Anyone with dust experience? :)

[Poontos]

My case intake fan is pulling the dust, much more than I originally thought. I guess I have to find a filter of some sort.

1.) Can you recommend an efficient, yet cheap solution for a dust filter of some sort for my Antex SX1040 case.

2.) With all that dust in there now, I can just blow it all out and all my components will be fine, right?

3.) What kind of damage can the dust do in the case, besides being a annoying.


Thanks!

 

[punkrawket]

Pantyhose sandwhiched between two layers of window screen works wonderfully (for me at least), i've heard used drier sheet work as well, some people just blow compressed air at their parts every once in a while, clean your hsf at least every 2 months (my rule ) because if you have a slight dust problem, your hsf will get very dusty

 

[Poontos]

Tanks

NE1 else?

 

[Davegod]

too much dust on stuff can make some things get too hot because of poor airflow. just blow it off most things, but where you see a heatsink and/or fan getting dusty its time for a bit more effort... canned air (i had a thought about pipe-cleaners (the smoking type pipes, not drainage ones JK) but i dunno about static or whatever.

i notice on my soon-to-be-old case theres actually a plastic thing with slots that make it look like its meant to hold a dust filter... possible brainwave: try a cutting a bit of vacuum cleaner bag, seeing as theyre designed to hold max dust but allow max airflow - just an idea, untried and untested

 

[Poontos]

<< too much dust on stuff can make some things get too hot because of poor airflow. just blow it off most things, but where you see a heatsink and/or fan getting dusty its time for a bit more effort... canned air (i had a thought about pipe-cleaners (the smoking type pipes, not drainage ones JK) but i dunno about static or whatever.

i notice on my soon-to-be-old case theres actually a plastic thing with slots that make it look like its meant to hold a dust filter... possible brainwave: try a cutting a bit of vacuum cleaner bag, seeing as theyre designed to hold max dust but allow max airflow - just an idea, untried and untested >>


Thanks, I have a few ideas, but I thought I would see which others have found work the best.

About the vacuum cleaner bag... aren`t they designed not to let dust leak out? In other words, vacuum bags are used to hold all the garbage that you vacuum'd up, not filter it? Maybe you guys have different vacuums across the creek.

 

[Poontos]

^^

 

[Diffusion]

I heard someone talking about a Sun E10k catching fire due to excess dust buld up the other day, but it was a loaded machine, in a REALLY dusty enviroment, so it probably doesnt occure all that often.

 

[freebee]

I look at the situation from a broader perspective. Instead of fighting dust at the computer side, why not filter the air in the room via an air cleaner of some sort. Its probably more effective if you live in a dusty environment anyway and you'll also reduce dust buildup on furniture, monitors, etc.

 

[jshrieve]

freebee, that's a good point and great idea.

I'd do that, except I realized after I put my mini-fridge in my room, that most big external devices make noise. And I don't need another thing making noise.

My Logitech Z560s (subwoofer) make a slight buzzing too. =( I actually can't hear it at all unless I put my ear within 3" while the computer is on, but when the computer is off (sooo quiet) I can hear anywhere in the room.

I think I'm gonna move my minifridge into the hall outside my room.

Now a silent (no fan, no motor, no moving parts) air cleaner would rock. Wait, I think I saw one on TV once..

yeah.. just found it. ionic breeze quadra at sharperimage too bad it's $350!
anyone got a flaming torching volcano scorchin' hot deal on one of these? =)

 

[jshrieve]

If anyone did want it, do a search for "sharper image coupon codes" at Google and you should find a 20% off link (that's $70 in this case, bringing it to $280). That expires 11/30 though. Failing that, they have 15% off for first time buyers till 12/31 I think.

Also, do a search for ionic on ebay.. just keep in mind that most of them are used or refurbed with little or no warranty.

 

[Poontos]

<< I look at the situation from a broader perspective. Instead of fighting dust at the computer side, why not filter the air in the room via an air cleaner of some sort. Its probably more effective if you live in a dusty environment anyway and you'll also reduce dust buildup on furniture, monitors, etc. >>


Sounds like a good plan, but won`t work here, cause I don`t own this place and cannot modify such things, plus I do not have the money right now to overhaul a dust-free envrionment. Although, even with that, you would still get a bit of dust.

Anyone else?

 

[Tomek]

First of all the dust will not cause any damage, except for possible overheating, if you blow it out once a month or so with some compressed air. Some of the computers where I work have an "air filter" on them which is basically a very thin piece of foam mounted between the grille on the fan and held in place by this plastic cover (what Davegod was referring to). Punkrawket's suggestion is also very good, but if you don't want to spend very little or no money either buy a can of compressed air and blow out the dust once in a while or use a vacuum (be careful not to suck anything up).

 

[Jhhnn]

I have a 1030, about two years now. I fabricated a wood fan/filter holder that fits behind the front fan holes, and don't use the lower HDD cage. I use an open multi-layer aluminum wire mesh filter that slides in after removing the left side cover.

While the 10XX cases are excellent, it's tough to get filters to work very well in them, partially because of the difficulty in removing the front bezel when there are components installed. I reprofiled the upper righthand plastic hook so that it can release without having to touch it. Now I can get the front off to vacuum the grilles in the front of the case. Every once in awhile, I blast it out with the air compressor, just keep one hand on the case and the other on the nozzle... Our home is in the middle of the city, we both smoke, and then there's the cats and the kids, so it can get grungy in a hurry.... Oh, yeh, and the house has been undergoing constant renovations....

I suspect that a thin foam filter could be fitted to the back of the front bezel's intake grille, but you'll have to do something to ease removal of the bezel, too....
No digital camera, so no pics....

 

[Poontos]

Interesting, thanks for the tips!