FYI - Remember to blow out your computers with compressed air

[bob332]

i just thought i would write this as a reminder. i was not able to blow out my box for about 6 months, cpu temps were hitting 70C while gaming. i blew it out today and now cpu temps are 45-49C while gaming. xp2000+ with stock heatsink. damn dust...

 

[BillClo]

I find that I need to do it monthly with my rig, or the temps start to go up. 4 degrees F doesn't sound like alot, but if your system is at the edge of stability anyways (OC'ing), it can make a difference.

Otherwise, just blow it out every couple months, or quarterly.

 

[Vegito]

my friends pc was so dusty, the powersupply got so clogged that it overheated and blew.. mobo, drives, etc gone.. luckily cards were not damaged.. but pretty much all drives were useless

 

[gsaldivar]

Just resist the temptation to "Whizz" the fans with the compressed air!

Since motors can act as generators, overspinning the fans with compressed air can generate enough voltage to burn out circuits! 🙂

 

[boran]

heh, also puting some nylon stocking pieces behind your intake fans (and cleaning em monthly !!) can make one helluva difference, I only have a very fine minescule layer of dust on my components after a year of not cleaning the interior. I have a dust filter tho, but I'm sure stockings could produce the same result.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Stockings might get clogged extremely fast. As long as you clean them regularly though they'd certainly provide the best filtering you can get without using a real multi-layer filter.

For those without any intake fans though, using negative pressure from exhaust fans, there isn't a whole lot that can be done.. The stock Athlon heatsinks now are just great big loud dust collectors though.

 

[Paulson]

Yeah, I use an old shop vac that you can use the exhaust to clean out computers... thing really cleans out the computer 🙂

 

[T3C]

Originally posted by: bob332
i just thought i would write this as a reminder. i was not able to blow out my box for about 6 months, cpu temps were hitting 70C while gaming. i blew it out today and now cpu temps are 45-49C while gaming. xp2000+ with stock heatsink. damn dust...

thank you, This is also very helpfull for for when you bring your pc in to the shop. I hate opening a machine and it looks like the thing sucked a cat in.


-CYBPNK

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Paulson
Yeah, I use an old shop vac that you can use the exhaust to clean out computers... thing really cleans out the computer 🙂

just a reminder that you shouldn't use a regular vacuum to clean out your computer internals since it generates static. you should really be using a non static vacuum specially made for computer components and other sensitive parts.

 

[corkyg]

There are special attachments for computer cleaning. It takes care of the static problem - which is very minor to start with. Blowing with compressed air doesn't get rid of the dust - it resettles. You can vacuum external devices - keyboard in particular - with no problem.

Another good solution is to gently wipe up the dust using a Swiffer or Grabit tissue. That gets rid of the dirt - doesn't just blow it somewhere else to resettle.

 

[GaryShandling]

Originally posted by: jjyiz28

Originally posted by: Paulson
Yeah, I use an old shop vac that you can use the exhaust to clean out computers... thing really cleans out the computer 🙂

just a reminder that you shouldn't use a regular vacuum to clean out your computer internals since it generates static. you should really be using a non static vacuum specially made for computer components and other sensitive parts.

The best thing to use to clean inside your case is 1 thing. This

 

[grant2]

I hate canned air, it just moves the dust around, makes a mess.

As for static, I'm going to clean my case in las vegas on thick shag carpet using an ancient vacuum with exposed wires I rubbed in my hair... just to peeve you all off! 🙂

 

[bob332]

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
Just resist the temptation to "Whizz" the fans with the compressed air!

Since motors can act as generators, overspinning the fans with compressed air can generate enough voltage to burn out circuits! 🙂

thanks, never thought of this. would you have to "whizz" for a long time? or just a quick burp?

 

[cmdrdredd]

I find that good old Hoover with the hose attachment works best 🙂

plastec is not static charged enough to hurt

 

[sharkeeper]

thanks, never thought of this. would you have to "whizz" for a long time? or just a quick burp?

The main risk when using compressed gases at high velocity is bearing damage to the fans. They will overspeed very quickly. I tried awhile ago with Nitrogen and a small (8cm) fan. With the regulator at 850 psig, I was able to quickly accelerate the fan hub to 24,000 RPM! (Digital Stroboscope verified!) I did this again (the noise was neat!) and on the third time the fan lost two blades, effectively exploding shrapnel all over the laboratory. :Q

-DAK-

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Here's a trick I use, and it especially helps with the summer heat. I take the side off my computer, then I get a big box fan, and place it approximitaly 6 inches from the computer (blowing out) and turn it on whenever my computer is on. I foudn this by accident when my old was overheating, and after about 2 days of using the fan I found huge dust balls on my carpet, and all the crap that used to be in my computer had was neatly goobered up on the floor. Although there was still a fine layer dust on top of cards and drives, but that was easily taken care of with a swiffer cloth.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
I find that good old Hoover with the hose attachment works best 🙂

plastec is not static charged enough to hurt

but it doesn't take much to damage a sensitive computer component, like ram. you don't need to feel a static discharge jump from your fingers to your mainboard. it takes far less to damage your computer, static discharge you won't even feel.

 

[MikeMike]

just use a shop-vac on the outside of ur comp, while your using canned air to spray it off, the dust will get sucked up by the shop vac, and no more dust.

and yea, i got problems using neg. pressure since i have a crappy koolance case, and it only has room for one fan on the rear.

MIKE

 

[Intelman07]

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
Just resist the temptation to "Whizz" the fans with the compressed air!

Since motors can act as generators, overspinning the fans with compressed air can generate enough voltage to burn out circuits! 🙂

I found that out the hard way!

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I rarely do it and my temps stay fine.... then again, I'm still on a Radeon VE, hehe, has a heatsink like 1cm high, actually maybe 1.5 cm high.