[FlamingCobra]

Why is it that sometimes when I play a downloaded flash game my computer starts getting a little bit louder and then all of a sudden it gets obscenely loud? 

[MP-Ryan]

As in, the volume of the game gets louder, or the volume of the fans in the computer gets louder?

If you're talking about the latter, it's because most CPU and GPU cooling solutions run dynamically.  As load is applied to the CPU or GPU, they heat up, which means the fans spin faster (thus blowing more air) to cool them at the same rate and keep temperatures down.

Fans don't run that fast during basic operation because it wastes power and its noisy.

[FlamingCobra]

As in, the volume of the game gets louder, or the volume of the fans in the computer gets louder?

If you're talking about the latter, it's because most CPU and GPU cooling solutions run dynamically.  As load is applied to the CPU or GPU, they heat up, which means the fans spin faster (thus blowing more air) to cool them at the same rate and keep temperatures down.

Fans don't run that fast during basic operation because it wastes power and its noisy.

I think it's the fans. Because the computer itself goes "VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM"

I did some research and decided it might need cleaning. Because I have never cleaned any of this computer's internal hardware. Ever. And I have had it for several years.

Maybe I should look into getting a can of compressed air.

[MP-Ryan]

Yes, it's just the fans increasing their RPMs.  And while that noise is perfectly normal, if your computer has never been cleaned you really should dust it out (with compressed air).  To be honest, if you or someone you know has a home-based air compressor, that's better than the compressed air cans.  A vacuum cleaner capable of reversing its airflow (like a shopvac) will be fine too, so long as you don't touch it to the components.

[Cobra]

Or your computer just sucks. If your fans were that dirty you'd be hearing something akin to fan blades hitting something as it spins.

[FlamingCobra]

Well it didn't used to get that loud so I hardly think my computer sucks.

[FlamingCobra]

Yes, it's just the fans increasing their RPMs.  And while that noise is perfectly normal, if your computer has never been cleaned you really should dust it out (with compressed air).  To be honest, if you or someone you know has a home-based air compressor, that's better than the compressed air cans.  A vacuum cleaner capable of reversing its airflow (like a shopvac) will be fine too, so long as you don't touch it to the components.

I know I got one of the first xbox 360s that came out (a core system) and after several years it just started overheating and then it got so bad that I couldn't play any games because it overheated after about 1 minute. So eventually I got one of my tech-savvy friends to tell me what he thought he could do about and he said it could be it was caked with dust on the inside. So he came over here and opened it up and looked at it and said it didn't actually look that dusty. So then he blew on it and it exploded.

There was dust everywhere. All over the place. There was just a cloud in my room.

I haven't had any problems with my 360 since then.

[Dragon]

Indeed, vacuuming the dust up is necessary once in a while. For me, even the ordinary vacuum cleaner does the job, though you have to be careful not to touch anything or vacuum up a CMOS battery or one of these dinky capacitors. 

[FlamingCobra]

Somebody told me not to use the vacuum cleaner on a PC because vacuum cleaners generate a magnetic field. I don't know if that's true or not. Sounds like BS to me.

But magnets do spell  DOOM for electronics.

[TwentyPercentCooler]

Somebody told me not to use the vacuum cleaner on a PC because vacuum cleaners generate a magnetic field. I don't know if that's true or not. Sounds like BS to me.

But magnets do spell  DOOM for electronics.

If vacuum cleaners generated a magnetic field sufficiently powerful to threaten electronics, they'd wreck all kinds of things on a normal basis. It's one of those myths that goes around because most people apparently slept through high school physics.

Vacuuming around your computer is perfectly safe provided your case is grounded, which, it should be anyway. The excitation of dust does have the potential to generate static electricity, but if you're worried, again, make sure your case is grounded and just don't touch anything inside it. I use my vacuum all the time to dust my computers - blowing it around with compressed air doesn't actually get rid of it. Never understood that.

[BloodEagle]

Suction + Small Components == Bad Idea.

[TwentyPercentCooler]

If something is loose enough to get sucked up it was probably already broken. I usually just vacuum the vents and fans and areas that really need to be clear of dust.

[jr2]

I use a small shop-vac and compressed air for the cracks that it can't get.  Just don't touch anything and you'll be fine.  Keep it grounded though, for in case you do actually touch something.

FYI: Keeping the computer plugged in to a grounded receptacle (assuming some numbskull didn't rip the ground off of the power supply cord) will ground the machine.  If you want to be extra safe, switch off the power switch on the back of the PSU.  This should shut off power while still keeping the ground.

[Mongoose]

I've actually used my mom's old hair dryer on the "cool" setting the last few times I've needed to dust.  I don't even have the case plugged in (though I probably should), but I've never had a problem with it.  Come to think of it, I should figure out how to take apart our old PS2, since I'm sure that's nasty inside.

[FlamingCobra]

I've actually used my mom's old hair dryer on the "cool" setting the last few times I've needed to dust.  I don't even have the case plugged in (though I probably should), but I've never had a problem with it.  Come to think of it, I should figure out how to take apart our old PS2, since I'm sure that's nasty inside.

Holy ****! That's actually a really good idea. >.> Why didn't I think of that?

[MP-Ryan]

You guys with houses really need to spend the $150 on an air compressor.  I've never cleaned my computer out so fast... 90 psi removes dust like you wouldn't believe

[BloodEagle]

If something is loose enough to get sucked up it was probably already broken. I usually just vacuum the vents and fans and areas that really need to be clear of dust.

Don't underestimate the power of the (vacuum) force!

[TwentyPercentCooler]

If something is loose enough to get sucked up it was probably already broken. I usually just vacuum the vents and fans and areas that really need to be clear of dust.

Don't underestimate the power of the (vacuum) force!

Hence the "probably." 

I'm hoping everyone involved has the common sense not to try and vacuum up the transistors.

[jr2]

Just to mention, compressed air makes a mess if used by itself... all of that dust accumulated over the years gets magically blown away... into your house!.  If you want to do the compressed air only deal, I'd say take it out back where it can't get all over. 

[BloodEagle]

You really shouldn't have an air compressor in your house. 

Your garage, on the other hand....