How to take care of your graphics card?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Sort by date Sort by votes
ronintexas

ronintexas

Judicious
Dec 10, 2012
5,911
0
32,960
Running the card at extreme stress (i.e. playing games at max FPS), especially when OC'ing the GPU for extended periods of time (i.e. 18+ hours) while the core temperatures of the GPU is high (greater than 90* C) can stress the card. Gam3r01 is right - the biggest enemy of the computer is going to be dust (it reduces the cooling ability of the cooling fans).

I know of installations where people stress the GPU to the max, never clean it, etc., and it lasts longer than the other components in the computer....and others where perfect attention to cleaning and the GPU died within a year. Some of it is luck....cleaning and keeping temps lower will extend the life of the GPU in most cases.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
photonboy

photonboy

Titan
Jun 20, 2006
21,567
13
85,015
I've never done anything on my gaming PC except quickly use compressed air on fans every month or two.

I've seen people get crazy and remove graphics cards and take the time to manually clean the fans but you may end up doing more harm than good by breaking something.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ronintexas

ronintexas

Judicious
Dec 10, 2012
5,911
0
32,960
I use a vacuum to get the "dust bunnies" that live in the bottom of the case, and a quick spray with canned air to clear out the fans and radiator fins. I agree with photon boy....taking stuff out and putting too much attention to cleaning ends up breaking things....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

bigpinkdragon286

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
4,648
35
28,590
+1 photonboy

How many posts are there that read, "I took my computer apart to clean it, and when I reassembled it, it didn't work!"

I would only add that, while compressed air is great, the cans can discharge moisture if you overdo it all at once, so don't do it with the machine on, and let any moisture evaporate before powering back up. Also to prevent the bearings in the cooling fans from over-revving and damaging themselves from the burst of air blowing across the fan, prevent the fans from spinning when using compressed air.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

ashwinqwer

Reputable
Jan 14, 2015
17
0
4,510


Yes,I always clean my card. Buy how to do the method of compressed air?
And, would a cooler with radiator keep the temp at 40° and below?
The one I chose is:

http://www.flipkart.com/deepcool-gamer-storm-maelstrom-120k-aio-cooler/p/itmdycwrnefj2qgf?pid=COLDYCWRWEPSRVXQ
Also I am thinking to buy a heat sink:
http://www.flipkart.com/deepcool-gammaxx-200/p/itmd9hkatppgpy5y?pid=COLD9HKAARXXSRAH

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ronintexas

ronintexas

Judicious
Dec 10, 2012
5,911
0
32,960
Both of those are for CPUs. A GPU cooler is a bit different, and designed for specific cards. The "radiator fins" I was referring to are the metal fins that come into contact with the CPU/GPU - dust will build up between the metal pieces reducing the ability to cool.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
photonboy

photonboy

Titan
Jun 20, 2006
21,567
13
85,015
Update:

I'll be slightly more specific after reading above comments.

I use COMPRESSED AIR only. You could also use a proper PC vacuum if careful or normal one for the bottom of the case if not touching anything but the case.

I do this with the PC turned OFF.

I do a quick squirt every month from outside the case.

Every THREE MONTHS I take the side off the case with PC turned OFF then spray EVERY FAN while holding the fans to prevent them from spinning as that works a bit better.

I use quick squirts and do it on an angle to prevent any moisture dripping where I don't want it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom