How to give a new 2nd hand purchase an internal clean?

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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Jul 2, 2013
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Bought a used pc for good price, good value purchase. Little dusty inside though. Short of taking everything out and putting it all back in, which I probably should but dont want to do just yet, am building (!) up to it, how should I go about cleaning. I have a duster and one of those cleaning mitts with all the little tendrils. Are the parts too delicate for those? Do I need specialist stuff? For example the side of the GPU that resembles the mobo has a thin layer of dust, is it easily damaged with all those little metal bits? Tech speak needs improving i admit.
 
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skit75
if the duster mitt is synthetic, I wouldn't use it unless it says it is ESD safe and even then..... If you have a horse-hair brush, that might work(something natural).

There should be a case fan header on the motherboard that you can plug that into. It is not vital and your PC will work without it if you can't find it. it is usually located in the mid section of the mainboard.
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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Jul 2, 2013
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Would you say these are necessary tools? That a cleaning mitt is not up to it?

I forgot to add, there is a yellow wire extending from the fan on the side panel with a black adaptor(?) on the end with three small holes, I think this goes somewhere but it came out in transit. Where should this go in?
 
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skit75

skit75

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Oct 7, 2008
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I suggest a vacuum /w hose for indoors. Leave the PC plugged in & powered OFF. Keep one hand on the PC chassis unpainted metal/screw at all times. Never let the vacuume hose/tip touch your components.

If you use compressed air cans.... your fan's bearings will hate you. If you must..... spray with the grain of airflow(front to back)
 
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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Ok I think I will go with what u say about the damp cloth and air compressor. Not saying it wouldn't work, more that I'm not an expert so keep it simple as possible.

Don't have a hose on my fancypants electric vacuum. Is touching the components with a duster/mitt etc unadvisable? Might have to take everything out I think.

Could u address the yellow wire issue?
 
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skit75

skit75

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if the duster mitt is synthetic, I wouldn't use it unless it says it is ESD safe and even then..... If you have a horse-hair brush, that might work(something natural).

There should be a case fan header on the motherboard that you can plug that into. It is not vital and your PC will work without it if you can't find it. it is usually located in the mid section of the mainboard.
 
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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Jul 2, 2013
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I thought maybe the fan wouldn't work if this wire was not plugged in. That's what I meant. Having just lugged the thing home on the train it seemed likely the wire had come out.

Thanx for the input! Will look at horse hair brushes!

 
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skit75

skit75

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That wire goes to a fan on the cover that you removed to see the insides of your PC. The fan won't work unless you connect it to one of your motherboard case fan headers. Case fan headers are 3 or sometimes 4 pin standoffs usually accompanied by a white or beige plastic base. Any one of them will work.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f320/RDCXBG/360%20SUX/FanHeader028.jpg
 
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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Ok my mobo (GA-H61M-S2PV) has just two fan headers, both four pins. The CPU is connected already to one.

The other one is called the system fan. Please look at this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9397204@N02/9305077846/in/photostream/

The wire from the right is the front fan. The wires from the left the side panel fan.

Looks like the guy who sold me it was trying to double up on the fans to this one fan header. Is that ok? The side panel fan has the wires split. What should I do? Has he put the loose yellow wire somewhere else?
 
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skit75

skit75

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ya, that should be fine. The yellow wire is the +12V feed. The fan completes the circuit with its Ground connection on the other header. It appears that fan can be attached to the +5V rail or to the +12V rail. He has it configured to run on +5 right now(slower & not as loud). You would actually leave the Yellow one unplugged in this config is what it looks like to me. That fan should spin without the yellow.
 
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Digitalwart

Digitalwart

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Yes you're right I put that black bit in the system fan header and it works both the fron fan and side fan ok, and the second yellow wire is unused.

I cleaned the insides with a makeup brush, carefully and having earthed it first i think. Did the job.
 
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