Clean up your grungy PC

Dust balls can dramatically impede the airflow inside your PC, raising case temperature to dangerous levels, but a nest of cables can also have the same effect. (They also simply get in the way, making it difficult to quickly replace and install components.)

In most computer enclosures, the prime space-wasting culprits are big, flat IDE ribbon cables. To keep things neat and orderly inside your PC, consider replacing these old-style cables with modern, round ones. Selling for about $6, round IDE cables help increase airflow and reduce cable clutter.

With your computer off and its main AC power cord disconnected, simply unplug your current IDE cables and replace them with the new ones. Before replacing the case cover, power up the machine to make sure the cables are connected properly and everything works.

If you'd rather not splurge on new cables, you can still improve airflow by reorganizing the old ones. For instance, fold up any excess cable and fasten it with rubber bands. Just make sure you leave a little slack so that the connectors don't become unseated easily.