how bad is cigarette smoke for your computer?

[Sean S]

noticed someone in another thread said they enjoy to smoke a cigar while on their laptop. and that got me to thinking.... how bad is cigar/cigarette smoke for your computer? what damage can it do? assuming you don't spill ashes on the laptop and you don't blow directly into components, what could the short/long term effects be for the laptop?

[bmwrob]

noticed someone in another thread said they enjoy to smoke a cigar while on their laptop. and that got me to thinking.... how bad is cigar/cigarette smoke for your computer? what damage can it do? assuming you don't spill ashes on the laptop and you don't blow directly into components, what could the short/long term effects be for the laptop?

Probably nothing worse than a minor cough.

[Crimsonman]

well the smoke might get in your screen and cloud it up.

and the ash and remnants might find a home in your fans

[capntang]

I've done work on computers (both laptops and desktops) that have been used primarily in the presence of heavy smokers, and all of them had a thin film of nastiness coating absolutely everything - inside and out.

I noticed that the buildup (tar and whatnot, I guess) had a tendency to trap dust and other particulates on heatsink fins and fan blades. I suppose if enough time passes and such components aren't cleaned, proper cooling could become an issue.

It was difficult working on those computers. It got to the point where I started refusing to work on them since running them meant that the room would inevitably smell like an ashtray after a half hour.

[Les]

I think if you blow it into the vents when the fan is on high, the tar and nicotine may build up and clog the fan after awhile.... Pullllease!!!!!

[Rorschach]

Its horrible if you ever plan on reselling it. "I wouldn't buy a computer that smells like a ash tray"

[eugenes]

I had to wear gloves to work on a computer that was used by a heavy smoker. Even if it doesn't clog up your cooling system (and it will), it's still just disgusting using a computer coated with that stuff.

[terryda]

I smoke by my computer, and have not noticed any build up on heatsinks or any other components. Unless you are blowing smoke into the heatsinks, the smoke is going to diffuse into the air too fast to be enough to collect on the heatsinks. My computer also doesn't smell like an ashtray when I take it apart, but then again people do some strange things with computer and could very well be using them as an actual ashtray.

[Hackez]

I smoke by my computer, and have not noticed any build up on heatsinks or any other components. Unless you are blowing smoke into the heatsinks, the smoke is going to diffuse into the air too fast to be enough to collect on the heatsinks. My computer also doesn't smell like an ashtray when I take it apart, but then again people do some strange things with computer and could very well be using them as an actual ashtray.

You are aware that most long term smokers loose their ability to distinguish between smoke and smoke free environments correct?

I haven't smoked a day in my life and can go into a house where someone smokes outside and can tell just by being near someone. (Clothing traps the smell)

[scooberdoober]

Actually, there is an acidic compound in the gunk that builds up from the smoke, and even the thinnest layer of this stuff will slowly but surely eat at the electrical components inside the system, especially capacitors. This is a prevalent problem in pro-audio environments and other forms of sound amplification.