3
Started using a $5 USB fan to cool down hot spots before opening a case
Tbh, I was working on an overheating gaming rig from a client in Springfield and the CPU was hitting 90C at idle. Instead of cracking it open right away, I just aimed a small USB fan I got from a gas station at the side vents for about ten minutes. Ngl, it dropped the temp enough that I could actually see the thermal paste had completely dried out once I got inside. Has anyone else tried a simple external cooling trick like this to make diagnostics easier?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
jennys721mo ago
My old shop in Dayton would keep a box fan for this exact thing. Ruby_rivera76 has a point about heat soak, but if the paste is already dust you're just buying time to see the real problem. That ten minute cooldown probably saved you from a thermal shutdown during boot.
6
ruby_rivera761mo ago
Seems like a waste of time to me. You're just masking the real problem and could be letting heat soak other parts. Opening the case and checking the paste first is the proper step.
3