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    Clean as a whistle :)

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by scorpionfalcon, Sep 22, 2011.

  1. scorpionfalcon

    scorpionfalcon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Took the plunge today and completely took apart my R1. After a year of use, I wanted to clean it from the inside out. There was a bunch of dust that had accumulated around the motherboard. After a tense second or two waiting to see if the laptop would power up, I am glad to say everything went without a hitch. Anyone afraid to do it shouldn't be intimidated, it's really easy once you keep track of the screws. Follow the video on youtube and you will have it squeaky clean again - I feel like I just unboxed it again (minus the few scratches here and there of course lol).
     
    scorpionfalcon, Sep 22, 2011
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  2. amd098

    amd098 Notebook Consultant

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    haha i know the feeling, you'll notice a change in temperature too, i cleaned mine last week and its cool to touch!
     
    amd098, Sep 22, 2011
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  3. deadboy90

    deadboy90 Notebook Evangelist

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    doesnt taking it apart completely void the warrenty?
     
    deadboy90, Sep 22, 2011
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  4. scorpionfalcon

    scorpionfalcon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Mine has been out of warranty for a while now. Even if it was still covered, I didn't see any step in the teardown that would leave evidence that you took it apart - that is if you don't break anything in the process lol.
     
    scorpionfalcon, Sep 22, 2011
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  5. scorpionfalcon

    scorpionfalcon Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, I fired up Crysis 2 again and the left palmrest only felt warm to the touch. Before the cleaning, it was much hotter. It might be my imagination as well, but the fan feels like it's kicking out air much stronger now. Perhaps because it isn't covered with a layer of dust anymore :)
     
    scorpionfalcon, Sep 22, 2011
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  6. gooface

    gooface Notebook Evangelist

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    what gave you that idea? I have taken mine apart many times and had it repaired by dell afterwards. There are no stickers that you break when you take it apart so no warranty broken.
     
    gooface, Sep 22, 2011
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  7. un4tural

    un4tural Notebook Evangelist

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    mine has a sticker under the main shield panel on the bottom, on one of the screws. Not sure if i need to take i apart completely, but i assume that i do.

    its an R3 though
     
    un4tural, Sep 22, 2011
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  8. Soprano187

    Soprano187 Notebook Guru

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    A good idea is to get an air compressor and blast the dust out. No taking apart required.
     
    Soprano187, Sep 22, 2011
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  9. scorpionfalcon

    scorpionfalcon Notebook Enthusiast

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    I did that right before I decided to take it apart. Used a whole can, in fact. What I found was that the dust can get into the nooks and crannies that the compressed air can't even touch. I would say the compressed air took care of only 50-60% of the dust. I can only liken it to cleaning the inside of your car by just opening the windows and trying to blast air from the outside...as you can imagine, there is no way that would be 100% effective. In fact, you are sort of just relocating the dust.
     
    scorpionfalcon, Sep 22, 2011
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  10. gooface

    gooface Notebook Evangelist

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    what country are you from? I have a R1 and I have never seen that, I even pinmoded mine (completely took it apart) and had it repaired after that and they didnt say anything.
     
    gooface, Sep 22, 2011
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