Cleaning Your Computer From Dust.
Content
- We clean the computer ourselves.
- Preparation of PC cleaning.
- 1. Disassembling the power supply.
- 2. Cleaning the video card.
- 3. Random access memory and how to clean it.
- 4. Cleaning the rest of the PC case.
- 5. We clean the motherboard and processor.
- 6. The final stage of cleaning the computer.
- 7. Assembling the PC after cleaning.
- Helpful advice.
How to clean your computer from dust at home
During long-term operation, whole deposits of dust are formed in the computer system unit. They settle on surfaces, clogged gaps between the radiator fins.
As a result, heat transfer is impaired and there is an increased risk of overheating. Therefore, it is quite logical that many users are looking for an answer to the question – how to clean a computer from dust at home?
Below is a step-by-step guide that will allow even a green beginner to carry out this procedure.
How to start cleaning your computer
The preparatory stage should begin with disconnecting the system unit from other parts of your PC – controllers, audio system, network cable, etc.
It is better to immediately move it to a comfortable and well-lit table, cleared of foreign objects.
This will make it easier for you to clean the dust inside the computer. Make sure you have the right tools and supplies nearby. Their list includes:
- Standard Phillips screwdriver;
- Clean and dry soft bristled brush;
- A set of cotton swabs;
- A purge tool (it can act as a special compressed air cylinder, which is purchased in a computer store, or a regular vacuum cleaner with a blowing function).
- A container with machine oil and a tube of thermal paste.
It is undesirable to clean the inside of the case with a rag, since rough mechanical impact can damage fragile parts.
You can only walk it along the bottom of the case, gently wipe the hard drives.
Cleaning the power supply
Having got rid of the side panel and seeing all the “stuffing” in front of you, take a screwdriver in your hands and make a more detailed disassembly, starting with the power supply unit.
For more information on how to clean the power supply, see the instructions below:
- Disconnect the component from the motherboard, hard drives, and other related devices
Carefully! Some connectors need to be pushed correctly and not pulled out by brute force
- Unscrew the three bolts on the outside of the case holding the power supply unit, then push it inward.
Remove the device from the side.
- Carefully clean the block cooler blades from adhering dirt and blow it with a vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air.
All! This completes the procedure.
It is highly discouraged for ordinary users to untwist the power supply and dig into its insides.
It is easy to damage it and any tampering will void the warranty.
Not a single service center after such attempts to clean the computer from dust on its own will not undertake repairs for free.
Cleaning the video card
The video card is not a processor – it gets dirty much more slowly.
This component is more likely to become obsolete and put up for sale than pollution will have any effect on it.
Therefore, during the cleaning process, it will be quite enough to simply blow the radiator and clean the fan blades with cotton swabs.
Nevertheless, if you want to know how to clean this computer block from dust more thoroughly, see the instructions:
- Unscrew the screw holding the card and carefully remove it from the slot;
- Find the bolts on the back cover that are responsible for securing the cooling system. Get rid of them and remove the CO;
- Clean the cooler fins and blades with a brush, compressed air or other suitable means;
- If necessary, replace the thermal paste by completely removing the old layer and applying a new thin one.
Lubricate the cooler with a couple of drops of machine oil on the rubbing surface;
- Put the cooling system back in place and screw tight.
Cleaning the RAM
Why you need to clean this part of the computer from dust, many users do not understand.
Still, after all, the RAM bar looks like a monolithic structure, devoid of any holes and slots where dirt can cram.
But this is not quite the correct position. Dust particles settle on the contacts at the junction of the RAM from the motherboard, leading to problems in the operation of the system.
Therefore, it is better to spend time on prevention:
- Move to the sides of the mount and freely remove the memory bar outward;
- Go over it with a dry brush, getting rid of the dust layer;
- The contacts can be buffed with a soft eraser (eraser), but do not press too hard.
Do not use liquids when cleaning this component, especially liquids containing alcohol. They are capable of incapacitating him.
Remaining modules
This includes hard drives, network and sound cards, video capture cards, and other devices connected to the motherboard.
Everyone can clean these parts of the device from dirt and dust – there is nothing special to get dirty here, as well as to overheat.
It is enough to disconnect the component, walk over it with a brush or blow it with air.
And that’s it! If you don’t plan to mess around, you can do it right inside the case.
Put the vacuum cleaner to blow out, and simply collect the dust that has settled on the bottom of the system unit with a damp cloth.
Cleaning the motherboard and processor
This is the most time consuming and cautious step in the entire manual.
It is necessary to do everything carefully and consistently so as not to damage expensive components:
- Remove the CPU cooling system. Different manufacturers have their own mounting characteristics.
Usually, loosen / unscrew the bolts and unlock the clamping lever.
- Blow out dust from the radiator and cooler, remove old thermal grease adhering to the back surface of the radiator.
Lubricate the moving parts of the cooler with machine oil.
- Remove the processor by gently sliding the mounting leg and placing it on the surface with the contacts facing up.
- Now is the time to learn how to clean the computer motherboard from dust, because no components can hold it.
Unscrew the bolts on the cover on the other side of the board and unhook the board, removing all fastening screws.
- Blow it with compressed air or a jet from a vacuum cleaner.
Clean the heatsinks and the area around the connectors with cotton swabs (No alcohol-based wet wipes!), Soft-bristled brushes.
Cleaning the system unit and the rest of the computer
Having finished with the accessories and blowing the dust off the computer, all that remains is to clean the system unit itself and the connected devices.
In the first case, a damp and dry cloth will be enough. Walk several times in all corners in search of dust and then wipe everything dry. Nothing complicated.
Reassembling the computer and connecting it
When the general cleaning has come to an end, it’s time to test its effectiveness on a newly assembled computer:
- Install the motherboard first by replacing all the bolts. You can immediately insert the RAM strips into the slot before installing.
- Return the power supply.
- Carefully, being careful not to damage the feet, insert the processor into the socket. Its correct position will be indicated by arrows on the stone itself and on the motherboard. Apply a thin layer of thermal paste to the surface and secure the cooling system.
- Return the hard drives and secure in the brackets.
- Connect the remaining devices to the slots – a video card, a network card and others, which you yourself have cleaned from dust with a vacuum cleaner and other means.
- Connect the PSU to the motherboard, hard drives, drive, video card (if it has an additional power connector / connectors).
- Connect the power cord and cables of external devices (monitor, keyboard with mouse, audio system, etc.) to the system unit.
This concludes the work. If you’ve managed to get rid of the dirt, replace the thermal grease, and lubricate the coolers, you’ll notice clear improvements.
The system will be colder and the sound from the system unit will be quieter.
A few helpful tips in the end
- When carrying out a complete cleaning with disassembly of the PC, you need to carefully monitor the small details.
If you have at your disposal not just a Phillips, but a magnetic screwdriver, you will protect yourself from possible loss of mounting bolts.
Having unhooked them, it is better not to put everything in one heap, so that later there will be no confusion with the connectors.
- Be sure to write down or photograph which pins and in what sequence are connected to the motherboard from the power and reset buttons.
Most users think that they can remember the whole bunch of small wiring, and then they wonder why, after cleaning from dust, the computer does not turn on, the lights on the front panel do not light, etc.
Now you know how and how to clean your computer from dust.
Do not forget to try the above tips in practice and express your opinion in the comments below the post. Thanks for attention!