Question about dust in case...

[jh88fan]

I had my pc open the other day to install a disc drive, and noticed a lot of dust in the heatsink over the cpu. I couldn't get it out with a vacume hose, and didn't want to try compressed air without asking what other people have done. It hasn't been overheating to my knowledge, but it looked packed full of dust. Any suggestions?

[Jolyonekenobi]

By all means hit the compressed air - you're more likely to damage things transferring static from the vacuum cleaner. Compressed air won't hurt anything..... :)

[EzyStvy]

I use an old tooth brush and canned air AFTER I let the pc cool down.

[Cricket]

If the fan on the CPU heatsink is the screw on type I usually take it off first and then use tweezers to get most of the big chunks of dust out and then use compressed air to blow out the rest of the dust.

:) Cricket

[Sunset]

This may be obvious, but if not: take it outside on the driveway or into the garage to blow it clear.

[jh88fan]

The fan is the type with the levers that hold it down, so I don't know if I can get it off very easily. I'll probably hit it with some compressed air out in the garage, I was just worried about blowing dust all over everything else.

Thanks

[chuck4456]

Use canned air. Don't use a vacuum cleaner. How'd it get that dirty?