[SOLVED] What’s the best way to clean pc components

[Trickle2x2]

Hey guys, about 4 months ago I built my first gaming pc, a r5 3600 paired with a rtx 3060ti. It’s starting to accumulate some dust inside of it and I wanted to clean it before to much builds up. I was looking at getting a electric air blower off Amazon but stumbling through old and recent threads people are claiming that air blowers cause anti static build up due to friction and debris in the air that gets moved. I was wondering if anyone here has any insight on this or even if it’s something to worry about. I was even looking into purchasing the Metro Datavac ESD safe blower. It looks like the only reason it’s labeled that is because the attachments are anti static (I wasn’t planning on touching my pc parts with it anyways). I’m more curious on this theory of moving air could cause esd build up and short components.

 

[Quickless]

Hey guys, about 4 months ago I built my first gaming pc, a r5 3600 paired with a rtx 3060ti. It’s starting to accumulate some dust inside of it and I wanted to clean it before to much builds up. I was looking at getting a electric air blower off Amazon but stumbling through old and recent threads people are claiming that air blowers cause anti static build up due to friction and debris in the air that gets moved. I was wondering if anyone here has any insight on this or even if it’s something to worry about. I was even looking into purchasing the Metro Datavac ESD safe blower. It looks like the only reason it’s labeled that is because the attachments are anti static (I wasn’t planning on touching my pc parts with it anyways). I’m more curious on this theory of moving air could cause esd build up and short components.

The claim that friction in aerodynamics creates a static charge seems completely bogus to me. It actually makes me mad how people are saying if 2 atoms rub against eachother, it has enough esd to make a devastating shock on something that is 10 trillion times its size. Even if it is true, I can assure you. Computer parts are getting more advanced to the point where you can literally purposely charge yourself with static electricity and there is a very low chance of you bricking the component with that ESD. Linus even made a video on this where he LITERALLY used a tool to charge himself with static, and it wasnt just a little bit, he was actually screaming that it hurt and he was in pain for a few seconds. and the part he shocked wasnt even affected by the ESD. He tried at least 30 times going even higher than the average static charge and he couldnt short a part..

that being said, you are completely fine since your components arent 50 years old. As components get newer and newer, more safety features are added against static discharge. There is an extremely high chance that wherever you touch the part, the static charge is going to be directed to a ground pin where it causes no harm. and you are more likely to get struck by lightning 20 times in a row than you are to short a component by blowing air on it. Im not saying you should completely disregard ESD. But you can just let that 'air friction' claim fly right past your head because i dont see that happening in a million years.

 

[Bob.B]

Hey guys, about 4 months ago I built my first gaming pc, a r5 3600 paired with a rtx 3060ti. It’s starting to accumulate some dust inside of it and I wanted to clean it before to much builds up. I was looking at getting a electric air blower off Amazon but stumbling through old and recent threads people are claiming that air blowers cause anti static build up due to friction and debris in the air that gets moved. I was wondering if anyone here has any insight on this or even if it’s something to worry about. I was even looking into purchasing the Metro Datavac ESD safe blower. It looks like the only reason it’s labeled that is because the attachments are anti static (I wasn’t planning on touching my pc parts with it anyways). I’m more curious on this theory of moving air could cause esd build up and short components.

Just get a can of compressed air.
4/5 bucks at your local store.

 

[punkncat]

Blowing isn't an issue.

Don't vacuum.

I disconnect my PC, take side panels and filters off and use a leaf blower on it about every six weeks to a little longer. I have never had issue related to BLOWING a computer out.

 

[Wolfshadw]

As a former smoker, a can of compressed air usually wasn't enough to dislodge any stuck on goop/dust. Back then, I used to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to dislodge anything that the can of compressed air couldn't do on it's own. Other than that, no other tools necessary.

-Wolf sends

 

[Zerk2012]

Hey guys, about 4 months ago I built my first gaming pc, a r5 3600 paired with a rtx 3060ti. It’s starting to accumulate some dust inside of it and I wanted to clean it before to much builds up. I was looking at getting a electric air blower off Amazon but stumbling through old and recent threads people are claiming that air blowers cause anti static build up due to friction and debris in the air that gets moved. I was wondering if anyone here has any insight on this or even if it’s something to worry about. I was even looking into purchasing the Metro Datavac ESD safe blower. It looks like the only reason it’s labeled that is because the attachments are anti static (I wasn’t planning on touching my pc parts with it anyways). I’m more curious on this theory of moving air could cause esd build up and short components.

The air itself has no way to build up anything except moisture. For the attachment it could depending on what was used but if you never actually touched the end to a part their no chance of that.

 

[Trickle2x2]

Okay thanks guys, I’ll probably just go with the electric air blower I mentioned. I know people say air friction can build esd but I’m sure if I leave the pc plugged in with the psu off it should be grounded and fine.

 

[ROCK BAND]

my pc has gtx 1050 ti, intel i7 4th gen 8gb ram, i didnt clean my pc since 5 years and i still have no problem using it, depends on your cabinet. When i opened my cabinet, it had a lot of dust but i still didnt clean it.

 

[Furzumz]

my pc has gtx 1050 ti, intel i7 4th gen 8gb ram, i didnt clean my pc since 5 years and i still have no problem using it, depends on your cabinet. When i opened my cabinet, it had a lot of dust but i still didnt clean it.

It would be a good idea to clean that out

Dust build up doesn't instantly kill a PC but it traps in heat causing parts to run hotter than they should be which in turn reduces lifespan and can lead to eventual failure

When I was younger I destroyed a video card this way because I didn't understand the importance of cleaning out the dust

 

[ROCK BAND]

well, i have 2 PCs in my home in which this is my secondary pc which i use once a month, my primary pc has rx 580 8gb ryzen 5 3500 16gb ddr ram 2tb hdd and 240 gb ssd. i keep my 1st pc clean but not second as i dont even use it much.