How to properly clean a graphics card?

MainManiac

I have a gtx 560 ti, this is my exact card




I've never cleaned a graphics card before, but I've had it for 6 months now and I know it's long overdue. Any tips? Is there any risk involved using compressed air?


I've seen people on YouTube with MSI 560s just take the entire case of and clean the heat sink and then put it back on, but I don't think I can do that with this.

Kwramm

Can of compressed air and a fine brush (get it in a camera store)
I wouldn't disassemble it though.

If there's too much dust, think of putting your PC somewhere else. Maybe on the desk and not directly on a carpet, for example.

Justin Meisse

compressed air is fine, just keep the can upright and do short bursts - don't dismantle it unless you're comfortable cleaning and reapplying thermal compound.

The Flying Monk

Kwramm wrote: »

Can of compressed air and a fine brush (get it in a camera store

I would say that even this is too gentle. a small paint brush (new, you don't want clumps of dry paint getting in there) and an air compressor make short work of all the crap that builds up in PC fans.

Paradan

I used to work for a company that made computers that scanned books and read them in a synth voice for the vision impared.

Anyway, my boss took one of the prototypes home to show to some friends and his cat pissed all over the motherboard. So the computer got kinda stinky. His solution was to take it apart and stick it in the dishwasher. After it had thoroughly dried, he plugged it in and, Voila! It worked perfectly.

I was originally hired as a temp to come in and scan every floppy in the building for viruses, since this guy had infected the company.

m4dcow

Make sure you stick something in the fan to stop it spinning so when the compressed air blows it doesn't spin the fan and fuckup the bearings.

Kwramm

m4dcow wrote: »

Make sure you stick something in the fan to stop it spinning so when the compressed air blows it doesn't spin the fan and fuckup the bearings.

same reason for using a very fine brush. Don't use any brush that requires scrubbing the dust off and putting pressure on the fan. It can fuck up the bearings, and replacing GFX card fans is annoying. (GFX card noise is annoying too)

MainManiac

Kwramm wrote: »

Can of compressed air and a fine brush (get it in a camera store)
I wouldn't disassemble it though.

If there's too much dust, think of putting your PC somewhere else. Maybe on the desk and not directly on a carpet, for example.

My computer for tha past month is now about 3ft off the ground. But before this it was on the floor. But the graphics card hasn't been cleaned during any of that while the case filters have



Thanks guys, im just always afraid that I don't have a good brand of compressed air or something and ill ruin it :S

nick2730

6 months isnt a big deal, after a few years you will want to replace the thermal paste.

Ace-Angel

Threat it like a lady, cool compressed air in the sensitive parts, a swift brush in the more smooth area's followed by a rough motions on the sturdier parts.

aajohnny

Ace-Angel wrote: »

Threat it like a lady, cool compressed air in the sensitive parts, a swift brush in the more smooth area's followed by a rough motions on the sturdier parts.

EXACTLY

throttlekitty

nick2730 wrote: »

6 months isnt a big deal, after a few years you will want to replace the thermal paste.

Depends on where you live, my area gets dusty very quick.

Mark Dygert

Step 1) Use a quality case that has filters over the intake ports.
Step 2) canned air every once in while.

If you ever have a crappy case and wait until something is wrong before cleaning it, throw it all out as soon as possible and do it right.

MainManiac

This is my case



2 intake fans and both have filters, and I clean them about once every month to 5 weeks.


But I had the card before I swapped cases (about 2 months before) I don't think the dust is severe but I can see it on the edge of the fan blades and a little inside on the rim.

metalliandy

Compressed air or similar (I use a pump action fence sprayer, minus the paint) and some cotton buds (Q-tips?) on the fan.
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cptSwing

don't forget the incense while you mumble arcane rites of cleansing.