Dust build up in Desktops & laptops - a little maintenance!

A look inside a desktop tower covered in dust

Every desktop or laptop collects dust, the trouble is we often forget it's there or even bother to look. Because computers need fans to keep them cool the down side of this is that dust gets sucked in- over a short time this build-up of dust can fill a desktop tower very easily to such levels you can hold it in your hand.

At any level dust is not good news for computers as there is electric passing through the system all the time this could start a small fire if left for too long without cleaning. The worst thing about dust is its very bad for your health unknowingly breathing in dust fumes from your laptop or tower as well as building up static electric so you could get a nasty jolt one day.

Can of Compressed Air

You can safely use any vacuum on the outside of a tower or laptop .If you discover a large amount of dust inside a tower take it outside a use a small paint brush  to remove the dust it may pay to wear a mask over your mouth while doing this. Another alternative is to but a can of compressed air from
your local hardware store, or used compressed air from a compressor (as long as its dry and not too strong). Do not use your vacuum inside the tower as there are many small connections which could easily be damaged or come loose by the suction, not only that vacuum cleaners tend to build up static electricity which can fry the components in your tower.

For laptops buy a laptop cooler plate these often have extra fans which will aid the air flow within the small spaces of a laptop or have it professionally cleaned by us. Read more on laptop overheating remedies in one of my earlier posts http://durbangeek.blogspot.com/2013/05/laptop-overheating-remedies.html

One of the many reasons a computer will slow down is due to dust and the lack of air flow as the pc / laptop becomes hot very quickly - if it gets too hot the desktop or laptop may not start at all as a safety switch kicks in.

We believe that you should at least get your laptop or desktop cleaned out annually if you are in an office environment or more periodically in a dusty environment. If you would prefer to get a professional to do this for you contact us and we will  give you a quote. Not only do we clean them , we will replace the thermal paste between the heat sinks and CPU and GPU .
We will inspect for tired fans - check fan speeds, loose connectors etc  and we will tidy up the cabling.

Laptop Overheating Remedies

Have you noticed that your laptop has been getting hotter and hotter especially after leaving it on for a few hours.

Laptop's fans are notorious for collecting dirt, dust, and other chemicals in the air. Some of the things suggested in this article should help you cut down on your heat issues and keep your computer breathing better.

Laptop ventilation systems are in weird places, such as underneath the laptop, on the sides, you do not want to block the intake or exhaust areas.

Because of this here are a few tips to keep your laptop's heat down..

1. Observe where the intake area/s are (this would be the vents where the fan/s are) and the exhaust area the vents where the warm air blows out, make a mental note of it and make sure you never block those areas.
2. Use a can of air on your vents every few months or so. This will help expel out the dust and prevent dirt from clogging up the inside of your computer. (You can get a can of air from your local hardware store)
3. Don't leave your laptop on a bed or couch. Because the laptop sinks in to the bed, the ventilation system can't do it's job keeping the laptop cool enough to operate. ( If the ventilation  is blocked chances are you could  'fry' your CPU, however most laptops have a protection feature in the Bios that addresses heat management, this will switch off the laptop when the CPU reaches maximum temperature. Often if this is the case and you try switch the laptop on - it will  almost immediately turn off again until CPU temperature has dropped.)
4. During high pollen seasons, limit the time you use your laptop outdoors. These particles are nasty and clog up systems faster than anything else.
5. Avoid smoking near computers. This will cause nicotine build up on your fans and burn them out. And a burnt out fan disables your computers ability to keep it self cool.
6. Consider investing in a USB powered laptop cooler. I use one of these on my laptop and I've noticed a significant increase in performance when the laptop temperatures are kept cool.
7. Put your computer into standby when your not using it. The less the computer is on, the less heat it will generate and prevent it from over heating.

Below: Typical laptop cooling system Note: some laptops have two fans a CPU & GPU fan

Below: a typical laptop with  CPU vent and exhaust vents on bottom and side. (this laptop has two exhaust outlets) 

Below: Typical Laptop cooler - helps airflow circulation.

The DurbanGeek website:  http://www.durbangeek.co.za   DurbanGeek Blog: http://durbangeek.blogspot.com