Cleaning dust from computer with hair dryer
Is it possible to dust off the inside of a computer with a hair dryer? My hair dryer has the option of no heat so it will not overheat anything. Keep in mind I have **[i]never[/i]** cleaned my pc in the last 5 years. Its gotten so bad that it'll crash during games such as maple 15-20 mins in. I was thinking about using a vacuum but apparently it will produce static and possibly damage my computer. My intention is not to 100% remove the dust, rather get a large chunk of it gone.
Also, can I do this outside in the winter?
February 19, 2015
5 Comments • Newest first
@datlogic Open the side of the computer and lay it flat so the open side is facing up.
Use a flashlight to look down into the CPU fan that's facing up, usually in the top third of the computer.
There should be NO "gray blanket" of dust on the shiny aluminum heatsink below the fan blades.
If there is, it's blocking the air flow to the CPU and causing it to overheat which will result in the crashing you mentioned.
A hair dryer won't produce enough force to clear the dust. It's better to use the canned air from a computer store because it has a lot more force and a thin nozzle that lets you get down between the fan blades to blow the dust out from the aluminum heatsink fins.
You can also (CAREFULLY) remove the four small screws in the corners of the fan and lift the fan away from the heatsink to brush the dust off with an old toothbrush or similar brush.
Don't pull the fan wire off the motherboard and be careful putting the screws back in, it can be tricky sometimes to get them started.
Also, if your computer has a separate video card there is most likely a fan on it too that can also become clogged with dust and that can cause the video card to overheat and cause crashing during games or anything that uses graphics.
The fan on the video card will be on the side of the video card that's facing down so it's harder to see than the CPU fan. Use the flashlight and a mirror if you have to in order to check for dust buildup in and below the video card fan. Use the compressed air to blow out the dust, don't try to remove the video card fan because many of them are held on by adhesive that can't easily be replaced.
This is a general picture of a typical motherboard with the locations of the CPU fan and Video Card fan pointed out:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26443090/Gateway%20Motherboard.jpg
i vac but not deeply inside just around the fans and heatsink.
My vacuum is not too strong, been doing it for 3 years nothing has happen.
there are guides on the internet so u don't fry your components.
When spraying down the fan, be sure to hold the blade down or else you may damage the fan.
[quote=Anthorix]a dry winter climate "might" promote static though that hair dryer has no heat? thats cool. o.o
anyways, just clean the areas that need it-> metal mesh; cloth filters; clogged radiators; dusty fans
i say spend like 5 bucks on compressed air cans. but since you shouldnt be blowin on the electronics themselves, i say try it and stay away from the electronics and just clean those things above and youll be fine.
also, doing this outside is recommended (cuz dusty)
* itakenorepsonsibility4wuthappens2uorthepc[/quote]
ok its all cool, ill just spend a few $$ on those air compressor cans
a dry winter climate "might" promote static though that hair dryer has no heat? thats cool. o.o
anyways, just clean the areas that need it-> metal mesh; cloth filters; clogged radiators; dusty fans
i say spend like 5 bucks on compressed air cans. but since you shouldnt be blowin on the electronics themselves, i say try it and stay away from the electronics and just clean those things above and youll be fine.
also, doing this outside is recommended (cuz dusty)
* itakenorepsonsibility4wuthappens2uorthepc