cleaning pc without compressed air?

[medar]

Is it possible? If yes how? I don't wanna look on youtube cuz a lot of them say vacuum which is dangerous, i know this because I damaged 1 of my PCs

[jaslion]

With a paint brush sorta. But really compressed air + paintbrush is king.

 

You can also get one of those pc duster devices they cost about 30$ at most. Way more economical than getting weak sauce cans of "air".

[Noir_68]

yes, it's possible but it takes a lot of time.. you can use isopropyl alcohol and paper towel/cloth to clean your pc

[medar]

Just now, Noir_68 said:

yes, it's possible but it takes a lot of time.. you can use isopropyl alcohol and paper towel/cloth to clean your pc

where tf can I get that alcohol? I know alcohols generally come in percentages so how much percent of what do I need? I also wanna change the thermal paste on my cpu so I'd like to use the same alcohol for both

[medar]

1 minute ago, jaslion said:

With a paint brush sorta. But really compressed air + paintbrush is king.

 

You can also get one of those pc duster devices they cost about 30$ at most. Way more economical than getting weak sauce cans of "air".

the big paint brush u paint walls with? or small xd

[Crunchy Dragon]

It's a bit painful and takes longer, but it can be done.

 

3 minutes ago, yagamilight said:

where tf can I get that alcohol? I know alcohols generally come in percentages so how much percent of what do I need? I also wanna change the thermal paste on my cpu so I'd like to use the same alcohol for both

Pharmacies, drug stores, grocery stores. I typically buy 72% isopropyl alcohol and it works fine for all my cleaning purposes.

[thekingofmonks]

I use a vacuum cleaner along with a brush lol

 

It's a shitshow if it sucks in a loose cap or some mosfet

[DigitalGoat]

10 minutes ago, yagamilight said:

where tf can I get that alcohol? I know alcohols generally come in percentages so how much percent of what do I need? I also wanna change the thermal paste on my cpu so I'd like to use the same alcohol for both

Rubbing alcohol is widely available and is the right sort of %, make sure it has no additives that could leave sticky residue. I use a Compu Clean mains air duster (cost £35 + a box of 35 lint less swabs of different sizes)  and a small soft paint brush, works fine.

[GuiltySpark_]

4 minutes ago, thekingofmonks said:

I use a vacuum cleaner along with a brush lol

 

It's a shitshow if it sucks in a loose cap or some mosfet

This. I've been using a vacuum and automotive detail brushes for years, never been an issue. I prefer to suck up dust, not blow it around. 

[Mister Woof]

You can get one of those electric dusters which works well enough. Depending on your environment, stuff may get caked on and the duster won't work to remove it. In those cases, Q tips and 91% IPA works well.

 

As far as cleaning.......if you have any type of pets or otherwise dirty environment (near kitchen, etc) you'll just get dusty and dirty. Not much to do about it. I used to be really anal about making sure my shit was clean, but these days I just blow the big chunks out. I notice almost no difference in thermal performance between a 5 minute once-over with the blower to get the big chunks out and a deep deep clean. So it's not really worth it for the most part to get that last 10-20% cleaned out.

 

I see stuff like Greg Salazar mention what he thinks is "filthy"...uh yeah, sure buddy. Often the before shot is what my PC's look like after a "good" cleaning.

[jaslion]

1 hour ago, yagamilight said:

the big paint brush u paint walls with? or small xd

Both! Big for general brushing and deep heatsinks. Small for the finer details and hard to reach places.

[medar]

2 hours ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

This. I've been using a vacuum and automotive detail brushes for years, never been an issue. I prefer to suck up dust, not blow it around. 

how tf do I use a vacuum? Everyone has been saying that it's bad now it's suddenly good? Idk what to do now

[GuiltySpark_]

12 minutes ago, yagamilight said:

how tf do I use a vacuum? Everyone has been saying that it's bad now it's suddenly good? Idk what to do now

I didn't say it was good, I just don't care what other people say. I use my own judgement and recognize i'm at fault if there is a problem. 

 

Now, 15 years later, I've not managed to kill anything yet. YMMV.

[medar]

1 hour ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

I didn't say it was good, I just don't care what other people say. I use my own judgement and recognize i'm at fault if there is a problem. 

 

Now, 15 years later, I've not managed to kill anything yet. YMMV.

do u use the vacuum on max power or do u put it on low power ? If theres even an option on your vacuum for that

 

[GuiltySpark_]

7 minutes ago, yagamilight said:

do u use the vacuum on max power or do u put it on low power ? If theres even an option on your vacuum for that

 

There is only one setting on any vacuum i've used. 

 

Technique is important, i'm not shoving the nozzle into the components, i'm just leaving it near them as I brush dust from the surface of things into it.

[Blue4130]

5 hours ago, Shimmy Gummi said:

.

 

I see stuff like Greg Salazar mention what he thinks is "filthy"...uh yeah, sure buddy. Often the before shot is what my PC's look like after a "good" cleaning.

I got raked over the coals here for having a nightmare filter pc because it has a very slight bit of dust on the gpu backplate. I don't know where other people live, but where I am, if you don't dust every day, dust is reality. 

 

And for the op, I use an old toothbrush for heatsink fin cleaning. No components to break off, so you can be pretty aggressive. 

[Mister Woof]

16 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

I got raked over the coals here for having a nightmare filter pc because it has a very slight bit of dust on the gpu backplate. I don't know where other people live, but where I am, if you don't dust every day, dust is reality. 

 

And for the op, I use an old toothbrush for heatsink fin cleaning. No components to break off, so you can be pretty aggressive. 

Interior shot about 2 weeks or so after a "blow the chunks out" cleaning:

 

Nice layer of dust everywhere. It's imperfect....but idgaf anymore. Gets me 90% of the way there and spending more time doesn't actually benefit the time wasted

 

This is with positive airflow too....6 in (3 side in,  3 front in) 4 out (3 top out, 1 rear out)....

[medar]

13 hours ago, Shimmy Gummi said:

Interior shot about 2 weeks or so after a "blow the chunks out" cleaning:

 

Nice layer of dust everywhere. It's imperfect....but idgaf anymore. Gets me 90% of the way there and spending more time doesn't actually benefit the time wasted

 

This is with positive airflow too....6 in (3 side in,  3 front in) 4 out (3 top out, 1 rear out)....

damn bro ur pc looks nice ngl

[Noir_68]

23 hours ago, yagamilight said:

where tf can I get that alcohol? I know alcohols generally come in percentages so how much percent of what do I need? I also wanna change the thermal paste on my cpu so I'd like to use the same alcohol for both

i usually bought them from local online shop.. maybe you can find one in your local pharmacy. Rubbing alcohol is fine too

[Mister Woof]

If you're in the states, Walmart sells 91% IPA for cheaper than dirt generally

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-91-Isopropyl-Alcohol-Liquid-Antiseptic-32-fl-oz-Twin-Pack/979211867

 

This amount will last you for like....ever.

 

91% IPA and the rest is purified water, no other detergents or moisturizers like sanitizers