How to clean the dust inside PC ?

[nomdeplume]

Paint brushes and clean microfiber cloth.
Close case and run all fans at full blast
Paint brushes and clean microfiber cloth

 

[Bomby569]

Paint brushes and clean microfiber cloth.

aren't those 2 things supposed to create static electricity? i was under the impression you should avoid both. I remember Linus talking about it.

I use the microf. cloth but only on the case fans.

 

[GerKNG]

I bought this one recently (anti static)

i have the same one (older model) and it still goes strong after ~5 years

 

[Bill_Bright]

aren't those 2 things supposed to create static electricity? i was under the impression you should avoid both.

Yes, they can.

So make sure the brush is made with natural bristles (not synthetic) and any microfiber cloth is 100% cotton. Those can still generate static but not as easily or to such extreme potentials (voltages). Do remember humidity in the air greatly restricts the generation of static - so will slight dampening of the brush or cloth.

And of course, keeping your body grounded to the computer case (creating a "common ground") at all times will greatly reduce the risk of static buildup as well.

 

[uco73]

I use an air compressor.

 

[Deleted member 229121]

All I've ever used cleaning anything PC related:

- compressed air (Metro Datavac > cans)
- microfiber cloth
- 91% Isopropyl
- coffee filters (cleaning CPU/TIM)

Never bothered with static bracelets, just touch side of case or something metal to ground first.

 

[Shrek]

No, just checked ,there are 3 ESD-brushes, that's what amazon mentioned.

My plain DataVac is 2 prong; the ESD version is grounded.

 

[caroline!]

My plain DataVac is 2 prong; the ESD version is grounded.

No need if the body is all plastic. Class II.

Anyway, it's hard to kill something with static alone.

 

[Sithaer]

I've been using an air compressor we have in our garage for years, had no issues so far.
Tho I make sure to hold down at least the case/gpu/cpu fan with my fingers and also not go full blast with the damn thing.
Usually I clean out my PC every 6 months or so depending on how dusty the inside is.
Luckily my current case is a lot better at keeping dust out than my previous one was so I only had to do some small cleaning/maintaince on it since late 2022. 'yet to use the air compressor on this'

 

[Shrek]

Some things are well protected against static

 

[Dr. Dro]

Depends on how much grime I let accumulate, but usually a soft cloth (don't use this directly on circuit boards, you may damage them) or a large paint brush is enough. If it becomes noticeably dirtier, I have an air compressor, which I use on a monthly basis for my server. It's usually chock full and clogged up by then.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Some things are well protected against static

This is true but there are a couple things to note about that video.

He was using DDR2. Why does that matter? Because newer RAM is much more "dense" - meaning there are millions (billions?) more transistor gates in the same amount of space. More gates in the same space means they are much smaller. The smaller the gate (or "gap"), the lower the voltage is needed to arc across that gap making the devices more sensitive to even smaller ESDs.

Also, the problem with ESD is the potentials (voltages) needed to cause permanent damage to sensitive devices can be so tiny yet still be below the threshold of "human awareness". That is, the static discharge may be so small, we, as humans, cannot see, feel or hear that a discharge even occurred! Yet that discharge may easily be large enough to torch a Grand Canyon size trench (microscopically speaking) through millions of gates, totally destroying the device.

Only under a very powerful microscope can such destruction be seen. This is why if someone says they never take ESD precautions and have never had a problem, you know they are totally naive about ESD. If they truly never had a problem, it is only due to "dumb" luck!

Now designers and engineers know this so they design the RAM modules, processors, motherboards, and other sensitive devices with ESD in mind by incorporating multiple grounding and safe discharge points to help "mitigate" the possibility of damage. Remember, electricity always wants to take the shortest path of "least resistance" to ground. So the hope is these grounding points intercede first and provide that shorter path. BUT note "mitigate" means to "lesson" or "make less severe" the chances, not eliminate them. Point being, don't rely on "dumb" luck.

Last, Linus points out in the video that computer case is grounded to Earth ground through the PSU's power cord. That's true. HOWEVER, we must remember those power cords probably cost $0.25 each to make and surely were never tested before they left the factory. A real, formally trained technician would never trust the power cord (especially when dealing with deadly voltages) and instead, would use a proper grounding strap from the chassis to Earth ground. AND a real, formally trained technician would always ensure the wall outlet was properly wired to Earth ground too.

No deadly voltages you say? Nonsense! Anything that plugs into the wall can kill. There are deadly voltages inside the PC's power supply.

 

[Shrek]

Absolutely, one should take ESD precautions.

As a matter of discussion, is grounded batter (from the ESD point of view);
if an object is grounded and I am charged, then there is a discharge route.

 

[Bill_Bright]

if an object is grounded and I am charged, then there is a discharge route.

It doesn't even have to be "grounded" - as in connected to "Earth" ground. There just needs to be a "difference of potential" between the ESD sensitive object and the charged object - in the case, human.

For example, if a CPU is just sitting on a table, it likely has no charge. But when the human shuffles across the carpeted room in their synthetic socks and builds up 10s of 1000s of volts of static electricity in their body, there is a HUGE difference in potential. If that human then reaches for the CPU and one of the data pins is the closest point, "ZAP!!!"

This is exactly how you can zap the poor dog's nose, or send your own arm into a spasm just by reaching for a door knob. You are not grounded. The dog is not grounded. The door is made of wood so the door knob is not grounded. Yet still, "ZAP!!!

And remember, you don't have to physically touch the dog's nose, the doorknob, or the CPU. You just have to come close enough to narrow the gap to the point the voltage will jump across (arc) that gap - EXACTLY like static in the clouds will arc to a point on the ground in a lightning strike.

This is why you either strap yourself to bare metal of the computer case interior, or you get into the habit of touching bare metal of the case interior before reaching in - that action puts you and the computer "at the same potential", discharging any static and preventing the building up of static in your body - you create a "common" ground. If not plugged into the wall, you create a "floating ground". In either case, no difference in potentials means no static discharges. So it is completely safe.

What is a "floating" ground? Think of the electronics in your car, or a flying airplane. You don't get zapped because everything (assuming not damaged) is grounded to that common/floating ground.

 

[Shrek]

I'd argue (in the sense of discussion) that the Zap is less if the dog is not grounded.

i.e. if one shuffles across a synthetic carpet, on gets charged up; but nothing much happens in the next new step (to a new part of the carpet) until one grabs someting grounded.

Translation: I agree with you about the floating ground and for this reason agrue one should leave it floating.

 

[Ruru]

I use just an old toothbrush when I'm cleaning my case and/or components. Cleans dust off pretty damn nicely.

 

[P4-630]

I use just an old toothbrush when I'm cleaning my case and/or components. Cleans dust off pretty damn nicely.

Need some paste with that sir?

 

[Kapone33]

I'd argue (in the sense of discussion) that the Zap is less if the dog is not grounded.

i.e. if one shuffles across a synthetic carpet, on gets charged up; but nothing much happens in the next new step (to a new part of the carpet) until one grabs someting grounded.

Translation: I agree with you about the floating ground and for this reason agrue one should leave it floating.

My borther and I used to do exactly that to shock each other when playing at home sometimes.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I'd argue (in the sense of discussion) that the Zap is less if the dog is not grounded.

Too many unknowns to make that argument. Specifically, since the "zap" will only occur when there is a difference of potentials, the intensity of the zap will also be dependent on how much static you have built up in your body. How much static is built up in the dog? Other factors include how conductive your fingertip is due to dirt, moisture, etc.? Is the dog's nose wet, or dry?

That said, I think this is WAY off topic.

 

[Shrek]

I believe it is dead on target as some people may be thinking to ground a PC (true ground, not floating) before cleaning it.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I believe it is dead on target as some people may be thinking to ground a PC (true ground, not floating) before cleaning it.

Not sure what you are saying here. It is okay to ground the computer to true or "Earth" ground as long as the user does the same. Again, the goal is to put the computer and the user "at the same potential". However, it is not necessary to ground to Earth ground. Besides, unless one has the outlet tested, there is no assurance that leads to "Earth" ground any way - though one would hope.

 

[Shrek]

I am thinking the way of an isolation transformer. Let's say I am not grounded and accidently touch a live wire, I may not even notice; but if I am grounded I may die.

I am trying to figure out what this says about the virtues (or otherwise) about grounding a PC while cleaning; I am not saying either is safe (for the PC), just wondering which is best.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

No deadly voltages you say? Nonsense! Anything that plugs into the wall can kill. There are deadly voltages inside the PC's power supply.

Volts hurt. Amps kill.

 

[Shrek]

Very true... but is this still true for electronics? A static spark will not harm a human but can destroy electronics.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I am trying to figure out what this says about the virtues (or otherwise) about grounding a PC while cleaning; I am not saying either is safe (for the PC), just wondering which is best.

Doesn't matter. What matters is ensuring you (the computer) are not connected to a power source. This is just another reason not to use the power supply's power cord. If you want to ground to "Earth" ground, that's fine. Just use a separate ground wire to "Earth" ground - preferably as separate "Earth" ground and not one [hopefully] provided through the wall outlet.

That said, I recommend just unplugging from that wall. That eliminates even the possibility of coming into contact with AC. Plus, you won't get your computer yanked out of your arms when lugging it outside to blast clean with your air compressor if you unplug it first!

Volts hurt. Amps kill.

Don't be mislead or fooled by this old wives tale nonsense! Volts kill too. Yes, it is the amperage that is the actual lethal component, but it is the higher voltage from the wall outlet that overcomes the resistance in the body and thus delivers (provides the "pressure" or "push" for) that lethal punch. You need both - but make no mistake, voltages as low a 42 - 50V can still kill.

But one should not make assumptions when it comes to electricity. While a 12V car battery will not "electrocute" a normal "healthy" person, it can certainly cause AFIB or even cardiac arrest or other complications for someone with a preexisting heart condition.

It must also be noted that time is a factor too. Prolonged contact, even with low voltages, can kill. Fortunately, the natural reaction to coming into contact with electricity is for your arm to jerk back and slap yourself in the face.

Very true... but is this still true for electronics? A static spark will not harm a human but can destroy electronics.

"Some" electronics. Except for causing interference, (or igniting flammable gasses) static discharges didn't used to be a problem back in the day. The "phenomenon" of ESD damage to ESD sensitive electronics did not really exist, nor was it understood until the mid to late 1970s when the integrated circuit (IC) devices started to become wide spread.

When I was in tech school in 1971 - 1972, we studied static electricity, but nothing about "ESD" or "ESD" prevention. It was not until high-density "solid-state" IC digital devices started to become commonplace in our military communications systems AND components that failed under "mysterious" conditions were being analyzed under high-powered microscopes, did damage from ESD become recognized and understood. I was sent back to school to learn about it, and how to prevent it.