A motherboard is a printed circuit board and the foundation of a computer. It provides connectivity between the various hardware a device has to make them work in tandem as a single machine. As such, a device's motherboard is one of, if not the most important part, of an electronic device. It is also one of the most expensive parts of a computer.
However, motherboards are prone to breaking and damage due to their crucial role in connecting all of a device's hardware. You could replace them, but that could cost you the money you could have spent on something else.
Here are some tips that could help you maintain your motherboard and extend its lifespan.
Keeping it Clean
Computers, when neglected, can become a haven for dust, hair, and other things that could get past their cooling fans. These things can prevent proper communication between all of the computer's components, including the power supply. According to Chron, these can also cause heat to build up inside the computer's system unit. The system unit is the case which contains a computer's essential hardware like the motherboard. The built-up heat can cause damage and short circuits to the motherboard, which is why it's important to keep it clean.
You should use canned air to clear loose dust and debris from the motherboard and cotton swabs moistened with alcohol (not dripping!) to remove dirt that got stuck on the motherboard.
Use a Surge Protector and a UPS system
Never take power surges, spikes, fluctuations, and blackouts lightly, especially when your computer is involved. These incidents can fry the circuits of a motherboard or damage it in ways that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Using a reliable surge protector can help prevent sudden spikes in electricity from breaking and frying the circuits of your motherboard.
Sudden power cuts and fluctuations can cause damage to a computer's motherboard through unfinished shutdown processes.
Using an uninterruptible power source will give your computer time to finish these shutdown processes in case of a power blackout or protect it against possible fluctuations.
Keep it Cool
As mentioned earlier, built-up heat can destroy a computer's motherboard, which is the reason why a system unit isn't complete without cooling fans. However, these fans can accumulate dust or slowly break down, causing them to perform poorly over time. However, even if the cooling fans are fine, if the computer doesn't have proper ventilation, then your motherboard and your computer are still not safe.
Checking your cooling fans for dust, dirt, and unusual drops in performance will help you keep your motherboard cool enough to perform its operations within acceptable temperatures. Moving your computer to a place with a properly ventilated area can also do wonders for your motherboard's health.
