Cleaning a Graphics Card

Enigma_exe · 13 Aug 2013 at 12:56

Hi there!

Over it's use my GPU has gathered some dust (a thin layer on the exposed circuitry) that compressed air or a vacuum can't seem to knock off. Is it okay to wipe it of with a microfibre cloth?

Or do I need some special anti-static wiper?

tommybhoy · 13 Aug 2013 at 13:07

A thin natural hair paint brush is what you want to brush off the dust.

LtMatt · 13 Aug 2013 at 13:10

I just use a toothbrush. If you're really fancy use an electric toothbrush.

varkanoid · 13 Aug 2013 at 13:17

like a pastry brush

Enigma_exe · 13 Aug 2013 at 19:24

Ahh, okay. Something with bristles, thanks

oldestgregg · 13 Aug 2013 at 20:16

Yeah a pastry brush or as tommy boy said,a decent fine paintbrush which is what I usually do it with.

Enigma_exe · 13 Aug 2013 at 20:20

Probably get both just to be safe XD. Man, do I hate dust...

RetrogamerX · 13 Aug 2013 at 20:27

I use a very very fine paint brush and dust off. Works wonders

Enigma_exe · 13 Aug 2013 at 21:10

I do try to use compressed air as much as possible, as I'm rather clumsy and don't want to touch the thing if I can help it XD. Think I'll get a paintbrush then, thanks

oldestgregg · 14 Aug 2013 at 02:01

I just begrude paying for friggin air! A decent brush will do the same and IMO better.

Enigma_exe · 14 Aug 2013 at 09:39

Hahaa, blasted capitalism!

Makes a neat flamethrower though

RetrogamerX · 14 Aug 2013 at 09:45

oldestgregg said:
I just begrude paying for friggin air! A decent brush will do the same and IMO better.

If you use both it's even better

VincentHanna · 14 Aug 2013 at 10:28

I shove the dyson hose in my PC every few months, been doing that for 3 years+ and never had a problem...

Edit - I say shove, I mean take of the panels and carefully hoover the dusty bits, but still....PC's are surprisingly robust.

Enigma_exe · 14 Aug 2013 at 10:41

RetrogamerX said:
If you use both it's even better

That's what I was thinking

Hahaa, I don't think I'll risk plunging my hoover into my case just yet

gijohn2 · 14 Aug 2013 at 11:54

VincentHanna said:
I shove the dyson hose in my PC every few months, been doing that for 3 years+ and never had a problem...

Edit - I say shove, I mean take of the panels and carefully hoover the dusty bits, but still....PC's are surprisingly robust.

Amen to that, i forgot to clean my computer for a good year-2years!

Opened it up a few weeks ago and the heatsinks and fans were caked in dust! so out comes the hoover with the brush adapter, works wonders.

As for dust on fan blades that are hard to remove i use a very damp cloth and just rub it across each blade, aslong as there isnt enough to form a drop of water your safe and it actually sticks to the cloth unlike a brush which will just push it around

Enigma_exe · 14 Aug 2013 at 11:59

Damp cotton buds seem to work well to as you can get underneath the fan's wing better.

85256638 · 14 Aug 2013 at 13:53

blow the dirt by mouth and using cotton bud to remove the excessive dirt

oldestgregg · 14 Aug 2013 at 14:26

85256638 said:
blow the dirt by mouth and using cotton bud to remove the excessive dirt

Never blow by mouth as you can get moisture and spittle on said parts.

Enigma_exe · 14 Aug 2013 at 22:39

oldestgregg said:
Never blow by mouth as you can get moisture and spittle on said parts.

Just out of interest, if you do accidentally get moisture on the circuit board how long should you leave it to evaporate?

panyan · 14 Aug 2013 at 22:57

soft, wide paint brush

i normally have the hoover next to me so that i can take the dust from the brush

(normally hoover the room and clean the pc in one session)