Author

Topic: Maintenance for Mining GPUs (Read 539 times)

member
Activity: 72
Merit: 10
October 06, 2017, 11:29:10 AM
#15
Is a can of compressed air really powerful enough and is 1 can enough for 2 rigs and a pc?
legendary
Activity: 2590
Merit: 1022
Leading Crypto Sports Betting & Casino Platform
October 06, 2017, 10:36:45 AM
#14
Hi all

Was wondering what you guys did to maintain the GPUs for optimal performance? I suppose some tasks should be done weekly, and some tasks monthly and then maybe some tasks once a year?

Maybe something like this?

Weekly
General cleaning using air blower
Huh

Monthly
Huh

Yearly
Remove fans for thorough cleaning
Oil fan motors
Huh

i just use air compressor every 3 months lol nothing more is needed i think, but you can do a better cleaning with a mini brush for the parts that are quite hard to reach
hero member
Activity: 1036
Merit: 606
October 06, 2017, 10:29:52 AM
#13
A small air compressor around the rig works for me. Lots of air pressure to effectively blow off dust. Just be careful never to point it too close or directly at the risers. The air pressure will blow them off or can even rip them off the cards. Every 1-2 months should be plenty.
full member
Activity: 236
Merit: 101
October 06, 2017, 09:38:58 AM
#12
I just bought a can of compressed air, going to try and clean out the dust for the first time today. Miner has been running for 3 months. The one I have is similar to this, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleaning-Keyboards-Dashboards-Computers-Scanners/dp/B006YT69BU/ , it was €1.50 in local deals shop.
full member
Activity: 282
Merit: 100
October 06, 2017, 09:25:58 AM
#11
Hey guys can you recommend some electric dust blower? I want to buy one and use it to clean my mining equipment, but im not really sure if its any good for that job.
I see some in Amazon, but what are the good ones? Any thoughts?
sr. member
Activity: 406
Merit: 253
October 06, 2017, 09:11:31 AM
#10
I am waiting on my GPU after 1 year. I change the thermal grease and lubricate the fans. Blow the dust with a vacuum cleaner 1 every three months. If you use the vacuum cleaner in the suction mode it is a less effective cleaning than if you use the mode of blowing air. I don't even remove the GPU for this procedure.
full member
Activity: 251
Merit: 100
October 06, 2017, 08:57:16 AM
#9
Thanks for all the tips!

Much appreciated.
sr. member
Activity: 728
Merit: 255
October 06, 2017, 08:04:50 AM
#8
Me i get a sponge and a bucket of water i take my gpus and thouroughly rinse them with water inside and out then i scrub them with siapy water while i watch jerry apringer.

No seriously i just blow them with a a blower i bought on amazon for electronics once a week or so. I just worry about my cats biting the wires thats all Smiley
full member
Activity: 154
Merit: 100
October 06, 2017, 06:47:23 AM
#7
There's not very many things for maintenance. As you mentioned, using air blower to clean up dust is almost everything for mining rig.
I do it every 3 months.
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1011
October 06, 2017, 05:48:05 AM
#6

Weekly / Daily
Daily I check if all GPUs are still working (via teamviewer or similar software). I notice often that on some of my rigs one of GPUs stops working. I see it in device manager, but Afterburner and miner just ignore it. After restart everything is back to normal.
Weekly I check temperatures and fans. If fans are spining and temperatures are in the safe zone and your enviroment isn't extra dusty then there is nothing to worry about.

Monthly
No special maintence / same as weekly...

Yearly
While GPUs are in warranty I will only clean dust every 6 months or before if necessary. When GPUs go out of warranty (and if I don't sell them before that) I will remove fans, clean them thoroughly and replace thermal paste.

This is similar to my maintenance plan. If everything is working correctly (i.e. the rig is stable and temperatures are ok) there is no need to go in and mess with your hardware as you have a greater chance of screwing something up yourself. Physical dust build-up, while unsightly doesn't necessarily affect cooling as much as you would think by visually looking at it.

All these components we use are designed to go into a computer case, which often times will not get opened up for over a year. I have seen normal PCs (not mining rigs) that have had a year plus of dirt, hairballs, dust-bunnies, etc., build up inside and when it does get opened, say to upgrade a graphics card you wonder how it even ran. The point is manufacturers know these components will be used in dusty conditions so they are built to some degree to survive in this. I actually think open air frame shave an advantage here as even though they may look dirtier since there is no enclosed case to hold in heat the ventilation (even dirty) is far superior.

With all that said, there comes a time when a simple cleaning is required, but I would say this should be performed no more than once or twice a year.
full member
Activity: 405
Merit: 136
October 06, 2017, 04:18:47 AM
#5
Hi all

Was wondering what you guys did to maintain the GPUs for optimal performance? I suppose some tasks should be done weekly, and some tasks monthly and then maybe some tasks once a year?

Maybe something like this?

Weekly
General cleaning using air blower
Huh

Monthly
Huh

Yearly
Remove fans for thorough cleaning
Oil fan motors
Huh

Weekly / Daily
Daily I check if all GPUs are still working (via teamviewer or similar software). I notice often that on some of my rigs one of GPUs stops working. I see it in device manager, but Afterburner and miner just ignore it. After restart everything is back to normal.
Weekly I check temperatures and fans. If fans are spining and temperatures are in the safe zone and your enviroment isn't extra dusty then there is nothing to worry about.

Monthly
No special maintence / same as weekly...

Yearly
While GPUs are in warranty I will only clean dust every 6 months or before if necessary. When GPUs go out of warranty (and if I don't sell them before that) I will remove fans, clean them thoroughly and replace thermal paste.

Everything absolutelly right.
Just one should be added about cleaning up PSU, MoBo, CPU cooler from dust every 6-12 (according to dusty of your mining area)
member
Activity: 82
Merit: 10
October 06, 2017, 02:03:42 AM
#4
Hi all

Was wondering what you guys did to maintain the GPUs for optimal performance? I suppose some tasks should be done weekly, and some tasks monthly and then maybe some tasks once a year?

Maybe something like this?

Weekly
General cleaning using air blower
Huh

Monthly
Huh

Yearly
Remove fans for thorough cleaning
Oil fan motors
Huh

Weekly / Daily
Daily I check if all GPUs are still working (via teamviewer or similar software). I notice often that on some of my rigs one of GPUs stops working. I see it in device manager, but Afterburner and miner just ignore it. After restart everything is back to normal.
Weekly I check temperatures and fans. If fans are spining and temperatures are in the safe zone and your enviroment isn't extra dusty then there is nothing to worry about.

Monthly
No special maintence / same as weekly...

Yearly
While GPUs are in warranty I will only clean dust every 6 months or before if necessary. When GPUs go out of warranty (and if I don't sell them before that) I will remove fans, clean them thoroughly and replace thermal paste.
legendary
Activity: 3808
Merit: 1723
October 06, 2017, 01:53:48 AM
#3
My advice,

Use an air compressor every 3-6 months or so to clean out the dust.

Don't remove GPUs from risers, oil fans, reapply thermal paste, etc. Only perform that when needed.

Because most likely due to human error you will end up damaging your equipment when it wasn't necessary in the first place.

Risers break very easily.
Fans blades break very easily.
Reapplying thermal paste usually does nothing but risks damaging the GPU ASIC solder mounts
etc
sr. member
Activity: 700
Merit: 294
October 06, 2017, 01:19:36 AM
#2
Hi all

Was wondering what you guys did to maintain the GPUs for optimal performance? I suppose some tasks should be done weekly, and some tasks monthly and then maybe some tasks once a year?

Maybe something like this?

Weekly
General cleaning using air blower
Huh

Monthly
Huh

Yearly
Remove fans for thorough cleaning
Oil fan motors
Huh

It really depends on how dusty your environment is.  If you have your rigs in or near living areas, they will get dusty, as you and your movements and ceiling fans, or AC will blow dust around.  If you have your rigs in areas where there are no fans, or people/animals then your chances of dust are much lower.  Most fans are sealed, so you won't be oiling them.  Cheesy
full member
Activity: 251
Merit: 100
October 06, 2017, 12:58:09 AM
#1
Hi all

Was wondering what you guys did to maintain the GPUs for optimal performance? I suppose some tasks should be done weekly, and some tasks monthly and then maybe some tasks once a year?

Maybe something like this?

Weekly
General cleaning using air blower
Huh

Monthly
Huh

Yearly
Remove fans for thorough cleaning
Oil fan motors
Huh
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