Routine clean up of your Computer inside, Lint, Dust Bunnies, Dust Blankets, Smoke, Grime inside the Computer box and Electronics.
Excessive heat can slow your Computer, Cleaning it up can help keep your Computer from having a Heat Stroke.
On my CPU/Heat Sink, I use Arctic Silver heat sink compound, Only! religiously.
I run over sized Heat Sinks, Only.
I use only high end GForce Graphic Accelerator with custom Heat sink and Fan, Default Heat sink/Fans on current Graphics Cards are removed and customized by my personal needs of a superior High end Graphics Card.
I am a Hard Core Over Clocker of Mother Boards and Graphic Cards to get what I need and desire keeping in mind drawing away heat and keeping electron creeping from occuring at all costs.
Make sure all your wires and ribbons are wrapped to the tightest diameter possible to insure positive air flow.
Also, I would highely recommend taking your new over sized Heat Sink to the local Silver & Gold plating shop and having a coat of Silver or Gold plated onto your Heat sink that are usually Aluminum by default.
Also check to make sure your CPU Heat sink hasn't creeped away from your CPU Chip.
Peltier cooling is also recommended and if properly installed will extend the life of your CPU whether Overclocked or not.
Heat is what causes CPU's to wear out quicker even in default hardware.
http://www.digit-life.com/articles/peltiercoolers/Also keep your Memory Cards cool at all costs and plan for Positive Air flow over your Memory chips, there are also Memory chip coolers
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000234NNU/ref=e_deav_acc_1_1/102-0202724-7601724?%5Fencoding=UTF8to help things further.
Also you can install a Heat Sink and Fan onto your Harddrive as I did to increase the performance of it.
To test for Heat problems try removing a side panel from your Computer box and blowing a high velocity house fan into your case, and see if there is a difference in performance, I bet you find one.
This House Fan test can lower your computers operating temperature by up to 10 degrees which can make a big difference if your system is to hot, Also note that living in a hot temperate climate can kill your computers performance, Always keep your computer out and away from the sun or Heating equipment or lamps.
Your Computer will actually perform better in a Cool dry but Dark enviroment with good ventilation and giving your Computer a routine cleaning habitually.
Even a 5 degree difference in room temperature can effect your system.
99.999% Pure Silver Plating your Heat Sink can conduct Heat faster and can reduce CPU operating Temperature by (almost) 12 degrees compared to the default Aluminum Heat Sink un-Silvered.
I posted a Thermal Chart for you, Thermal Shading, Darker Shades indicate higher Thermal Transfer.
Jerry[8D]
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