Four months after a repaste/cleaning, temps over 100* C.

A few months ago, after I cleaned out the fans, vents, and applied ICD to my CPU, NB, and GPU, my temps never went above 80* C for the next four weeks. I stopped monitoring them so closely, but they've been climbing back up. Today while playing Crysis the air coming out of the GPU vent felt way too hot, so I checked the temps and the GPU was at 103* C. Why would my temps have gone up so much in such a short time? Bad application of the TIM? My temps were fine until just recently. Could the fan be spinning at fewer RPMs, not moving as much air? I guess I'll gamble and try to undervolt the GPU, its currently at stock clocks as well.

 

Not sure if you keep up with it but according to build up you may ned to keep the vents cleaned out once a week or so. Even if just blowing air through them. The problem can be once it is built up enough to raise temps significantly then it may be too late just for air to blow it out.................

 

Yeah, but my problem is that the GPU vents are only accessible if you completely tear it down; blowing air in from the outside just results in the particles accumulating in the case when the air goes through, then getting sucked back into the vents again. The CPU one is easy to clean, its more accessible. It seems to be moving about as much air as always, I can't notice a difference in air flow, but its running much hotter.

 

Yeah, it would have been nice to have it more accessible. The GPU about once a week or so you have to take a can of air to the underside and blow it out. It can take alot out of a can but doing it often keeps the dust and hair etc from building up. once it does build up it is hard to get out without a disassembly.

 

Twice a month my 7805 makes a trip to the garage and gets a low pressure compressed air blow out. I don't spin the fans up. I use a toothpick to stop fan rotation. Always blow from the vent side first and then clean off the fan blades. Repeat as needed..

Fluid flow over surfaces creates static charges. Airflow over plastic (worst) will cause enough static to attract almost all the dust particles in the stream which then clump up, get heavy, fall off and then get caught in the fins. Pet fur and cigarette smoke make things even more interesting.

I included this explanation to help those who think a "few months" is a short time. Desigh constraints limit the area available for cooling in laptops so we are stuck with, esentially, minature electrostatic air cleaners,

So every couple of weeks (or sooner) I invest ten minutes to blow out and wipe down my 7805.

 

I am more retentive than that, as said once per week or so for me..................