When you first buy a gaming PC, you baby it. You spend hours researching the perfect processor, debating over the graphics card, and deciding whether to splurge on 16GB or 32GB of RAM. But after the excitement fades, maintenance often takes a back seat—and that’s where things can get messy. Literally.
Six years of neglect, revealed on Reddit
A gamer recently shared a shocking photo on Reddit of the inside of his machine, which he hadn’t opened once in six years.
Surprisingly, the PC was still running, but the state of it made the internet collectively cringe. Thick layers of dust had built up across components, suffocating fans and coating the graphics card. It’s a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks their rig can be left untouched year after year.
Why dust is your PC’s worst enemy
A gaming PC isn’t just about raw power—it’s about keeping that power cool and efficient. Dust buildup blocks airflow, making it harder for fans to dissipate heat. Over time, this can throttle performance, shorten the lifespan of your GPU and CPU, or even lead to unexpected shutdowns as temperatures spike.
And then there’s the noise factor. Dirty fans have to spin faster and harder just to keep things stable, turning what was once a whisper-quiet setup into a jet engine every time you launch a game.
Where all that dust comes from
Even if you’re careful, dust is unavoidable. It sneaks in through ventilation, drifts off your furniture, and even comes from your own skin and hair. Your power supply, case fans, and GPU are basically dust vacuums, pulling particles straight into the machine.
Good PC cases now come with dust filters, which can drastically reduce buildup, but even those need cleaning. A clogged filter is almost as bad as having none at all, since it still restricts airflow and traps heat inside.
How often should you clean your PC?
Experts generally recommend giving your PC a proper clean every 2 to 6 months, depending on your environment. A dusty room or a home with pets will require more frequent attention.
The safest way? Skip the vacuum and use compressed air instead. A few blasts will clear fans, heatsinks, and vents without the risk of static damage. Wiping with a cloth or poking around with tools is not only less effective but can also damage delicate parts.
The bottom line
That Reddit post is a stark reminder: your gaming PC is an investment, and neglecting it for years isn’t just gross—it’s a shortcut to degraded performance and expensive repairs. A few minutes with a can of compressed air every few months could be the difference between smooth gameplay and a premature hardware failure.
