Dust killing my pc?

34erd

34erd

New Member
You guys probably know how on dell cases there is a flap on the front that opens up. Does this flap have cooling slits under it? Because it is completely covered up with dust. And my computer has been acting slower than a pentium III lately. Could that be the problem? Am I suposed to regularly clean my pc? Because the back hasn't been cleaned either.
 
Dust can definitly cause your computer to run slower if it is preventing adequate air flow.

Yes! You should clean your pc on a regular basis.
 
my old compaq had a removable face plate, and there was tons of dust in there! It hadn't been cleaned out in about 4 years!. I only opened the computer up twice (to install ram and a new video card). Not sure if i cleaned the dust out then, but when the comp was near the end of the 4th year, it couldnt even play counter strike on low settings. I opened it up and everything was covered in dust, completely covering up the heatsink and it was everwhere.

So you should clean it out and that could cause your computer to run very slow.
 
indeed, dust can be a killer, not only can it short things out if the dust comes from synthetics, it clogs fans and makes things hot and noisy.

Other that water, i would say dust is a PC's worst enemy. (apart from a MAC, that is!!! lol)
 
dirty dell

And don't forget...many dells have a rear mounted exhaust fan with a "snorkle" thing piped from the cpu to the fan. The pipe and the fan blades BOTH collect a lot of dust. The easiet way to clean them is to turn the comp. on and then put the suction hose from a vaccuum against the exhaust grid on the back of the dell. Move the suction hose around and tap it gently against the grid to loosen the dust. If you're real ambitious, unplug the comp., open the case and lift the snorkle assemble off the cpu (it's just pressed on,) then use the suction and clean the heat sink and inside of the snorkle. tnv
 
Thanks for all the replys. If I decide to open the pc for cleaning, are the compressed gas cleaners non-damaging? What should I use for takeing the dust out? Definetly not dusters...
 
use those compressed c02 cleaner tanks. (no not a paintball tank) They make a little WD40 type can with a trigger and hose to direct the air. It shoots a high pressure blow of air as long as the trigger is surpresed. However make sure once all the dust is airborn and off your comp parts, you blow all the dust out of the computer area!

ckmw0938.jpg
 
34erd said:
Thanks for all the replys. If I decide to open the pc for cleaning, are the compressed gas cleaners non-damaging? What should I use for takeing the dust out? Definetly not dusters...
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sry didnt read your post. Owell at least people will see the pic
 
dragon2309 said:
perhaps a vacuum cleaner
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vacuums generate ALOT of static electricity, i would advise against using one near a computer actually.

a blower device (leaf blower perhaps) is another way to get the job done.
 
Oops.. I used a compressed gas cleaner for the inside, but I sucked up what was left on the outside with a vacum... it still runs though.
 
for the dust on the fans i just those compress air cans. interior either i use some dry cloth or a small portable vacuum.
 
Houston, we have a problem! :eek: (look below)

I havent seen any improvements yet, but i havent done anything graphic intensive yet. I'm gonna fire up cs: source to see how it goes. Will report back later.
 
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my god man! that is bad!

i have used a vacuum cleaner too, but i think its best to use one where the end of the hose is plastic, and not metal.
 
i think its jsut the base of the vacuum. using the hose is probably OK. cuz' most modern vacuum cleaners use magnetic motors or w/e. static probably from the floor unit rubbing along the carpet and all that.
 
well i just use like tissues and q-tips and stuff to clean it out, i hate workin with a dusty computer cuz if i do a lot of stuff in it, then i look in the mirror and my hair is covered in dust. so yeaaa i always feel a lil dirty after i work on a computer... iono y....
 
are the compressed gas cleaners non-damaging
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For the most part ... i wouldnt reccomend discharging them upside down while the system is burning up under load tho

vacuums generate ALOT of static electricity, i would advise against using one near a computer actually.
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Generally (and i do mean very generally) that static charge is quite a ways from the actual nozzle so you can prolly get away with it)
 
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