When did you last clean your CPU heatsink?

I just took the fan off my CPU heatsink to be shocked by a heatsink that looked like a well stuffed mattress. I am not joking.

I have basically used a combination of an old toothbrush and a vacuum cleaner to completely unclog my heatsink - unclog being the operative word here.

I suggest everyone do this now.

If you are going to do this then make a note of what way round your fan was fitted - the fan is likely to be double-sided, ie it can suck and blow. I have done a Google and found that, apparantly, there is not a lot of difference as to whether it should be sucking or blowing air.

I just take a look at my operating temp... if it gets within 75% of dangerous I'll clean it.

My gfx card stopped working a few months ago, turns out the fan had stopped, I cleaned the fan and was shocked too, it was like a sheep had walked into the blades.

Cleaned mine out about 2 months ago. Yep, it was stuffed full of crap.

BTW, your CPU fan should have an arrow on it, indicating the direction of airflow.

There's only one place where air is getting into my computer case and I have heavy duty air filters there. Cleaning them once in a while is much easier than dismantling the CPU or GPU fans.

Barney

I did the whole system with a can of air a couple of months ago. Canned air makes the job quick and easy. My gf600gt fan was the worst. That bugger was really filthy.

1986.

all 2 month

"the fan is likely to be double-sided, ie it can suck and blow."

Yes, I would say that is VERY likely. :-)

That is unless your fan is a minuature energy -> matter convertor which creates it's own air from the +12v power supply. :-)

..never..I'm living in sterilized in Sony Labs, and there is no dust, particles, noise, chicks...ihhh

When I last "pealed" the heatsink off to change the cpu

About 2 months ago as part of a rebuild. Now in a filtered case, so I'm hoping it won't need it again for at least 2 years.

In response to "sswifty's" comment. In fact, my fan only fits one way.

I suppose, technically, I could just buy longer screws to fit it the other way, however, it only has the sunken screw cavities on one side meaning that you cannot reverse it as the screws cannot grip the heatsink.

Yes Puki, but regardless of which way you fit the fan, it will still be both blowing AND sucking air, because fans do both simultaneously. :-)

Mine doesn't.

Puki.

It does. 100% guaranteed. End of matter.

Mine only fits one way - it isn't double-sided.

*sigh* Are you pulling our leg?

*any* fan SUCKS air in from one side and BLOWS air out the other. ;-)

Mine doesn't

what is this "clean" you speak of?

edit: No, I'm not serious, in case anyone (like Puki) think I am! :P

'clean' - as in remove dirt/dust.

Never had too with the heat pump but the gfx card fan needs a clean every few months.

heat pump?

Sorry its been a long day, should have said "heat pipe".

Never, I do however clean my side case fan grill, which get absolutely clogged with crap every few months.

Naughty Alien:

"..never..I'm living in sterilized in Sony Labs, and there is no dust, particles, noise, chicks...ihhh"

Just you, the machine and the root kit then. ;O)