PC cleaning

hacktheworld

hacktheworld

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I clean my Linux PC desktop every six months, use a brush and a hair dryer to remove the dust inside. It’s still as new even if it is 15 years old because, thank God, I have the Linux operating system otherwise I would have to throw it away. In summer, because the temperatures often exceed 35-40 degrees C°, I put it in an air-conditioned room, and soon I will add 2 GB of RAM. How long do you think the computer needs to be cleaned inside?
 
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hacktheworld said:
How long do you think the computer needs to be cleaned inside?
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Since the early 80's I have serviced my desktop every year [unless I have had reason to be inside it, then wit would also get an extra clean before starting any work., the most important parts [the vents on the case and particular around the PSU get a quick brush out every couple of months from the outside to stop them clogging
 
hacktheworld said:
I clean my Linux PC desktop every six months, use a brush and a hair dryer to remove the dust inside. It’s still as new even if it is 15 years old because, thank God, I have the Linux operating system otherwise I would have to throw it away. In summer, because the temperatures often exceed 35-40 degrees C°, I put it in an air-conditioned room, and soon I will add 2 GB of RAM. How long do you think the computer needs to be cleaned inside?
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You mean how often yes? I suppose it depends on how dirty your air is. Computers certainly prefer to operate at a comfortable temperature. As far as cleaning goes, give it a look once in a while and see if it looks like it needs it. Some vacuum cleaner bag companies make bags with HEPA filter technology built in. You could put a small fan in the hole in the bag and there you have it, your own HEPA air filter for a cheap price. This can help to clean your air so your computer doesn't need to be cleaned out as often.

Signed,

Matthew Campbell
 
A cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol is ideal for cleaning the blades of fans...a good supply of cotton buds is mandatory

Also a good way to clean a keyboard
 
At least as often as I wash my car... bu that's not saying much. :) I clean it out any time I'm mucking around inside of it, with special attention to the fans and heat sinks, of course. The last couple of years, I've been in a more pet-hair-intensive environment so I'll probably give everything a quick look this month. I once had a laptop apart and wondered why there was a felt "filter" in the output area of the fan... and I almost put it back together with the "filter" in place before realizing it was actually just cat hair.
 
My Studio and Home Lab collects a LOT of dust. My house was built in like the early early 1900s so has a lot of stone walls and stone foundation that has deteriorated. Not quite "dirt floor" status, but definitely "dust floor". So I clean my rigs/servers rather frequently due to build up.

I have a small air compressor that I use to blast air through all the fans, cracks, n crevasses. After that I do the same as @Condobloke and wipe everything down with alcohol swabs.

I like to change my thermal paste once a year unless thermal readings indicate it needs it sooner (It's actually never indicated there's an issue due to my insistence on keeping it "fresh"). I figure if I'm yanking components for cleaning, at some point I might as well repaste just to be 100% certain she's good to go.

As for the dusting, I just keep an eye on the front panels filter and once it starts looking like a jack rabbit I figure it's time to clean it lol. Server's the same way, but I just keep an eye on the rack's top fan and once it's turned grey I typically clean it up.

I've heard a lot of old timers claim there's no point in cleaning them, that it doesn't "make that much difference"; but I've always been of the belief that at the bare minimum one should keep their fans clean to ensure longevity and low resistance.

It's mind boggling to me some of these dudes that have like 6'' of dust and cobwebs built up in their case. I mean, if it works it works, but it'll work longer and better if you take care of it lol

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Can't remember that last time i cleaned my PC. I should clean it when i get back from work...

But i remember when i first built it, i used to clean it every other week. How far iv'e fallen
 
AlphaObeisance said:
I've heard a lot of old timers claim there's no point in cleaning them, that it doesn't "make that much difference";
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This old timer defiantly disagrees, keeping them clean helps to avoid "Dry joints", damage to bearings in the moving parts, and reduces the possibilities of short circuits, and burn-outs due to poor air circulation.
 
IzanagiPicaro said:
Can't remember that last time i cleaned my PC. I should clean it when i get back from work...

But i remember when i first built it, i used to clean it every other week. How far iv'e fallen
Click to expand...

The fans of your computer should be activated frequently, since it is a time that you don't clean it. After you have cleaned it, you will immediately notice the difference. With cleaning the PC, the cooling system will be effective.
You could also check the temperature of the CPU with a tool called Psensor:
www.ubuntupit.com

Psensor Sensor Monitor in Linux: A Hardware Monitoring Tool [GUI]

Psensor is a hardware temperature monitoring tool for Linux. In this post, we will see how to install the Psensor sensor monitor in Linux.
www.ubuntupit.com www.ubuntupit.com
 
I blast my Frankenstein builds out with short blasts of air from an air compressor around 30lbs psi at least once a year.

As for the need for reapplying thermal paste never saw any need in doing so unless the processor heat sink has been removed.
 
Every summer, I take PCs outside and give them a prolonged blast with a 500W air duster/blower. Quite a cloud of dust results but the innards sparkle afterwards. I avoid disturbing heat sinks unless it's absolutely necessary.
 
Condobloke said:
A cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol is ideal for cleaning the blades of fans...a good supply of cotton buds is mandatory

Also a good way to clean a keyboard
Click to expand...
I clean with alcohol free baby wipes which have been proven to be very effective. Alcohol can dry plastic and make it brittle.

Signed,

Matthew Campbell
 
The last time I cleaned my laptop, which is much harder to clean than a desktop PC, I took it and I brought it to the gas station and the employee was very kind and used compressed air that is used to inflate car tires. After cleaning, the CPU no longer overheated and the fans were switched off, I also definitely extended the life of my laptop.
 
hacktheworld said:
The last time I cleaned my laptop, which is much harder to clean than a desktop PC, I took it and I brought it to the gas station and the employee was very kind and used compressed air that is used to inflate car tires. After cleaning, the CPU no longer overheated and the fans were switched off, I also definitely extended the life of my laptop.
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I have a tower system that was given to me "for disposal" with no mention of why it was up for disposal. I took a look at the inside of it and the CPU heatsink was almost completely blocked with dust/dirt so I surmise the thing was shutting down whenever it got too hot. I cleaned it and used it as my primary desktop for a while. I had promised I would wipe the hard drive, so I did, then installed linux.
 
MikeRocor said:
I have a tower system that was given to me "for disposal" with no mention of why it was up for disposal. I took a look at the inside of it and the CPU heatsink was almost completely blocked with dust/dirt so I surmise the thing was shutting down whenever it got too hot. I cleaned it and used it as my primary desktop for a while.
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I'm amazed at how many people never consider how much dust can accumulate inside of their desktops over time.

I've been given several desktops in the condition you've mentioned that the fans wouldn't even spin they were jammed full of dust.

After a few good blasts from an air hose the desktops were put back into service and were used by me for years.
 
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@hacktheworld, it is not all ways a cleaning theme.

Try to renew the thermally conductive paste between CPU and cooler. There are a lot of videos on youtube how to do.
 
Gloster said:
Try to renew the thermally conductive paste between CPU and cooler. There are a lot of videos on youtube how to do.
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its easy enough to do, but it is easy to get it wrong, the number of people that put too much paste on the cpu is quite high
 
@Brickwizard, I can not follow you. Also old PCs have temperature monitors, the CPU will be switched off.
And if it is so, the user does know whats wrong. Nothing will be destroyed, its all ways recoverable, next try with new paste.
But not to remove old, rock hard paste, leads also to CPU switch off features.
 
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