Cleaning motherboard with TCE? (1.1.1.)

Hype S

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Jul 3, 2013
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Skip down to the 'REAL QUESTION' if you're busy.


While I was living in someone's basement apartment for couple months (no it's not my mom's) I haven't realized how dusty that place was until I was moving out and opened my case and noticed my whole case looked like a disaster after nuclear fallout. It was covered in white dust!! What's worse, it took more than just a little agitation with lint-free cloth dipped in electronics cleaner to wipe off.
(I may have a problem worrying more about cleaning my computer than my lungs lol)

I've tried canned air, CRC's electronics cleaner(in a red can), but failed, so I was about to go get 5 gallons of 99% isopropyl alcohol to dip the whole thing and use soft painting brush to get to little crevices such as in between fins of motherboard heat sink, in between CPU cooler fins, etc. but then realized it might not actually fight the greasy dust very effectively. So I asked a friend of mine who is automotive enthusiast, he told me to take a look at TCE cleaner degreaser because that's what cleans the best and used on most sensitive electronic parts.

Google search showed me that it is indeed a good solvent and cleaner that dries clean. But also a toxic material so I have to use it outside (duh) and can harm acryllic parts. I learned that I should start using this thing for cleaning guns, but I didn't want to learn it the hard way how it works on computer parts.

--------------------------------------------------REAL QUESTION-------------------------------------------------------
I was not sure if motherboards (or computer components in general) have any acryllic parts in it before I ordered couple cans of the said magic cleaner.

I plan to use it for
* CoolerMaster 212 cooler
* Rosewill Capstone power supply (spraying inside and draining)
* Whole motherboard (Z77A-GD55)
* Case fans (I'm worried about it touching the bearings. They're not hydrostatic)
* EVGA GTX 670 sig2 fans & heatsink & fins. I will keep the card upside down (board up, fans down) and spray it upward so it drips down and avoid messing up the thermal compound

This forum got me started in building my computer. Now it always reassures me this forum's got my back whenever I run into a problem that I can't solve myself.

Thanks in advance.
 
Id avoid it. Using a solvent itself just is a bad idea most of the time. Auto solvents are meant to clean metal, let alone thing aluminum/copper components and thin sensitive plastic.

My best recommendation is to get something like a screwdriver (Plastic items preferred) and simply begin to scrape it off. If you monitor yourself you wont hurt anything but the dust/cancer as it sounds :D.
Next recommendation, look into case filters, they are lifesavers for me (Dust, pollen, and animal hair, mountain problems ahoy)
 

Hype S

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Jul 3, 2013
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Thanks! Knowing that I could leave them as is, I can finally go to bed :)

but.

I'm not aware of heat issues as of right now. my CPU 3570K has been very stable at 4.4Ghz and never goes over 1.200V usually around 1.170V
GPU is 1-2degrees celcius hotter at idle (used to be 28-29 when new, but now 30) but.. then fan always howls at 70% when i use 5900*1080 for gaming so,, I can't say I notice a difference.
I wish I had a laser thermometer to check motherboard's heat sinks.

Your suggestion awakens me,, I need opinions of the following 3
1. leave them as is.
2. give them isopropanol bath with soft brush (static?)
3. can I use TCE?
 

Hype S

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Jul 3, 2013
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Sorry for the double post,

I am actually looking for a case with dust filters. I could probably cut out my car's cabin filter and retrofit them into the slots. Although I doubt I'd need a good filtered case (my old one was filtered but it was just a thin layer of synthetic sponge) but while I reapply Internal Heat Sink thermal paste and on top of IHS, I thought I might as well move up to a case that supports USB 3.0 and something big so I won't have to scrape my hands all over when reaching inside with canned air.

What do you guys think of this?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2851012
 

Hype S

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Jul 3, 2013
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Thanks, but I already tried ATX mid. I don't think it'll get any spacious no matter how well they designed it.




Nice read! Thanks. BTW, could it be pet danders??!?!? The house had 2 5yr old dogs. Even though I blocked off the HVAC intake and vent in my room, .. could it still be? agghhh