Cleaning your PC
<div class="IPBDescription">How often do you do it?</div>How often should I be cleaning out the inside of the case for dust? My root collects dust pretty quickly, so I vacuum every 3 days or so and suck out all the dust from the ventilation slots of my computer. But I haven't clenaed the inside for sometime, and it's probably a horror show. What methods do you guys use?
Another, PC related question: I'm in (Photoshop) class right now and we're on break, my friend next to me can play music through his computer. The thing is, none of the computers have speakers and it's blasting out of the case of the computer. I can't play music and all the volume controls are maxed, and I've tried several computers. What's inside that's acting like a speaker?
Another, PC related question: I'm in (Photoshop) class right now and we're on break, my friend next to me can play music through his computer. The thing is, none of the computers have speakers and it's blasting out of the case of the computer. I can't play music and all the volume controls are maxed, and I've tried several computers. What's inside that's acting like a speaker?
Comments
sound? computer? on-board speaker? There isn't anything on a computer that "acts" like a speaker unless it is one. Does he have a unique case or motherboard?
more to the point - do you really care that much or are you just bored in your break <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
sound? computer? on-board speaker? There isn't anything on a computer that "acts" like a speaker unless it is one. Does he have a unique case or motherboard?
more to the point - do you really care that much or are you just bored in your break <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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Care about what? The cleaning or the speaker issue? Well the cleaning yeah, and the speaker's just confusing the sh*t out of me because every computer in this room is exactly the same but his is the only one with the internal speaker.
Remember, dust is conductive. Not only does it have a potential for a short-circuit (potentially destroying your system), it can also start an electrical fire (definitely destroying your system).
Personally, I have three intake fans and one exhaust fan (Plus my PSU exhaust fan). All three are covered with foam filtration screens, and higher-pressure air is less likely to deposit the dust inside your case.. it'll more likely carry it out as it exits.
As for the speaker thing, sometimes computers have a 'PC Speaker' on the mixer.. it's normally hidden. You can make it show up in the options for the mixer though. Just set the 'PC Speaker' device to be your primary audio-out device, and boom. Music through the built in case speaker (if so equipped).
When I do clean it, I use canned compressed air.
_
Heh my problem is fixing my fan issue is that my CPU fan is too loud.
I have a heatsink videocard, and my 80mm CPU fan is running high at 6000rpm
(Casefan and CPU fan only at around 2000rpm)
Not quite sure what do do about this one.
How could I set the PC speaker as the primary device?
Canned air isn't too expensive, on getting a new straw. Just don't turn the can upside down when you spray, or it'll come out as liquid, which is usually flammable. Lots of fun when you know how to safely play with it, but dangerous otherwise.
On the same note, make SURE you completely unplug your computer before blowing it out with the compressed air. It's flammable after all.
Just enable the PC speaker in the mixer and turn it up. Again, usually they're disabled and set to mute/minimum volume as a default. You could also ask your buddy how he does it, as it's MUCH easier to demonstrate hands-on than over text.
People with more exhaust fans than intake fans don't seem to think things through too clearly, before slapping crap on.
As for using a compressor, I go with canned air as it's guaranteed moisture free. Another of those things that happens when you compress air... and spitting water droplets at expensive electronics is kind of obviously a bit of a bonehead move.
As to how often, this depends how much time you spend in that room and how dirty it gets. Dust in a home consists of human (and pet) dander mostly. My study needs a top-to-bottom cleaning monthly... the tower I vaccuum the front intake monthly, and blow the inside out maybe every other month.
Frakkers.
I probably should come up with some sort of cleaning regimen for my new PC though. My old one got reeeeeally nasty with dirt. Keeping your tower off the floor seems to help keep the guts of your rig clean. My friend's rig was amazingly clean and he keeps his on top of his table.
On my coolermaster desktop, I usually clean the filter on the two intake fans once every 6 month or so. There is no dust inside the case...
As for using a compressor, I go with canned air as it's guaranteed moisture free. Another of those things that happens when you compress air... and spitting water droplets at expensive electronics is kind of obviously a bit of a bonehead move.
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Indeed, using an air compressor and releasing the compressed air at high rates will cause moisture to condense. However, when using it at a throttled P.S.I of around 35-40 and in short bursts, the moisture formation is certainly not noticeable to the human eye. Also, I'd like to think the person doing this doesn't have the computer plugged in. I know I grab my case and take it to the garage to do this, so water on electronics is moot, especially such a minuscule amount as what would be coming out of an air compressor at 40 P.S.I, as an trace amounts would have evaporated long before it's re-connected.
IF the compressor has an air dryer installed it would be acceptable.
the compressor has an air dryer installed
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Pretty much.
Compressed air is for the weak <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />