Best way to clean inside of Mac Pro?

[jhcodafa]

It prettyyyy dusty in there.



on another note, whats up with the track ball on apple's mouses. how weak, gets dirty doesnt work.. they need to take a lesson from blackberries trackball

[chas0001]

I use compressed air to clean mine. If it looks really dusty I remove the graphics cards and hard drives so that I can get to all the nooks and crannies

This works to clean the 'Mighty Mouse' : http://www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/302417/302417_1.mov

[Old Muley]

I've taken my G5 outside, disassembled the fans and used my air compressor to blow out the dust. It's amazing how much stuff will accumulate over the course of a few months.

[FF_productions]

I've taken my G5 outside, disassembled the fans and used my air compressor to blow out the dust. It's amazing how much stuff will accumulate over the course of a few months.

On G5 I know its easy to pull the fans, but on Mac Pro, is that a difficult process?

Since I've had my Mac Pro (Mid 07), I haven't given it a hardcore cleaning on the insides.

[bozz2006]

getting the fans out isn't super easy.

i use compressed air.

[pprior]

No reason to be taking out any fans. Just blow some compressed air over the heat sink area and more importantly over the video card fins, which generally get clogged faster.

Blowing the case with a can of compressed air every year or so should be all that is needed unless you live in a very dusty/hairy (cats!) area.

[jhcodafa]

I guess I'll need to buy a can of compressed air and just spray the whole thing down. Anything I should watch out for?

[jhcodafa]

I use compressed air to clean mine. If it looks really dusty I remove the graphics cards and hard drives so that I can get to all the nooks and crannies

This works to clean the 'Mighty Mouse' : http://www.info.apple.com/images/kbase/302417/302417_1.mov

I've tried similar cleaning methods, I'll give this a go with a micro cloth

[ncc1701d]

What about sticking a high powered vacuum in and around it and allowing it all to flow out? Are the components likely to come off?

[AceWilfong]

Someone just sent me this:
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
Apparently intended to clean the grunge build-up on the inside of a monitor!

[pprior]

What about sticking a high powered vacuum in and around it and allowing it all to flow out? Are the components likely to come off?

Vacuum cleaners can generate static electricity and can fry a computer. Generally NOT recommended.

[nanofrog]

Vacuum cleaners can generate static electricity and can fry a computer. Generally NOT recommended.
Unless you have one that is designed not to. ;) I've seen them used to clean rackmount systems, industrial laser printers, and Test & Measurement Equipment. ;)

The cheap one (http://www.govacuum.com/meda3eancocl.html) I found is $390, intermediate (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BQU0NE?smid=A2T85LEV7EB1Y2&tag=nextag-tools-tier3-delta-20&linkCode=asn) $800, and cleanroom (http://www.sylvane.com/nilfisk-ivt1000cr.html) $1700 (anti static hoses are an option; no price given).

Definitely not cheap. :eek: :p

[hatehereyes]

Someone just sent me this:
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
Apparently intended to clean the grunge build-up on the inside of a monitor!

Works perfectly for me!

[Quu]

TNT, Dynamite, Nuclear warheads. Whatever explosives you have laying around will get rid of the Dust.

But if you want yourself or the machine to survive the umm 'cleaning' process then I'd suggest a can of compressed air and a dry unused paint brush. And by unused I mean one that has yet to be touched by paint.

[grue]

on another note, whats up with the track ball on apple's mouses. how weak, gets dirty doesnt work.. they need to take a lesson from blackberries trackball


The mighty mouse is worthless trash. Do yourself a huge favour and get a mouse that isn't junk.

[hexonxonx]

The mighty mouse is worthless trash. Do yourself a huge favour and get a mouse that isn't junk.

Even the old standard Microsoft Mouse works better than the Mighty Mouse. I'm using an MS mouse on my iMac.

[bozz2006]

I'm using the optical mouse that I paid $20 for when I got my huge gateway laptop in 2002.

[UltraNEO*]

It prettyyyy dusty in there.



on another note, whats up with the track ball on apple's mouses. how weak, gets dirty doesnt work.. they need to take a lesson from blackberries trackball

How about a dyson (http://www.dyson.co.uk/)? Does the job here and removes all the dust!!

[hank-b]

How about a dyson (http://www.dyson.co.uk/)? Does the job here and removes all the dust!!

I must admit, I used my Dyson to clean the inside of my iMac G4 when I had it in bits on the kitchen table last year (I was installing a new hard drive). The suction is powerful enough that it could be held several inches away from the circuit boards (i.e. hopefully out of range of static sparks) and still suck up all the dust.

HB

[giffut]

Unless you have one that is designed not to. ;) I've seen them used to clean rackmount systems, industrial laser printers, and Test & Measurement Equipment. ;)

The cheap one (http://www.govacuum.com/meda3eancocl.html) I found is $390, intermediate (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BQU0NE?smid=A2T85LEV7EB1Y2&tag=nextag-tools-tier3-delta-20&linkCode=asn) $800, and cleanroom (http://www.sylvane.com/nilfisk-ivt1000cr.html) $1700 (anti static hoses are an option; no price given).

Definitely not cheap. :eek: :p

... my God: I read "antistatic horses"!!! But maybe they are worth a try, who knows ;-)

You should be fine with compressed air and your own deep breaths. That´s how I do it and it works out just fine.

[ncc1701d]

Vacuum cleaners can generate static electricity and can fry a computer. Generally NOT recommended.

Unless you have one that is designed not to. ;) I've seen them used to clean rackmount systems, industrial laser printers, and Test & Measurement Equipment. ;)

The cheap one (http://www.govacuum.com/meda3eancocl.html) I found is $390, intermediate (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BQU0NE?smid=A2T85LEV7EB1Y2&tag=nextag-tools-tier3-delta-20&linkCode=asn) $800, and cleanroom (http://www.sylvane.com/nilfisk-ivt1000cr.html) $1700 (anti static hoses are an option; no price given).

Definitely not cheap. :eek: :p
Thanks for that! I didn't have a clue (obviously :o). I'll look into those cleaners too - thanks nanofrog!:)

[hatehereyes]

Vacuum cleaners can generate static electricity and can fry a computer. Generally NOT recommended.

I heard the same about using a regular air compressor(not compressed air in a can)

is this true?

[teohyc]

I just used a vacuum cleaner to suck dust off my XT1900 a few months ago. The dust was choking the graphics card causing it to overheat.

Looks like I need to do it again once of these days.

[marbles]

yard brush+ hosepipe :p


seriously though if you have to ask how to clean a dusty object........


I hear ya on the trackball tho', then again , Apple wants folk to buy new every 3 years or so so why wouldn't they design the trackball to gunge up beyond usable quickly , they could make such better products but dont IMHO

[Mac Kiwi]

How many PSI do those cans generate?...am also thinking of using my airbrush compressor {1.5 hp

[big_malk]

I got a can of compressed air, but I sprayed it to see how powerful it was before i actually used it to clean, and it covered my hand with the propellant. It doesn't always do that, but if it did spray that stuff inside my MP, what's the chances of damage? It evaporates in seconds, but what about any residue it leaves? Obviously my MP would be switched of at the time...

What the danger from static using a hair drier (on the cold setting) to blow dust out?

I would recommend taking the fans out to clean, I did it for the firs time (and stuck a dust filter in the front while I was at it) and there was a HUGE amount of dust hidden in there that I couldn't see, and under the CPU cover. My northbridge now runs almost 10ºC cooler!

[Fomaphone]

I got a can of compressed air, but I sprayed it to see how powerful it was before i actually used it to clean, and it covered my hand with the propellant. It doesn't always do that, but if it did spray that stuff inside my MP, what's the chances of damage? It evaporates in seconds, but what about any residue it leaves? Obviously my MP would be switched of at the time...


i was told that the best way to avoid residue is to always shake the hell out of compressed air, and never spray the can at more than a 20 degree angle (from vertical)

[numbersyx]

I got a can of compressed air, but I sprayed it to see how powerful it was before i actually used it to clean, and it covered my hand with the propellant. It doesn't always do that, but if it did spray that stuff inside my MP, what's the chances of damage? It evaporates in seconds, but what about any residue it leaves? Obviously my MP would be switched of at the time...

What the danger from static using a hair drier (on the cold setting) to blow dust out?

I would recommend taking the fans out to clean, I did it for the firs time (and stuck a dust filter in the front while I was at it) and there was a HUGE amount of dust hidden in there that I couldn't see, and under the CPU cover. My northbridge now runs almost 10ºC cooler!

I had this problem too. Made me very wary of using the compressed air method...

[bozz2006]

simple solution: don't push the trigger all the way.

[jhcodafa]

well, now you guys are making me weary of the compressed air

[big_malk]

well, now you guys are making me weary of the compressed air

General consensus across the internet is that compressed air from a can is the way to go.
I think the issue might just be that I bought the cheapest, highest capacity can I could find. Paying an extra pound/dollar or two for a higher quality can is probably worth it.

[pprior]

With the can vertical you won't get propellant expelled - use the tip to bend, not the can.

It's the safest.

Don't use a normal air compressor - has amounts of oil and contaminents in the air.

[UltraNEO*]

I must admit, I used my Dyson to clean the inside of my iMac G4 when I had it in bits on the kitchen table last year (I was installing a new hard drive). The suction is powerful enough that it could be held several inches away from the circuit boards (i.e. hopefully out of range of static sparks) and still suck up all the dust.

HB


....Don't use any of the brush attachments, just use the long narrow thing.

But then again I don't vacuum the actual PCB,
just all the nooks and crannies, plus various flat surfaces. :D


Kinda feels like my MacPro vacuum my room, filters all the air!
Then i vacuum the MacPro... :rolleyes:

[jhcodafa]

i was told that the best way to avoid residue is to always shake the hell out of compressed air, and never spray the can at more than a 20 degree angle (from vertical)

my can says not to shake!

[grue]

my can says not to shake!

Hope Michael J Fox doesn't buy it.

[Chaos123x]

I use sopping wet bathroom tissue paper.

I think it works the best, I used to use paper towels but they don't fall apart as easy. :eek:

Joking.


Just run to best buy or whatever and grab a can of air, I use "Dust Off" by falcon.

[subaqua]

I use a scuba tank with a fitting attached to one of the low pressure hoses.

The air in our scuba tanks comes from a O2 clean system and is filtered and doesn't have any oil or other hyrdocarbons in it like you might get from a normal auto air compressor. I got lots of scuba tanks lying around and got sick of buying those little cans :-)

My 2 cents,

[nanofrog]

I use a scuba tank with a fitting attached to one of the low pressure hoses.

The air in our scuba tanks comes from a O2 clean system and is filtered and doesn't have any oil or other hyrdocarbons in it like you might get from a normal auto air compressor. I got lots of scuba tanks lying around and got sick of buying those little cans :-)

My 2 cents,
If someone has a compressor system set up for painting, the filters catch the oil and moisture. ;)