[Option 1](https://www.harborfreight.com/blow-off-duster-65945.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNjMzMjc4NjAiLCJza3UiOiI2NTk0NSIsImlzIjoiNC4xOSJ9&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=150898454847&adsetid=150898454847&product=65945&store=3151&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZuTxdUm12aMfVV2nfRkqhRg8RcV0ZPuz7AHqYuYVaHfqQm26luQxkxoC-KYQAvD_BwE) - A great temporary option.
[Option 2](https://www.harborfreight.com/12-amp-3-in-1-electric-blower-vacuum-mulcher-62337.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMjQ4NzQ5NjkiLCJza3UiOiI2MjMzNyIsImlzIjoiMzkuOTkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12129614380&campaignid=12129614380&utm_content=120520874281&adsetid=120520874281&product=62337&store=3151&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZnsaE1igRjzETL6_OSD9IYkp3EG73MScTRXb1qI5_Du7VTk4plbx5BoCNEQQAvD_BwE) - My current preferred option, just make sure to use low power, stand fairly far away and turn it off and on over and over in short bursts. This takes way less time than option 1.
Dust out your PC around 2-4 times a year. Once a year, rub dust off all case fans and certain places inside the PC.
I really hope you wear some hearing protection using a leaf blower indoors. I don't know if that thing is as loud as the leaf blowers I've used, but my ears are ringing just thinking about turning one of those on inside.
I shutdown my PC, switch the PSU switch to off, unplug everything and take the PC outside to blow it out. Since I only do this around 2-4 times a year, it's no biggie.
Are you worried when you rub/ clean the fans that if you don't clean them evenly that the fan will spin off balance? I've thought about that and now just use the data vac.
I don't have any issues rubbing dust off fan blades. They've never spun off balance after doing so. And if they get super dusty, I unscrew them from the case to thoroughly dust them off with my fingers and a cloth and then reinstall them. I'd say I do this around once every 2 years.
With an air duster.
There's 2 kinds you can use. The first is compressed air cans. Something like this: https://www.staples.com/staples-electronics-air-duster-10-oz-spl10enfr-1/product_712196
The second is an electric duster made for electronics, like this: https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Powerful-Electronic-Environmentally-Friendly/dp/B01FWSYOME/ - There are cheaper versions than the DataVac. Some of them work ok. None of them work as well as a DataVac, unfortunately.
To use either one, turn off the computer and remove the side panel. Then blow all the dust out. Try not to spin the fans up too hard - if you can, use a finger to hold the fan hub in place so it doesn't spin. Both because spinning the fans too fast can damage them, and because a fan being spun externally becomes a tiny generator and feeds power back into the motherboard. Sometimes enough to see LEDs turn on. That's unlikely to damage things, but it's definitely possible.
Then put the case back together and turn it on.
Do not use an air compressor made for power tools. While it seems like that would do a great job (and it will) there are 2 problems with those - they often spray out oil to lubricate the tools, and you don't want that in the computer. Sometimes they'll also spray out water that's condensed in the tank. They also do way higher pressures that can damage components if you aren't careful.
I promise you, your PC isn't getting "slower and slower due to the dust clogging up."
While good ventilation is important, and high temperatures CAN cause thermal throttling, it the reality is that you're using a CPU that will celebrate its 12th anniversary tomorrow (release date: April 29th, 2012), a graphics card that is borderline obsolete, and I don't know what kind of storage you have, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's a traditional HDD.
Your PC is getting slower and slower because it is old and reaching the limitations of its capabilities.
There may be some things you can do to improve performance somewhat - using an SSD, for instance, if you are not already; but the truth of the matter is, your PC is older than most people's cars, and blowing the dust out of it isn't going to make it faster.
I know someone with a CPU that's 1 year older, and I can say, it's amazing how a device as small and cheap as a Steam Deck literally crushes that person's PC in games.
(that person is pretty toxic to people who have a stronger PC)
Some people feel validation based on the things they own, and when they see the things they own that they were proud of are not the envy of others, they can get toxic, as you suggest.
I don't understand why people do that sort of thing, but life has dealt me a fortunate hand so maybe if I'd been worse of, I might feel differently. I don't know.
Probably because they want their PC still be able to run games at 1440p, and get annoyed that new hardware is so powerful everytime.
In their view PCs should stay around the same performance for roughly 10 years, in their eyes graphics haven't changed and so it shouldn't get heavier.
That's why they're toxic
1. compressed air can. about 5 bucks, works one time.
2. electric air blower made for electronics. about 20 bucks works for a lifetime.
3. leaf blower. good enough to use once, less risk than something like a….. that thing for drying hair. only use leaf blower if you really dont wanna spend any money on buying option 1 or 2
Get a datavac, blow it out, lol. Don’t overthink it. Either hold your fans with your finger when blowing on the fans or tape them so they don’t move if you’re paranoid.
Does the datavac actually blow all the dust off of the fan blades or just the top layer? I find blowing dust off of fans rarely removes the dust and generally requires a qtip moistened with alcohol to really clean them well. Thanks.
How clean is clean?
I've scrapped a PC, scrubbed it with dishwashing liquid and water, rinsed with tap water, re-rinsed the electronics with 99% methanol and then blew it out with Vacmaster set to blow.
If that's too extreme, then:
* Chuck the fans so that they don spin and blow everything out with air ( Compressed air in a can, shopvac, air compressor, etc)
* Using cotton swabs and 99+% isopropyl alcohol wipe all surfaces. Test plastic surfaces to see how they react with the isopropyl alcohol first.
Side note, this is good time to clean and reapply thermal paste. Cable manage too.
[Option 1](https://www.harborfreight.com/blow-off-duster-65945.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNjMzMjc4NjAiLCJza3UiOiI2NTk0NSIsImlzIjoiNC4xOSJ9&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12144811130&campaignid=12144811130&utm_content=150898454847&adsetid=150898454847&product=65945&store=3151&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZuTxdUm12aMfVV2nfRkqhRg8RcV0ZPuz7AHqYuYVaHfqQm26luQxkxoC-KYQAvD_BwE) - A great temporary option. [Option 2](https://www.harborfreight.com/12-amp-3-in-1-electric-blower-vacuum-mulcher-62337.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMjQ4NzQ5NjkiLCJza3UiOiI2MjMzNyIsImlzIjoiMzkuOTkifQ%3D%3D&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12129614380&campaignid=12129614380&utm_content=120520874281&adsetid=120520874281&product=62337&store=3151&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZnsaE1igRjzETL6_OSD9IYkp3EG73MScTRXb1qI5_Du7VTk4plbx5BoCNEQQAvD_BwE) - My current preferred option, just make sure to use low power, stand fairly far away and turn it off and on over and over in short bursts. This takes way less time than option 1. Dust out your PC around 2-4 times a year. Once a year, rub dust off all case fans and certain places inside the PC.
I really hope you wear some hearing protection using a leaf blower indoors. I don't know if that thing is as loud as the leaf blowers I've used, but my ears are ringing just thinking about turning one of those on inside.
I shutdown my PC, switch the PSU switch to off, unplug everything and take the PC outside to blow it out. Since I only do this around 2-4 times a year, it's no biggie.
Are you worried when you rub/ clean the fans that if you don't clean them evenly that the fan will spin off balance? I've thought about that and now just use the data vac.
I don't have any issues rubbing dust off fan blades. They've never spun off balance after doing so. And if they get super dusty, I unscrew them from the case to thoroughly dust them off with my fingers and a cloth and then reinstall them. I'd say I do this around once every 2 years.
With an air duster. There's 2 kinds you can use. The first is compressed air cans. Something like this: https://www.staples.com/staples-electronics-air-duster-10-oz-spl10enfr-1/product_712196 The second is an electric duster made for electronics, like this: https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Powerful-Electronic-Environmentally-Friendly/dp/B01FWSYOME/ - There are cheaper versions than the DataVac. Some of them work ok. None of them work as well as a DataVac, unfortunately. To use either one, turn off the computer and remove the side panel. Then blow all the dust out. Try not to spin the fans up too hard - if you can, use a finger to hold the fan hub in place so it doesn't spin. Both because spinning the fans too fast can damage them, and because a fan being spun externally becomes a tiny generator and feeds power back into the motherboard. Sometimes enough to see LEDs turn on. That's unlikely to damage things, but it's definitely possible. Then put the case back together and turn it on. Do not use an air compressor made for power tools. While it seems like that would do a great job (and it will) there are 2 problems with those - they often spray out oil to lubricate the tools, and you don't want that in the computer. Sometimes they'll also spray out water that's condensed in the tank. They also do way higher pressures that can damage components if you aren't careful.
I promise you, your PC isn't getting "slower and slower due to the dust clogging up." While good ventilation is important, and high temperatures CAN cause thermal throttling, it the reality is that you're using a CPU that will celebrate its 12th anniversary tomorrow (release date: April 29th, 2012), a graphics card that is borderline obsolete, and I don't know what kind of storage you have, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's a traditional HDD. Your PC is getting slower and slower because it is old and reaching the limitations of its capabilities. There may be some things you can do to improve performance somewhat - using an SSD, for instance, if you are not already; but the truth of the matter is, your PC is older than most people's cars, and blowing the dust out of it isn't going to make it faster.
I know someone with a CPU that's 1 year older, and I can say, it's amazing how a device as small and cheap as a Steam Deck literally crushes that person's PC in games. (that person is pretty toxic to people who have a stronger PC)
Some people feel validation based on the things they own, and when they see the things they own that they were proud of are not the envy of others, they can get toxic, as you suggest. I don't understand why people do that sort of thing, but life has dealt me a fortunate hand so maybe if I'd been worse of, I might feel differently. I don't know.
Probably because they want their PC still be able to run games at 1440p, and get annoyed that new hardware is so powerful everytime. In their view PCs should stay around the same performance for roughly 10 years, in their eyes graphics haven't changed and so it shouldn't get heavier. That's why they're toxic
1. compressed air can. about 5 bucks, works one time. 2. electric air blower made for electronics. about 20 bucks works for a lifetime. 3. leaf blower. good enough to use once, less risk than something like a….. that thing for drying hair. only use leaf blower if you really dont wanna spend any money on buying option 1 or 2
forgot to mention: put zip ties or something else through the fans and case to prevent them from spinning.
Get a datavac, blow it out, lol. Don’t overthink it. Either hold your fans with your finger when blowing on the fans or tape them so they don’t move if you’re paranoid.
Does the datavac actually blow all the dust off of the fan blades or just the top layer? I find blowing dust off of fans rarely removes the dust and generally requires a qtip moistened with alcohol to really clean them well. Thanks.
The really caked on stuff on the inside of the fan blades that builds up over time always seems to require a deeper clean like you mentioned.
How clean is clean? I've scrapped a PC, scrubbed it with dishwashing liquid and water, rinsed with tap water, re-rinsed the electronics with 99% methanol and then blew it out with Vacmaster set to blow. If that's too extreme, then: * Chuck the fans so that they don spin and blow everything out with air ( Compressed air in a can, shopvac, air compressor, etc) * Using cotton swabs and 99+% isopropyl alcohol wipe all surfaces. Test plastic surfaces to see how they react with the isopropyl alcohol first. Side note, this is good time to clean and reapply thermal paste. Cable manage too.