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House Cleaning the entire computer case and parts..better FPS perf?

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I read awhile back, a thread that a user noted his better all-round FPS performance since he recently had the maids go in and swamp up...

 

Now, I don't know if what I am about to share has any basis, but wanted to tell you anyways...

--------------------------------------------------

 

About 2 days ago, I went into  my case, and did a complete MAJOR cleaning of my published system. I didn't add or take away any elements from it.

 

I purchased from my walk-in local Radio Shack the following in a 3-pack set---  Ativa Cleaning Duster-Item 911-220 (Spray Cans with supplied tip)  I used two cans on the interior of my system, then carefully dusted and vacuumed with a micro-head attachment I had from an old Micro-Furnace purchase. It works great for small places and crevaces! 

 

So, anyway, after doing that, and putting the system door back in place, I fired up my system and noticed immediately how much more quiet the fans were...(and the system truly wasn't in a scank state that badly....I just wanted a full clean)...but where I was having (in P3D 2.3) about 32-36 FPS, I jumped to a pretty stable 40 or so.  Wow...so was the Graphic Card throttling down...apparently so...and it didn't LOOK like it was that dirty...wow...)  Then....I thought what the heck, let's see what this baby (system) can do now...as fully as-delivered from the box-clean... <_< )

 

I used the latest version of EVGA's Precision X 16 Graphics Card control app...and also downloaded the companion OC stress analyzer, that I slaved to the PX16 app...and ran the test. It let me see the max that I could run before reaching within 4 percent of a heat-throttle.  Fine, did that...and I now have set my card always to this slaved clock setting as my Pref setting slot 1.  I have had no crashes on the G.C., from this setting to date.  

 

Now..what was the result of cleaning all parts that have fans....need cooling....radiator fins on all chips?  All circuit boards, mother-board..all of it...etc.

 

Well...amazing actually...I now run for the most part in unlimited for P3D, at around a mean 46 FPS on average. That is from pre-clean-pre-overclock of an average 33, and with the system fans much louder (they run on auto) then now. In fact, the system case is beside me as I type...and I can hardly hear the fans (5 of them) turning....

 

So...to that poster...and please if you are reading this...please step in...so I can thank you for your 'head's-up' on cleaning and possible increased FPS performance (because of a cooler-running GPU/CPU)...for you were right...there is a tangible difference, and I am going to be intelligent to keep to a regular cleaning schedule...perhaps every three months...for a dust-free system interior, major cleaning.  

 

So, there you have it..and just wanted to share my findings.   Of course my OC settings have a lot to do with what my system is now putting out...but I'd rather doubt that I could have achieved this...WITHOUT having done first...and complete and very detailed cleaning.

 

Cheers,

 

Mitch 

Edited by n4gix
Typo corrected "fines" to "fins"...

  • Author

Here are screen grabs of the FPS performance I am now getting from P3D v2.3 post cleaning and re-O.C.'ing:

 

65 FPS (unlimited setting) in a good cloud build up...and here are the B.S.-free pics I just grabbed...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/a3J

 

Here's another one now at 74 FPS!

 

http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/a3y

 

And another as my FPS keeps building...WOW!

 

http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/a33

 

Final 2 shots as I climb out from Mackinac Island, and heading  north-west towards Munising....at over 60 FPS with a good cloud mix...

 

http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/a3B

 

http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/a3n

You should consider filters at your intake fans. :smile:

[color=#a9a9a9][size=1][size=4][img]http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_images/flags/rs.png[/img][/size] Lj. Prodanovic[/size][/color]
  • Author

You should consider filters at your intake fans. :smile:

I don't want anything to reduce the air-flow...and it is the micro-dust...that I think affects everybody's system... :)

Filters?  For what...for quietness?  I don't understand, G.

For dust. Since I've bought new case with dust filters, interior is almost "sterile" clean. Just recently I've opened the case to see what's going on inside, and I've been amazed how clean it is. Absolutely no need for any cleaning.

[color=#a9a9a9][size=1][size=4][img]http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_images/flags/rs.png[/img][/size] Lj. Prodanovic[/size][/color]
  • Author

For dust. Since I've bought new case with dust filters, interior is almost "sterile" clean. Just recently I've opened the case to see what's going on inside, and I've been amazed how clean it is. Absolutely no need for any cleaning.

Ah..ok..gotcha...I wonder though, how much air-flow capacity that also 'filters'...but a good tip, and thank you  I'm getting the best performance I have EVER had from P3D/FSX/XPX...just look at those two screen grabs this morning....WOW!  I never got that high...even with not a cloud sprite in the sky....yes Virginia...CPU/GPU  air-temp throttling is REAL!........

I wonder though, how much air-flow capacity that also 'filters'

If you clean the filters regularly, air-flow penalty is minimal. If you let the dust to sit on filter, penalty is severe. :smile: I clean filters once a week.

 

With my old case, the door was always open, and there were so much dust, hair from my dog, spider nets... it was impossible to clean it properly.

[color=#a9a9a9][size=1][size=4][img]http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_images/flags/rs.png[/img][/size] Lj. Prodanovic[/size][/color]
  • Author

If you clean the filters regularly, air-flow penalty is minimal. If you let the dust to sit on filter, penalty is severe. :smile: I clean filters once a week.

Thanks for your tip, Mr. G. ^_^

I had a real slow down in performance a couple of weeks ago;  opened up the case and vac'd it all out and noticed a huge clump of formed dust/muck on my graphics card's fan.  (Had noticed it was getting loud).

After a good clean out, I saw a very definite improvement in performance.

 

Where PCs and their cases are concerned;   Dust = heat ... and heat = slowdown ..... so worth a good 'hoover' out once a month. :smile:

  • Author

Typo on O.P....'fines' should have of course, read as 'fins'.  Sorry...

  • Author

Typo on O.P....'fines' should have of course, read as 'fins'.  Sorry...

Thank you, very much, n4gix, for editing my typo.  Makes the read easier, and makes my butcher-shop fingers, somewhat er...'slimmer'...:)

 

Thanks again!

 

Mitch

Negative pressure. That helps dust build up greatly. I don't think I have a spec of dust in my case.

David Graham Google, Network+, Cisco CSE, Cisco Unity Support Specialist, A+, CCNA

 

 (Spray Cans with supplied tip) 

 

You crack me up - I always try to keep my rig clean especially as its a looker - cleaning your rig is time consuming and I dismantle whatever I can to do a good job - thanks for the post Mitch

Rich Sennett

               

  • Author

 

 


(Spray Cans with supplied tip) 

 

Rich, I don't get the 'you crack me up'????

 

The tip or extended hose, is the same as supplied with WD 40.  You need this to get right between the CPU and motherboard chip heat-sink flanges.  BTW, this stuff does one heck of a job...the mixture gets not only the dust..but air-borne oils...right off the metal surfaces, that mere dusting or running a vacuum won't remove.  My 'pute is real happy, and putting out the FPS'ers.... :)

 

Clean, is Green....

Rich, I don't get the 'you crack me up'????

 

I know what spray cans are and the tips that come with it - its just the way you describe things - it was a compliment the way you play and present words is great to read- oh by the way they cost a bundle and dont go far - here you even have to provide a drivers license to buy it as morons are sniffing it if you can believe that

Rich Sennett

               

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