Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards

spikeee · 07-17-2007, 03:44 AM

I didn't know where to post this, so i thought i'd post it here.
Wanted to clean the dust buildup on the video card board , was wondering what else can i use to clean the dust? (besides using compressed air)

i saw someone clean some rams etc with white paper (not tissue paper). is that ok?

MaverickUK · 07-17-2007, 04:24 AM

Hey,

If your GPU has a removable facia, then unscrew it from the GPU - if this is possible, you will notice a lot (if been used for a while) of dust build-up in there. Use a screwdriver and take off the facia, simply pick or blow-out the dust that has collected.

I suppose you could use a toothbrush to clean it or a clean paintbrush.

spikeee · 07-17-2007, 07:39 AM

oh brushes are ok? won't they create static?
what's a facia?

MaverickUK · 07-17-2007, 08:20 AM

http://www.octools.com/articles/nvid...t/pcie18_s.jpg

The 'picture' is screwed on via screws, this is the facia. You should be able to use a plastic toothbrush without a problem.

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 07-17-2007, 10:41 AM

Will you not need thermal paste after?

MaverickUK · 07-18-2007, 02:58 AM

I wouldn't see why :x

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 07-18-2007, 09:13 AM

If you take it off is it not like removing the heatsink on a cpu?

**Deleted090308** · 07-18-2007, 09:49 AM

Here's an excellent article by chauffeur2: http://www.techsupportforum.com/arti...stem-fans.html

MaverickUK · 07-18-2007, 09:57 AM

You can remove the facia, then screw it back on. Atleast that's what i did last week with my GeForce 6800GT ;o)

~~Nik00117~~ · 07-18-2007, 05:00 PM

You don't need to remove the entire HSF int to clean it... So since your not taking the HSF off you don't need to reapply the HSf.

ebackhus · 07-18-2007, 05:07 PM

Not enough dust gets under the heatsink to cause problems. It's the fins and fan blades that get the worst and need cleaning most often. A soft horse-hair brush or nylon brush works just fine.

spikeee · 07-18-2007, 11:15 PM

how about dust that accumulates ON the board itself? for example, i want to sell my old card but it's full of dust everywhere.

paper is not a good option?

MaverickUK · 07-19-2007, 02:17 AM

Use a can of compressed air, holding it upright so no wet residue comes out.

spikeee · 07-19-2007, 10:02 AM

what if i don't have a can of compressed air? brush or paper? i know tissue is out of the question

ebackhus · 07-19-2007, 10:26 AM

A soft brush will work fine if you don't have the compressed air cans.

PROtip: Don't use an air compressor.

spikeee · 07-22-2007, 07:36 AM

ok can u define "a soft brush" please? :D

07-17-2007, 03:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
spikeee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 118 OS: Win XP Pro	Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards I didn't know where to post this, so i thought i'd post it here. Wanted to clean the dust buildup on the video card board , was wondering what else can i use to clean the dust? (besides using compressed air) i saw someone clean some rams etc with white paper (not tissue paper). is that ok?

07-17-2007, 04:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaverickUK Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 861 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards Hey, If your GPU has a removable facia, then unscrew it from the GPU - if this is possible, you will notice a lot (if been used for a while) of dust build-up in there. Use a screwdriver and take off the facia, simply pick or blow-out the dust that has collected. I suppose you could use a toothbrush to clean it or a clean paintbrush. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

07-17-2007, 07:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
spikeee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 118 OS: Win XP Pro	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards oh brushes are ok? won't they create static? what's a facia?

07-17-2007, 08:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
MaverickUK Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 861 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards http://www.octools.com/articles/nvid...t/pcie18_s.jpg The 'picture' is screwed on via screws, this is the facia. You should be able to use a plastic toothbrush without a problem. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

07-17-2007, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards Will you not need thermal paste after? __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

07-18-2007, 02:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
MaverickUK Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 861 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards I wouldn't see why :x __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

07-18-2007, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards If you take it off is it not like removing the heatsink on a cpu? __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

07-18-2007, 09:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards Here's an excellent article by chauffeur2: http://www.techsupportforum.com/arti...stem-fans.html

07-18-2007, 09:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
MaverickUK Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 861 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards You can remove the facia, then screw it back on. Atleast that's what i did last week with my GeForce 6800GT ;o) __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

07-18-2007, 05:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
~~Nik00117~~ Troubled Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,572 OS: XP Pro, Vista Ulimate My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards You don't need to remove the entire HSF int to clean it... So since your not taking the HSF off you don't need to reapply the HSf.

07-18-2007, 05:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,146 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards Not enough dust gets under the heatsink to cause problems. It's the fins and fan blades that get the worst and need cleaning most often. A soft horse-hair brush or nylon brush works just fine. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

07-18-2007, 11:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
spikeee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 118 OS: Win XP Pro	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards how about dust that accumulates ON the board itself? for example, i want to sell my old card but it's full of dust everywhere. paper is not a good option?

07-19-2007, 02:17 AM	#13 (permalink)
MaverickUK Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cheshire, England. Posts: 861 OS: XP Home My System	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards Use a can of compressed air, holding it upright so no wet residue comes out. __________________ Currently studying: CompTIA A+ CompTIA N+ Cisco Certified Network Associate

07-19-2007, 10:02 AM	#14 (permalink)
spikeee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 118 OS: Win XP Pro	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards what if i don't have a can of compressed air? brush or paper? i know tissue is out of the question

07-19-2007, 10:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,146 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards A soft brush will work fine if you don't have the compressed air cans. PROtip: Don't use an air compressor. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

07-22-2007, 07:36 AM	#16 (permalink)
spikeee Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 118 OS: Win XP Pro	Re: Cleaning GPUs and Other Cards ok can u define "a soft brush" please? :D