Keeping Your Gaming Setup Running: Maintenance Tips

Gaming setups represent a significant investment - from high-end PCs to current-generation consoles and premium accessories. Proper maintenance keeps everything running smoothly and extends the life of your equipment.

Gaming PC Maintenance

Dust Management

Dust is the enemy of gaming PCs:

Regular cleaning schedule:

• External dusting: Weekly
• Internal compressed air cleaning: Monthly
• Deep cleaning: Every 6 months

Cleaning techniques:

• Use compressed air in short bursts
• Hold fans in place while cleaning (prevent damage)
• Clean filters separately with water
• Work in a well-ventilated area

Prevention:

• Use filtered intake fans
• Keep PC off the floor
• Maintain clean room environment
• Consider positive pressure case setup

Thermal Management

Heat kills components:

Monitor your temperatures:

• CPU shouldn’t exceed 80°C under load
• GPU temps vary but 85°C+ is concerning
• Use monitoring software to track temps

Maintain cooling:

• Replace thermal paste every 2-3 years
• Ensure fans are working properly
• Clean radiators and heatsinks
• Verify good cable management for airflow

Software Maintenance

Keep your system running efficiently:

• Update GPU drivers regularly
• Keep Windows/OS updated
• Run disk cleanup periodically
• Defragment HDDs (not SSDs)
• Monitor SSD health
• Scan for malware regularly

Console Maintenance

PlayStation and Xbox

Dust prevention:

• Don’t place in enclosed cabinets
• Ensure adequate ventilation clearance
• Clean vents with compressed air monthly
• Keep away from fabric-shedding materials

Heat management:

• Don’t stack other electronics on top
• Allow 4+ inches clearance on all sides
• Don’t cover while running
• Consider vertical stands for better airflow

Storage considerations:

• Keep internal storage under 90% full
• Use external drives for older games
• Periodically rebuild database (PlayStation)

Nintendo Switch

Unique concerns:

• Clean air intake vents carefully
• Keep dock connections clean
• Protect screen when in handheld mode
• Joy-Con care (avoid drift triggers)

Joy-Con maintenance:

• Keep thumbstick bases clean
• Use compressed air around sticks
• Store with sticks centered
• Calibrate periodically

Controller Maintenance

Controllers take a beating:

Cleaning

• Wipe surfaces with isopropyl alcohol
• Clean around buttons with cotton swabs
• Clear debris from thumbstick edges
• Clean trigger mechanisms

Stick Drift Prevention

• Don’t slam sticks to extremes
• Keep the area around sticks clean
• Calibrate in system settings
• Replace when drift becomes problematic

Battery Care

For wireless controllers:

• Don’t leave on charger constantly
• Use when fully charged, charge when low
• Store with partial charge
• Replace batteries when capacity drops

Monitor/Display Care

Screen Protection

• Clean with proper microfiber cloths
• Never spray liquid directly on screen
• Avoid touching the screen
• Use screen savers or auto-off for OLED

Gaming-Specific Settings

• Enable game modes for lower latency
• Don’t run at max brightness constantly
• Configure proper HDR settings
• Match refresh rate to your hardware

Audio Equipment

Gaming Headsets

• Clean ear pads regularly
• Replace ear pads when worn
• Keep headband clean
• Store on headset stand
• Don’t stretch the headband
• Keep mic foam clean

Speakers and Soundbars

• Dust regularly
• Don’t run at max volume
• Position away from walls if ported
• Clean grilles with soft brush

Cable Management

Good cable management:

• Improves airflow
• Reduces tripping hazards
• Makes troubleshooting easier
• Looks better
• Protects cables from damage

Tips:

• Use velcro ties (not zip ties)
• Route away from heat sources
• Don’t kink cables sharply
• Label connections for easy identification

Power Protection

Gaming equipment is vulnerable to surges:

• Use quality surge protectors
• Consider UPS for PC gaming
• Replace surge protectors every 3-5 years
• Unplug during electrical storms

When Things Go Wrong

Common gaming equipment problems we repair:

PCs:

• Overheating issues
• Power supply failures
• GPU problems
• Storage failures

Consoles:

• Disc drive problems
• HDMI port damage
• Overheating shutdowns
• Power issues

Controllers:

• Stick drift repair
• Button failures
• Charging issues
• Wireless connectivity problems

Warning Signs

Get maintenance or repair when you notice:

• Unusual fan noise
• Performance drops
• Unexpected shutdowns
• Visual artifacts
• Input lag increases
• Strange sounds from disc drives
• Controller drift developing

Preventive Maintenance Schedule

Weekly:

• Wipe down controllers
• Dust external surfaces
• Check ventilation clearance

Monthly:

• Clean console vents
• Blow out PC dust
• Clean keyboard

Quarterly:

• Deep clean PC interior
• Check thermal performance
• Update drivers

Annually:

• Replace thermal paste if needed
• Replace surge protectors
• Full system cleaning

Keep your gaming setup running strong. If you’re experiencing issues, bring it in for a free diagnosis and we’ll get you back in the game.