Cleaning a PC?

LeJosh · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:10

What do people use to clean their PCs if it is excessively dusty? Like proper giant clumps of dust.

My friend has a silly amount of dust like 2mm thick on the pcb of his gpu. :/ I need to clean it for him. Just wondered where I could get these cleaning stuff aswell. Would a lens cleaner with its little brush be a good tool?

_lecro_ · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:13

Air Duster !

Might be an idea to take it outside first though

RJC · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:17

I use my dad's air compresor every so often.

Do it outside like Lecro mentioned, surprised how much dust comes out.

LeJosh · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:20

Urgh it's going to be a pain, he doesn't live in a very 'nice' place... Top floor of a flat and well it's not exactly friendly.

I thought about compressed air.

Namak · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:24

If you have to clean it in the flat then try putting it in the bath (empty) and use a paintbrush.

Might be a bit awkward but a lot easier to clean up afterwards without getting dust everywhere.

T1Cybernetic · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:37

Hoover comes out with the softest brush end you can find, I do have a feather type duster though too but i usually just grab the hoover.

LeJosh · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:39

I'll be using the hoover don't think it has any soft brushes with it though. Just for getting the hard dust of as the hoover doesn't get that off.

PermaBanned · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:53

Hoover would generate static. Lense cleaner would just ruin it. Compressed air is the way to go... while you're at it why not install a dust filter on the front fan? Even just put a tight over it (cut it obviously).

ben90 · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:55

compressed air or a hoover.

LeJosh · 2 Oct 2009 at 21:56

He got the pc two years ago and hadn't opened it since. And it has like a huge fan on the side. :/ I think it's above 120mm. It's BSOD'n and I looked inside and died a little...

rexehuk · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:00

A huge air compressor that used to nearly blow my 16kg armor over...

Unless your doing it outside Id say use a compressor to blow the dust and a hoover outside the case to quickly suck the dust from the air.

niko · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:10

a paint brush does the job

Syphon · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:14

Where's the best place to get hold of an air compressor? I've always found the cans to be pretty rubbish, run out in no time and freeze my hand!

niko · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:24

Syphon said:
Where's the best place to get hold of an air compressor? I've always found the cans to be pretty rubbish, run out in no time and freeze my hand!

machine mart sell loads of them also look at screwfix and axminster power tools

zsolmanz · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:37

Why would a vacuum cleaner generate any more static than compressed air? And surely any static would be grounded anyway if you left the power cable plugged in (switched off, obviously

).

I use a vacuum cleaner (but not often enough), it does the job mostly.

SkodaMart · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:41

Turn off PC, remove dusty parts and clean with hoover and clean paint brush.

T1Cybernetic · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:43

niko said:
a paint brush does the job

Almost forgot about a paintbrush

A very soft one would be a great thing to use too for any stubborn dust...

Syphon · 2 Oct 2009 at 22:59

niko said:
machine mart sell loads of them also look at screwfix and axminster power tools

Thanks

JonJ678 · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:01

Not a hoover. They can and do kill computers.

I blow dust off, when its that thick I'd probably go with a paintbrush.

Hairybudda · 2 Oct 2009 at 23:04

Can of compressed air is the sensible answer but for the past 10 years i've been using the smallest brush end on the nozzle of my hoover and never had any problems ever, roughed it up pretty bad a few times too, even worked on my deconstructed and exposed psu. It's your shout.