Cleaning Your PC: Upkeep and Preventative Maintenance Instructions

For Desktop Computer Users

By Zach Butler

Questions? Contact: zrbutler@rams.colostate.edu

Table of Contents

List of Figures/Illustrations 1

Introduction and Safety 2

How Often Should I Maintain My Computer? 2

Section 1: Physical Cleaning and Maintenance 3

Required and Recommended Tools 3

1.1: Cleaning Chassis Fans 3

1.2: Cleaning CPU Fan/Heat Sink 4

1.3: Checking Cable Connections 5

1.4: Peripheral Cards (PCI) and RAM 6

Glossary of Terms 7

List of Figures (Supplemental Photographs)

Figure Description Page

1 Turning off Power Supply 3

2 Grounding Precautions 3

3 Dusting Chassis Fans 3

4 Cleaning Chassis Fans 4

5 CPU Fan/Heat Sink 4

6 Cleaning CPU Heat Sink 4

7 Motherboard Power Cables – 1 5

8 Motherboard Power Cables – 2 5

9 Hard Drive Power and Data Cables 5

10 Disc Drive Power and Data Cables 5

11 Graphics Card(s) Power Cables (if applicable) 6

12 Chassis Fan and CPU Fan Power Cables 6

13 PCI Card Connectors 6

14 RAM Connectors 7

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Introduction

Personal computer maintenance is a crucial process for prolonging the life of your computer.

Over time, fragments of files and the presence of viruses and other malware on your hard drive

will start to hinder your computer’s performance. Dust and other debris gathered within the

casing will eventually clog fans, leading to hardware overheating and eventually failing, if not

properly or regularly cleaned. This guide is meant to help the everyday computer user understand

the necessity and the processes involved to properly maintain their computer and increase its

longevity.

Safety

NEVER touch or remove internal components while the computer is plugged in! Always

make sure to unplug the computer before working on it and that the toggle switch on the

power supply is in the OFF (O) position.

NEVER apply excessive pressure to the corners of the motherboard, peripheral cards,

heat sinks or the computer case itself. Take care to avoid sharp edges that may cause

personal injury.

ALWAYS make sure to ground yourself before touching microchips or any other

sensitive components. This can be done by touching the metal of the case or wearing a

grounding strap (Figure 2)

How Often Should I Maintain My Computer?

Make sure to physically rid your computer of dust and other debris by cleaning it at least once a

month. This guide will take you step-by-step in cleaning the major components necessary to

keep your computer operating at optimal temperatures. Overheating can lead to component

failure and will shorten the overall life of your computer.

Cleaning debris from the inside of your computer and making sure all connections are properly

seated will ensure your computer will optimally run and will prevent component damage and

potentially expensive replacement.

Note: This is a guide for basic maintenance practices. Any work on components, especially if

they are under warranty, should only be completed by certified computer technicians.

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Physical Cleaning and Maintenance

Fig. 1 - Make sure the computer is unplugged and the power supply toggle switch if OFF (O).

Fig. 2 – If possible, wear a grounding strap connected to the metal case to ground your body and eliminate static charge.

1.1 Cleaning Chassis Fans

To clean the chassis fans, start by spraying the fans with

compressed air, pointing outside the computer case,

if possible (Figure 3, right).

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Before Starting

Make sure the computer is unplugged with the power supply switched OFF. (Figure 1)

Remove the back screws securing the case cover.

Wear a grounding strap on your wrist or touch a metal surface to remove any excess

static charge (Figure 2)

Required and Recommended Tools

Required: One (1) Phillips (Cross-head) screwdriver

Recommended: Grounding strap (Figure 2)

Chassis fans, also referred to as case fans, are the fans placed inside the case to move air over the motherboard,

CPU and other internal components to keep them cool. These fans are the ones most likely to accumulate dust

over time and are also the most likely to clog with dust and fail if not properly cleaned.

The usual PC will have one or two chassis fans: One at the front (intake fan) and one at the back (exhaust fan).

You may need to use a slightly damp rag to remove caked on dust and dirt from the fan blades.

DO NOT immerse case fans in water to clean them! Submerging the fans may damage its

internal components and cause it to fail (Figure 4).

Use a dry or slightly damp rag to clean the chassis fans’ vents.

Fig. 4 – Use a dry or slightly damp rag to clean the chassis fan blades.

1.2 Cleaning CPU Fan/Heat Sink

Fig. 5 – CPU Fan and Heat Sink

To clean the CPU fan, simply spray the fan blades with compressed air, as with the chassis fans.

Removing the fan should not be necessary.

To clean the heat sink, spray compressed air between the metal fins to knock out any dust

(Figure 6). DO NOT hold a can of compressed air upside down or at a downward angle! Doing

so may cause refrigerant within the can to spray onto crucial components and damage them.

Fig. 6 – Spray the heat sink fins with compressed air to blast out any trapped dust or debris.

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The CPU is the most important internal component

of the PC, and it has its own fan and heat sink to

keep it cool (Figure 5, right). Just like chassis fans,

the CPU fan and heat sink can become clogged with

dust, making it less efficient and making the CPU

more likely to fail.

1.3 Checking Cable Connections

There are several types of cables within the case that connect to the motherboard or various

internal components, such as graphics cards, hard drives, disc drives (CD/DVD-ROM drives),

etc. If you are experiencing sudden malfunctions of these components, immediately check and

make sure the cables are seated properly. Otherwise, this maintenance should be conducted

whenever you are dusting the chassis and CPU fans.

Motherboard Power Cables

(20-pin and 8-pin) (Figures 7 and 8)

Hard Drive Power and Data

Cables

(Figure 9)

Disc Drive Power and Data

Cables

(Figure 10)

Figs. 7 and 8 – there are two (2) motherboard connectors: a 20-pin connector next to the RAM and an 8-pin connector near the top of the board.

Fig. 9 – These cables are located on the back of the hard drive(s). The left cable is the power cable and the right one is the data cable.

Fig. 10 – The disc drive cables are connected to the back of the drive, located in one of the higher “drive bays.” The left cable is the power cable and the right one is the data cable.

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Your computer’s internal components are connected to the motherboard by various cables. There are also cables

coming from your power supply that power the motherboard and other internal components. Over time, these

connections may become lose by vibrations caused by physically jarring or moving the case, or just by the

vibrations within the case caused by the chassis fans. Loose connections can cause certain components to

suddenly malfunction, and may cause damage if left unchecked.

Graphics Card Power Cable (if applicable)

(Figure 11) Chassis Fan and CPU Fan Power Cables

(Figure 12)

Fig. 11 – Some supplemental graphics cards draw power from the motherboard. If you have cables connected to the top of the card, firmly press down on them to properly seat them.

Fig. 12 – The 3 and 4-pin connectors for chassis fans and CPU fans are located in various places, depending on the motherboard. Most are usually located near the CPU. Firmly, but gently press down on the connectors to properly seat them.

1.4 Peripheral Cards (PCI) and RAM

To check PCI cards, look at the back of the card where the

connectors go into the PCI slot. All the connectors should

be level and only the tops of the connectors should be

exposed, if they show at all (Figure 13). If they are uneven,

firmly press down on the card to seat the connectors into the

slot.

Fig. 13 – The PCI slots are long and usually color-coded (this is the graphics card in the blue slot). Press firmly down on the car to properly seat it in the slot.

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Your computer may have a supplemental graphics card, network adapter, or other peripherals connected to the

motherboard via PCI or PCI Express slots. These cards use gold pins to transmit data through the motherboard,

and the connectors for monitors and peripheral devices are located in the slots on the back of the computer.

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a critical component for the operation of your computer. The operating

system and various applications utilize RAM in order to function. Also called memory sticks, RAM is usually

located near the CPU on the motherboard.

To check the RAM, locate the sticks next to the CPU.

The RAM sticks should be evenly seated with the tabs

on each side securing the sticks in place (Figure 14).

Fig. 14 – Press firmly, but gently down on the RAM sticks to properly seat them. The plastic tabs on either side of the RAM slots should “snap” into place and secure the sides of the sticks.

Glossary of Terms

CPU: Central Processing Unit. This is the primary component the operating system utilizes for

its applications and tasks.

Motherboard: The central component of a PC. All internal components are connected to the

motherboard.

Power supply: A box unit usually located in the corner of the computer case with various cables

to supply power to various internal components (motherboard, hard drive, CD/DVD drives, etc.)

PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect. Also referred to as “PCI Express” for modern graphics

cards, PCI is a means for attaching peripheral (expansion) cards with processing units that

operate independently of the CPU, such as graphics cards.

RAM: Random Access Memory. A critical internal component that the operating system

frequently utilizes in various applications and tasks in conjunction with the CPU.

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