My dust bunnies are vanquished!

[Bofinn]

I use air and a camel hair brush...

[3 of 7]

I put a long screw through each of the fans to keep them from over spinning then I blow mine out with a shop vac (I take it outside first) I start with the psu, then the cpu then the rest of the stuff.... I let it sit for a while then vacuum the mobo and empty slots really good in case there is dust inside them...
(I have a cardboard tube duct taped to a hose for this so I don't fry anything with static)

[Nefarious]

Fraoch, Cant you just run compressed air and a vacuum at the same time, so when the dust starts to fly, then the vacuum just sucks it up? It's an honest question, I have never cleaned my case before. The only time i cleaned it was when i replaced my case

I wouldn't want to actucally touch anything with a vacuum or a brush. Scared of static electricity. BUt then again, should i worry about this?

[Fraoch]

Originally Posted by Nefarious

Fraoch, Cant you just run compressed air and a vacuum at the same time, so when the dust starts to fly, then the vacuum just sucks it up? It's an honest question, I have never cleaned my case before. The only time i cleaned it was when i replaced my case

I wouldn't want to actucally touch anything with a vacuum or a brush. Scared of static electricity. BUt then again, should i worry about this?

Hmm, that's a good idea actually. And yes, you're right, a brush brings the possibility of static charge with it.

Compressed air works like a charm but sometimes it doesn't "gather up" the dust in a coherent ball that can be vacuumed up. And I don't know if vacuuming alone has enough "oomph" to move the dust the way a concentrated blast of compressed air can. There are micro vacuums made specifically for cleaning computers - I wonder if they're powerful enough over a very small area?

I guess the best solution is to use compressed air and clean in a room seperate from your normal computer room. Completely outside the living space like a garage would be best...

[billfuddled]

Generally when sensitive components are "in circuit" they're much less sensitive to static discharge damage. It's when you have that CPU or memory chip or module out of its socket that the potential for damage is at its highest.

I wouldn't worry too much about using a brush on heatsinks and the like. Believe it or not, fast moving air, especially dry air, can cause static electicity build up. Helicopter blades moving through air can build up tremendous (lethal) potentials between the copter and ground/water/ship. That's why they pass a static discharge cable first. So careful with removing components and cleaning them off with vacuum cleaners and compressed air.

[shimonmor]

Originally Posted by billfuddled

Generally when sensitive components are "in circuit" they're much less sensitive to static discharge damage. It's when you have that CPU or memory chip or module out of its socket that the potential for damage is at its highest.

That's good to know. But, more importantly (and more on the subject of dust bunnies) did you know this?

Dust bunnies are, of course, the harmless little bits of fluff that accumulate under furniture where ever people live. Seldom noticed, though often known about, these rather harmless little creatures exist in many places. There are, of course, those homes in which no self-respecting dust bunny would live. Overuse of cleaning products and or frequent violent cleaning seems to interrupt the breeding of the adorable dust bunny. This should be discouraged whenever people actually live as it would seem to indicate an unhealthy environment for humans or dust bunnies.

However, there are some residential places that rarely have dust bunnies. They go straight from "just cleaned the place" to "hibernating dust bears" with no small cuddly dust bunny stage in-between the two. Hibernating dust bears are fine, until you actually need to clean. Then, of course, you run up against the "do you really want to wake the dust bear" problem. Naturally, I recommend leaving the dust bears alone in their natural Habitat. Who knows what a dust bear will do once woken?

If the dust bear is allowed to complete its hibernation, it will again evolve to the final form. The final form is the dust devil. These are no longer harmless bits of fluff, nor are they sleepy. These are dangerous balls of accumulated flotsam that can threaten a household. Ever wonder if the monster under the bed is real? Well, it is and it is a dust devil. They have a taste for small innocuous children and harmless pets, they leave kindred spirits alone.

There is only one known cure for a household infected with dust devils. Dynamite is guaranteed to remove all traces of the dangerous beasts. Unfortunately, it will also require the rebuilding of all the furniture, if not the house itself, but is absolutely necessary if the house is infected.

The tricky part to all this is to know when the dust bear, harmless sleepy creatures that they are, need to be removed from a house. Timing is critical, you should not disturb dust bears until it is necessary. But wait that critical day and you may well be missing a small child or pet next time you take a head count around the house.

[territorian]

What's the next stage up from dust devils? I looked inside a friend.s PC case the other day and I wasn't sure what it was I was seeing. it's way to big for bunny, bear or devil! I thought somehow she'd managed to fit the alps inside her case!

[3 of 7]

I did a system for a lady the other day and I bet you coulda knit a small sweater from all the cat hair in there!!!

[sandman55]

I did my daughters a while back. I did it in the shed I used a paint brush to loosen it then blew it out with low pressure compressed air. People who keep their box on carpet I believe are more likely to get more dust but If you have it on your desk turn your box at right angles so that the optical drives are pointing away from your face youve no doubt read about people with bits of CD embedded in them, drives are getting faster and if they have a flaw look out.

[Darkfalz]

Had some fun just yesterday with the compressed air. The mistake I made is that I cleaned it before when everything was off. I couldn't believe how must dust spraying the compressed air onto the MOVING fans kicked up! I got almost all of it out of the machine. But like others have said, its not like I actually got rid of the dust. I just blew it out of the fans and case and into the air... I might try the vacume cleaner thing next time.

[hyparzero]

I am have no trouble with dust bunnies. It was all worthwhile due to the $400 i spent on cooling and a dust free case. My CPU and 6800GT is both using liquid cooling from Thermaltake, instead of using water, i'm using the Coolant they use in car engines, it works like a charm!

The side panel is custom designed and lined with small copper piping in a looping "S" configuration, and attached to another Thermaltake liquid cooler with engine coolant, (like a refridgerator).

I've also blocked off like all vents into the case, for the exception of the PSU.

If you can ignore the bubbling noises, i believe its great, the CPU runs at 25 degrees idle and a max of 32 when playing Half Life 2. The mother board is only 19 degrees, and the case temperature is at a shockingly cold 17 degrees.

My PC is actually colder than the surroundings, i'll try to take a photo of it and post it here.

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by hyparzero

I am have no trouble with dust bunnies. It was all worthwhile due to the $400 i spent on cooling and a dust free case. My CPU and 6800GT is both using liquid cooling from Thermaltake, instead of using water, i'm using the Coolant they use in car engines, it works like a charm!

The side panel is custom designed and lined with small copper piping in a looping "S" configuration, and attached to another Thermaltake liquid cooler with engine coolant, (like a refridgerator).

I've also blocked off like all vents into the case, for the exception of the PSU.

If you can ignore the bubbling noises, i believe its great, the CPU runs at 25 degrees idle and a max of 32 when playing Half Life 2. The mother board is only 19 degrees, and the case temperature is at a shockingly cold 17 degrees.

My PC is actually colder than the surroundings, i'll try to take a photo of it and post it here.

Sounds cool
Have you had any issues with condensation?

[hyparzero]

Well, I've thought about that when i first installed all the cooling, so i took a chance and went ahead with it. However, the condensation issue is compensated by the fact that the heat from the PSU and CPU evaporates the moist air before it forms water droplets. I have one fan blowing outwards on the top of the case.

[Artimus20]

when cleaning my box, i use a can of air and a hand held "dust buster" vacuum to suck up all those nasties, if anyone is concerned with static this is a great idea...no wires, and it's small enough to fit right inside the case so nothing blows around too much

[tkbalt]

Another option in helping to keep dust down in the computer room:

http://www.blueair.com/

Really helps keep the bunnies down. Still need to clean fans / fins - but less of an issue.