Dust build-up and cleaning

[ksgant]

This goes out to Angry Gamer and the rest of you...how often do you clean your computer out from the dust build-up around your heatsinks and fans?

 

If your overclocking, I'm sure this directly effects the temps you're experiencing and stability? If so, how often do you clean out your computer? I'm in an old house that has a MAJOR dust problem as it is.

 

Do you check weekly? Monthly? Also, what is your prefered method of cleaning? Vacuum? Canned Air?

[demonR6]

Have you contemplated getting some fan filters for your system at all? Also if you have dust problems, I would look into getting some slot protectors to keep from getting dust in them. I habitually clean the interior of my case once a month unless I have had the panel off for any amount of time then it can be more frequent as necessary.

 

Also I prefer canned air over a vacuum..

[thesaucier]

I clean once a week but I have my thesaucier-FX2000. I took an old vacuum and took off the hoses. Then I attached some 1/2 inch water-cooling tubing to the exhaust and duck taped it sealed. I then tapered it to 1/4 tubing at the end. I disconnected the brushes. Now it works great to blow out the inside of my cases and work great! :shake:

 

 

Yes folks it the thesaucier-FX2000

[Angry_Games]

This goes out to Angry Gamer and the rest of you...how often do you clean your computer out from the dust build-up around your heatsinks and fans?

 

If your overclocking, I'm sure this directly effects the temps you're experiencing and stability? If so, how often do you clean out your computer? I'm in an old house that has a MAJOR dust problem as it is.

 

Do you check weekly? Monthly? Also, what is your prefered method of cleaning? Vacuum? Canned Air?

 

 

i generally pull the machine once a month, remove all side panels, and then hit it with one of these two ways (depends on where I am heh)

 

1. Costco and buy a case of canned air (about 1-2 cans per rig is what I use, and I use 2 at a time as when one gets ice cold from ejecting air, I use the second can to get the same kind of air pressure)

 

 

2. air compressor with a moisture filter. It is dangerous to use an air compressor without a real good moisture remover/filter, as moisture can get trapped under/between components when blasted at the board at high speeds.

 

 

out of the two, the air compressor + filter is better and cheaper in the LONG run...but canned air is easier and cheaper for a once-in-a-while thing (ie I have about 10-20 computers that need to be maintained so compressor is better for me...if you have 1 or 2 computers, then canned air is the way to go)

 

 

i first blow all the fans from both sides.

 

then i blow video card and all periphials and then the cpu fan/heatsink.

 

then i stick the red long tube from the air can into the slots on the power supply and blow out through the back, then reverse and stick the long tube in through the back where the psu fan is and blow once more, then reverse once again.

 

then its off to hdd, floppy (inside the floppy too!), bottom of case etc.

 

always be thorough

[ksgant]

Have you contemplated getting some fan filters for your system at all? Also if you have dust problems, I would look into getting some slot protectors to keep from getting dust in them.

 

The thing is, I have the Coolermaster CM/Stacker which has heavy airflow. The entire front face is a grill letting in tons of air not to mention the big Crossflow motherboard fan that blows across the entire length of the motherboard. Don't know of an air-filter system for this case. But it keeps things nice a cool.

[alchohol]

I use this: AIRZOOKA!

 

Also great for scaring the cat.

[Angry_Games]

The thing is, I have the Coolermaster CM/Stacker which has heavy airflow. The entire front face is a grill letting in tons of air not to mention the big Crossflow motherboard fan that blows across the entire length of the motherboard. Don't know of an air-filter system for this case. But it keeps things nice a cool.

a VERY cheap and very good solution is to fit some dryer sheets (Bounce? the things that you throw in the clothes dryer) in front of the intake side of fans.

 

it collects dust, they are cheap and disposable, and they give a nice fresh scent!

[drewski]

a VERY cheap and very good solution is to fit some dryer sheets (Bounce? the things that you throw in the clothes dryer) in front of the intake side of fans.

 

it collects dust, they are cheap and disposable, and they give a nice fresh scent!

 

can i tie one around my wrist as an anti-static device too?

[Angry_Games]

yep...rub your feet a LOT on the carpet on a hot dry day and then go touching electronic circuit boards too!

 

 

 

lol...for anyone that doesnt know...I AM KIDDING

 

static electricity will KILL anything you touch it to =/

[red930]

I just use a nylon mesh(pantyhose) material for my fans. It's cheap and you can cut it to fit. Tape or gluestick will hold it on quite easily. Hot glue also works and is easy to remove. Once one corner is attached I give it a slight stretch to open the mesh a bit the fix the four corners. On a 120mm fan an additional point on each side keeps it nice and square.

 

This type of filter material shoul work for the Coolermaster CM/Stacker since you can buy the large size for the extra material.

[cpuz]

a VERY cheap and very good solution is to fit some dryer sheets (Bounce? the things that you throw in the clothes dryer) in front of the intake side of fans.

 

it collects dust, they are cheap and disposable, and they give a nice fresh scent!

Good tip!

[jtc_hunter]

This is the honest truth: I blow mine out about once a month. Canned air is too expensive and I feel is not powerful enough, so I take my tower out into the garage, set it on the tailgate of my truck and blow it out w/ my Stihl gas powered leaf blower. She is clean as a whistle when I am done.