Weekend Open Forum: How often do you open your PC case?

[Ranger12]

My computer lays on its side and I haven't closed it in about 2 years. I look inside every now and then just to admire the spinning fans and glowing lights. Other than that I clean when I upgrade.

 

[PC nerd]

Every couple of months. The Phantom 410 doesn't have fantastic air filters.

 

[Spykezxp]

For my computer - every 4 to 6 months. Its usually for an upgrade (when I can afford something new) and also cleaning. For clients computers that come in for "repair" - probably once or twice a week. It amazes me how dirty some people let their computers get, but I'm not surprised (with a common person they do not know that they have to pop it open and clean every couple months). Should remember to take pictures of the dust buildup on these computers so I can post them.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Let the dust bunnies out every 6 months or so. Maybe a couple of times more each year.. occasional hardware upgrade (graphics, memory, storage) and I play with the dust bunnies when I do that .. rather than sandbox, I drop in a reformatted drive to try out an OS .. and I keep my original OS disk inside the case so I can find it, so I need to open the case for an OS repair.

My trick for catching dust bunnies.. put a small hole into a cap from a jug of milk ... thread it with a small diameter clear hose (like $0.29 @ foot) 12"-18" long ... place jug cap on open nozzle of vacuum cleaner and have at it (some vacuums let you open a small relief hole which keep motor from straining) or just put more holes in the milk jug cap. Suction is not excessive and the small diameter means you can clean fan blades, etc.

 

[learninmypc]

I've had mine, 2nd hand, since 12/23/12 & I opened it once but nothing to clean. Guess I'm fortunate.

 

[MrBlkfx1]

About 3 times a year aside from upgrades. I tweak cable management every so often as well. I have a lot of crap in my case so I have to stay on top of it when I add new stuff.

 

[BigMack70]

About once a month just to dust/vacuum everything out.

 

[slh28]

Pretty much only when I upgrade, the dust filters on the 600T work pretty well and I don't live in a dusty environment anyway.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Once or twice a month.

 

[Archean]

I must admit I haven't done it in a almost 6/7 months now (since I haven't even had time to turn it on). But I usually opened it for cleaning every 6 weeks or so.

 

[tmcclelland47]

Since my hard drive's power connector is getting finicky, pretty much every time I boot it. So about once or twice every few days.

 

[Guest]

2x a year then blow and suck every dust inside.

 

[Burty117]

Wow... I'm a bad person xD

Unless I'm installing upgrades... I Never open them up, and I build my machines so they don't need upgrading for years.
Latest PC has a GTX 780 and i7 4770k so I probably won't be opening it for a good 2-3 years xD.

To be fair, the case is a Corsair 600T Special White Edition so I can see the cool lighting effects and if there is any dust build up without actually having to open it up and the case is fully filtered so it doesn't really get dust build up anywhere.

...

Just checked my old pc which used a Cooler Master Cosmos S case, that hasn't been opened in a good 3 years and there's a light layer of dust on the PSU and the radiator has got a bit on but it's actually not to bad! Considering its been on, a good 12 hours a day, everyday, since it was built.

 

[Guest]

Once a year, not very obsessed with this. It's just a box.

 

[DuhWookie]

Ever, I would break something aha

 

[Rick55]

Computer is cleaned once every 3 months....

 

[Emexrulsier]

My pc modding enthusiasm is kinda dinted since getting married . Normally open it up to clean or repair a hole

 

[Guest]

Who closes his computer case? So once is the correct answer.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Who closes his computer case? So once is the correct answer.

I do!

However there was a time, I couldn't put the cover on my case. I was participating in a computing project and had a case with poor ventilation. I had to remove the cover, so I could blow additional air into the case. Talk about a crash course in case design. lol

 

[Guest]

Every few months, mostly due to update.
When I was younger I used to open it regularly, because it's where I hid my weed

 

[Guest]

My case side panels are always off... I sometimes have problems with my ram sticks, case is always open to easily wiggle things around!

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Unless upgrading parts, about 3 or 4 times a year for cleaning.

Same here but in my case (no pun intended) I can't afford to upgrade as often as I'd like to so I use the excuse of blowing out the dust just so I can look at the parts I paid so much for but hardly ever see.

 

[TheBigT42]

A better question is how often do I close it.

 

[EClyde]

Whenever I need to. No schedule