My computer, peripherals, and desk attract a lot of dust, which means I have to wipe the surfaces continually. Is there any way to prevent dust from building-up around the area?

There is no sure way to prevent dust build-up on devices, as this will inevitably happen to all items which are left in a stationary position for a prolonged period of time (like a computer). However, you could reduce the amount of dust build-up by covering your computer when not being used. Don’t use anything too heavy, as you still want some airflow to the computer (being an electrical device) so I would recommend a sheet or something similar. Also, don’t cover up the machine straight after use, since components are likely to still be hot (like the monitor) and this could be a potential fire hazard. Leave the computer to cool-down before covering.

While dust build-up on the desk and external components is a nuisance, of more concern is dust build-up is inside the computer case. Significant dust can clog components, in particular fans for the CPU and graphics card. If the build-up gets bad enough, then it can completely clog the fan and prevent it from working. Furthermore, if there is a heat sink behind the fan, dust can build-up on the heat sink, having adverse cooling consequences. The irony here is that the fans actually attract most of the dust. There are ways to minimise the amount of dust the computer attracts, with methods varying from using filters on the fan intakes, to installing a liquid cooling system. However, for most people the best method is to occasionally clean-out the computer case. If you want to clean out your computer case, there are some points of which you should be aware. Firstly, make sure the computer is off and disconnect from mains power. Secondly, never use any type of liquid or solvents within the computer case or on components and never get any components damp or wet. Thirdly, using a vacuum is one of the best ways to get dust out of the computer. However, make sure that you don’t suck out any detachable components (e.g. jumpers). I also wouldn’t go poking around inside the computer with a metal vacuum attachment, for fear of shocking a component with static electricity. So, use a plastic/rubber attachment instead. I also highly recommend that you wear a static bracelet, so you don’t end up zapping any components with static electricity yourself! Finally, to get dust out of hard to reach components, such as CPU fans, a can of compressed air and a fine paint brush is definitely a good way to dislodge this dust.