Cleaning GPU PCB

[_Bata_]

I want to install some nice red led fans on my pc case top mounts. To simulate the lighting effect it would have i activated my phone flashlight (white) and put it on top. It looked nice but my gtx 960 back part stands out with a lot of dust. I don't have compressed air machines or anything. I think this may sound as a really dumb question but i have a balloon pump and was wondering if i could use it to blow the dust away. Thanks.

 

[Nymical]

So long as you don't hit the card hard while pumping, sure... It wouldn't really be effective at all, though.
You could go buy some canned air to clean it off. No, not joking. Canned compressed air with some other ingredients. Should be about $1.50 at your local hobby shop/office supply store/electronics store. Good luck.

P.P.S. Don't shake the can or else

 

[_Bata_]

So long as you don't hit the card hard while pumping, sure... It wouldn't really be effective at all, though.
You could go buy some canned air to clean it off. No, not joking. Canned compressed air with some other ingredients. Should be about $1.50 at your local hobby shop/office supply store/electronics store. Good luck.

P.P.S. Don't shake the can or else

Thanks man, are you sure it's not dangerous? I've heard people say not to use compressed air cause it can blow away little parts in the PCB, generates static and cause moisture. Also, is it safe if i pump with the gpu inside of my case?

 

[Nymical]

Thanks man, are you sure it's not dangerous? I've heard people say not to use compressed air cause it can blow away little parts in the PCB, generates static and cause moisture. Also, is it safe if i pump with the gpu inside of my case?

You shouldn't need to remove anything; just make sure you unplug the power cable from PC and wait a couple minutes for the capacitors to lose charge (not really dangerous, just to prevent static if your PSU is properly grounded while plugged in). Using the can, blow away so long as you do not shake the can or hold it upside down. "Air dusters" are the preferred (and perhaps only) safe method of cleaning components easily. Besides, the back side of the card is what faces up (to prevent dust from settling in sensitive components), and is mostly an unbroken semi-flat surface, you're fine. There are plenty of Youtube videos out there about how to dust off the inside of your case, you can look it up if you need more info. Good luck!

PS You may also want to blow off some of the other parts while you do it (assuming you use the canned air), just watch out for flying dust bunnies (not joking they are vicious).

 

[_Bata_]

Thanks man, are you sure it's not dangerous? I've heard people say not to use compressed air cause it can blow away little parts in the PCB, generates static and cause moisture. Also, is it safe if i pump with the gpu inside of my case?

You shouldn't need to remove anything; just make sure you unplug the power cable from PC and wait a couple minutes for the capacitors to lose charge (not really dangerous, just to prevent static if your PSU is properly grounded while plugged in). Using the can, blow away so long as you do not shake the can or hold it upside down. "Air dusters" are the preferred (and perhaps only) safe method of cleaning components easily. Besides, the back side of the card is what faces up (to prevent dust from settling in sensitive components), and is mostly an unbroken semi-flat surface, you're fine. There are plenty of Youtube videos out there about how to dust off the inside of your case, you can look it up if you need more info. Good luck!

PS You may also want to blow off some of the other parts while you do it (assuming you use the canned air), just watch out for flying dust bunnies (not joking they are vicious).

Alright i'll get the air duster, but what would be the difference if i do it with a balloon pump.

 

[Nymical]

Alright i'll get the air duster, but what would be the difference if i do it with a balloon pump.

When you say balloon pump, do you mean a hand-pump or a scuba-tank-esque canister (or a black plastic C-Battery operated thing)? Because the hand pump and black plastic thing would not put out anywhere near the necessary PSI to clean that stuff off. The dust you see accumulated in a PC is no ordinary dust, my friend. It is the baked crust of heavy, statically charged particulates settling in a heated environment on a surface prone to attracting dust. It is more akin to flour than fine dust in consistency, but shatters when blasted with pressurized air. If you have the canister tank, rock on. Just be careful about where you are blowing all that dust, because you can just get it to lodge in another convenient crook of your PC, usually MB heat spreaders, bridges, RAM, or, worst of all, the CPU heatsink.