READ: How Dust Impacts a CPU's Temp

[TechZ]

- This article didn't start as an in-depth investigation into dust; it began as a personal investigation into why my CPU temperatures were running so high after a random temp check produced alarming results.

[BOB IROC]

You wouldn't believe how many PCs I have worked on that are caked with dust on the inside. When I used to work for gateway I would constantly get customers come in and say their PC was the biggest piece of sh!t and I would do a quick glance at the power supply and if it was dusty I would open the case right there and make it a point to show them the amount of dust in the case and all over the componants. The worst ones were the people that smoked around their computers because the tar that builds up with the dust is extremely discusting. I know it is very hard to remember to clean out your computer and make it dust free. I forget myself sometimes. I try to blow out my computer at least 4 times a year and I do it about the same time I get the oil changed on my truck. It is just one of those computer maintenance things people tend to overlook. Most consumers feel that owning a PC should be a maintenance free thing, but yet they accept the fact that you have to perform maintenance on their car. Hey a computer is a working machine just like that. So when people ask me why my computers always run so smooth I explain to them that I take care of it. It is on a Battery Backup UPS, Antivirus software and a firewall is in place, I don't do random installs of online applications (toolbars, free online games like casino games, and other stupid little programs like weatherbug), and I also make sure it my computer is pretty much dust free. I know that requires a lot of work, but a little work now saves costly repairs later. Chances are that by the time the dust and grime gets so bad to cause failure the computers warranty will be up. Nice article though and I should check my temps to see what the differences are when they are at their cleanest.

[TechZ]

Most people forget to service just about anything they buy, its supposed to be like magic, buy it and use t forever. No need to take care.

[BOB IROC]

Most people forget to service just about anything they buy, its supposed to be like magic, buy it and use t forever. No need to take care.

Which is fine if they feel that way but if you are not going to take care of the things you buy then you forfeit any right to bitch about them when they break. I have this problem with my wife. Her car is a 2003 and she beats the crap out of it. I take care of the maintenance (oil changes, brakes etc..) but she has ruined her seats by leaving bottles of soda that leaked all over them, she drives like it is a corvette, doesn't let it warm up in cold weatherand she is always saying her car is a piece of crap. I refuse to buy her anything nicer than a cavalier until she respects the darn thing. The sad part about people that don't take care of their stuff is that the information is out there and I am sure they have been told that their products need maintainance to run properly, but yet they still don't seem to care. I used to repair and sell computers for Gateway and I would always inform them of the stuff they needed to make their PC run properly. Another sad thing is that some of it is just plain old common sense. Oh well, a broken computer = money (and a job)for me.

[JeffO93]

BOB IROC, you rock!
You sound like me!
Reminds me of a piece of paper I found with a pair of RockShox years ago.
The company kindly insterted a flyer with each shock that informed that it was a well-made piece of equipment but that even the best design, best material, and best construction would still require maintenance. So they proceeded to tell the customer that if they aren't going to do the maintenance, "Please don't buy our shocks! We don't want you as a customer!"

I bet the marketing department cringed when that went out, but that's saying it like it is. And I'll bet they were less liable for alleged unacceptable damages.