How do you keep your fans clean and running smooth?

Funtoss · Jul 25, 2011

well, i m going to get some CRC now and clean some fans...

Wile E · Jul 25, 2011

Lazzer408 said:
I bought a Thermaltake Xaser II 6000 back in 2003 and it has the original fans thanks to some oiling. But I guess if you have the cash to blow it's easier to buy new fans every year then feed a foreign child or help the needy.

Sure is. As long as my children aren't hungry or needy, I'm mostly ok with that. Plus I'm putting food on the table of the people who built the fans. I think that balances it out.

Nice try, but poorly thought out. lol.

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Wile E said:
Sure is. As long as my children aren't hungry or needy, I'm mostly ok with that. Plus I'm putting food on the table of the people who built the fans.

Nice try, but poorly thought out. lol.

lol It was half joking anyways.

Wait, arn't the people who build the fans starving anyways? I hope he's buying American-made fans, if there is such a thing. :roll:

Wile E · Jul 25, 2011

Lazzer408 said:
lol It was half joking anyways. Wait, arn't the people who build the fans starving anyways? I hope he's buying American-made fans, if there is such a thing.

Considering 99% are probably from China, there's a good possibility. lol.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

What does everyone here use to clean the fins on heatsinks? I usually use a baby wipe going fin by fin. Takes a while :laugh:

and for fan lube, I use WD 40 :3

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Kevinheraiz said:
What does everyone here use to clean the fins on heatsinks? I usually use a baby wipe going fin by fin. Takes a while and for fan lube, I use WD 40 :3

If it's a smokers computer I'll sometimes have to pull the heatsink off, remove the fan, and blast it with brake cleaner and the air compressor. If it's just dust I'll use a paint brush then blow everything off.

Oh and don't use WD40. It drys out too quickly. I don't even buy it anymore.

Wile E · Jul 25, 2011

I've put really bad components in the dishwasher before. lol.

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Wile E said:
I've put really bad components in the dishwasher before. lol.

lol I put a whole computer in the shower once because my kid spilled his pop next to it with the case open and soaked everything. After a week in front of the box fan, it fired right up and ran for years.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

Where do you guys get this compressed air? and LOL @Wile e I've run fans under water before LOL One time my friend's grandmother called me for help with her computer, she said she cleaned it and that it wasn't working now. I had gone to her house. She had cleaned it by spraying it with water....

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

Lazzer408 said:
lol I put a whole computer in the shower once because my kid spilled his pop next to it with the case open and soaked everything. After a week in front of the box fan, it fired right up and ran for years.

O_O I'm trying that with my old Emachine.

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Kevinheraiz said:
Where do you guys get this compressed air?

In a can at Walmart or out of my air compressor in the garage. Carefull with air compressors. A blow gun can blow components right off the boards and destroy harddrives by pushing air, and dust, right past the seals and vent hole.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

I've checked, theses stupid Canadian stores have nothing!

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Kevinheraiz said:
I've checked, theses stupid Canadian stores have nothing!

Ebay?

Also, If your E-machine has pop in it and it's dried into goo then it might not get it all off. Use hot water.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

I'll get a bike pump :laugh:

Wile E · Jul 25, 2011

I just use my vacuum cleaner. It allows you to attach a hose to the exhaust, and has a nozzle attachment that's similar tot he nozzles for air compressors.

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

I lost mine

Me and my dad got a new house that we are gunna rent out so we have been working on it and bringing our vacuum back and fourth lol I think it's in the basement.

Lazzer408 · Jul 25, 2011

Wile E said:
I just use my vacuum cleaner. It allows you to attach a hose to the exhaust, and has a nozzle attachment that's similar tot he nozzles for air compressors.

Carefull with a vacuum inside a PC. I never recomend it. They can make mad static. Been there, done that, bought new ram. In a pinch just use a hose and put a pen on the end to make a blow gun and start blowin'. Just don't spit on everything.

SaiZo · Jul 25, 2011

Malossi 7.1 MRG Racing grease.. No need for anything else. Heat resistant up to 180°C.
Usually have it to lubricate parts on my motorcycle.

EDIT: To clean the fins on the fans, I just remove that entire part of it (need to before I lubricate it anyway), then I just take a damp cloth and wipe them clean.

Jetster · Jul 25, 2011

Ill give the needy kids my old fans

Sir B. Fannybottom · Jul 25, 2011

Give me fans, I only have 3 120MM fans.

Champ · Jul 25, 2011

Mussels said:
i've never oiled a single fan in my computers, nor needed to - i tested it years ago on a rattly fan and it stopped the noise problems, but it just kept needing it done more and more and more... its not worth the effort.

I was kinda thinking the same. I was thinking the bearings shouldn't have to be replaced for the lifetime of the unit.

newtekie1 · Jul 25, 2011

Champ said:
I was kinda thinking the same. I was thinking the bearings shouldn't have to be replaced for the lifetime of the unit.

Ball bearing fans don't require any oiling. Of course ball bearing fans also tend to cost a heck of a lot more than sleeve bearing fans. Most generic fans are sleeve bearing. A sleeve bearing fan will usually last 2+ years without any problems, and actually usually last quite a bit longer. And really, most people don't keep a fan for more than 2 years. However, with proper maintaince they can last decades. I generally pull all the fans in all my computer once a year and oil them, this isn't really a big hassle since I give all my computers a good cleaning once a year anyway. I've got sleeve beering fans from 10 years ago that are still running smooth as the day they were made.

Mussels · Jul 25, 2011

Lazzer408 said:
I bought a Thermaltake Xaser II 6000 back in 2003 and it has the original fans thanks to some oiling. But I guess if you have the cash to blow it's easier to buy new fans every year then feed a foreign child or help the needy.

i have maybe one fan die every 3-4 years. its the excessive tinkering with them that kills them.

spinning too fast (compressed air) or spinning backwards (same) effs them up - i always believed it was because you screwed up the bearings and that they 'settled in' every now and then (hence, erratic noises that faded in and out over time)

always hold them still while cleaning, never replace the oil, dont use fan controllers when possible - stick with static voltages and hardwired fan speeds... and they dont die on you.

brandonwh64 · Jul 25, 2011

This thread my help.

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131473

Mussels · Jul 25, 2011

as useful as that thread is, the choice of font in the images was terrible.

System Name	My Heater
Processor	Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.2ghz
Motherboard	Asus P5B-E Plus
Cooling	Zalman CNPS 9700 NT
Memory	Patriot 4GB 800MHz DDR2
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX 460 1GB
Storage	2x Western Digital 640GB (1.28TB)
Display(s)	Viewsonic VX2349wm 24"
Case	Raidmax Hurricane
Audio Device(s)	C-Media 8738
Power Supply	Aywun Megapower 650w 80+
Software	Windows 7 64 Bit

System Name	The ClusterF**k
Processor	980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling	MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory	3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s)	Evga GTX 580
Storage	Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s)	HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case	Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply	ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software	Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4

Processor	i7 2600k@4.6ghz
Motherboard	MSI z68ma-ed55
Cooling	Silentx Extreem 120mm
Memory	2x4gb XMS 7-8-7-20 1600
Video Card(s)	HD6870
Storage	2x128gb Kingston Hyper-X (Raid0), 2x750gb RE3 (RAID1), 2x750gb RE3 (RAID1)
Display(s)	Soyo 24", Gateway 22"
Case	Fractal Design Arc Mini 6x120mm fans.
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Zalman 750w
Software	Windows 7

System Name	The ClusterF**k
Processor	980X @ 4Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 BIOS F12
Cooling	MCR-320, DDC-1 pump w/Bitspower res top (1/2" fittings), Koolance CPU-360
Memory	3x2GB Mushkin Redlines 1600Mhz 6-8-6-24 1T
Video Card(s)	Evga GTX 580
Storage	Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB, 2xSeagate 320GB RAID0; 2xSeagate 3TB; 2xSamsung 2TB; Samsung 1.5TB
Display(s)	HP LP2475w 24" 1920x1200 IPS
Case	Technofront Bench Station
Audio Device(s)	Auzentech X-Fi Forte into Onkyo SR606 and Polk TSi200's + RM6750
Power Supply	ENERMAX Galaxy EVO EGX1250EWT 1250W
Software	Win7 Ultimate N x64, OSX 10.8.4

System Name	The SwagMachine / The Sister
Processor	Core i5 3570K @5.2ghz 1.3V/ 1100T
Motherboard	ASUS P8Z77-V / ASUS M5A99X EVO
Cooling	Phanteks PH TC14PE / Corsair H40
Memory	M379B5273DH0-YK0 2X4GB + PVI316G213C1QK 2X4GB / 2x4GB Patriot 2133
Video Card(s)	PNY 780Ti /Windforce 7950
Storage	2xSamsung 840 EVO 250gb+WD10EZEX + WD30EZRX/ 1x WD1500 Black
Display(s)	AOC Q2963PM+Acer S200HL / Acer S200L+ LG 22LD350
Case	Fractal Define R4 / NZXT Trinity
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar DG / Asus Xonar DG
Power Supply	Seasonic 750X / ROSEWILL RG630-S12 630W R
Mouse	Razer Deathadder Chroma / Roccat Kone+
Keyboard	Razer Blackwidow 2013 Stealth / Roccat Isku
Software	Windows 8.1 Pro / Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores	one time I scored a 3 on 3dmark 11

How do you keep your fans clean and running smooth?

Funtoss

New Member

Wile E

Power User

Lazzer408

Wile E

Power User

Sir B. Fannybottom

Lazzer408

Wile E

Power User

Lazzer408

Sir B. Fannybottom

Sir B. Fannybottom

Lazzer408

Sir B. Fannybottom

Lazzer408

Sir B. Fannybottom

Wile E

Power User

Sir B. Fannybottom

Lazzer408

SaiZo

Jetster

Sir B. Fannybottom

Champ

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

brandonwh64

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

System Name	Salvaged
Processor	AMD Phenom II X6, 1055T
Motherboard	MSI (cant remember model..)
Cooling	Antec Kühler + extra fans (Antec, Zalman, Coolermaster, Generic brand)
Memory	8Gb (2 x 4Gb)
Video Card(s)	ATI Radeon HD6870
Storage	Samsung 1TB, 320 Seagate, 250 Samsung
Display(s)	LG Electronics
Case	ANTEC Sonata III 500 (found/salvaged + modified)
Audio Device(s)	8Ch + Harman Kardon 2.1 (modified, electronics in JVC wood speakers)
Power Supply	It's made in Denmark, never seen a PSU made there..
Software	Win7 X64 Ultimate

System Name	Juliette // HTPC
Processor	Intel i7 9700K // AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z390X-A // ASRock B550 ITX-AC
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12 Black // Stock
Memory	Corsair DDR4 3600 32gb //G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX4070 OC// GTX 1650
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO NVMe 1Tb, Intel 665p Series M.2 2280 1TB // Samsung 1Tb SSD
Display(s)	ASUS VP348QGL 34" Quad HD 3440 x 1440 // 55" LG 4K SK8000 Series
Case	Seasonic SYNCRO Q7// Silverstone Granada GD05
Audio Device(s)	Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 // HDMI to Samsung HW-R650 sound bar
Power Supply	Seasonic SYNCRO 750 W // CORSAIR Vengeance 650M
Mouse	Cooler Master MM710 53G
Keyboard	Logitech 920-009300 G512 SE
Software	Windows 10 Pro // Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Champ's 1440P Rig
Processor	Intel i7-4770K @ 4.6 GHz
Motherboard	AsRock Z97 Extreme6
Cooling	Corsair H60
Memory	Corsair Vengeance 16GB 1600 Mhz 4x4 Blue Ram
Video Card(s)	Nvidia 1080 FE
Storage	Samsung 840 Evo 256 GB/RAID 0 Western Digital Blue 1 TB HDDs
Display(s)	Acer XG270HU
Case	Antec P100
Power Supply	Corsair CX850M
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	TT eSports Poseidon
Software	Windows 10

Processor	Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard	AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling	Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory	32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s)	RTX 2070 Super
Storage	500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s)	Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case	Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply	eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.