How often do you clean your case, cpu, and fans?

[Terzo]

My cpu (x2 4400)temperatures were running ridiculously hot the previous week (running flash would get them to 90+). A few times it even got hot enough the computer shut down. I ended up opening up the case and cleaning it out with compressed air and a vacuum. The case itself wasn't too bad, but the cpu fan had a ridiculous amount of dust built up. I cleaned that out as well as cleaning the cpu and heatsink before reapplying some artic silver.
What a difference it made! Before I was getting core 0 and 1 idle temps of around 40-45 degrees. Now they idle around 31 and 21 degrees respectively. Not sure why they aren't idling at the same temperature though. The gpu still idles around 68, but that didn't seem that dirty to begin with.

I'll usually vacuum the vents when I do my weekly vacuuming, but this is the first time I cleaned the inside of the case since I bought the mobo/cpu/ram from a friend a few years ago.
How often should I be dusting the inside of the case? And how long can I go before I should reapply the TIM?

 

[MisterDonut]

Avoid vac'ing all together. Compressed air is enough to get that dust off, but I usually clean and rewire my rig every few weeks. The intake fans on the 900 are dust magnets.

 

[zerogear]

About twice a year. I have Silverstone FT01, its almost dust resistant on the inside

 

[fluffmonster]

I blow everything out with canned air every month or so when the front intake filters start looking more gray than black. I've never changed TIM just to change TIM.

 

[ahenkel]

Not often actually. My house is fairly dust free thanks to electronic air cleaners plus the filters on my case keep the rest out.

 

[desolate]

When you find a squirrel living in it.

 

[fffblackmage]

I just use a handheld vacuum so suck up the dust that collects on the intakes of my 900. I'm rather glad most of the dust collects there instead of inside. And the fins on the Scythe Ninja are far apart enough that dust doesn't get clogged in between. All that's really left is the video card. I haven't had my 4890 for that long yet, but I'm guessing I might be able to just ramp up the fan to 100% and the dust will come out. XD

 

[velillen]

Every 6 months or so ill blow out the case (outside of course). gets a fair amount of dust but it sit son the floor and runs 24/7 as well so nothing to bad in my mind. Most of the dust is in the bottom of the case.

 

[Gillbot]

I only dust mine when I have to:

 

[Rebel44]

About twice a year.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Previously about once every 1-2 months with my P182. Now with my FT02, I'm expecting about once every 4-6 months. My house is EXTREMELY dusty, and I have a chinchilla (dust bath) in the room.

 

[RallyMaster]

When I care. Or when my GTX260 starts to overheat. Then I know it's time to clean that shit out.

 

[Powermoloch]

twice a year

 

[WoodButcher]

Before you find a squirrel living in it.

fixed...

If it affects your temps, blow it out.
If that is not enough re-apply the TIM, otherwise leave the TIM alone.

When it's dusty, blow it out. Eveyone on this board lives in a different place, some dusty, some not. I live near the highway and smoke. The 1/2 of my basement that is not my bedroom is my laundry/ workshop, more dust. I could clean my case weekly if I were retentive. I'm not. When it gets dusty I.M.O.,,, I blow it out with a compressor.

 

[davidrees]

Positive case pressure and filters on your intake fans will make a huge difference.

On the Cosmos S, the front bezels are actually filters for the front intake fan/fans - I will use canned air on them once or twice a week as I notice it turning light gray.

Beyond that, I am in the case every few weeks for whatever reason and I try to blow out any dust that has accumulated which is usually not very much.

 

[xboxist]

Every month, at most. Two cats.

 

[wardeworth]

I usually cleaning CPU after every 4-5 months, i think you should also do dusting the inside of the case in every 4-5 months.
It helps to avoid defect and problems. And all most all dust is in the bottom of the case, so it will take more care.
And I had never changed TIM.

 

[Rifter]

when my 4890 starts overheating, which is every 3 months.

 

[t77snapshot]

I spray it clean with compressed air once a week, my rig is up on my desk so it has to look good all the time.

 

[MrK6]

When I was living in dorms, about once every 3 months (usually on vacations when I went home, I'd use my Dad's air compressor). My new place is much cleaner, and I haven't cleaned my new rig since I put it together in September (there's minimal dust in it right now). I'll probably end up dusting it out once a year.

 

[Maximilian]

Never, i built my rig 4 months ago, looks fine still

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2371/25042010122.jpg

 

[Leyawiin]

About once a month. My apartment is one big dust bin regardless how much I vacuum/dust, so the PC fills up with it fast. I use canned air only, but I hate it. It supposedly odorless, but I always get this bitter taste in my mouth just from the little I breath in while doing it (which I do outside). Stuff's nasty.

 

[Modelworks]

About once a year.
One tip that can really help keep it cleaner is if you have a tower case sitting on the floor, put it on top of something instead of directly on floor. Moving the case even 1 foot off the floor can cut dirt/dust a lot.

 

[Zap]

Traditionally I blow out my case during my annual upgrade (which I may be doing today ). Other than that, I just clean out my dust filters periodically, maybe every couple months. The cases that I've used in the past 7 years or so have all had dust filters (Compucase 6A19, Antec Solo, now I'm using a Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B).

 

[t77snapshot]

About once a year.
One tip that can really help keep it cleaner is if you have a tower case sitting on the floor, put it on top of something instead of directly on floor. Moving the case even 1 foot off the floor can cut dirt/dust a lot.

This is true! I noticed a HUGE difference when putting my rig up on my desk rather then the on the carpet. I used to get cat hair all up in every cranny of my case.