Advice on good pc practice

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

So, guys, just wanted to take advantage of the wealth of experience here and ask a few quick questions. 

 

1) Assuming it's safe to open my case, what tools would one recommend for giving the interior (i.e the components) a clean?

(Mainly to clean dust etc...)

Is a something like a toothbrush too coarse, or a small paintbrush too fine and prone to leave hairs behind?

I'm assuming any liquid is a no-no.

Compressed air?

 

2) Is it safe to use extension leads (a long box with multiple sockets to plug stuff into) to plug the computer into, or is it safer to plug it directly into the wall, or does it make no difference?

 

Sorry, if these seem rather simplistic questions  - it's just there is contradictory advice out there and I figured there might be a consensus among the forum users about best practice.

 

Thanks, in advance, guys.

[Ankerson]

1 minute ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

1) Assuming it's safe to open my case, what tools would one recommend for giving the interior (i.e the components) a clean?

(Mainly to clean dust etc...)

Is a something like a toothbrush too coarse, or a small paintbrush too fine and prone to leave hairs behind?

I'm assuming any liquid is a no-no.

Compressed air?

 

Compressed air and a paint brush works well. Just make sure the PC is off and unplug it from the power.

 

1 minute ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

2) Is it safe to use extension leads (a long box with multiple sockets to plug stuff into) to plug the computer into, or is it safer to plug it directly into the wall, or does it make no difference?

 

Yes, you really should be using a surge protector for all of your electronics PC, TVs etc.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

5 minutes ago, Ankerson said:

 

Compressed air and a paint brush works well. Just make sure the PC is off and unplug it from the power.

 

 

Yes, you really should be using a surge protector for all of your electronics PC, TVs etc.

I don't have an issue with power surges or cuts...think I've had maybe one in 7 years at current place.

 

Would you say that is largely unimportant if it is in an extension lead?

 

If power were suddenly cut to the computer whilst it was on, particularly if I were gaming, would it corrupt everything and effectively brick the system or would it just require a few moments upon start up and then returns to normal?

 

My only experience is with my ps4 (froze a couple of times and had no choice but to pull plug out) and all that happens in that case is it has to re-read (reformat?) my external hard drive and then it is back to normal. 

[tkitch]

Confirming What Ankerson said.  
Canned / Compressed air will do wonders to clean out the case.  A soft brush to get at stuff that's being difficult.  (Don't use a compressor, there's a few reasons they're not optimal for inside computers.)

Yes, use Surge Protectors.

[jaslion]

9 minutes ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

So, guys, just wanted to take advantage of the wealth of experience here and ask a few quick questions. 

 

1) Assuming it's safe to open my case, what tools would one recommend for giving the interior (i.e the components) a clean?

(Mainly to clean dust etc...)

Is a something like a toothbrush too coarse, or a small paintbrush too fine and prone to leave hairs behind?

I'm assuming any liquid is a no-no.

Compressed air?

 

2) Is it safe to use extension leads (a long box with multiple sockets to plug stuff into) to plug the computer into, or is it safer to plug it directly into the wall, or does it make no difference?

 

Sorry, if these seem rather simplistic questions  - it's just there is contradictory advice out there and I figured there might be a consensus among the forum users about best practice.

 

Thanks, in advance, guys.

 

1) Compressed air (just get a cheap compressor it's basically the price of 3 cans and will last longer+do so much more) and a paintbrush. Worst case I dump some break cleaner on it and scrub it with a harder brush. Depends on how much I care about the parts :p.

 

2) Sure why not. Just don't be that person that plugs 5 screens, their computer, their ricecooker, their aquarium, their massage chair and whatnot into the same wallsocket :p.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

1 minute ago, tkitch said:

Confirming What Ankerson said.  
Canned / Compressed air will do wonders to clean out the case.  A soft brush to get at stuff that's being difficult.  (Don't use a compressor, there's a few reasons they're not optimal for inside computers.)

Yes, use Surge Protectors.

Right, thanks for that.

 

Appreciate the advice.

[tkitch]

2 minutes ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

I don't have an issue with power surges or cuts...think I've had maybe one in 7 years at current place.

 

Would you say that is largely unimportant if it is in an extension lead?

 

If power were suddenly cut to the computer whilst it was on, particularly if I were gaming, would it corrupt everything and effectively brick the system or would it just require a few moments upon start up and then returns to normal?

 

My only experience is with my ps4 (froze a couple of times and had no choice but to pull plug out) and all that happens in that case is it has to re-read (reformat?) my external hard drive and then it is back to normal. 

If power goes out unexpectedly, the only thing that'll save you is an UPS.  Uninterruptible Power Supply.  

They're well worth the $ if you spent decent $ on your PC.

 

As for Data loss, that's all luck.  Most of the time?  You probably won't notice anything.  But, if you're unlucky?  You're hosed.  It can totally corrupt the drive.

[Ankerson]

1 minute ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

I don't have an issue with power surges or cuts...think I've had maybe one in 7 years at current place.

 

Would you say that is largely unimportant if it is in an extension lead?

 

If power were suddenly cut to the computer whilst it was on, particularly if I were gaming, would it corrupt everything and effectively brick the system or would it just require a few moments upon start up and then returns to normal?

 

My only experience is with my ps4 and all that happens in that case is it has to re-read (reformat?) my external hard drive and it is back to normal. 

 

More protection is better than no protection...

 

I have had electronics fried from power issues over the years, you just never know when something will happen.

 

I had the power go off and on like 5 times in less than a min once and it killed my TV... Couldn't get to it in time to turn it off...

 

 

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

Just now, jaslion said:

 

1) Compressed air (just get a cheap compressor it's basically the price of 3 cans and will last longer+do so much more) and a paintbrush. Worst case I dump some break cleaner on it and scrub it with a harder brush. Depends on how much I care about the parts :p.

 

2) Sure why not. Just don't be that person that plugs 5 screens, their computer, their ricecooker, their aquarium, their massage chair and whatnot into the same wallsocket :p.

lol...no, I only use it because I can't reach the main plug socket from where the computer is.

 

At best I might have a monitor plugged in as well.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

4 minutes ago, tkitch said:

If power goes out unexpectedly, the only thing that'll save you is an UPS.  Uninterruptible Power Supply.  

They're well worth the $ if you spent decent $ on your PC.

 

As for Data loss, that's all luck.  Most of the time?  You probably won't notice anything.  But, if you're unlucky?  You're hosed.  It can totally corrupt the drive.

I mean, I've spent a fair amount all told...enough that I want to look after it and use good practice. 

 

I intend to be a pc gamer now till I'm too old to know my own name; so with good habits it's best to start early.

[tkitch]

2 minutes ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

lol...no, I only use it because I can't reach the main plug socket from where the computer is.

 

At best I might have a monitor plugged in as well.

FYI "Extension Lead" is not part of the American Vernacular.  

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

2 minutes ago, Ankerson said:

 

More protection is better than no protection...

 

I have had electronics fried from power issues over the years, you just never know when something will happen.

 

I had the power go off and on like 5 times in less than a min once and it killed my TV... Couldn't get to it in time to turn it off...

 

 

Fair point...I guess you can never really know what can happen. 

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

Just now, tkitch said:

FYI "Extension Lead" is not part of the American Vernacular.  

I'm not American, so why would that matter to me?

 

What do you call it?

[jaslion]

6 minutes ago, tkitch said:

Confirming What Ankerson said.  
Canned / Compressed air will do wonders to clean out the case.  A soft brush to get at stuff that's being difficult.  (Don't use a compressor, there's a few reasons they're not optimal for inside computers.)

Yes, use Surge Protectors.

I do recommend a compressor. All you need to known is to not go over 3bar of pressure and to first point it away from the computer and blow some air to avoid any moisture that may or may not build up inside them.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

Just now, jaslion said:

I do recommend a compressor. All you need to known is to not go over 3bar of pressure and to first point it away from the computer and blow some air to avoid any moisture that may or may not build up inside them.

I used one when I took my ps4 apart last year, but I was a bit worried as the pc parts seem more fragile, and are a lot more expensive. 

 

Just have to use a bit of common sense, I guess.

[Ankerson]

Something like this is good, what I use for air, better than canned air...

 

https://www.amazon.com/EasyGo-Compucleaner-2-0-Electronic-Compressed/dp/B0787KXTFW

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

Just now, Ankerson said:

Something like this is good, what I use for air, better than canned air...

 

https://www.amazon.com/EasyGo-Compucleaner-2-0-Electronic-Compressed/dp/B0787KXTFW

I was using one of those with a straw on the can...lol.

 

I suppose it's best to get something that will do a proper job and last a while.

[jaslion]

4 minutes ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

I used one when I took my ps4 apart last year, but I was a bit worried as the pc parts seem more fragile, and are a lot more expensive. 

 

Just have to use a bit of common sense, I guess.

I'm a little more carefree about parts as I'm well aware what abuse they can easily take :p. I am after all the dude that has been putting his keyboards in the dishwasher for over a decade.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

2 minutes ago, jaslion said:

I'm a little more carefree about parts as I'm well aware what abuse they can easily take :p. I am after all the dude that has been putting his keyboards in the dishwasher for over a decade.

Not when the dishwasher is on I hope?

[tkitch]

Just now, Maury Sells Wigs said:

Not when the dishwasher is on I hope?

Nope, running keyboards through a dishwasher is perfectly fine!  (Just give it plenty of time to dry before re-using)

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

Not when the dishwasher is on I hope?

Of course why else would they be in there? I am not cleaning keyboards by hand too much work. Removing keys is already a chore and a half.

[Ankerson]

4 minutes ago, Maury Sells Wigs said:

Not when the dishwasher is on I hope?

 

With a good KB you can actually do that.

 

Just have to let it dry completely before plugging it back in.

 

I don't don't do it.

 

I use a paint brush with alcohol on it then wipe it down, only takes a min....

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

Just now, jaslion said:

Of course why else would they be in there? I am not cleaning keyboards by hand too much work. Removing keys is already a chore and a half.

I misread...lol.

 

I thought you said you put them ON the dishwasher, not IN the dishwasher.

 

I mean, does it work?

 

[jaslion]

Just now, tkitch said:

Nope, running keyboards through a dishwasher is perfectly fine!  (Just give it plenty of time to dry before re-using)

I do a 50c 1 hour soap run and then a 30 min rinse run. Lost one keyboard out of who knows how many but that was my own fault.

[Morrie Sells Wigs]

1 minute ago, Ankerson said:

 

With a good KB you can actually do that.

 

Just have to let it dry completely before plugging it back in.

I suppose if the case is sealed tight...maybe?