Computer Preventive Maintenance Questions

Hi, someone here said you should change all of your computer fans every 6
months. Is this true? And if so, where is the cheapest place to buy them?
How many fans does a typical computer have? And are there fans in the
monitor as well?

Also, I read about this special computer repair glove, that allows you to
discharge electricity from the internal computer parts before you remove
them. Is this really necessary? Or is merely unplugging your computer
enough?

Thanks!

 

You don't need to replace your computer fans, maybe dust them off, but thats
about it.
don't need a special glove either, you can buy little rist bands that are
good, or you can just took the case to make sure you don't have a static
charge, and you SHOULD be ok.

 

Never have replaced any yet. 90 odd servers at work and none have been
replaced by the method you mention, only the ocassional failures.

Cheapest could be anywhere, depends if you use major retailer, computer
specialist store, mail order.

PSU 1 fan
Northbridge 1 fan (or not)
CPU 1 fan

Extras, can be 2 / 3 or more.

I have 1 extra aimed right at 2 hardisks only 5 cm away otherwise they
run hot.

Anti-Static Wrist Strap. Always use one.

Me

 

Thanks! what does "you can just took the case" mean? You mean if I shake it,
that will get rid of static electricity?

 

Thanks. I guess I read somewhere it is better to replace them no matter
what, every six months, to prevent a sudden fan failure, since a sudden
failure will mean your computer will be totaled most likely

so there is a way to measure internal temperature? would it be good for
regular home computers to buy this thermometer?

thanks! I will get one.

J.

 

also, do you need to make a special lint filter for your computer, as this
website recommends:

http://cif.rochester.edu/~greg/hardware/hp_pavilion_n5430_disassembly.html

"Did you come up with an external air filter?
Actually, yes, but its not elegant. I bought an air filter and taped it onto
a PC case fan, and directed the air from that into the side air intake. This
is the sort of thing that you could leave on the desk where you normally use
the laptop, but you wouldn't want to bring it with you. A better solution
might be to buy a fine screen and attach it to the outside where you could
clean it, like a clothing dryer lint filter or something might work well,
but you need to be sure that the filter isn't constricting the air flow.

David Bishop writes: Buy a pair of women's nylon stockings(I prefer to use
black stockings since it shows the dirt better and usually matches the
notebook case better), cut a single layer to size and tape it over the air
intakes (don't stretch the stockings). I've used electrical tape (better
color match, thinner, but tends to fall off rather quickly) or duct tape
(lasts longer, but looks bad and is thicker, which can make a unit rock if
you have to cover one of the feet). When the 'filter' shows a lot of dust,
remove it and repeat. The stockings don't significantly restrict airflow, it
is totally portable, and if you match the colors well, virtually invisible."

 

sorry, it means i can't spell
ment to say just touch the case

 

a fan failure won't do much damage
the fan on the chipset on my computer has been dead for about 3 months, no
problems with anything yet!!
Many computers don't even have a case fan, so its not a big deal really.
If fan for the CPU (heatsink/fan) goes, if you have a newish mb, it will
turn your system off if it gets to hot, and you'll therefore avoid any
damage.

Whoever told you to replace fans every since months was just looking to make
some money off of you.

 

he mean touch the casse

 

Thank you!

J.

 

good to know this. I just tend to worry too much!

J.

 

Hi, someone here said you should change all of your computer fans every 6

Assuming those are good quality fans and replacing them every six months are
asking for trouble as new equipment has a higher failure rate than equipment
that has been burn in.

 

Yep. Never replaced a fan either. Just vacuumed them clean every now
and then (every few months).

 

Computer innards and vacuum cleaners are not a good match due to
possible static electricity discharges. Better to use compressed air
and blow the dust out.

 

Older computers utilize fans that suck air into the case and may benifit
from filtering air that is entering the case. Modern computers utilize fans
that suck air out of the case and will not benefit from filtering air that
is leaving the case.

 

I neglected to mention that I remove the fans and vacuum them OUT of
the PC's tower. I would never take a vacuum directly to the innards
of the tower itself.

 

Connected to an earth. I've seen people with a the blue writband looking all
professional, but the sproingly black cord not actually plugged into an
earthing point. And yes, they did think they were doing it right.

Dan





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And jumpers getting sucked off. Lucky old jumpers I say

Yep, seconded.

Dan





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I use a vacuuum ... :-O
*But*.. What I do is use a small brush attachment, hold the metal hose end with one
hand and the case with the other. Also I make sure the PS and power bar switches are
off, but leave the tower plugged in to the power bar so I have a good ground.
Every third or fourth time I take it outside and use the vacuum in reverse and blow it
out.

 

Filters are a great Idea.
The best setup is to slightly pressurise your case with filtered air so that dusty air
doesn't get sucked into the case via the floppy and cd drives.
This may be going to the edge of geekyness, but it may make the difference when you
need to use your boot floppy and your dusty drive eats it.