Fan filter recommendations

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batai37

Weaksauce
Joined
May 13, 2006
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71
I need a couple of fan filters for my new rig...it will have 2 120mm intake fans, one front and one rear (Lian Li v1200 II Plus). I've used filters before (that black mesh-type material, whatever it's called), and I've found that those tended to restrict airflow quite a bit. Are the aluminum ones better in this regard? TIA....
 
Air filtering and PC's are two things which don't go well together, and something which no company has really created a solution for. For filtering air, it's a ratio between dust filtered, air flow restriction and size. The aluminum filters don't restrict as much air, but do a pretty poor job of filtering out dust. The mesh filters filter out some more dust, but restrict air flow a bit too much.

So the only thing left to change is the area of the filter, which becomes a problem since most pc cases don't have room to stick reasonable air filters.
 
This is pretty much the conclusion I've reached. The mesh filters are great for filtering dust, dander, etc. (I have multiple cats/dogs), but restrict airflow too much. I've never used aluminum filters, but I have my doubts about how effective they are at filtering.
 
Id would be afraid to use the aluminum ones for fear of them falling apart and shorting something. You could use the mesh ones from a window ac but you really got to be on top of cleaning them.
 
Get the alu ones and once a month drop them in the dishwasher. If you are a stickler about dust, you get the filter spray (Lowe's etc. ) and give them a quick shot to help increase dust trapping.

I have some fine nylon mesh ones from Tt that I like OK but worry eventually they will wear out and they are so fine I have to use a toothbrush for a final touch up cleaning even after the dishwasher. This seems to damage the mesh over about a year of cleanings, they now look worn.

The open cell foam ones are hard to clean and after a while will tear/wear out from cleaning and are so light weight you cant really put them in the dishwasher and it is the hand cleaning in the sink that kills them as well as being a pain to do.

The Alu ones are the only ones I have found that are a buy it once deal. The mesh size varies, you might buy a single inexpensive 80mm one to look at before you bought a set for your entire machine.

Old school is if there is a woman around you recycle her ripped panty hose for an endless supply of filters and by the degree you stretch the material over the guard you can adjust for yourself the airflow vs dust catching. It is best to explain your intended use before you ask for the cast offs to prevent serious misunderstandings. ;)
 
p3sty said:
Id would be afraid to use the aluminum ones for fear of them falling apart and shorting something. You could use the mesh ones from a window ac but you really got to be on top of cleaning them.
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I doubt that an aluminum filter will "fall apart", well, pretty much ever (or at the very least during a computer's lifetime). Have you ever seen an aluminum can that's 15 or 20 years old? It hasn't changed much from when it was new.
 
honestly i used old pantyhose, sure it restricts some airflow--too much in my case. but it definitely traps a lot of dust.
 
I've had good results with 3M Filtrete electrostatic air filter material. You can buy a pair of big sheets for reusable frame filters for about the same price as a single disposable framed filter (good, since you don't need the frame anyway). Cut to size - one pair can provide quite a few filters. Since it's pleated, there's a lot of surface area for the size of the fan opening - this minimizes the loss of pressure compared to flat filters. Of course, you need the space to fit the pleats (about 3/4 in or 2cm thick). My Lian-Li case has that room in front between the case body and front panel.

Much more effective than that mesh-type stuff. No more flow reduction but far more dust caught.
 
Michael Daly said:
I've had good results with 3M Filtrete electrostatic air filter material. You can buy a pair of big sheets for reusable frame filters for about the same price as a single disposable framed filter (good, since you don't need the frame anyway). Cut to size - one pair can provide quite a few filters. Since it's pleated, there's a lot of surface area for the size of the fan opening - this minimizes the loss of pressure compared to flat filters. Of course, you need the space to fit the pleats (about 3/4 in or 2cm thick). My Lian-Li case has that room in front between the case body and front panel.

Much more effective than that mesh-type stuff. No more flow reduction but far more dust caught.
Click to expand...

Cool idea...you wouldn't happen to have any pics of your installation would you? I assume you can buy those at the Home Labyrinth or other hardware place?
 
This one's about two weeks old - the colour changes from white to grey quite quickly, since it stops a lot. The flow is still very good.

airfilter.jpg


The glossy bit on top is transparent tape - I use that for a cheap and dirty way to seal the edges of the pleats. In the future, I'll cut the filter 90 degrees from that axis so the pleats go the long direction rather than the short direction.

The frame is the original Lian-Li filter cover with the entire centre removed.

These filters are available at any decent big box hardware store - I got this at HD. Two 20x25 inch (nominal) filters for $15.
 
Very cool Michael. Something else I heard of that I do to my home AC filters (at the recommendation of the guy that services it every year) is spray the intake side with Lemon Pledge. It makes the filter stickier I guess, and really traps dust, dander, hair, etc. very well. Also makes the air in the house smell good for a few hours. :cool: Dunno how advisable it would be for a PC filter though.
 
another idea, which i'm using, is the bounce sheets you put into the dryer, after drying your clothes, your computer smells good as well, so much you can cuddle it to sleep every night. :D
 
Wow. I've always wondered if those things were good for something other than tossing into the trash.
 
batai37 said:
Very cool spray the intake side with Lemon Pledge. It makes the filter stickier I guess, and really traps dust, dander, hair, etc. very well.
Click to expand...

That might eliminate the electrostatic properties of the filter. I would only do that if the filter was a non-electrostatic type.
 
Thanks again Michael! You've been a big help, especially in taking the time to provide pics of your filter setup.
 
I discovered a nice setup that has worked EXTREMELY well for me.
I found these large 3ft x 4ft sheets of blue filter material for a home air conditioner/furnace. (Basically looks like a 3M Scotch Brite scrubbing pad....ya know, the red,blue,green,black multipacks)
(appx 1/4 inch thick)
I used to smoke at my pc, so I have a chopped up paper type filter (exactly like the guy above did) and used to put 1 sheet of this paper behind the blue particle filter(see 1st pic closely)........blue got the dust, white got the smoke. Worked GREAT!
I dont smoke in my new house, so I no longer use the white paper element, just the blue for dust, and it still works 100% better than everything ive ever used previously.....
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Updated Pic
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The best filter media I've found is the pleated filter heating/AC media found in any hardware store.

The pleated configuration provides a good combination of large surface area and low flow restriction. Just cut-to-fit with a pair of shears.

It's a lot easier to install externally (as Michael Daly did), since it's about 1" thick with the pleats.

If you want to install it internally, you'll probably have to mod the case to install it. My install involved removing some case front-intake restriction, removing the HD cage and suspending the HDs.
 
gud4u said:
It's a lot easier to install externally (as Michael Daly did)
Click to expand...

Actually, that one is sort-of internal. The front cover for the case hides the filter. However, if you do want to install one on the inside (other side of the fan), that can be a challenge, as you'd have to make some kind of mount and holder.

since it's about 1" thick with the pleats.
Click to expand...

Actually, the filter frames are 1" thick. The pleated filters in the frames are only 3/4", so you have a bit more room to work with. Well, this is true for the 3M brand - YMMV.
 
My post wasnt just babble, the paper element works great filtering, but restricts too much airflow imo for high RPM fans. Gets sucked & stuck onto the fan mesh without the need to be held in place = too much restriction for me.
Not trying to flame anyone here btw......im the noob on the block. Just trying for the "greater good"......
Aluminums are just as bad after a month or three.
 
You know I was also thinking...how exactly does one go about measuring actual airflow? By temps alone? When my intake/outake fans and grilles get mucked up naturally things start heating up more, obviously.

I know one guy, who is far more technically inclined than I, told me that to get an idea of just how the air was flowing you can use colored smoke and you can see how it gets sucked around inside the case. I haven't a clue as to what substance one would use for that. That of course wouldn't measure the rate of airflow with any kind of precision. It'd be interesting to watch I guess. :D
 
Hehehe........Ive thought of how myself. Even tried cutting, folding & taping flat clear shipping plastic that came with fans for something.......to direct airflow & seperate upper case from GPU/lower.....so each would have its own individual intake & exhaust. Great idea. Didnt do a damthing for temps :p

As far as airflow measurement, all you can really do is take into account CFM ratings of your case fan intakes & exhausts, add in the extra PSU exhaust fan, and try to break even with case pressures.
IE: 4 case fans rated at 100 CFM, 2 intake, 2 exhaust = 200 CFM of airflow through your case. Break that down some more and you can figure out how many times all the air in your case is exchanged per minuite :p


Arguements lead me to believe the status quo is, "removal of heat" is better than "bringing in cool air".
Personally, I believe you need both equally to operate effeciently.

Then DL some monitoring software that shows correct fan RPM's compared to manufacturers ratings......if youve got a fan that rates at 65 CFM @ 1200 RPM's, and its got a filter covered in 6 months worth of dust from your carpet, your fans RPM's will be slow.
 
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