How often do you physically clean the inside of your computer?

[yoda313]

So how often do you open your computer and blow out the dust? I admit almost never. Are you a neat freak in that respect?

[ntscuser]

You left out "When there's so much dust inside the fan(s) stop turning"

[Bulldog57]

hay yoda313


I blow the box out about every 3 month it helps to keep it cool.

[edDV]

After years of computing in low dB rooms, any change in "whirr" sound indicates dust buildup on fans.

When you open it up, you are shocked at the mess in there. Use a plastic vac head and don't overspin fans. I've learned to jam the fan before applying suction. Moistened Q-Tips get the bulk off fan blades. Don't forget the front filters. Most don't know they exist.

[Constant Gardener]

I get very little dust inside my computers, thanks to the thick wad of cat fur that collects on the outside air intakes. It seems to block the finer particles. I just peel off the fur whenever I notice it, monthly when the computers are on 24x7. I do vacuum the insides at least once a year.

[Marvingj]

I used a mini-vac and a small can of air. But I have to be careful.

[Epicurus8a]

I'll clean it if I open the box and notice it's dirty. ...every 9 months or so.

[Soopafresh]

ed said -

After years of computing in low dB rooms, any change in "whirr" sound indicates dust buildup on fans.

Right you are.

[gll99]

No pets in the house except fish but they are piranhas so don't think we're defenceless.

With canned "dust-off" the whole inner case maybe once a year but the cpu fan/heatsink and power supply about every 3 months.

[Nitemare]

Never

[Soopafresh]

I opened up a server at a client site, and this motherboard had more dust on it than an ancient Egyptian tomb (or a Wham! record).

[redwudz]

A couple of times a year or whenever the temps seem to be a little higher than normal. I use a vacuum and canned air most times, followed by a few swipes with a damp cloth on the interior flat surfaces.

[Dv8ted2]

I clean it out once or twice a month. It ensures proper air flow and keeps things from overheating.

[gadgetguy]

About 4 times a year. I use some combination of vacuum, canned air, q-tips, and dust cloth. I also pull and reseat my cards and cables while I have it open.

[cwb]

Whenever it starts to look like Halloween inside.

Then if Halloween is within the next 11 months or so, I leave it 'till after Halloween.

I haven't learned that 'dust' (or vacuum) is also a verb.




Really, about quarterly with the vac mini-brush. Cool tool! But what's up with 'over-spinnin' the fan???

[impmon2]

My PC don't get much dust inside because a pair of powerful delta fans (120mm, 235CFM each) sucks most of them out. I do check once in a while to clean it out.

I did get a free "non working" PC that worked fine after a bit of TLC:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01716.jpg (inside PC)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01720.jpg (CPU heatsink with fan removed)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01719.jpg (power supply gut)

yeah very messy. That PC is only 2 years old BTW so no idea how it got so dusty.

[redwudz]

I can see why it's 'non-working'. Thanks, that's a classic.

[usually_quiet]

I clean mine about once a year and it's pretty dirty, though not as bad as the picture.

A couple of PC magazines I subscribe to had interesting articles about cleaning PC's within the past 2 years. They both agreed that one should not use a vacuum on the insides, because of the possibility of a static discharge. What they recommended was taking it outside and blowing out the dust with canned air. They also sugested making your own filters out of Swiffer or similar dust cloths and taping it over the vents, if your PC does not have its own filters. Of course these would have to be replaced every few months.

The wierdest thing was cleaning the keyboard. One article suggested running it through the dishwasher on gentle cycle, using a teaspoon of liqiud dishwasher soap, without heated dry. Then air-dry upsde down for 3 days. I guess this is in the event you spill a sticky drink on it or need to decontaminate it, and the alternative is to throw it out. Doesn't seem safe to me, although I've heard that hospitals buy keyboards specially made to survive this kind of cleaning.

[edDV]

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01716.jpg (inside PC)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01720.jpg (CPU heatsink with fan removed)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/uzumaki_arashi_album/DSC01719.jpg (power supply gut)

yeah very messy. That PC is only 2 years old BTW so no idea how it got so dusty.

Eww! Take it outside and use a mask. Resist the tempation to use the power washer.

...although I've heard that hospitals buy keyboards specially made to survive this kind of cleaning.

I'd buy one with a "dishwasher safe" sticker.

[impmon2]

I used a shop vac to suck those out. Yeah I know static electricity but I'm not wasting money on canned air =P

And there are sealed spill proof keyboard, check eBay for silicone (sp?) keyboard. Small and full size and in many colors. Also good for one with short temper and likes to pound on keyboard.

Lastly: here's another air filter idea: if you are female or live with female, save any old nylon stocking and use it for screen. Probably a lot cheaper than swiffer.

[cwb]

I can see why it's 'non-working'. Thanks, that's a classic.

3 Halloweens in the same pc. Whatsa' problem???

[cwb]

I can see why it's 'non-working'. Thanks, that's a classic.

Just toss in a few seeds, and water regularly.

[cwb]

I can see why it's 'non-working'. Thanks, that's a classic.

Time to run the 'found new hardware wizard'?

pc-Cillin?

CHIA PC?

[yoda313]

Those must also be defective fans - two of them didn't get rid of the dust!

[gadgetguy]

I would be concerned about using a swiffer for a filter. I'm afraid it would limit the air flow too much and be almost as damaging as the dust.

[cwb]

Those must also be defective fans - two of them didn't get rid of the dust!

FANS???

I thought those two things were the FILTERS!!!

[yoda313]

Those must also be defective fans - two of them didn't get rid of the dust!

FANS???

I thought those two things were the FILTERS!!!

They have rotating blades from the looks of it. I assumed they were fans.....

[spysr]

Probably once a week, because my computer side is always open. Since my computer is kind of old it gets hot on rendering in Premiere. So i have i open always with a huge fan blowing in it. lol. ghetto... But it keeps it from overheating. I definintely need a new computer. I always have a can of compressed are around and blow it out once a week probably. Im sure the dust is just floating back in since its always open, but oh well.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Twice a year, usually when I change a card or something else inside the computer.

I take it outside and use the vacuum in reverse... that blows EVERYTHING away!.

[handyguy]

When I change parts inside it.