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dust covering my heatsink

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i don't know what i should use to clear this gunk from my heatsink, i was thinking alcohol or maybe distilled water, i was thinking getting a zalman 9700 to push the air out the back of the case to reduce dust build up tp tell me what you think
 
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Compressed air from an air compressor or a can.
 
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isopropanol or isopropyl works fine. I use it on fans and sometimes heatsink just make sure it isn't strong, cut it with distilled water. and dampen a tack cloth.
 
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i think i'm gonna actually use a wire brush(pipe brush because it's actually stuck between the aluminum blades on my big typhoon
 
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i never have compressed air, so i just take my heatsink off, blow what dust i can with my own compressed air from the good ole lungs. Then i take que tips and get rid of the rest, lil time consuming but gets the job done. Alc shouldn't be needed as it's just dust, not a residual substance.
 
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I don't like using Q-Tips specially no name brand ones the cheaper ones leave that cotton residue behind once it's damp. tack cloths are the best I use isopropyl and compressed air on my heatsink, isopropyl cut with distilled water on my mouse pad, isopropyl cut with distilled water and compressed air on my fan blades. believe me get a can of chemical free compressed air your going to get dizzy lol
 
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I don't like using Q-Tips specially no name brand ones the cheaper ones leave that cotton residue behind once it's damp. tack cloths are the best I use isopropyl firs and compressed air to finish it off. believe me get a can of chemical free compressed air your going to get dizzy lol

what are u implying there bumblebee? :laugh:
 
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if you keep blowing your going to get dizzy and pass out just ask a woman from dublin :)

when you wet a Q-Tip in your mouth and stick it in your ear or whatever your using it for sometimes the cotton stretches out and leaves little micro bits of cotton every where. then you have to clean that up. defeats the purpose no?
 
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if you keep blowing your going to get dizzy and pass out just ask a woman from dublin :)

when you wet a Q-Tip in your mouth and stick it in your ear or whatever your using it for sometimes the cotton stretches out and leaves little micro bits of cotton every where. then you have to clean that up. defeats the purpose no?

never noticed really, i don't wet the q-tips when cleaning my heatsink and visually i can't see anything, hsf always looks brand new.
 

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Compressed/canned air is good enough. Sometimes it helps to remove it from the motherboard but, if you think it needs more than that, it's time to replace it. There's really no way to clean all the surface area without giving it an acid bath which could make it worse, not better.

To prevent it from happening again, get filters on all your intake fans.
 
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your supposed to dab the q-tip in isopropyl (or other solvent) when you clean a heatsink sometimes there is little bits of cotton on the base of the heatsink I find my self wiping down with a tack cloth.
 
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pee on it




or compressed air like stated above
 
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compressed air (make sure to stop the fan from spinning, it can wreck the motor if) will do the job best.

It can make an old PC look like new... if its from a can, just make sure to leave the windows open. no oxygen in the stuff, so it gives you a nasty headache/can make you pass out.
 

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If you use filters, as stated above, you will restrict air flow.

When I had my farm running, I used a leaf blower to clean all the cases.
 
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