Greetings TE Chea..
While dust can be a real issue in personal computing and
preventative maintenance should periodically be performed, you
shouldn't have to go to such extremes of alcohol and cotton swabs
on DIMM sockets! Of course, this is also dependent on the
environment that you PC is in which, isn't stated here.
While dissimilar metals that are in contact can and often do
corrode over time resulting in a high impedance electrical
connection, with the sheer pressure of the contacts of the DIMM
socket upon the DIMMs, electrical conductivity shouldn't be an
issue. It certainly is possible to have a socket that has simply
worn out. Especially if that socket has been excessively used for
removing and replacing memory modules (DIMMs). However, again,
for the ordinary PC user, this should be an issue. It should also
be stated that it is also possible to have a defective socket or
one that is extremely cheap in construction quality that could
contribute to premature failure.
A couple of suggestions:
1. If you're in a inside office, home environment and the case
can be situated to a higher level (off the floor) do so. It's
amazing how much dust can be accumulated while PCs actually sit
on the floor. If it's even possible to put the PC up on top of
the desk, try this for a while to see the difference.
2. As you're doing, continue to periodically clean the air
filters and check the fans for proper operation. As you know this
will continue to provide a bit cleaner air to the inside
components.
3. Obtain a white film eraser. Reference,
http://www.stabilo.com.sg/products.php?cat=5 and notice the model
1186. More specifically,
http://www.stabilo.com.sg/products.php?cat=5&subcat_select=0,4 I
have been using this style of eraser for years on all contacts,
gold plated or otherwise. The reason is it isn't abrasive, it
will clean off all oils, dirt & corrosion from fingerprints or
oxidation. Thus, once the shavings are brushed away, you're left
with a shiny series of contacts that will maintain electrical
contact for a substantial period of time.
Try cleaning the contacts with a white film eraser to the DIMM
that you're using, brushed off the shavings and inspected that
the socket in which it is going is mechanically sound. There
should be no further issues. IF there are within a short period
of time, the problem is probably NOT mechanical but an
intermittent (possibly heat related) electrical issue. A simple
way to confirm that is to plug in another DIMM in its place for a
couple of weeks and see if the problem returns. If not, your
previous DIMM has electrical issues. Of course there are also
memory tests, mem86 for example, that can be run continuously to
determine memory failures. Eliminating as many possible causes,
as much as possible, then, ultimately, isolating the cause is the
answer to determining the real problem here.
Cheers,
Mr. Mentor
| with alcohol & cotton bud, or dimm will jam. Casing's air
| intake already has filter paper / sponge. Is this dust caused
| by static electricity ? Any1 here has this dust problem ?