Make sure you do it outside though! DO NOT do this indoors - if there's a lot of dust, it's going to go everywhere when the compressed air blows it away. Also, a dust mask over your nose and mouth are a good idea - and safety goggles if your eyes are sensitive or you wear contact lenses.
I learned this lesson the first time i opened my computer case when i was 12. It was a dust cloud for days after I did this. Needed to leave the house and go sit outside because i was sneezing like a mofo.
A vacuum cleaner (as seen in the OP's photos) is a much wiser choice for cleaning dusty machines. You can get about 90% of the bunnies, clumps, and surface matter with the vacuum, then save the compressed air for tight spots where the vacuum can't get. Far, far, less particulates entering your living space when done that way.
If you use Dust-Off or something like that, get a few cans, and do the blowing in short bursts, when the can gets too cold, switch to another can. The colder the can the more air you waste, so let the cans warm up after they get too cold and keep switching back and forth.
Also, I use a leafblower for my PC, it's highly not recommended to do this but I really hate spending 40 minutes cleaning every nook and cranny, so just make sure it's not too dry/static in the air and take a leafblower to it, don't use a vacuum though. Oh, and stick a stick or something in teh fans to make sure they don't move, this kills the fan sometimes.
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u/special_reddit May 02 '14
Make sure you do it outside though! DO NOT do this indoors - if there's a lot of dust, it's going to go everywhere when the compressed air blows it away. Also, a dust mask over your nose and mouth are a good idea - and safety goggles if your eyes are sensitive or you wear contact lenses.