How often do users clean out their computers

[markp1989]

just curious as to how often people open their computer to remove dust etc, i done mine to day, and it made the cpu idle temp drop from about 55/60 C down to 40C i never thought it would make such a big difference

[FuturePilot]

Every couple months or so.

[markp1989]

Every couple months or so.

I hadnt done mine in about 9/10 months, explains why there was so much dust

[LaRoza]

My computer doesn't really get dirty inside, I do check it, and keep the outside clean.

[Iceni]

I never do that:) Maybe I should.

[notwen]

Twice a year. Religiously. I'll generally take his time as well to add in any components as well. =]

[neonl]

Once a month. Every time I open the computer to add any component. Tomorrow when I install my GeForce 8600 :) :) I'll do that...

[SZF2001]

Heh, you mean the inside?

I've got so many apps I haven't bothered to get rid of (ones I never use anymore) that it's gotten insane - two music players, three browsers, some scripts I can't even remember what they are for, etc. etc.

The inside, though, I don't worry too much about - I got my main fan, and then I got this better-than-main-fan fan going on in one of my PCI (is it PCI?) ports. I occasionally open and clean what little dust there is, and the fans, but they run so smooth all the time I don't think I should really bother.

[Lord Illidan]

I have a laptop, so not much trouble there!

[a12ctic]

Every season change.

[FuturePilot]

I never used to clean my computer out till I realized the fan was running full blast all the time. Took the side off and saw the heatsink was clogged up with dust:o

[Sporkman]

Heh, you mean the inside?

I've got so many apps I haven't bothered to get rid of (ones I never use anymore) that it's gotten insane - two music players, three browsers, some scripts I can't even remember what they are for, etc. etc.

The inside, though, I don't worry too much about - I got my main fan, and then I got this better-than-main-fan fan going on in one of my PCI (is it PCI?) ports. I occasionally open and clean what little dust there is, and the fans, but they run so smooth all the time I don't think I should really bother.

:D

"The files are....in...the computer!" --Hansel, in the movie Zoolander, says with dawning comprehension, after which he proceeds to toss the iMac over the balconey to smash it open & expose the files contained, for all to see.

[markp1989]

I never used to clean my computer out till I realized the fan was running full blast all the time. Took the side off and saw the heatsink was clogged up with dust:o

thats exactly what i done, it seems so quiet now

[iPower]

last time i cleaned one of my PCs was umm 2004 :P

[ezphilosophy]

What is the best way to clean the parts? Just blow on them? pressurized air?

[hessiess]

What is the best way to clean the parts? Just blow on them? pressurized air?

compressed air, outside if posoble;)

[southernman]

What is the best way to clean the parts? Just blow on them? pressurized air?

Yes, under normal circumstances. I've had a couple machines come in for OS repair, that I had to call the client back after opening the case to inform them their box needed cleaning out to. These were so disgustingly filthy it should have been a science experiment on how much smoke can you accumulate inside your box.

Compressed air wouldn't have worked at all. The dust was "glued" to the inside with nicotine. I had to go buy some electra clean...

edited/ back on topic:

I clean mine twice a year, or whenever adding / swapping components. I clean my filters out every month.

[Martje_001]

Once a year... sometimes 2 times a year :)

[mysticrider92]

Yes, under normal circumstances. I've had a couple machines come in for OS repair, that I had to call the client back after opening the case to inform them their box needed cleaning out to. These were so disgustingly filthy it should have been a science experiment on how much smoke can you accumulate inside your box.

Compressed air wouldn't have worked at all. The dust was "glued" to the inside with nicotine. I had to go buy some electra clean...

Yup, I have seen that before. One person cam into the store where I have been working and said her computer smelled like smoke. It was just the large clumps of dust burning up in the heat sink...

I clean mine out fairly often, but it usually doesn't need it. I just like taking things apart...

[tszanon]

Some months ago I installed a new hard drive. Inside the computer there was so much dust that I had to clean it first. I'm planning to do it every January 1st.

[Occasionally Correct]

I can't clean out my computer. The case won't come off. Thank you, manufacturer. :p

[southernman]

I can't clean out my computer. The case won't come off. Thank you, manufacturer. :p
lol - do what?

What system is it? Dell?

[Occasionally Correct]

What system is it? Dell?
Yeah -- they use those impossible little tamper-prevention screws. :p

[Vadi]

Stick a vacuum into the back to vacuum out the dust at least.

[abadtooth]

just curious as to how often people open their computer to remove dust etc, i done mine to day, and it made the cpu idle temp drop from about 55/60 C down to 42 C i never thought it would make such a big difference

I try to do it about once a month :D
I give my computers "Royal treatment" :D

[markp1989]

I try to do it about once a month :D
I give my computers "Royal treatment" :D now i know how much difference it makes, il most likley do it every 2 or 3 months, because it makes the computer a hell of alot quieter

[Drezliok]

when I have the canned air I do it every few weeks [dusty house and dusty neighborhood]

If you live with dirt roads you know what I mean.

[sci-fi guy]

I leave the case off (bent out of shape) 24/7 and blow into it Big-Bad-Wolf-style whenever I start noticing a buildup.

[ThrobbingBrain66]

I have a laptop, so not much trouble there!

That's what I thought too. A few months back though my laptop was getting really, really hot. I blew out the the vents/fan with compressed air and was presently surprised at the difference it made.

[southernman]

Yeah -- they use those impossible little tamper-prevention screws. :p

good lord! Do you mean right hand turning only, where the left handed sides are flared off (one-way slotted)? examples of tamper proof screws (http://www.tamperproof.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products)

If so, and you no longer have to worry about a warranty claim. You can take a small hi-speed drill bit and a screw extractor to it.

Be sure to use a center punch to keep the bit from wobbling on you, and make sure that the od of the bit is less than the od of a normal case screw and you'll be fine

[Billy_McBong]

i only clean the dust out when i open it to add component or something(theres always so much)
but i might start cleaning out once a month. if i remember, if

[-grubby]

about every 2 months

[JBAlaska]

My main computer gets messed with so often (and the side is off) that it stays pretty clean, My mediaserver on the other hand runs 24/7 and is on the floor & I mounted a 80MM fan in the side to cool the drive array, consequently it picks up allot of dust. I just cleaned it yesterday and was amazed that the dust was sticky and puttylike...It just dawned on me from reading the previous posts that this crap is nicotine from the 2 frends I have sleeping on my living room couches.

Imagine what that stuff does to your lungs...good thing I only smoke chronic lol.

Answer to OP: about once a month for my mediaserver.

[montres]

Every time I get REALLY bored! That would be about once a year or so. Naturally, I open the tower much more often than that.

[insane_alien]

well, i case modded my pentium III 500MHz box for the hell of it(me, boredom, and a hammer make interesting things) so i can just look in and see when i need to clean. haven't done it in years though. made some air filters on the intake. the only dust that'll get through is the dust that is small enough to remain in the air.

i recommend air filters for every one, even if it is just a pair of tights stretched across the intake it will massively reduce dust build up, you just need to take it off and give it a whack every now and then to clear it.

[Gremlinzzz]

Mouse with a broom cleans it every six months .

[Sporkman]

Mouse with a broom cleans it every six months .

How do you keep the mouse motivated?

[arsenic23]

Before I moved to my currant location I never had to dust my PCs insides. Just by keeping the vents dust free I was able to keep the inside nice a clean.

In my current location though, there seems to be alot of dust, so I dust the outside of my machine about every two days and the inside about once a year.

[JAPrufrock]

Whenever the power supply fan starts making weird noises because it's so laden with dust, or whenever I have to open it up to replace something.
I use an air compressor and crank it up to about 80 psi. I'm afraid that if I set it any higher, I'll start blowing out wires and stuff.

[Spr0k3t]

I clean my cases once a month. Each case I have uses a hepa filter on the intake fans so the cleaning takes no time to do.

[adamorjames]

I leave the case off (bent out of shape) 24/7 and blow into it Big-Bad-Wolf-style whenever I start noticing a buildup.

o_O wowz... anyways, I have a laptop.

[HermanAB]

Well, if you don't put a PC case on the floor amongst all the dust bunnies, then it will stay clean all by itself. Just raising it a few inches onto a little plastic stool makes a huge difference.

[markp1989]

Well, if you don't put a PC case on the floor amongst all the dust bunnies, then it will stay clean all by itself. Just raising it a few inches onto a little plastic stool makes a huge difference.

i now have mine on a block of wood, and it helps keep it less dusty

[marco123]

I always make sure I restart every 2-3 months to clean all the dust out of the case. I usually take the side door off once a week while it's running to clean out the case fan also.

[Joedude]

Every three months I dust mine out.

The file system gets cleaned everytime the wife finds my porn stash.

[santiagoward2000]

Hmmm, I can see dirt coming out from my fan... I may need to clean something up...

[Lostincyberspace]

Depends mostly twice when I get it and when i get rid of it.

[Lster]

Once every two weeks to a month.

[andhar]

must be nice to have a schedule, I am planning on doing all 7 of mine between this week and next. I had cleaning but I guess its something that has to be done.

I hate changing the water in my loop too and can someone please tell me why canned air cost so damn much ?

[markp1989]

just cleaned out my computer , never seen so much dust (we have been decorating, so it had saw dust, nd dust from were we removed the carpet )

[regomodo]

once in a blue moon

[The Titan]

My computer is air tight, liquid cooled, I hardly ever open it.

[herbster]

Last Sunday of every month, usually. I'm a neat freak to the max, though.

[Kingsley]

I gave my a desktop a much needed cleanup for the first time in 2 years. All the dust inside made the computer freeze every 5 minutes for a few seconds.

[derekr44]

Since I have a window in my case, I clean it whenever I see it's dirty. The UV lights don't look good with dirt all over :)

[cybil]

Whenever it crosses my mind, or a dust bunny hops across the floor.

[Myglaren]

Take then to work once a year and blast them out with the airline (clamp the fans first though).

[Blessed_Coffee]

I clean mine every few months, but I should do it more often, since I have a pentium D, which gets really hot no matter what you do.

[myusername]

my grandfather gave me a pc...i have no clue where he got it but it works great...but i opened it up and there was DIRT in the CPU!!!!i (more like dried thick mud) had already been using it for 2 hours...it took forever to clean it

[blithen]

You're suppose to do it at least once every 6 months. So I do that.

[Barrucadu]

I have never cleaned out my laptop, and I've had this for years. My desktop, which I have had for quite a bit longer (about seven years now) I have never cleaned out, and it still runs as fast as when we got it.

[kga5]

Im glad i found this discussion, i just looked under my laptop at the air intake and i noticed that it is full of dust, nearly 70% of the intake is filled with dust.... and ive been wondering why it is running so hot -_-
It has also been faster than it is now, this will be exiting:D tomorrow i blast some air in it:D