Journal #7653 by DiscoStu

DiscoStu

Posted 12 years ago2012-03-01 21:44:09 UTC

A few days ago there was this massive electric storm. A voltage peak came in and screwed up my router, and through it, the cable modem and the ethernet port on my computer.

I just happened to have a spare router (Linksys, it sucks but it'll do) and the ISP sent me a new cable modem today. So I bought a PCI Ethernet card and it all seems to work now.

While I was at it, I did some general cleanup and replaced the ANCIENT thermal paste on the processor. 8 years of continuous usage should be enough to warrant such cleanup.

Striker

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-01 22:17:43 UTC Comment #62361

And did the temperatures drop dramatically?

Wait, did you just say 8 years?

Alabastor_Twob

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-01 22:48:22 UTC Comment #62359

Speaking of which I should clean my laptop up, and replace the thermal paste. My girlfriend asked me to clean hers up, as she was getting warnings about the system overheating. I didn't even have time to disassemble it more than halfway and I found enough cat hairs in there to construct an entirely new cat, and she's only had it a few months. Apparently she falls asleep with the laptop open next to her and her cat ends up sleeping on the keyboard every night because it is warm.

Captain Terror

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-01 22:53:25 UTC Comment #62360

ya, i can't even imagine how disgusting mine is on the inside... i'll just keep air-dustering it through the fan vents and hope for the best =)

Stojke

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-01 23:14:32 UTC Comment #62366

Speaking of electrical surges, i am planning of making a power line stabilizer. But the components are a bit expencive.

But than again, power lines here are just too damn good. I was surfing the net during a hell storm of thunder and lightning, not a single problem.

DiscoStu

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-02 05:06:21 UTC Comment #62363

That's lucky of you. I get outages somewhat frequently, I had to get an UPS. Unfortunately the UPS only has C13 outlets and the modem and router don't have these plugs, hence this mishap. I hear that the power company is expected to pay users for such damages but I haven't looked into this yet.

@Striker: I have no idea, how do I find out the temperatures? And yes I did say 8 years, but come to think of it, this year it's only 7 since I bought it. My bad.

Striker

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-02 11:59:08 UTC Comment #62362

For finding CPU temperatures you can use CoreTemp
For finding GPU temperatures you can use GPU-Z or your graphics driver utility if it has a temperature display.

A more universal tool that also used for tuning and displays not only fan speed but also temperatures is SpeedFan.

If you didn't know about the temperatures before, how can you know if it was overheating?

Crollo

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-02 16:50:15 UTC Comment #62365

He didn't say it was overheating, he just replaced the paste as a means of maintenance.

DiscoStu

Commented 12 years ago2012-03-02 22:23:16 UTC Comment #62364

^This.

Journal #7653

8 Comments