Vacuuming lowers processor load??

thanatopsis · Post by **thanatopsis** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:04 am

I was working on a DP5 project and MenuMeters was showing a load on my dual 2.5 G5 as 95% and 91% for a good portion of the piece.
Fortunately I had saved everything because the computer suddenly went to sleep and wouldn't wake up (locked up). It had done this a few times recently on heavy DP projects and Animation Master renders.
The temperature in the room has been about 80 degrees F in these instances. Fortunately I still have Apple Care.
But then I decided to check inside the computer and the processor grill was completely coated in dust! I scraped off a good portion that looked like it came from my dryer's lint trap, and then decided to vacuum the grill for good measure.
Now the same passage of the project which read 95% and 91% processor usage on numerous plays now reads 86% and 79%.
I would understand if the temperature meters went down, but the processor meters? Perhaps the auto processor function slows them down when they get overheated and my dust-clogged maximum was quite a bit less than dual 2.5 GHz?
The same Animation Master renders don't make the computer lock up either!
Has anybody else had an experience like this?

Jim

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:36 am

It has to do with airflow, if the computer can breathe it can run at optimal performance it was designed to. But if it can't get that air-flow, it starts to struggle and tries harder to breathe. Imagine if you're swimming and start dipping under water, you're going to start working harder to breathe.

thanatopsis · Post by **thanatopsis** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:44 am

BradLyons wrote:It has to do with airflow...

Yeah, I understand that. But I have "Processor Performance" set to "Highest." I would have thought if it was overheating, it would have reached 95% and then died, but the same project would now go to 95% and not die. Or what now works great at 85% would have died at 85% when clogged with dust; I didn't know MenuMeters' meters were scalable, as if the processor was throttled back even though I had it set to "Highest."
I guess if anybody has performance issues, make sure the CPU is clean.

Jim

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:14 am

It's logocal. Have to give that a try.

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:22 pm

Watch out for loosely soldered items if you take out the vacuum cleaner...

chamelion · Post by **chamelion** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:52 pm

mhschmieder wrote:Watch out for loosely soldered items if you take out the vacuum cleaner...

Beware! Don't mess with nature!!

Geoff

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:26 pm

Added: Found can of Air Duster compressed air can do wonders with a vacuum when you blast air towards the vacuum nozzle. You need to get the dust off the heat syncs for sure to keep them form throttling the CPU.

toodamnhip · Post by **toodamnhip** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:03 am

BradLyons wrote:It has to do with airflow, if the computer can breathe it can run at optimal performance it was designed to. But if it can't get that air-flow, it starts to struggle and tries harder to breathe. Imagine if you're swimming and start dipping under water, you're going to start working harder to breathe.

computers breathing?

OMG..
can anyone say "I Robot"?......

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:13 am

Do all power PCs throttle back when overheating, or just the newer models?

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:00 am

all computers yes

philbrown · Post by **philbrown** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:48 pm

Watch out vacuuming electronics - I always thought that was a no-no because of the buildup of static voltage can pop yer chips. I know I've been shocked by a shopvac more than once. I always take stuff outside and blow with a can of air or air compressor instead. You know, blow instead of suck.

And turn your head really far away -it's amazing what accumulates all up in there.

Phil

thanatopsis · Post by **thanatopsis** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:30 pm

philbrown wrote:I've been shocked by a shopvac more than once.
Phil

Shop-Vac?!

Please note: I am not responsible for any damage to your computer caused by vacuuming it!
It worked for me, but I have a little suck/blow electronics vacuum.
I often touch the components in my computers as well (good touch, not bad touch), but I wouldn't do that after sliding my stocking feet all over the carpet!
I've never had to clean a computer's heat sync before, but I guess I've never had a computer that was so prone to overheating as the 2.5 G5.

Jim

newrigel · Post by **newrigel** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:16 am

Too bad Apple didn't put an "AIR CLEANER" on the G5 he he. Seems like the volume of air that goes through a computer they would design something along those lines.

bhagert · Post by **bhagert** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:28 am

Running at temp close to the semi conductors your best option is to reduce the delta T by a degree or two. The alfa (heat conductivity between gas and solid) will be close to constant at high pressure drops / air speed.

So in this case move the computer to a slightly cooler place in the room. 2-4F lower will quite likely do the trick.