• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

How often do you clean you PC & how?

peche

Thermaltake fanboy
Joined
Nov 7, 2014
Messages
6,709 (1.71/day)
Location
San Jose, Costa Rica
System Name Athenna
Processor intel i7 3770 *Dellided*
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Rev. 1.1
Cooling Thermaltake Water 3.0 Pro + Tt Riing12 x2 / Tt ThunderBlade / Gelid Slim 120UV fans
Memory 16GB DRR3 Kingoston with Custom Tt spreaders + HyperX Fan
Video Card(s) GeForce GTX 980 4GB Nvidia Sample
Storage Crucial M4 SSD 64GB's / Seagate Barracuda 2TB / Seagate Barracuda 320GB's
Display(s) 22" LG FLATRON 1920 x 1280p
Case Thermaltake Commander G42 Window
Audio Device(s) On-board Dolby 5.1+ Kingston HyperX Cloud 1
Power Supply Themaltake TR2 700W 80plus bronce & APC Pro backup 1000Va
Mouse Tt eSports Level 10M Rev 1.0 Diamond Black & Tt Conkor "L" mouse pad
Keyboard Tt eSports KNUCKER
Software windows 10x64Pro
Benchmark Scores well I've fried a 775' P4 12 years ago, that counts?
sups lads, how often do you use to clean your computer and how?

lets share a little more, dust is what we mostly hate, so it’s always cool to know stories and also learn !

I use to clean my computers every year at least, also last year I did twice… then 6 months ago … and I'm looking forward to get some dust out my rig!

canned air.. some lint free clothes and also a new cable management, but the thing is about a new case, I'm loocking forward a new case for upgrading my old tighten case… and try to perform a new and better cable management and maybe some cable mod…!

:rolleyes:


what about you ?
 
how often do you use to clean your computer and how?
When it needs it!

You cannot put a time/schedule on it because every home is different. Some have pets, some have kids, some have AC, some smoke, some have none of the above impacting dust build up.

I try to look inside once a month and clean when I see dust building up on the heat sink.

I lug my systems outside and blast with my air compressor which is equipped with a inline moisture and particulate filter when needed - which is maybe once a year.

I note too I only buy cases with removable and washable dust filters so I don't have to tear down and lug my systems outside near as often.
 
I note too I only buy cases with removable and washable dust filters so I don't have to tear down and lug my systems outside near as often.

I only go with cases that have filters on intakes now. Before that, I was cleaning it 3 times a year. Now it's down to 1-2 times a year depending how dusty it looks.

Same as Bill, I use canned air to blow off the fine dust stuck on the hardware and heatsink fans and use a vacuum to suck it all up. Also, those removable filters are a lifesaver though I'm telling you!
 
i smoke by my pc which crunches 24/7

i built it about 6 months ago, we burn coal daily.

There was no noticeable difference in temp and the fan on the reverse of the rad was spotless

20151101_154251.jpg


20151101_154256.jpg
20151031_134658.jpg



filthy
 
6 to 8 months... with brushes and air compressor, outside on deck.
 
That’s right… it may depend of pretty much conditions, weather and also the place where it is …

in my particular case I use to clean the computer when dust is unsupportable, I do clean rad fins, fan blades, and almost everything, I do use canned air and also a brush… for taking the dust out, [I put a rubber band on the brush trying to avoid statics…] I had a anti-static brush… but I lost it…

504424_xl.jpg

Regards,
 
Caps are those fan blades worn or is that factory sculpted for efficiency
 
Air compressor is my first choice. If that is inadequate, I'll break out the vacuum cleaner with brush nozzle (should probably leave it connected to the mains if you do this so the ground can pull static electricity off it). If it's something quick or I'm feeling exceptionally lazy, I'll break out the canned air. Canned air always leaves me disappointed though (loses pressure way too fast).
 
@dorsetknob
They are beautiful blades covered in Welsh dirt and my exhalations, so mainly Welsh dirt.

71CgdcgHQML._SL1200_.jpg

£ 8.00 each

i had one either side of the rad and i put one in the psu for gorgeousness
 
Each week when I am near with the vacuumcleaner I clean the removable filters from my Fractal Define R5. Then I take a cloth(same as for glases cleaning). And wipe the FAN blades and the flat surface fast... No special effort.

Once a month I take off the fans from my NH-15s and use a brush to clean the ribs.

Once in a half year I take the whole case to work to blow the dust using a compressed air...

I have been doing it since my childhood 90ties in order to keep my precious hardware polished... Well... The more often you clean the home surrounding, the less you need to worry about the PC dust pit :D.
 
Personally, I use a vaccum and cloth/brushes. I will not use forced air to force dust into places it wouldn't normally reach.

No smoking, no pets in my house, but I do have 4 kids who seem to bring their own messes with them, and my PCs are in the livingroom, which is a high traffic area, and is close to the kitchen. So there is at times oils and such in the air from cooking. I monthly clean with vacuum, and will do dishwasher/hot soapy water on parts every so often... it really depends on how dirty things get.
 
I got tired of my cans being inoperable after a few minutes and having to wait for them to return to room temperature, so I got rid of them.

20151103_004533.jpg

This thing's really powerful, but really loud. Instead of freezing my hands off after prolonged use, this one heats up instead, so I take extra care of the motor and only use it in bursts up to 5-10 seconds long.

This country seems to be very dusty in general compared to where I come from. I wash the SG08's 180mm filter and blow out the PC every 2 weeks.
 
Not often enough and not thoroughly enough.
 
Air compressor is my first choice. If that is inadequate, I'll break out the vacuum cleaner with brush nozzle (should probably leave it connected to the mains if you do this so the ground can pull static electricity off it). If it's something quick or I'm feeling exceptionally lazy, I'll break out the canned air. Canned air always leaves me disappointed though (loses pressure way too fast).
correct... i use canned air when is available and cheap ... case no makes no sense stay getting one every time i clean my rig... also i preffer the non static brush ... and air compressor....

Personally, I use a vaccum and cloth/brushes. I will not use forced air to force dust into places it wouldn't normally reach.

No smoking, no pets in my house, but I do have 4 kids who seem to bring their own messes with them, and my PCs are in the livingroom, which is a high traffic area, and is close to the kitchen. So there is at times oils and such in the air from cooking. I monthly clean with vacuum, and will do dishwasher/hot soapy water on parts every so often... it really depends on how dirty things get.
washing ? if yes would like to ear moar!
 
outside every week,inside every month (smoker :( )
 
washing ? if yes would like to ear moar!

Treat your PC goods like a million dollar car... they get washed too! Remove heatsinks, thermal pads, etc, fill your sink with hot water and just a couple drops of mild dish soap (you know, the type they use to clean wildlife when they get in oil), use a soft-bristled brush, and clean away! Let dry for a couple of days (I stick them in a storage room with a de-humidifier).
 
My room is a dust magnet so i try and clean the pc at least once a month and i will use what ever i have to hand including the hated vacuum cleaner.

Yeah i know static static staic thats why i sit on a metal plate :p
 
Compressed air when needed. I use swiffer dust pads on the inside of the front of the case and the bottom air intakes to keep dust out.. unscented dryer sheets also work. Never had a problem with temps.
 
washing ? if yes would like to ear moar!
Hear more? What, put it in the dishwasher... make sure it dries... reinstall. I did this with boards that I used vaseline on it for sub zero benchmarking. :)
 
About once every 6 months with air compressor.
 
View attachment 68952

This thing's really powerful, but really loud. Instead of freezing my hands off after prolonged use, this one heats up instead, so I take extra care of the motor and only use it in bursts up to 5-10 seconds long.

That's what I use but I disassemble my systems before cleaning every summer and winter . It does get pretty warm and definitely make sure the bottom filter on it stays clean.
 
I just spray it with a can of compressed air once a month or so. The dogs shed quite a bit so I have a hair problem with mine.
 
Eh too lazy for that. I'd brush it with the first brush I see and hope a genie come out of it.
 
My case is on the floor beneath my desk, an FD Define R4. With all my previous (el cheapo) cases I've always had massive dust build up because I smoke on my room (and not just a little... :D) and cleaning out the sticky cake was a bi-monthly business.

Now, every time I open up my case I am surprised to see virtually all dust caught by the dust filters. The only real culprit was my old PSU intake at the bottom, always found a huge cake on that filter, but now ever since I stepped up to a fresh PSU (EVGA Supernova G2 750w) that shuts off the fan at low power draw... there is nothing left to clean.

Lovin' it! All I do now is take off the dust with my hand on the outside of the filter & done deal :) Saving lots of money on compressed air... so if you're in the market for a good case you know where to go. Spend a little extra and get that dust filter going because you recoup that expense within one cleaning job's time.
 
Back
Top