Tech question #2: Compressed Air

[athelind]

Dust is a computer's bane. I've noticed that, about every six to eight weeks, enough dust accumulates in my computer to send its operating temperature up about 20°F, and to make a noticable difference in its performance.

Currently, I'm using those cans of compressed air to clean the thing out. I can get three- and four-packs at Fry's fairly cheaply -- and it's a good thing, too, because I need about three fresh cans to get the dust out of the beast.

This is pricey and wasteful. Is there some alternative to those stupid cans? Some kind of compressor-based solution?

Comments

[normanrafferty.livejournal.com]

They make mini computer vaccuums.

[araquan.livejournal.com]

You could get one of these or similar, but then you'd need a compressed air source of some type if you don't have one already. That can either be a compressor of your own, or a tank that you fill up somewhere. But. That being said, there's a reason those air cans are good for use in electronics- they aren't air.

As one who has dealt with the fun that is compressed air on a hobby level, I can tell you that without a lot of fancy measures, compressed air generally has some form of water vapor in it, oil from the compressor if it's not an oilless type, or both... The former especially loves condensing when the compressed air's temperature decreases as it's released to the atmosphere. These are generally not things you want to be blowing into a paint stream that's going onto a model, and I expect you don't want them going into your computer either.

So what's in the cans? Usually some mutation of Refrigerant 134a. Or if you prefer, 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane. It's dry and oil free, and is generally considered environmentally safe.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Yeah, I remember the way compressed-air tools spit -- particularly those blowers. We used a lot of them on board the ship.

[foofers.livejournal.com]

I've used a regular old tankless air compressor to blow out computers for years now. This is totally the hot tip. Used to go through those cans like mad. Yeah, it condenses a tiny bit of moisture, but that dries out pretty quickly and has never caused a problem. Can get a cheap blower attachment at Harbor Fright Tools if the compressor doesn't already come with one.

[katola.livejournal.com]

Dust Screens. Although that's more a 'make attachments to your computer which should not be' solution.

[tombfyre.livejournal.com]

I picked up an inexpensive electric air pump at the local hardware/camping store. It works fine for blowing up the camping matresses, and it cleans out the dust rather well too. You might consider that as well. :)

[athelind.livejournal.com]

Why am I not surprised that you own an electric air pump?

[tombfyre.livejournal.com]

Must be my expansive personality. :D Or something of that nature.

[baxil.livejournal.com]

Coming in late to the party, but I'm surprised nobody's suggested some kind of air filter over the computer intakes. Or some sort of ionizer for the room to get the dust out of the air.

Six to eight weeks for enough dust to make a noticeable difference in computer performance is scary. I've run computers for several years without dusting ... well, pretty regularly since I started. Where is it all coming from?

[athelind.livejournal.com]

So have I, in the past -- then I got a case with a temperature sensor. Then I noticed that the little slownesses and glitchiness that I used to just take for granted as "old hardware" or "Windows Suckage" directly correlated to an increase in the average temp on the gauge on the front panel.