How Often Do You Clean Your PC?

[xkm1948]

My PC has been BSOD more and more frequently now the weather is getting warmer. So I finally decided to take a look at my case and see how bad it is.

Basically, all the radiators are clogged up ENTIRELY by dust bunnies. It was bad. It has been one year since I did any serious cleaning of the fans and radiators so I am definitely guilty of that.

 

[biffzinker]

I try to clean it out weekly but recently started doing it monthly.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I voted once per year, but that is "completely" like the poll asks.

I clean my intake filters every month. That isn't accounted for.

 

[XiGMAKiD]

At least once a year for me

 

[MrGenius]

I voted monthly. But it's usually not quite that often. Way more than once a year though. At least every 2 or 3 months. So 4 to 6 times a year...ish.

EDIT: Changed vote to quarterly.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I vote you need to add a quarterly option as well.

 

[xkm1948]

I vote you need to add a quarterly option as well.

added

 

[Bill_Bright]

The correct answer is, "when it is needed".

There is no set answer. Everybody's environment is different. There are just too many variables. Windows open or closed. Pets shedding hair and dander. Kids running around stirring up dust. Carpet or bare floors. Height off the floor the computer sits. Number of case fans. HVAC filter efficiency/cleanliness. Number of hours per day computer is on (fans sucking in dust). Air filters or no filters. Filter locations.

So two identical computers used in identical ways, but in different environments and surroundings will surely need cleaning at different intervals.

I generally recommend visual inspections once a month (windowed cases are nice for that) then cleaning as necessary for the first year (all 4 seasons) with new computers. That interval can then be increased or decreased once a dust build-up pattern is determined.

For me, I keep CoreTemp running in my system tray and regularly keep watch of my CPU temps. When they sit above 60°C for more than a couple seconds when my computer is tasked, I know I am overdue cleaning my filters.

 

[64K]

A couple of times a year. It depends. When I had a pet I cleaned it out more often and many years ago when I smoked I cleaned it out more often.

 

[cdawall]

When it is needed... Could be a month could be 6

 

[Jetster]

As little as possible. I voted once a year. I run positive pressure to keep the dust out. IMO you should not mess with electronics any more then necessary as they are fragile and easily damaged. Even the most experienced PC tech can drop a part or bend a pin on a bad day.

Laptop, I say never. Keep it away from dust.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

When it is needed... Could be a month could be 6

Pretty much the same. No real time span limit, most when dust starts to showing lightly.

Add "Other"?

 

[Bill_Bright]

I run positive pressure to keep the dust out.

As long as the positive is not too much. Too positive or too negative causes the fans to work against each other - hindering the desired "flow" through the case and reducing cooling effectiveness.

Balanced pressure that leans ever so slightly towards positive is best. That persuades the dusty air to enter via the [hopefully] filtered air intakes while keeping dusty air from entering around all the cracks in the case.

As for keeping notebooks away from dust - yeah right. Dust is a problem where dust gets stirred up. The very nature of notebooks being mobile devices means they very likely will be in environments where dust is getting stirred up. The problem with notebooks is the makers have done a lousy job of designing cases that allow easy access for proper cleaning. But they still need proper cleaning - even if it is to be left to a professional, or one with lots of experiencing opening up notebooks.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I voted once per year, but that is "completely" like the poll asks.

I clean my intake filters every month. That isn't accounted for.

I'm with you , i fitted extra filtering in the front plus plugged any air gaps so by and large i only need to clean out the filters.
Once a year it gets ugly for a bit but by and large i am upgrading something at that time too so don't mind but there's still not much gets inside these days.
That once a month filter clean is essentiall though i get 6-10° higher temps and can have crashes etc since it's on crunching and folding i don't allow this.

 

[Jetster]

As long as the positive is not too much. Too positive or too negative causes the fans to work against each other - hindering the desired "flow" through the case and reducing cooling effectiveness.

With the vents in the pci slots and other places real pressure should never build. It's actually not positive but surplus air is that make sense so shouldn't have any effect of fans performance. Just enough to keep the dust from getting sucked in the vents and cracks.

Another thought, one room I have have carpet, my main PC is in a room with wood floor. Big difference in the dust in both rooms. Carpet is bad for PCs

I ran across a laptop a couple of months ago. 8 years old had a cool access for cleaning the HS. I guess it was too practical because you don't see that anymore

 

[Aquinus]

I used to do it quarterly and now it's more like yearly. The Antec 1200 is a pain to get the front filters out with though. I shouldn't have to remove 24 bolts (8 for each HDD caddy, 4 on each side,) to get to them.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It's actually not positive but surplus air

Surplus air pressure inside is positive pressure. And again, a little is okay because it keeps any dust from entering in around those PCIe slots (and USB ports too). A good thing.

As for filtering, I will never buy a case without removable, washable filters again. But not all are created equal.

As for breaking down my systems and lugging them outside for a "complete" cleaning with an air compressor, the answer is still, "when it is needed". This, my primary system, is running at least 6 hours per day. I put it together new in February 2016 and so far, have not had to do a complete cleaning yet. That's with a Fractal Design R4 case.

This replaced my last computer that was in a Corsair Carbide 300r case and while that had filters, the interior still required thorough cleaning every 7 - 8 months.

 

[psyko12]

I do it quarterly or as needed. I also do weekly cleaning for the air filters and stocking filters that I've rigged up for some intakes that didn't have a built in air filter.

 

[EarthDog]

Lol at the statement there is a right answer...

Anyway, i clean it out annually, the whole case. About monthly i clean the filters on the intake.

 

[yotano211]

I open up my laptop about every 2 months to clean the heatsinks. That is why I only look for laptops that has easy maintenance. my current laptop in the system specs only need 5 screws to open the bottom hatch then 6 more screws to take out the fans and start blowing.

 

[hapkiman]

As little as possible. I voted once a year. I run positive pressure to keep the dust out. IMO you should not mess with electronics any more then necessary as they are fragile and easily damaged. Even the most experienced PC tech can drop a part or bend a pin on a bad day.

Laptop, I say never. Keep it away from dust.

Probably about every two months, some times a little longer between cleanings. So quarterly is probably my best answer. I am extremely careful, and have never damaged any component while cleaning.

Just watch what you are doing and you should be fine - clean and dust free is much better than leaving it full of dust just because you are scared of breaking it. And for a regular cleaning, what "pins" are you exposing? I don't take out the CPU. Why should you?

 

[Vario]

I don't use filters, blocks airflow. Instead I just blow it out any time I open the case up, maybe once or twice a month with my Datavac ED500. There isn't much dust in my room. I am using the standard 120mm and 140mm ring grills but otherwise no filter, so I don't reduce my airflow. When I open my case up twice a month there is little to no dust.

I run a lot of positive pressure because my intake is a 140mm 140 CFM Yate Loon D14BH-12 and my exhaust is a 120mm 74 CFM Corsair SP120L from a H100i. I should get a more powerful 120mm exhaust with PWM function. Most of the time these fans run at 30%. Every vent hole on this case blows out air, I can tell its very pressurized, probably too pressurized. My temps are good though.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Don't forget that power supplies exhaust too. Even those bottom mounted pull some air from the case interior.

 

[Vario]

Don't forget that power supplies exhaust too. Even those bottom mounted pull some air from the case interior.

Not on this PCA05 case LOL. The power supply has a hole I added in the case floor to take in fresh air from the bottom and it exhausts into my front bezel. To keep heat build up in the bezel from occurring I had to turn the front exhaust into front intake.

 

[KainXS]

Once a year or when I notice its dirty, I clean my laptop more often then the desktop though.