Winter Computer Cleaning Anyone?

[Jay]

Today just so happens to be National Clean Out Your Computer Day. Something I should probably observe. Roughly 5 years ago I built a gaming PC and it still works like a charm, but I have so much junk saved on it.I know for a fact that it is FILLED to the brim with useless files saved over the years and probably a lot of dust as well. Needs a cleaning inside and out.

I try to dismantle it completely every few months for a real dusting but every time it gets a bit harder to find the motivation because it's such a massive beast.

Anyone else have any custom rigs that attract dust like nothing else or files on your hrad drive you know should have been axed years ago?

-Jay

[maratsade]

"Today just so happens to be National Clean Out Your Computer Day"

Cleaning out my devices would disturb the gremlins that happily live there among files, apps,  and dust bunnies. 

[Liz]

I think once it gets warmer I'll have to take my PC out and use the computer duster I bought years ago and have only used one (1) time since then. I don't use my PC as much for hardcore gaming now, more for streaming movies and such.

-Liz

[GabeU]

I wish I would have taken pictures when I recently rebuilt my system.  The old one looked much like Jay's picture, but probably worse.   Living out in the sticks and on a road that has a lot of farmland makes it dusty around here, and having a cat doesn't make it any better.  

Though I replaced the motherboard, CPU, PSU and memory, I reused everything else, including the case.  This time, though, I added filter material to the intakes.  I cut the material to size and used double sided tape to hold it in place.  It's kind of ugly, but it keeps everything nice and clean.  🙂 

[Liz]

The cat mention reminded me of this:

"Mouse not detected"

-Liz

[C0RR0SIVE]

Hrm, didn't really do any winter cleaning, though, early spring cleaning and upgrading I suppose?  Decided I would go custom water cooling again, repurposed a few 10+ year old parts, tried my hand at painting and failed horribly.  The idea was to go for a bit of a resident evil theme, but meh.  But, I did get it pretty clean, the amount of clorox wipes I went through to get all that tar filled dust off everything...

[maratsade]

Looks awesome. 

[Liz]

Oh that's rad. Does it light up too? 

-Liz

[C0RR0SIVE]

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@Liz wrote:

Oh that's rad. Does it light up too? 

-Liz

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This is the best pic I can get due to the light messing with my phones camera...  It keeps trying to focus on different things.

[Jay]

What a beast!

-Jay

[maratsade]

"Beast" is right!

[Liz]

Since spring is almost here and we may get warmer weather soon, I've been wanting to take my rig outside and do something like this...

I don't expect my PC to be THAT bad, but I definitely don't want to dust it inside. 

But I'm recalling something a former boss insisted: vacuum! Don't use compressed air! His logic was that the compressed air would push the dust further into the crevices. What do you think? I get it, but I'm skeptical. 

Also I already have an electric compressed air gun that's fun to use. XD

-Liz

[maratsade]

I don't think the compressed air would push the dust into the crevices; not if the cleaning is thorough.  

You could try sandblasting the machine for a super clean result. 😉

[C0RR0SIVE]

Vacuum is a great idea, till you realize that the hose is plastic, and even clean air traveling at a high speed can generate static, then zap goes a $750 graphics card when the wand is a little too close.

Outside dusting = good enough, crevices don't really matter much, it's the overall airflow.  If there's a tight spot, use a small brush to help lift the dust, then blast it with canned air

[Liz]

Woah, I did not even consider static electricity. Thanks for the tip, @C0RR0SIVE!

-Liz

Vacuum is a great idea, till you realize that the hose is plastic, and even clean air traveling at a high speed can generate static, then zap goes a $750 graphics card when the wand is a little too close.

Outside dusting = good enough, crevices don't really matter much, it's the overall airflow.  If there's a tight spot, use a small brush to help lift the dust, then blast it with canned air

[MarkJFine]

MacBooks have a metal case and are fairly resistant to static electricity. That's a good thing because my running socks cause all sorts of static on carpet. I'm constantly zapping something.

[GabeU]

@C0RR0SIVE 

Now that's neat looking!