How often should you clean our your computer?

[K i a r a]

Hey!

I was wondering, I am getting a new GPU with Black Friday sales, and was wondering.

 

My computer on the inside is rather dusty, I think i cleaned it out about half a year ago. Took everything out and like air compressed the dust off the parts, its just little cans of air from a super market (gpu, cpu cooler, fans) I dont even know if that a good way to do it. 

 

Really was wondering what a safe way to clean everything is, and how often it should be done, with getting a new GPU i wanted to make sure everything was sparkling. 

 

[Levent]

As long as fan noise doesnt annoy me and it doesnt throttle with fan settings I have, I dont bother. Which is usually once a year.

[BrokeAFKid]

More often   . Also as needed. If your PC is not dusty, there is not need to clean it. If it is get to it. Compressed air is good, if your PC is filthy it might not be enough and you might need to take it apart. 

[Skiiwee29]

I personally do it every 2-3 months at most.

[paddy-stone]

I use an air compressor. BUT, the main thing is to try and limit how much dust enters the system instead, so positive air pressure is preferable. Also some regions get more dust than others, so it's not a one size fits all here.

I usually clean mine out a few times a year, or more if I'm upgrading something in the system anyway.

[K i a r a]

4 minutes ago, paddy-stone said:

I use an air compressor. BUT, the main thing is to try and limit how much dust enters the system instead, so positive air pressure is preferable. Also some regions get more dust than others, so it's not a one size fits all here.

I usually clean mine out a few times a year, or more if I'm upgrading something in the system anyway.

What about my Power supply. I normaly have to clean out the filter more at the bottom bc it gets really dusty, Is shooting airinsde the psu a bad idea LMAO.

[Constantin]

2 times a year is ok.

The case filters though should be cleaned regularly

[paddy-stone]

2 minutes ago, K i a r a said:

What about my Power supply. I normaly have to clean out the filter more at the bottom bc it gets really dusty, Is shooting airinsde the psu a bad idea LMAO.

If it's filtered, there shouldn't be that much dust in there... but as long as you're careful and don't try to push too much psi through then you should be OK. If you push too much air through, then you could theoretically break something.

[NineEyeRon]

I clean the dust out every 6 months or so.

 

Its mostly to clean the dust filters as the rest doesn't get dirty at all.

[D.U.F.F.]

-Censored-

[PlayStation 2]

Legitimately whenever you feel it's necessary. See, the problem with answering a question like this is that it's hard to give accurate enough estimations because of various factors. Inevitably, your desktop's gonna get dusty, but how dusty to warrant cleaning it out is another question entirely.

That being said, twice a year as a general rule probably isn't bad. Which reminds me that I should clean out my PC.

[AConde]

I usually go with Twice a year +  any time I make updates or take something out. It all deppends on your system. Mine has 2 fans blowing air (and dust) inside + an open space above where dust could enter (I could place more fans there but It's cool enough right now. One thing you may have to take into consideration is looking for the case manual to see if there is some filter you could clean. I didn't know until some months ago that the filter was that easy to remove and clean (and there were 28 months of dust stuck in it)

 

Cleaning the PC is just a choice btw. I've had one at home that could do with no cleaning in 5 years

[Roswell]

Whenever I need to install something new. I have a case with a bunch of dust filters and have positive air pressure, so nothing ever really gets in there. I clean the dust filters every 2 months or so.

[Zodiark1593]

If there's a need for me to pull my desktop out, I give it a cleaning while I'm there. Generally about once a year. My PlayStation 2 gets cleaned about every few months due to the size and age. My laptop is passively cooled and so does not give a "F" about dust. Need to clean out the lens on my Canon G7X though as a big speck of dust shows at about F5.6 and smaller.

[Vorg]

Keeping the computer up high helps. The higher it is, the less dust it tends to pick up. But keep in mind that hot air rises, so you are moving it into the hottest area of the room.

[K i a r a]

Just now, Vorg said:

Keeping the computer up high helps. The higher it is, the less dust it tends to pick up. But keep in mind that hot air rises, so you are moving it into the hottest area of the room.

Hmm, I was gonna ask that. I wanted to try it on my desk. But I’m not sure. 

[K i a r a]

10 minutes ago, Vorg said:

 

There’s uh.... definitely a lot of dust.

[TetraSky]

Depends how dusty the environment you live in is. If there's a lot of construction work nearby, if you often leave your window/doors open, etc...

 

One relatively easy way, is if you notice a lot of dust pilling up relatively quickly on your desk or on top of your monitor (basically any places you wouldn't usually be touching)... Then you should probably dust it off every 3 months or so.

Otherwise and especially if you have dust filters, 6+ months is fine.

[K i a r a]

13 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Depends how dusty the environment you live in is. If there's a lot of construction work nearby, if you often leave your window/doors open, etcOne

My room gets so dusty, and I have no clue why. 
none of the things listed are something I do. 
But yeah I don’t mind cleaning it often. 
Do you think on my desk would be a better option? Or is the ground fine. 

[TetraSky]

51 minutes ago, K i a r a said:

Do you think on my desk would be a better option? Or is the ground fine. 

On your desk.

On the ground, it would pick up more dust that you bring in from walking.

[amdorintel]

air can it once a year, maybe twice a year is all

anything more would be as a result of a really dusty enviroment like a business say wood dust or something.

[Mark Kaine]

4 hours ago, amdorintel said:

air can it once a year, maybe twice a year is all

anything more would be as a result of a really dusty enviroment like a business say wood dust or something.

I live in an old (and cheaply build) house it produces a whole lot dust on its own... Forest is like 150m away, small city... there's just a lot of dust. 

 

I painted my walls with latex,  it helps a bit for sure but doesn't really change the overall situation much. 

 

Clean every 2 weeks or so with air duster,  vacuum,  cloth, qtips, some isopropyl if necessary... 

 

Which reminds me it's time to do it again haha,  ughhh (I don't enjoy doing that but I really like my PC to be clean lol)

 

 

[Kisai]

9 hours ago, K i a r a said:

Hey!

I was wondering, I am getting a new GPU with Black Friday sales, and was wondering.

 

My computer on the inside is rather dusty, I think i cleaned it out about half a year ago. Took everything out and like air compressed the dust off the parts, its just little cans of air from a super market (gpu, cpu cooler, fans) I dont even know if that a good way to do it. 

 

Really was wondering what a safe way to clean everything is, and how often it should be done, with getting a new GPU i wanted to make sure everything was sparkling. 

 

It depends on your environment.

 

Unplug everything. Wait for everything to be cold, then blow the dust out of things, preferably outside. You can also use a vacuum with a plastic crevice tool (avoid pointing it at the fans.) You generally do not want to use anything that can exert a lot of force on the parts since you might blow off surface-mounted parts unintentionally. eg, avoid shop vacs and air compressors with the PSI over 40psi. Can's of compressed air can hit 145 PSI if you press it too hard.

 

[amdorintel]

maybe there is such a thing as a de-dust machine thats not too expensive, perhaps dyson or layout some fans around with a air filter.

[rmnsachy]

11 hours ago, K i a r a said:

Hey!

I was wondering, I am getting a new GPU with Black Friday sales, and was wondering.

 

My computer on the inside is rather dusty, I think i cleaned it out about half a year ago. Took everything out and like air compressed the dust off the parts, its just little cans of air from a super market (gpu, cpu cooler, fans) I dont even know if that a good way to do it. 

 

Really was wondering what a safe way to clean everything is, and how often it should be done, with getting a new GPU i wanted to make sure everything was sparkling. 

 

i would clean mine every 3 months or when im going to a lan party

 

as long as your system isnt over heating because you havent cleaned it then you should be fine