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Recently my "Timex" PC, a Dell Inspiron 530, has been roaring with every change in load. When nothing's happening the fan(s) are quiet. Is it dirt? Software? Hardware?
Thanks 'tulipers.
Thanks 'tulipers.
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Re: Computer Help!
Wow, that's fan central in there. Back it up, open it up, blow it out with compressed air. If that's not it maybe you have an excuse to buy a MacBook Pro...Originally posted by don View Post
...Best of luck Don.
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Re: Computer Help!
Agreed. Might be dust collecting in the heat sink over the CPU. I use DustOff compressed air to clean out my system. Fairly cheap from Costco.Originally posted by santafe2 View PostWow, that's fan central in there. Back it up, open it up, blow it out with compressed air. If that's not it maybe you have an excuse to buy a MacBook Pro......Best of luck Don.Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
Will do!Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
avoid blowing onto any mechanical hard disk drive, as well as making the fans spin too fast with the compressed air. better yet, block the fan with a pencil while blowing out the dustOriginally posted by don View Postengineer with little (or even no) economic insightComment
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Re: Computer Help!
If there's a lot of dust, clean it outside or in a garage. It can get really messy indoors. While you're in there, keep an eye out for secondary heatsinks which may also need cleaning (though your real problem is likely the CPU).
Finally... I once blew dust into a heatsink instead of off and/or out of the heatsink without realizing it. Not surprisingly, it made the heating problem worse. It might be worth taking the fan off the CPU/heatsink entirely and doing a visual inspection from all angles as you're cleaning it. If anything gets lodged inside the heatsink, an index card might help you push it out.Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
OK Don, results? It's alive? It's dead? You're still slogging through BestBuy trying to find a salesperson in December because you'll never pay the Apple overlords their due? You bought a Dell with Windows 8 and you want all out war...not the virtual kind? You're in mourning and just need time alone with the last XP based computer you'll ever own? You sold the car and bought a MacBook Pro...the massively fast one and have no time for us until you finish off all the other players in Call of Duty: Ghosts? You almost walked into the Apple store but at the last moment you tossed a rock though the front window and you need bail? You did not buy the can of compressed air and have passed out?
Been there. So many possibilities, just wondering.Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
santafe2: I was feeling a bit low today but you just cheered me up! LOL)
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Re: Computer Help!
Me tooOriginally posted by santafe2 View Post
My OS is XP Pro. The Dell is my internet machine. That's all it's used for. I have a Mac 5 for work, it's never been online.
The tips have been great - keep them coming. I plan on opening the little devil next week, compressed air in hand.Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
If you take the heat sink off the cpu, you will notice a sticky white grease, between CPU and sink. This grease helps increase the contact surface between the CPU and heat sink. You should replace it, or maybe there will be enough left to "rebutter" the CPU. You should have a nice coat before resetting the heat sink.Comment
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Re: Computer Help!
Originally posted by charliebrown View Post
That goop is called "thermal grease" It i s grease with lots of powdered aluminum in it to increase heat transfer between two objects.
Reusing it is fine if you must.
You can get it at electronics hobby store, computer component stores, or on line at good old digi-keyComment
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Re: Computer Help!
I'd bet power source issue. Second bet is CPU overheating and trigger fan RPM up as previous poster mentioned.Originally posted by don View PostComment
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Re: Computer Help!
Do you mean the external power source? I have it on a UPS.Originally posted by jr429 View PostComment
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