so I cleaned my PC a bit ago for the first time ever and tonight my 1024px bakes have gone from 3-4mn to 45s! And I can bake a 2048px in 3mn with 2048 samples. Didn't even know you were supposed to clean your PC until the fans started to blow hard during bakes and I asked why. My previous PC sounded like an airplane.

I've only cleaned the dust filters so far, which I didn't know I had until I watched a video of how to open my case. Just got an air duster I haven't tried yet, although there isn't much visible dust left except maybe a little on the fan blades but it might bake even faster then!