How to clean your computer from dust: simple instructions
Miscellaneous / / July 31, 2021
If the device makes noise, overheats, slows down and freezes, Lifehacker's tips will help.
What you need to know
Why clean your computer from dust
During operation, the fans drive air through the PC case, thereby turning the unit into a kind of vacuum cleaner. Even in a clean room there is dust that settles inside the computer and accumulates in huge quantities over time. The situation is aggravated if there are cats or other pets in the room. Then wool and fluff are added to the dust.
All this clogs the fins of the radiators and grows in a thick layer on the fan blades. This results in poor cooling, resulting in overheating, reduced performance, freezes, and degradation of internal components. By the way, the latter can also disable static electricityarising from accumulations of dust.
How often to clean your computer from dust
Depending on the conditions in which the PC is used, it is necessary to clean the dirt in the system unit at least once a year. Better yet, every six months.
Increased noise and
temperature. In advanced cases, there is a drop in performance, spontaneous reboots and shutdowns, as well as stripes, distortions and other artifacts on the screen.Is the warranty lost when cleaning
Since general cleaning requires at least the removal of the side panel, as well as the removal of components from the motherboard, this will void the manufacturer's warranty obligations. If the deadline specified in the documentation has not yet expired, it is better to postpone the cleaning or contact the service center.
What not to do
Never use a vacuum cleaner, no matter how logical it may seem. The plastic nozzle and the rapid movement of dust create static electricity that can damage motherboard.
It is hardly worth reminding that moisture also refers to things that are incompatible with electronics. But still. It is better to refrain from cleaning with wet rags, not to mention rinsing individual components under running water.
Compressed air is very effective for blowing out dust-clogged radiators and fans, but it is important not to overdo it. Do not use powerful compressors, which, due to the high pressure, may well damage the sensitive components of the computer. In addition, unlike commercial cleaning cartridges, compressor receivers often contain condensate that splashes out with a jet of air and can harm the electronics.
How to clean your computer from dust
1. Prepare everything you need
You will need:
- Soft brush or toothbrush;
- screwdriver;
- compressed air cylinder or rubber bulb;
- wet wipes.
2. Disconnect the cables
Shut down the computer completely. Disconnect it from utility power or UPS. Disconnect the monitor cables keyboards, speakers and all other accessories. Remove flash drives, external hard drives, and other hardware.
3. Remove the walls of the case
It is advisable to perform further actions on the street or on the balcony so as not to breathe dust. Place something on the table and place the system unit on top. Using a screwdriver, unscrew a couple of screws from the back panel that hold the side panel, and remove it by sliding it back.
Also, remove the front panel by gently pulling it towards you. If there are dust filters, clean them with a brush, blow or rinse under running water and dry completely. If there are no such details, proceed to the next step.
4. Take care of the graphics card heatsink
For light dirt, the graphics adapter can be cleaned directly on the motherboard, but for convenience it is better to remove it. To do this, unscrew one or two screws with a screwdriver. video card from the rear panel, press down on the plastic tab near the slot and gently pull out the adapter. If it has additional power, disconnect the cables first.
Take a photo to use as a guide during assembly.
Clean the fan and heatsink of the graphics accelerator by brushing off dust with a brush and blowing air from a can, a rubber bulb, or, at worst, from your mouth. For convenience, you can remove the plastic cover of the video card.
5. Clean CPU cooling
The fan and heatsink of the processor can also be tidied up without removing, but it's better to work hard at the same time replace thermal paste (especially if you haven't done it for a long time). Disconnect the cooler power by removing the connector on the motherboard. Then unscrew the fastening screws or unscrew the clips - depending on the design. For detailed information, see the instruction manual for the board or cooler (if you changed it).
Clean the dust with a brush and blow thoroughly with air while holding the fan blades with your hand to avoid damage from high speed rotation. If necessary, wipe the impeller with damp cloths after wringing them out.
6. Go to the PSU fan
The power supply has its own closed case, in which a lot of dust accumulates. You can get rid of it with the same brush and compressed air. Although complete cleaning is possible only during disassembly.
If you are confident in your abilities, disconnect the power supply cables from the motherboard, remove the four screws from the back cover that hold the part in place, and slide it out. Unscrew the fasteners on the case of the power supply itself and, prying the cover with a screwdriver, remove it. Carefully remove all dust inside and also on the fan. Remember to hold the impeller while blowing it with air.
7. Clean the case coolers
The fans on the front and rear panels can be cleaned on site or removed by unscrewing the four mounting screws. The procedure is the same: remove dust with a brush and blow with air. Or wipe the blades with wrung out damp wipes.
8. Clean up inside the system unit
Remains cleaned of dust hard disks, drives and RAM strips, as well as wipe the bottom wall of the block with napkins.
9. Install back the accessories
After cleaning, replace all the components that were removed in the process. Check the fixing screws, cable connections and the tightness of their connectors.
If you removed the fans, do not confuse the direction of flow: the cooler on the front wall should force air inward, and on the back, blow out. The arrows on the details will help you navigate.
10. Fasten the cover
Install the front and side covers of the system unit, secure them. Reconnect the network and all other cables, turn on the computer, and test it. If everything is done right noise the fans will become significantly smaller, and the temperature of the processor, video card and other components will decrease.
How to protect your computer from dust in the future
The simplest thing is not to put the system unit on the floor and a stand under table. It is better to place the PC on top, where it will be able to "breathe" cleaner air.
If there is no dust filter on the case, it is advisable to install one. On system units that do not support such an element, you can make a homemade filter by cutting it out of porous foam rubber or mesh to fit the suction fan.
Please note that such a filter is not needed on a blow-out cooler.
Always close the side cover on the chassis. You might think that an open panel improves cooling, but in reality the situation is the opposite. So even more dust settles inside the system unit, and the efficiency of purging internal components deteriorates.
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