Weirdest thing ever (pics)

[latrosicarius]

So one day I was using my computer as usual and it kept shutting off. I go down into the basement to see what the problem is (yes, I keep it in the basement with DVI/USB/RCA cords fed up through the walls to my monitor / kb&m / sound, etc).

When I boot it up, it goes for a few seconds and then turns off. I also heard this horrible alarm-sounding error code. So I figure it's a temperature problem. I take it up stairs, open it up to work on, and sure enough... for no apparent reason, my CPU heat sink had simply "fallen off". I don't know why. This is one of the "new" AM2 socket layouts, btw.

But that's not the weird thing. I look around at the rest of the computer components, and notice something odd. Can you tell from the pictures? This PC has been running in my dirty, dusty, basement for almost a continuous year (11 months) and there is ABSOLUTELY NO dust. Anywhere. At all. I have never seen anything like this. There is usually a build-up of dust on all the fans and every horizontal surface after only a couple months.

[MadduckUK]

simple explanation... you basement is haunted

[MadduckUK]

is that snapped?

[MaddAussie]

has ur missus attacked it with the hoover?

[latrosicarius]

is that snapped?

Damn, I thought it just "fell" off. No, of course not. I went back and looked at it and yeah, the thingy snapped. Not that one though (that's just a bit of thermal paste that rubbed on it).

The other thingy snapped off (you can't see it in those pics, but I took another pic here). Now I have to order a new AM2 heatsink frame thing Good thing the back of my case comes off too, or else I'd have to take the entire motherboard out of the PC, which means removing the graphics & sound card too.

has ur missus attacked it with the hoover?

Nope lol. I am at a loss for why it's so clean in there.

[Agent]

The other thingy snapped off (you can't see it in those pics, but I took another pic here). Now I have to order a new AM2 heatsink frame thing

Post those pics in the Abit section and ask if they will send you a new one

[peterb]

You may not like this...

House dust is largely made up from dead skin cells that we humans shed all the time. droppings from house mites, and the rest is fluff from clothes. This dust tends to be slightly sticky and so when it gets sucked into your computer it sticks to the fan blades and accumulate in the dead air spots.

Your basement, although dusty in a visible sense is probably brick or cement dust, which is relatively heavy and sinks to the floor, not suspended in air. Your basement is largely unoccupied by humans, so there is little house dust in the air to be sucked in.

(Incidentally, it is the house mite droppings that can cause asthmatic attacks in those allergic to them - which is why wooden or tiled floors are recommended for asthmatic children - easy to clean, no breeding ground (carpet) and hence less dust)

[latrosicarius]

Post those pics in the Abit section and ask if they will send you a new one

Good idea thanks
http://forums.hexus.net/abit-care-he...t-another.html

You may not like this...

House dust is largely made up from dead skin cells that we humans shed all the time. droppings from house mites, and the rest is fluff from clothes. This dust tends to be slightly sticky and so when it gets sucked into your computer it sticks to the fan blades and accumulate in the dead air spots.

Your basement, although dusty in a visible sense is probably brick or cement dust, which is relatively heavy and sinks to the floor, not suspended in air. Your basement is largely unoccupied by humans, so there is little house dust in the air to be sucked in.

(Incidentally, it is the house mite droppings that can cause asthmatic attacks in those allergic to them - which is why wooden or tiled floors are recommended for asthmatic children - easy to clean, no breeding ground (carpet) and hence less dust)

Wow, that sounds like the most logical answer. I should put the rest of my computers in the basement too They might stay cooler b/c no dust will build up on them.

[Pigbristle]

You may not like this...

House dust is largely made up from dead skin cells that we humans shed all the time. droppings from house mites, and the rest is fluff from clothes. This dust tends to be slightly sticky and so when it gets sucked into your computer it sticks to the fan blades and accumulate in the dead air spots.

Your basement, although dusty in a visible sense is probably brick or cement dust, which is relatively heavy and sinks to the floor, not suspended in air. Your basement is largely unoccupied by humans, so there is little house dust in the air to be sucked in.

(Incidentally, it is the house mite droppings that can cause asthmatic attacks in those allergic to them - which is why wooden or tiled floors are recommended for asthmatic children - easy to clean, no breeding ground (carpet) and hence less dust)

Cheers, now you made me itch (

[moogle]

am2 retention bracket is what you need and what its called

[iranu]

That is pretty amazing that it broke and your hs to the cpu out with it!

You may wish to support you heatsink with a bit of string or plastic zip tie(s) tied to the case in future. I know I was a bit concerned with my big typhoon the first time I put the mobo in the case.

[latrosicarius]

That is pretty amazing that it broke and your hs to the cpu out with it!

You may wish to support you heatsink with a bit of string or plastic zip tie(s) tied to the case in future. I know I was a bit concerned with my big typhoon the first time I put the mobo in the case.

Yeah, that actually sounds like a good idea. I don't know why they decided to go with only 1 plastic clip per side on the AM2 bracket =/

am2 retention bracket is what you need and what its called

Thanks moogle

[MadduckUK]

cant you get am2 hs+f's that screw down then? you could with 939 so that sounds like a step back

[UltraMagnus]

^ Yeah, that actually sounds like a good idea. I don't know why they decided to go with only 1 plastic clip per side on the AM2 bracket =/

so it breaks and you have to buy a new one?

[GSte]

You may not like this...

House dust is largely made up from dead skin cells that we humans shed all the time. droppings from house mites, and the rest is fluff from clothes. This dust tends to be slightly sticky and so when it gets sucked into your computer it sticks to the fan blades and accumulate in the dead air spots.

Your basement, although dusty in a visible sense is probably brick or cement dust, which is relatively heavy and sinks to the floor, not suspended in air. Your basement is largely unoccupied by humans, so there is little house dust in the air to be sucked in.

(Incidentally, it is the house mite droppings that can cause asthmatic attacks in those allergic to them - which is why wooden or tiled floors are recommended for asthmatic children - easy to clean, no breeding ground (carpet) and hence less dust)

Plus some blows in through open windows, which I'm guessing doesn't happen much in your basement?

[No.72]

Sounds like a ionic disturbance in the Van Allen Radiation Belt to me .