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Just compared two ways to clean a laptop fan and one was way faster
Had a gaming laptop in the shop with bad overheating. I used compressed air first, but the temps only dropped a little. Then I took the whole heatsink assembly out and used a soft brush with some isopropyl alcohol on the fins. The dust was packed in there like clay. After that, the idle temp went from 70C down to 45C. What's your go-to method for a really clogged fan you can't just blow out?
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ward.tara6mo ago
That packed dust is the worst, it turns into a solid block. A lot of people forget to check the fan blades themselves for that sticky gunk. A cotton swab with a tiny bit of alcohol can clean each blade without needing to remove the whole unit. It makes a surprising difference in airflow when the blades can actually move air instead of just pushing sludge around.
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caseywalker6mo ago
Ever try compressed air first?
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quinnprice6mo ago
What about the heatsink fins? Compressed air just moves the dust deeper into those tight spaces. You really need to brush it out first.
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henry_anderson545mo ago
Yeah compressed air first is fine for loose stuff but it just packs the real problem dust in tighter. That gunk on the fan blades is like glue. Gotta shut it down, hold the fan still, and wipe each blade with a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. Makes it quiet and actually moves air again.
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