Cleaning a heatsink?

Lately my laptop has been running hotter than normal. Twice in the past 3 days, it's shut off completely without warning. The first was during gaming, but the second was when the computer was relatively idle (and I had games/downloaded things/streamed videos during the intervening day). The second time, it wouldn't turn back on right away.

From what I've read, this is probably due to a dusty heatsink, and that's not too hard to fix personally. But before I open up my laptop, I was wondering if any SPers had a second opinion?

If not, I'll clean it tonight or tomorrow.

Cleaning is always a good thing. :3

Just pump it with compressed air. With laptop fans that's almost always the problem, especially if you've never cleaned it and owned it for quite some time. Well, speaking from experience of course. I need to clean mine.

Is it a heatsink or a fan?

if you're confident that you can take it apart and put it back together, then do it. You'll get the best results that way. Else just use a lot of compressed air and try to blow out most of the dust, then to prevent too much dust build up later, try to use compress air on it often before it becomes clogged up.

Is even possible to do that in a laptop? They're pretty closed systems with generally only one exhaust area (so blowing air into it with the case on could just push the dust and pomegranate back into it some more technically).

Idk, I'd take it apart. Then again I usually void all my warraties within a few months of owning something.

Is even possible to do that in a laptop? They're pretty closed systems with generally only one exhaust area (so blowing air into it with the case on could just push the dust and pomegranate back into it some more technically).

Idk, I'd take it apart. Then again I usually void all my warraties within a few months of owning something.

There has to be intake&exhaust right?

Yeah...I did forget about that. Intake is mounted on the bottom and exhaust on the side (usually). Good luck cleaning it through those things. :p I'm sure it's possible, but I'd much rather take it apart. Then again, like I said, I like to take things apart in general and void warranties. :<

We opened up the back and blew some compressed air around. It seems to be better now, but I'm going to get a cooling pad just in case.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. ^_^