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Keeping dust out?

E

Eagle923

Limp Gawd
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Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
134
Any ideas on keeping dust out of a new computer? My old one seems like it just becomes a haven for cat hair, wife hair, black dust... you name it I've vacuumed it.

I looked around and saw a few commercial "wire" type filters. How are you guys keeping your cases clean?
 
Eagle923 said:
Any ideas on keeping dust out of a new computer? My old one seems like it just becomes a haven for cat hair, wife hair, black dust... you name it I've vacuumed it.

I looked around and saw a few commercial "wire" type filters. How are you guys keeping your cases clean?
Click to expand...


In my years of computer use, I have never, ever, found anything that achieves complete victory over cat hair when a fan was in use in a system.
Believe it or not, the only thing I have tried that seemed somewhat effective is using my wife's old nylons and a rubber band to hold a piece of it over the intake fans. That really only slows down the accumulation of dust and that insidious cat hair. Not prevent it's accumulation. Opening the pc up and using a can of duster on a monthly basis is the easiest option. Also keeping the room the pc is in, as clean as possible helps. Keeping the pc on your desk, and off of the floor also helps.

Unless you can afford to build a clean room, OR summarily execute your cats.
 
You pretty much can't do it, so once every 3 months of so pop the side off and blast it with compressed air. If you upgrade stuff frequently then blow the case out when you upgrade something.
 
I second the nylon fan filters.... works amazingly well.

And a good cleaning once a month never hurt anyone either....
 
Make the room with the computer a Man's Room Only and dont let anyone or anything in. :D
 
Its easy, stretch ladies tights over all intake fans.
Works a treat and costs almost nothing but its so good you need to clean them regularly.
 
I use old nylons too. :) If you get good ones they will last awhile, I use the feet, they'll usually last through 2 rinsings if you don't stretch and run them much.

Beware the usage by the previous poster, though. "Tights" in the UK is any kind of ladies' pantyhose, "Tights" in the US usually means specifically opaque pantyhose, which I find to be too thick and somewhat impede airflow. But YMMV. :)
 
darkesnow said:
I use old nylons too. :) If you get good ones they will last awhile, I use the feet, they'll usually last through 2 rinsings if you don't stretch and run them much.

Beware the usage by the previous poster, though. "Tights" in the UK is any kind of ladies' pantyhose, "Tights" in the US usually means specifically opaque pantyhose, which I find to be too thick and somewhat impede airflow. But YMMV. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, yer right, I'll use the term Nylons as well.
 
A lot of cases include air filters over the intake ports. Im going to be buying a antec p180b for my new build and that includes filters. I dont know how well they work but maybe you could find an inexpensive case with them. Im currently metal filters over my intake fans. They look more like a grill than a filter because the holes are kinda wide. They do work pretty well tho, I have to clean them at least one a month, but I still get dust inside my case. Im thinking the filters with this case will work a lot better.
 
I use these. I don't use the frames because they don't fit on my rad. The mesh or whatever does a great job though. I have to clean them every week. I would guess they drop my overall airflow 10cfm, if that.
 
Sloth said:
I use these. I don't use the frames because they don't fit on my rad. The mesh or whatever does a great job though. I have to clean them every week. I would guess they drop my overall airflow 10cfm, if that.
Click to expand...
i use somthing very similar to that, my case is always clean, i have to clean the filters every few months.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm going to try the nylons as well. Cheap, easy and disposable if necessary.
 
easiest quick solution is to get the computer off the floor if that's where it is. You're just asking for it to get dirty if you have your case on the floor in a carpeted room as all the dust, lint, hair etc. that is trapped in the carpet will get sucked in.

But yea, nylons make a cheap filter :)
 
Sloth said:
I use these. I don't use the frames because they don't fit on my rad. The mesh or whatever does a great job though. I have to clean them every week. I would guess they drop my overall airflow 10cfm, if that.
Click to expand...

you know where to just get the filters for it? mine getting ripped
 
I know for me, i live in Korea... South... lol, and the dust here is crazy!!!! i have to compress air about every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks, but here compressed air is $1.00 a can. But i should try the nylon thing.. sounds like it works decent
 
One thing I've found is the thin Polyurethane Foam Air Conditioning Filter that comes in a roll you cut with scissors - can be found at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. You get enough for like 20 filters for just a few bucks, it's washable, and thin enough not to impede airflow too much while still keeping hair and a good amount of dust out.

Edit: Here's a link for what I found in a store near me - Frost King Air Conditioner 15 x 24 x1/4 Filter

Edit2: and an image to give you an idea of how porous it is
 
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A more expensive option is to have a HEPA type air purifier in the room (and keep the doors/windows closed). Not only the PC, but you too will breathe easy.
 
yea.. i just vaccum everything inside with a regular vaccum cleaner, take the top off, use the tube directly. :) its magical
but still have to clean the fans separately though
 
hoboman said:
yea.. i just vaccum everything inside with a regular vaccum cleaner, take the top off, use the tube directly. :) its magical
but still have to clean the fans separately though
Click to expand...

Apparently vacuums are really bad for your computer if used inside the case.. not sure if you know that. Static electricity.

So how do you install the nylon over the fan? You say stretch but how do you attach it?
 
Rycon said:
Apparently vacuums are really bad for your computer if used inside the case.. not sure if you know that. Static electricity.

So how do you install the nylon over the fan? You say stretch but how do you attach it?
Click to expand...

A rubber band is the easiest way.
 
Rycon said:
Very interesting I gotta try this, does it hurt alot of airflow?
Click to expand...

I just got mine installed, and it doesnt seem like it. Just make sure your not using something like.. SOCKS, for it, that would suck!
 
Rycon said:
Apparently vacuums are really bad for your computer if used inside the case.. not sure if you know that. Static electricity.

So how do you install the nylon over the fan? You say stretch but how do you attach it?
Click to expand...

I create a frame to mount the nylon on if it wont fit easily.
The easiest thing to use is a roll of garden wire fencing type stuff.
You can bend and shape it to suit then stretch a layer of nylon over it.
 
naa, forget saran wrap, just duct tape the whole thing, and then, you can change the color whenver
 
i use those sheets you throw in when you dry your clothes. i have an antec 900 and cover the entire front case with it. traps a loTTTTTT of dust. works well IMO and cheap....i simply tape a sheet on.
 
I thought one of the benefits to running a positive air pressure case was less dust. Granted, not "no dust", but less dust.

I'm intrigued by the home depot and nylon solution though
 
soulfoot said:
I thought one of the benefits to running a positive air pressure case was less dust. Granted, not "no dust", but less dust.
Click to expand...

Some positive pressure systems are cooler during startup, but there have been horror stories of them going from cool temps, to all of a sudden hitting +100 degree system temp...
 
I'll second the suggestion of getting the case off the floor. Even if you can only get it 6" off the floor, it will help tremendously.
 
Like others have said, keeping it off the ground will work wonders for ya, the difference is huge. Failing that (or in addition to it), any kind of filter on the intake fans will help over time. The ghetto nylons/panty-hose filter is always an option.

I've had good luck with those metal-mesh grills that every cooling-stuff site seems to sell. I slapped one on top of the front fan on my SuperLanboy (it fits because I replaced the blue plastic bezzel piece in the front w/a stamped metal grill from a water-cooling rad).

It's not easily removable (I'd have to unscrew the fan) but swiping a Swiffer wipe over it every few months seems to get the bulk of the dust out of it.

P.S. Also, if you can manage it, having somewhat more airflow pumped in than pulled out will keep dust from settling inside the case as much. Doubt it'll do much for pet hair.
 
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