Clean Your Damn Rig!

Just cleaned mine last night, it didn't look this bad, but probably could've, if the dust & cat hair didn't get spread perfectly over the entire case... :p

Tip, get the Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac, quite loud, but saves a ton of $$$ on dust removers. ^_^
 
I wonder how hard it would be to construct a HEPA enclosure that has enough air flow to keep everything cool as if it were sitting out, but keep dust and shit out?

I did it for about $75. Used three 140mm fans running at half speed to keep the noise way down. When gaming hard I can hear the 460 spin up but nothing else- a slight whir, but it's under 50dB threshold of my audio SPL meter.

They run in a fan array, pull air through a 3M Filtrete HEPA filter, 14"w X 20"h, and push into the front of the case across the 4 hard drives. Then it vents out the back through the vent holes (not in a push pull, not necessary) and the PSU and GTX 460 SSC video card (28fps on Unigine Heaven 2.5, 1920x1080, 4x, shaders high, DX11).

I switched to the this arrangement after I got the 460 with it's rear exhaust and got a 3.8Ghz OC on the Q8400; at the same time flipped my case upside down to put the PSU at the bottom and all the rear plugs at the top for easy access (Since the front panel isn't there anymore). Also had to pull out the DVD and card reader and stick'em on the top (was the bottom of the case) with packing tape.

Yeah, it's ugly as hell, but frankly I don't ever LOOK at the damned thing, I'm too busy USING it and that requires me to look at the MONITORS.

But it's been running for over 7 months now in this configuration on the same filter that is gradually turning gray with dust but there's not a speck of dust inside the case on any of the cooling vanes of the CPU cooler (Q8400 @ 3.8GHz).

Positive case pressure for the win.
 
I have had some PC fixes for friends and such that had dust like that in the CPU heatsink/fan.

In CLEAN houses too, you guys are being a little overdramatic on the unclean house claim....

I mean, my ENTIRE HAND full of this crap, just from the heatsink alone... lol. And I fixed all their "shut down random" problems. Try to avoid this guys..... stuff that bad can end up costing you way more than a $5 can of air :D
 
The market needs better fucking air fliters on the market and sealed cases so we don't have to clean the fucking things anymore.

every thing should run like a sophisticated server in a server clean room and no dust should get in those fuckers but Case makers Leave holes every where and Filters that are not good enough.

How do you expect the system to stay cool?

A little upkeep is all it takes to stay on top of the dust. Filters help, but are not perfect., and even with filters, you need to remove and clean them on a regular basis or they won't be effective.

Either way there is going to be regular maintenance.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I usually end up going to a LAN party or just over to a friends house with my computer every month or two. My computer makes a stop at my air compressor on its way to the car every time.
 
Ive seen it too many times on peoples computers. The worst thing is i bet IT peeps have to deal with this too. I wonder if IT depts. Make sure to get the cans of compressed air out....however something this bad you almost wanna pull out the vaccuum so all the dust dosent go all over the place...or go outside and do it.

You don't want to use a vacuum, because it creates static electricity. Taking it outside with compressed air is better.
 
My clothes dryer trap is better than that.;)

Looks like another PC on the floor.
 
All you got to do is dust your rig ever 2-4 months i use dist filters and only have to do it every 3-6 months. His system looks way newer than my own. Where does he live in a dusty basement?
 
My clothes dryer trap is better than that.;)

Looks like another PC on the floor.

I always keep my rigs on the floor. That helps distance the noise from my ears, as well as leaves me more free precious desk space. I would never put a mid or full tower on a desk.
 
Yuck! Gives new meaning to dust magnet. Not just dust bunnies but dust monsters. :eek:
 
Man, this happens to me all the time, the only time I clean it is when I upgrade components.
 
I'd post pics of my rig but I'd probably get banned. I just keep putting off cleaning it until I "have time" but that's stretched out for a long time now.
 
I live in a f'in desert with cats and long haired dogs in my house and my systems never get that bad. I clean the filters in my rig weekly and spray the heatsinks on the wife's computer clean about every two weeks. Her system is actually passively cooled with those big ass heatsinks in my sig.
 
I worked for a business for 10 years that did walk in PC service.
That is NOTHING compared to what I have seen.
The worst was always smokers (because they were generally nasty).
Those were the one their walked into the store smoking and ignoring the 5 or 6 No Smoking signs.
Their PCs were usually covered with a nasty yellow film and the inside was caked with cigarette smoke dust and filth. Usually it stunk so bad they would immediately take it to the dock and blow it out with an air compressor. And then several attempts with Formula 409 to get the yellow scum off their Dell or Gateway. I have to hand it to those guys, they took a lot of pride in their work and they usually got them clean enough the owners didn't recognize them. This was all BEFORE they started troubleshooting the actual problem. :rolleyes:
 
I normally air spray my rig 1-2 times/yr. It doesn't get too dirty since I have the case elevated off the carpet (so not sucking in dust from carpet - I learned my lesson from years ago), don't smoke, don't have pets, etc., so pretty much an ideal environment, short of a vacuum. :cool: That said, dust still happens and I blow that crap out.
 
I have never worked on a clean pc. I have done a lot of work lately on electronics and nothing has been cleaned. I've been thru a couple cans of air this year just doing repairs.
 
This is nothing, I once found what I believe to be a dead lizard in my case.
 
Worst I have ever had the pleasure of working on was a PC that was used in a company that made wooden house trusses and pre made walls. The entire socket was packed with saw dust under the cpu....
 
Confiscate it. NOW. He is banned from ever building again.

BANISH HIM TO THE WASTES OF A MEDIOCRE MASS-PRODUCED PIECE OF JUNK.
 
Back
Top