Cleaning tips? (inside computer)
- Thread starter dokko
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JayMax said:
Depends how much dust your computer sucks in (filters help reduce that) I have used a whole container on a very dusty computer that I eventually dunked in distilled water out of frustration... but with my computers (x3) I generally clean every 3 months and use about 1/10 of a can on them
If my fans/heatsinks are clogged up with dust then i use a clean paintbrush to get all the dust out. Best to use one with soft bristles. Once all the dust is out then i just hoover it up (its normally all over the table or in the bottom of the case by then) .
If you've got dust on your motherboard or a sensitive part of your computer(ram chips or bare pcb) then I would just leave it there as its probably not doing any harm. A friend of mine took a hoover to his whole motherboard and fried the whole PC , although it was quite an old one, I suspect it was static or he knocked something important off.
But, If you can afford to keep buying compressed air(in a can) though, then go for it as its probably the best way to clean your PC.
If you've got dust on your motherboard or a sensitive part of your computer(ram chips or bare pcb) then I would just leave it there as its probably not doing any harm. A friend of mine took a hoover to his whole motherboard and fried the whole PC , although it was quite an old one, I suspect it was static or he knocked something important off.
But, If you can afford to keep buying compressed air(in a can) though, then go for it as its probably the best way to clean your PC.
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About using vacuum cleaners; I've heard bad things about them causing static so I've never used one inside my PC, but once I did try using one to suck out all the dust that had built up around the cracks around my optical drives. And I succeeded in ripping off the button of my DVD-RW drive by the sheer force of the suction. It's snapped off and there's no way I could re-attach it. 
Thankfully the broken drive fascia is hidden behind a case door
Thankfully the broken drive fascia is hidden behind a case door
payingattention said:About using vacuum cleaners; I've heard bad things about them causing static so I've never used one inside my PC, but once I did try using one to suck out all the dust that had built up around the cracks around my optical drives. And I succeeded in ripping off the button of my DVD-RW drive by the sheer force of the suction. It's snapped off and there's no way I could re-attach it.
Thankfully the broken drive fascia is hidden behind a case door
lol - you're preaching to a man who'se hoovered his keyboard before.
Boy, do those little suckers unexpectedly disappear up the tube with a rattle.
I could only type in morse code until I bought a new keyboard.
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Now and again, Those compressed air cans, Fire out the liquid inside the can... How harmful is that stuff? Worries me sometimes 
The trick with air cans is to keep it at a certain angle and do it in bursts it lasts longer and does not spit out the freezing liquid.
I think most wholesalers of PC bits and bobs. Some graphic design and art materials based shops sell it. As well as model making stores.
We use it for when we scan Negs etc at hi-Res. Though I don't purchase it we get it from a supplied wholesaler.
I take my pc outside and place a flattened cardboard box down.
I also use cotton buds to removed build up from the case fans.
Slightly dampen them, so they pick up dust and do not simply
brush it off. Get them cheap from a place like superdrug or even asda.
You can purchase mini vacuum cleaners. I think model makers etc use them.
I guess you have to check if they are plastic or not. Most probably are though.
I would definately clean your H/s Fan. You will get better temps by maybe a degree or two.
B
I think most wholesalers of PC bits and bobs. Some graphic design and art materials based shops sell it. As well as model making stores.
We use it for when we scan Negs etc at hi-Res. Though I don't purchase it we get it from a supplied wholesaler.
I take my pc outside and place a flattened cardboard box down.
I also use cotton buds to removed build up from the case fans.
Slightly dampen them, so they pick up dust and do not simply
brush it off. Get them cheap from a place like superdrug or even asda.
You can purchase mini vacuum cleaners. I think model makers etc use them.
I guess you have to check if they are plastic or not. Most probably are though.
I would definately clean your H/s Fan. You will get better temps by maybe a degree or two.
B
Ahhhhh the joys of my Dad having an air compressor that he lets me use 
Unlimited compressed air just for the price of the compressor thingy, if you were to buy an air compressor that compresses as it goes along you'd save a lot of money if you regularly use it.
Depends how much dust is there. Will most likely slice a few degrees off the temps if it's quite dusty.
Unlimited compressed air just for the price of the compressor thingy, if you were to buy an air compressor that compresses as it goes along you'd save a lot of money if you regularly use it.
iBot said:
Depends how much dust is there. Will most likely slice a few degrees off the temps if it's quite dusty.
iBot said:
I've had my comp for 2 months now, and it has collected a lot of dust, especially between the heat sink and fan. It was idling at 45 degrees and crashed on me a couple of times. I got my trusty Henry the vacuum out today, got rid of all the dust. It's now idling at 36 degrees
Dust matters!
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Friend of mine decided to clean his hdd with that white multipurpose householdcleaner once............it was really clean 