Dirty Fan

[Trouble]

Alright, so I cracked open my case after my PC started making some pretty terrible noises "brrrrrrrrrrrrrUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM", and I discover alot, ALOT of dust in my system.

Now this is really affecting my CPU fan, so I was just wondering, how does one go about cleaning the dust off the parts in there pc?

[PhakeDC]

I personally take the chassis outside and use a wind blower (one that isn't too strong obviously).. Remove any sensitive parts that could potentially get damaged by the strong wind current.

However do beware of static electricity as it could kill your system. Make sure the chassis is grounded, and that you aren't charged yourself - e.g. walking bare-foot on carpets will amp you up quite a bit

And if you're paranoid about your health wear a particle mask that covers your nostrils and mouth. I guess that about covers it, unless Mikhail or Witchy have better ideas

One last thing to add, make sure to blow the dust out of your GPU fan. That chip can overheat quite easily if it's not cooled amply, thus shortening its lifespan!

[Trouble]

Health? whats it going to do, give me aids?

I'm just a little worried about taking it apart, as I don't want the damn thing to die because I handled it wrong.

And I wind blower seems a bit extreme, don't you think?

Could suction also work?

[PhakeDC]

Well to be honest I use a vacuum cleaner which doubles as a wind blower. One of those really old ones which look like R2D2, and comes with filters to keep as much dust inside as possible as wind blows out of its topside hatch.

I know it seems a bit extreme, but beats disassembling the damn thing! I just focus the hose in the fan's spinning direction and poof the dust comes out causing a sandstorm!

The deal with suction is that it could generate more static than blowing because the hose would have to be in close proximity to the hardware. Lets wait for a second opinion shall we?

[PhakeDC]

Alternately you can use a can of compressed air. Oh and I forgot to suggest that you clean the PSU as well.

If you do opt for blowing, make sure it's in short bursts, therefore reducing the risk of static discharge even further.

[Trouble]

Alright, I'll ait for a second opinion and then try your idea/

But now I'm going to have to figure out how to take this piece of shit apart. =/

[PhakeDC]

Just take off the panel covering the mobo and all the other components - I honestly see no need to disassemble the PC and I've done this thing several times. Consider removing the hard disk if you're going to lug the chassis a long distance as it's the most notorious component when it comes to physical damage.

[Trouble]

I'm scared.

Now Phake, I'm a little bit of a Hardware retard. So when you say Chassis, do you mean the .. C ... c ....?

[PhakeDC]

Precisely! I've come to use that word frequently because a lot of people used to call it "hard drive".. A lot still do like our Halibut hehe 

[Trouble]

So, the Case? thats what I thought.

I'm doing it now, if I don't return withing 6 hours, I have fucked up.

[Trouble]

Alright, so I may have used my vaccume to clean it ... I couldn't find anything to blow the dust out so I just gave it a quick suck.

It seems to have done the trick for now, running quieter and all.

I will by something that I can blow all the dust out with when I get home from work. Thanks for the tips Phake

[Red Lightning]

I couldn't find anything to blow so I just gave it a quick suck.

It seems to have done the trick for nowThanks for the tips Phake

a little bit of a snip and a cut here and this calls for a sig change!

[Trouble]

You're a sick sick person.

[Red Lightning]

You know, that may be the nicest thing anybody's ever said about me. 

[Anomonous Guy]

heh, i was wondering where that sig had come from

i personally just open the side of the case every now and then and basically blow the dust with my mouth... not exactly the safest way (due to spit etc) but its worked until now...