I bought a really powerful computer not too long ago. It was one of the best PCs on the market at the time of the purchase and all my friends were jealous (the useless lot). Everything was going fine until one day I started getting FPS in games I was sure my system was more than powerful to handle. That was very shocking, indeed, because in time I had come to identify myself with the fact that I have a PC that can run any game at 60 FPS, maxed out, without a problem. But at one point I started getting FPS drops and I didn't approve of that, not one bit.
When that happened, it was like someone struck me. Anyway, the point is that the problem had to be solved. I installed a few problems in order to figure out what the problem was. Turned out my processor was overheating pretty much even though it was packing the latest 22 nanometer chips, making it really powerful and in the same having a low power consumption and low heat emission So imagine my shock when I realized it has overheating.
The problem, as it turned out, was dust. I should have applied Ockam's razor right away and figured out that was the issue but I thought it would take much longer before the dust build up actually mattered. Well, that wasn't the case. Dust works much more quickly than you think. I had no choice but to clean up my computer from the dust, and I decided to write a little something about it.
Where do you start?
If you're having heat issues, you probably have the same problems I do. Check the temperature of your components just to be sure. That should be the first step. Since every opening and tweaking your computer has it's risks, if cleaning isn't needed right then and there, don't do it. If you're not confident enough that you can handle this, ask a friend who is a tech savvy or bring your computer to a professional.
When you've realized that you have a heat problem and you think you need clean it right away, apply caution. Switch off the computer and disconnect all the cables. Be careful. Computers aren't as delicate as most people tend to think, but you should really be very cautious with the components.
Open up the case
Open up the case. That's the easiest part and you will need nothing but a screwdriver for it. Carefully remove all the covers you can you get access to all the internal components. It will probably be very dusty, so don't do it at your room. In case you decide to perform the operation in your room, make certain preparations before that. Spread newspapers or a cloth you won't need on the ground so you can easily remove them afterwards and you don't ruin your carpet.
Remove the components one by one
Here you will need a smaller screwdriver although on some newer machines, you can remove the components manually. Start with the processor and the fan since they are probably the biggest issues and the easiest to access, then move up to the RAM and the video card, then the hard drive, etc. Remove all the components you can and place them on your working station (or ground, if you are in your room).
Carefully remove all the dust from the slots with a small brush and do the same with the components. Apply thermal paste to the processor. Then reassemble the computer in a reversed order (what you removed last should be placed first). Connect all the internal cables properly and close the case. Then go for a test run. If you haven't screwed up along the way, everything should work fine now and the heat problem should be gone.
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