Cleaning and resetting your graphics card

[Head-Hunter]

Introduction

Today the choice of a graphics card of a PC is crucial for good performance in areas such as reading and video compression, the ability to work in high definition or even to play the latest games video correctly. From this desire, it is not uncommon to become the most expensive computer. The graphics are true marvels of technology. The GPU, CPU, graphics card, a contraction of Graphic Processor Units, relieves your CPU of many tasks related to the 2D and 3D.

In this market, two manufacturers are waging a real battle, I mean the manufacturers ATI and Nvidia. Indeed everyone wants to distribute THE fastest graphics card, the more sophisticated functions, supports a maximum effect.

The market is experiencing unprecedented momentum and which products have a very short lifespan and are constantly replaced. But the flip side is at the same level of graphics cards. It is hardly conceivable to be able to replace it right out of a new model or any of its little weaknesses. With this in mind, our menu has to be faithful to our investment!

But one day, it becomes a bit more noisy. We note that the cooling system is still running steadily. Clearly, it makes noise and heat. Several solutions are available to us. We can discard it and buy a new one, take him to a computer store so he can solve the problem or look after himself.

This quick guide will show you that it is entirely possible to restore a bit of fresh air to your graphics card if it shows a tiredness.

Presentation

In preparing this issue we used a graphics card signed by the manufacturer Asusteck. It is an AX800 Pro vivo. As part of the lead pack a few months ago, it is now replaced by the series of X1 .. ... What cruel fate!

These specifications are:

• Graphics Engine: ATI Radeon X800 PRO
• Video Memory: 256 MB DDR
• Engine Clock: 475MHz
• RAMDACs: 400MHz
• Bus Standard: AGP8X/4X/2X
• Memory Interface: 256-bit DDR
• Max Resolution: 2048 × 1536
• VGA Output Standard 15-pin D-sub
• Video: Input S-VHS and Composite
• TV Output S-Video and Composite
• DVI Output DVI-I
• 2nd VGA Output Yes

And compatibility are:

• SMARTSHADER HD
• SMOOTHVISION HD
• VIDEOSHADER HD
• HYPER Z HD
• 3 Dc
• Microsoft DirectX 9 and OpenGL 1.5 support

The cooling system is provided by a fan and a radiator cover a large portion of the card (allowing to cool the memory).

The finding of increased noise is directly related to the activity of the fan. Indeed, it operates in relation to the temperature of the GPU. Thus, in a purely office use the card should only be heard in a game and video game sound is much more prevalent. If our map, as is the case in our example, is noisy, even with no activity, we have a problem of heat dissipation. The card must surely be clogged with dust.

So in our towels and tea towels.

Bring your two Phillips screwdrivers (small and medium size), a bottle of dry compressed air, a damp and thermal paste and a brush.
The thermal paste that we used is a Zalman CSL 850.

[Head-Hunter]

Procedure

After removing your graphics card in the box, place it on a clean, dry surface.

A quick overview of the background allows us to identify three screws holding the heatsink - fan.

Then proceed with caution. Currencies every respect starting with the one on the card then those directly connected by the metal rod.

Once this is done, the couple radiator - fan is no longer attached to the rest of the card. Return the while being careful not to pull the power cord from the fan. The state of the thermal paste on the heatsink is already a good argument in favor of excessive heating of our GPU. Remove the power cable from the fan and clean the thermal paste this with your cloth to obtain a surface as clean as possible. With the small screwdriver unscrew the six screws support the spillway plastic air.

Then disassemble these parts prior to putting away our six small screws.

Recommended Actions

• We now need to clean the fan and all the radiator fins. Use your bomb in compressed air. To provide access to the underside of the fan blades, use the brush.

• It remains for us to clean the thermal paste on the GPU of our graphics card.

• To do this you Bring a dry cloth and remove any thermal paste up to read with clarity the references listed on the GPU.

• We must get the result as clean as possible. Once this is done, place a tiny dab of your new thermal paste on the GPU and use a small credit card to spread it to reach a thickness of 1mm.

• Remount the couple radiator fan - with the driver of plastic air through our six small screws.

• Put this set on the map. Replace the screw.

• In the first one located on the map loosely then the two screws connected by our metal rod.

• Screw gradually our trio seamlessly is to say, pressing gradually and coupled.

There It only remains to put our graphics card in its AGP slot.
Remember to replace the power of your fan

Conclusion

Although this manipulation may seem a bit complex for some know that pc is constantly ventilated. Plus the fan is smaller, it must turn quickly to ensure a sufficient flow to cool.
Normal use of a PC inevitably leads to an accumulation of dust. Cleaning is therefore an important and necessary thing to keep all the qualities of your equipment.