Compressed air can a bad idea for M17x??

My fans have been loud and clunky (although working) since I got my M17x and I figured what the hell since I am going to get new fans through warranty anyways I'd see if a few spurts of air would mayble clear something and kill the noise and I'd get lucky. I can't stand hearing the fans bounce even as I type this. Anyways, when cleaning out the vents in the back on the side (the really tight vents) what comes out? A bunch of that frozen spray. Everything still works fine but do you think there could be some damage down the line from that spray? I'm hoping since the holes are small not much got in. Oh Alien gurus, please answer they call!!
Am I screwed?

 

I think you're fine. If you were spraying into those vents on the back, most likely it's just stuck in the fan or heatsink area.

1. I'm not sure exactly what damage the liquid form of compressed air can do (other than it hurts when you spray it on your skin), but I do remember that it dries up rather almost instantly, so there's almost no time for it to do any real damage.

2. It won't leave any evidence, so if something does go wrong down the line, you can always call Alienware and tell them you have no idea what happened to it.

 

When using compressed air, it is usually recommended that when trying to clean vents/fans, you blow the air out of the case instead of in. Whether removing the entire fan assembly and blowing dust off of them or just getting to a point where you can blow air out through the back vents, it is much better than blowing in and blowing all the dust and dirt into the rest of the computer.

As for frozen spray, doesn't that happen when you hold the can upside down? I'm not sure if it would harm the computer, but next time hold it the right side up.

 

The "frozen spray" is just condensation. It isn't much of a concern unless the spray does that for like a 5 second burst. Usually, it's just a split second burst.

 

Sometimes it is recommended not to use compressed air on your fans because it is possible that if you spray your fan, you can make it accelerate to an abnormal speed which it normally does not and can do damage instead of cleaning it. Just a Tip.

 

If it is a cheap fan, then ya.

 

Thanks guys. The alienware fans certainly don't look cheap but mine have been obnoxiously loud since day one so I figured what the hell.

 

My temps are great,

35, 35, for the dual 260's and, 49 for the integrated...it's just the fricking loosey goosey noise the fans are making that is driving me nuts. Every time I use the keyboard I can hear it. God save us!

 

You could also use a vacuum cleaner on the exhaust vents. But you might need to be careful not to accelerate the fans too much this way.

 

One way compressed air will damage your fans is if you use it while the laptop is on and the fans are running....kinda stupid but i actually did this a few years back on my first Alienware laptop and the fan really wasnt too happy about it afterwards!!!!