Awesome dude! I'll clean mine every 3 months after seeing those pics:D
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So you should ;)

illuz said:
Love how you can see the fan imprint on it :D
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:rolleyes:
 
wazza300 said:
:eek::eek: look at all that bum fluff:eek:
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Ohai wazza :D

Yeah that is why my temps dropped by 20°C :p

I shined a torch in the back of the PC thinking 'it cant be that bad surely?' and then I remember thinking 'Oh... crap... maybe it is'
 
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Why not run your fans as an exhaust out of the back? Sure it may add a couple degrees but will stop you from ever having to clean it ;)
 
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