How often should i clean my GAMING PC

[fahadhum]

It's been over a year or more since i bought my assembled PC...

Soon after i bought a liquid cooling fan and i replaced the stock Intel cooling fan for better gaming and longer hours of gaming safely.

Now,i clean my pc after 2 or 3 weeks.And i just blow the dust off it it's hardware.I do not unscrew anything.I honestly do not know how to assemble and disassemble my LIQUID cooling fan or my graphics card ...

So , i am a bit worried that should i get it cleaned by disassembling it's hardware components i.e Liquid Cooling Fan...An other fan and Graphics Card via a shop or continue using it like this..

I do hear a slight...SLIGHT clicking sound ..may be indicating that i perhaps need a system clean up..

So, can somebody guide me ...

 

[Layback Bear]

How long between cleanings varies.

What environment is the computer in. Dusty, sandy or areas with pets will need cleaning more often.

Do or do not all the intake fans have filters and are the filters kept clean.

Because you don't have the experience doing such a thing you have three choices.

1. Taking your system to a professional shop for cleaning.
2. Ask a experienced friend to help and guide you.
3. Watch several videos on line and learn how to do it yourself.
Then go forward carefully. It's really not hard to do once one learns the basics.

The first aftermarket cpu air cooler I installed many years ago scared the hell out of me but it worked well when I was done. That led me down the road to building my own computers.

Jack

 

[Megahertz07]

- I would install air intake filters and clean them once a month. This will keep the inside computer parts clean.
- As you have liquid cooling, you can also install an air intake filter.
- If you can take the water cooling fan from the water cooling heat exchange, clean the water cooling heat exchange with a vacuum cleaner once a year.
- Don't blow compressed air or use a vacuum cleaner on the fan. You can damage it.

 

[fahadhum]

i see....

How long between cleanings varies.

What environment is the computer in. Dusty, sandy or areas with pets will need cleaning more often.

Do or do not all the intake fans have filters and are the filters kept clean.

Because you don't have the experience doing such a thing you have three choices.

1. Taking your system to a professional shop for cleaning.
2. Ask a experienced friend to help and guide you.
3. Watch several videos on line and learn how to do it yourself.
Then go forward carefully. It's really not hard to do once one learns the basics.

The first aftermarket cpu air cooler I installed many years ago scared the hell out of me but it worked well when I was done. That led me down the road to building my own computers.

Jack

HMMMM i am hearing subtle clicking noise i.e if i bring my ear to my system.Which wasn't there some months or a year ago.So,perhaps it is a sign that i need to unscrew my FANS , my graphics card and other hardware (may be ) too , to clean them from the inside.And not just blowing off air from the outer body ..WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING all this time..

What about the thermal paste under the Graphics card chip ??? How often shall i replace that.Should i replace that too when i take my system to the shop for cleaning ....?

 

[Megahertz07]

Thermal paste doesn't need to be replaced if you don't take the heat sink out.

Clicking noise is a sign of a damage bearing from a fan or from HDD.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thermal paste doesn't need to be replaced if you don't take the heat sink out.

Clicking noise is a sign of a damage bearing from a fan or from HDD.

Agree and by clicking is the click a rapid or slow or an intermittent one?

Just by the by the PSU how old is that?

Just a tip when you are cleaning fans of one sort or another and are using compressed air to blow off the crud make sure the fan blades are kept still either by holding them or using a cable tie (not done up) to prevent them spinning a a speed that they were not designed to take it could be the last straw for the bearing and I have seen it mentioned that spinning fans that way may induce a voltage in to the system and that you do not want.

Edit: The thermal compound for the GPU chip only needs to be done if the temps are really quite high. However it is generally an easy job but very fiddly. For the temps use this Speccy - Free Download - Piriform

 

[mjf]

Just a tip when you are cleaning fans of one sort or another and are using compressed air to blow off the crud make sure the fan blades are kept still either by holding them or using a cable tie ..

Agree. I find a plastic drinking straw inserted and maybe held between the the fan blades is a simple way to stop the blades spinning when using compressed air. You obviously don't attempt cleaning when your PC is on.
I find the cost of compressed air cans a rip off and can't source a suitable small compressor. They may be more available in places like the US.

It may help to keep your PC raised off the ground a little.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I added real air conditioner filter material to my screens
They work very well
I had to add a tin or sheet metal grid on it so the filter material won't get sucked in but that was easy

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep like TZ I use a sheer material some net curtain, a material called Organza (very fine) it really doesn't matter and instead of cleaning the material I find it just as easy to cut a new piece as the materials I mentioned are very cheap.

As for the air well I use a vacuum cleaner with a reduced piece of clear ploy tubing taped to the large cleaner tube and I run an earth wire from around the rim of it to an earth point for collecting ant static that it may cause. In my mind static is caused by air passing over and disturbing dust particles and therefore it seems of no consequence of which direction the air is flowing as to how much static is set up.
But I stand to be corrected of course.

 

[mjf]

As for the air well I use a vacuum cleaner with a reduced piece of clear ploy tubing taped to the large cleaner tube and I run an earth wire from around the rim of it to an earth point for collecting ant static ....

I wouldn't recommend this. Even with an earth wire you'll still get a potentially strong electrostatic field which is more of a problem because you need to move the plastic vacuum tube close to the dust area giving a potentially (sorry for the pun) high conduction path.

With a blower you can operate some distance away and minimize charged particles.
At least that's how I see it.

Here is a hobby forum comment
Should I vacuum my PC? — Ask PC Gamer | PC Gamer

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep MJF I agree to a point and just for the record I always use a cheap artists hogs hair paint brush (of varying sizes) to clean down first to loosen the sometimes hard crud that one sometimes comes across, and especially good for those cooling fins on the CPU cooler.

I suppose it a subject that could be discussed for ever and I am of the opinion that prevention is better than cure eh?

 

[Layback Bear]

I use non-static brushes and a air compressor.

Amazon.com: Antistatic Brushes - Lab Cleaning Brushes: Industrial & Scientific

I seldom need more than the intake filters cleaned.

Jack

 

[fahadhum]

Thank you so much guys for a load of tips and suggestions.I feel embarrassed to admit that i do not have an extensive amount of knowledge like you guys regarding , cleaners and fans and similar customization.

So,for now i am gonna clean the dust by opening the case (which means , just blowing air via my mouth and using a small piece of cloth to wipe the dust of of my Liquid Cooling Corsair Fan , my Graphics Card and the rest of hard to reach corners to the extent that i can ).Then when i get time , i will take my system to the shop where i bought it from.

I spoke with them earlier and they said that they will look what needs to be cleaned and then will decide how much i have to pay them.Also , the guy said that they used to have these devices for cleaning PC's which the government has banned(STRANGELY).So,i told them that just unscrew everything and clean the dust off.

 

[Layback Bear]

Ask you repair shop if you could watch them clean your computer. If they allow you to watch it will be a good chance to learn.

Jack

 

[JordanMihailov]

I personally clean my if i see that there is dust. If you have good air flow you won't need to clean it very osten But generally over few months is good a think.

 

[fahadhum]

Good idea...

Ask you repair shop if you could watch them clean your computer. If they allow you to watch it will be a good chance to learn.

Jack

That's actually a good idea.I will see if they allow me to do that.I wouldn't like going to the shop again and again.But , i doubt if they will do at the same time when i will be there.

 

[Deviancy]

During the fall, winter, and spring, I clean the inside of the case at the start of each season, unless I have to tweak/fix something inside the case like a fan. During the summer, due to being in SoCal and it getting so hot, I tend to clean the case 1-2 times per month. Over the years I had one issue, I had a cheap PNY GPU and the compressed air tweaked the fan so these days, I don't use compressed air on the GPU fan and I don't really need to, the EVGA I'm using doesn't seem to collect any dust on the fan.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

During the fall, winter, and spring, I clean the inside of the case at the start of each season, unless I have to tweak/fix something inside the case like a fan. During the summer, due to being in SoCal and it getting so hot, I tend to clean the case 1-2 times per month. Over the years I had one issue, I had a cheap PNY GPU and the compressed air tweaked the fan so these days, I don't use compressed air on the GPU fan and I don't really need to, the EVGA I'm using doesn't seem to collect any dust on the fan.

When blowing the dust from a computer, you have to block the fans from rotating to avoid damage from overspinning the fans.

 

[Deviancy]

When blowing the dust from a computer, you have to block the fans from rotating to avoid damage from overspinning the fans.

Yeah, I learned that the hard way with the rear case fan. Thankfully, it pulled away from its frame a bit and when it popped back into place, the vibration it was causing stopped. I got a new 120mm fan just in case but I noticed the speed switch is on the fan, while the one in the case now, the speed switch is on the back of the case. If I hook it up, it appears I can set the speed using that switch on the back of the case or the switch on the fan. But to be on the safe side, when I do install it, I'm just going to leave the case switch to the setting its always been on. Both are Antec Twocool fans, shouldn't be an issue if I ever install it.

 

[fahadhum]

Ok Guys.1st of all , Sorry for the late reply.I went to the repair shop and talked to the Tech guys if they can just disassemble my pc hardware components.Clean the dust off inside of it and then just assemble it again.

They said , we used to do that kind of cleaning with a blower and the authorities here does not allow it anymore...

So, they can't do it.

I am wondering , how will i disassemble and assemble the hardware components myself...

And will the dirt remain forever inside the hardware components....