Funky_Junk
Limp Gawd
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- Oct 1, 2005
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- 353
I just got a can of compressed air to dust off the inside of my computer but I was wondering if there was any rules, guidelines or a specific way to do it. Thanks.
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Dusting off Computer
- Thread starter Funky_Junk
- Start date
hokatichenci
Gawd
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- Oct 28, 2004
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- 722
I've had good luck lightly attacking the main area to try to get the lightest dust off first, then I viciously head for all the fans before spraying the rest of the components. Then go for any spots where theres still lots of dust. My Antec full tower collects a serious amount of dust, so I usually have 2-3 cans that I alternate between otherwise the pressure of the air is weak.
No rules required - do what suits you.
I use a small paint brush to free some of the more clinging dust, and a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust, rather than blowing it around.
Periodically, you probably should do a more detailed cleaning:
- Check filters, if you use them.
- Pull the CPU heatsink fan, and clean heatsink fins.
- Check all fan blades, perhaps wipe the gunk off the blades with Windex, etc.
Hope this helps!
I use a small paint brush to free some of the more clinging dust, and a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust, rather than blowing it around.
Periodically, you probably should do a more detailed cleaning:
- Check filters, if you use them.
- Pull the CPU heatsink fan, and clean heatsink fins.
- Check all fan blades, perhaps wipe the gunk off the blades with Windex, etc.
Hope this helps!
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2001
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- 12,379
Turn the can upside down and spray .... 
Axman
VP of Extreme Liberty
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Make sure to let your computer sit for an hour unplugged to be certain that all the electrolytics are discharged. What the gas doesn't get off cotton swabs and alcohol will, not just more gas. Don't shoot gas into one end of the PSU. In fact, don't shoot gas into the PSU at all. If it's cruddy, clean it by hand.
BlindedByScience
More Human than Human
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- May 26, 2000
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- 9,282
....while it's tempting and fun as hell, I don't think it's great on fan bearings to "high tach" 'em with the compressed air. Not that I'd ever do such a thing......
What's the point of allowing the electrolytics to discharge? I think the canned air will blow 'em off just fine, charged or discharged. Now if it was inside a montor that would be a different issue, but with the PC unplugged, the highest stored voltage you'll find is +12 and even then not for very long.
As far as "shooting gas into one end of the PSU".....I do it all the time. Even with the power on, so the fans kick the dust out of the PSU. Never had an issue.....
Do you know something I don't....??
Regards - B.B.S.
....why?Axman said:
What's the point of allowing the electrolytics to discharge? I think the canned air will blow 'em off just fine, charged or discharged. Now if it was inside a montor that would be a different issue, but with the PC unplugged, the highest stored voltage you'll find is +12 and even then not for very long.
As far as "shooting gas into one end of the PSU".....I do it all the time. Even with the power on, so the fans kick the dust out of the PSU. Never had an issue.....
Do you know something I don't....??
Regards - B.B.S.
MD_Willington
2[H]4U
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- Jul 15, 2004
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- 2,233
Lock the fan rotors, if you hit them with compressed air you can spin them faster than they are spec'd for...
Zing... "hey why does my fan make that grinding noise"?
MD
Zing... "hey why does my fan make that grinding noise"?
MD
Axman
VP of Extreme Liberty
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Most motherboards will discharge themselves in seconds, especially those with burn-out LEDs and/ or onboard sound plugged in. I give things an hour when I'm giving advice even though I'm likely to wait, oh, say, long enough for me to unplug everything and open stuff up because, fuck, it's not my computer.
Power supplies, on the other hand, don't just have 12 volts running through them. They have a hundred twenty. That can take some time to turn into heat, and very cold gas and warmish capacitors can let out the magic purple smoke that computers run on. That and the brown goo. Besides, while electrically delicate a PSU might be, thermally, they can take a little fuzz on their shit.
Finally, you gas a component and your machine doesn't spin, you can probably figure it out fast enough. You toast your PSU and you might spend a week scratching your head. And who knows what a bad PSU can do to everything else before you nail it down as the culprit.
Power supplies, on the other hand, don't just have 12 volts running through them. They have a hundred twenty. That can take some time to turn into heat, and very cold gas and warmish capacitors can let out the magic purple smoke that computers run on. That and the brown goo. Besides, while electrically delicate a PSU might be, thermally, they can take a little fuzz on their shit.
Finally, you gas a component and your machine doesn't spin, you can probably figure it out fast enough. You toast your PSU and you might spend a week scratching your head. And who knows what a bad PSU can do to everything else before you nail it down as the culprit.
InorganicMatter
[H]F Junkie
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- Oct 19, 2004
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- 15,461
I've got a 125HP Air Compressor I use to spray out with. It gets everything clean as a wistle, I've used it to blow out PSUs, fans, floppys, CD drives and all. Never hurt a thing.
On a side note, have you ever held a can of compressed air upside-down and sprayed it directly on the motherboard...while the computer is on? It's quite interesting really, and I don't reccomend trying it. On second though, don't try it at all.
On a side note, have you ever held a can of compressed air upside-down and sprayed it directly on the motherboard...while the computer is on?
It's quite interesting really, and I don't reccomend trying it. On second though, don't try it at all.BlindedByScience said:....while it's tempting and fun as hell, I don't think it's great on fan bearings to "high tach" 'em with the compressed air. Not that I'd ever do such a thing......
yeah ive messed up a few fans that way... but the fun part is the fans with led's, you can spin them fast enough that it'll light them up
ethos747474nikon8989
Limp Gawd
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Whats wrong with using the air to spin the fans out? If they fans are gonna die they will just die a little sooner. Fans are cheap and it's fun to hear them scream.
JOKER_JOKER
Limp Gawd
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- Nov 2, 2005
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sac_tagg said:On a side note, have you ever held a can of compressed air upside-down and sprayed it directly on the motherboard...while the computer is on?
What happens if you do it?
Nothing at all. In fact, I'll let you borrow my air compressor so you can see how high you can get all the fans in your system (including HSF, GPU fan, and PS fans). Now if only there was a way to measure the fan speed.....ethos747474nikon8989 said:
Oh duh! Just leave the computer on with MBM 5 running! So where do I ship this compressor again?
SSlaytanic
Limp Gawd
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How can i clean my heatsink fan? I've heard that if you dont hold the rotors or something, it can kill the CPU...
Also, for the video card, can i just spray as much as i want where i want?
Should I spray a little to the side or directly on top of it?
Also, for the video card, can i just spray as much as i want where i want?
Should I spray a little to the side or directly on top of it?
benamaster
[H]ard|Gawd
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- Aug 16, 2005
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The cotton swab with alcohol method works great on anything if the dust is really caked on. Always hold the fan so it doesn't spin while your blow the compressed air.
I thought air compressors were bad because they blow out water with the air? Its not as dry as compressed air.
I thought air compressors were bad because they blow out water with the air? Its not as dry as compressed air.