Block off unused vents?

[gramboh]

you can doubt it all you want, but the proof is in the pudding. computer cases are not vacuum chambers, nor are they air-tight by any stretch of the imagination. but the bottom line is that, so long as the rate of air in is not equal to the rate of air out, and there aren't any gaping holes in the the case, then there will be a pressure differential.

Fair enough, my physics knowledge is very basic as it is.

I'm planning on running positive pressure in my next build as I have a cat and dealing with dust/cat hair is really annoying. Case will be a Corsair 550D.

 

[Sunny129]

Fair enough, my physics knowledge is very basic as it is.

I'm planning on running positive pressure in my next build as I have a cat and dealing with dust/cat hair is really annoying. Case will be a Corsair 550D.

you'll thank yourself in the end for running positive pressure even though you have your doubts about whether it'll do a good job of keep dust/fur/hair out of your case. i can understand where you're coming from, as its tough to imagine that an object that isn't air-tight in the first place could possibly maintain either a net positive or net negative pressure. but a net positive pressure inside the case means that the only air coming into the case will be through the intake fans. the air being exhausted from the case will exit through the exhaust fans and any any seams or weak points in the case that won't hold and air-tight seal. if you were running negative pressure, it would be the exact opposite - the air being exhausted from the case will only exit through the exhaust fans, while air coming into the case would come in through the intake fans and those non air-tight seams/weak points. since intake fans can be filtered, the only other way for dust to get into the case is through those seams/weak points...and the only way dust will come in though those seams/weak points is if you run a net negative pressure inside the case.

i used to be a skeptic myself until i tried it with one of my rigs. it really is amazing how such a simple concept can keep most (if not all) dust from getting into the case. i'd be interested in knowing how it goes for you, so perhaps you could post up some results after you finish with your next build...i have no idea how soon that will be, but it would be interesting nonetheless.

 

[gramboh]

you'll thank yourself in the end for running positive pressure even though you have your doubts about whether it'll do a good job of keep dust/fur/hair out of your case. i can understand where you're coming from, as its tough to imagine that an object that isn't air-tight in the first place could possibly maintain either a net positive or net negative pressure. but a net positive pressure inside the case means that the only air coming into the case will be through the intake fans. the air being exhausted from the case will exit through the exhaust fans and any any seams or weak points in the case that won't hold and air-tight seal. if you were running negative pressure, it would be the exact opposite - the air being exhausted from the case will only exit through the exhaust fans, while air coming into the case would come in through the intake fans and those non air-tight seams/weak points. since intake fans can be filtered, the only other way for dust to get into the case is through those seams/weak points...and the only way dust will come in though those seams/weak points is if you run a net negative pressure inside the case.

i used to be a skeptic myself until i tried it with one of my rigs. it really is amazing how such a simple concept can keep most (if not all) dust from getting into the case. i'd be interested in knowing how it goes for you, so perhaps you could post up some results after you finish with your next build...i have no idea how soon that will be, but it would be interesting nonetheless.

I will definitely post about it here. I've been running an Antec P182B with 1 front intake fan + 2 exhaust (1 back/1 top), all Yate Loon 1200rpm 120mm (orange blade model, forget the #) for the past few years. Most of the dust/cat hair gets trapped by the filters on the front fan, but a decent amount still makes it into the case and I have to clean it with compressed air/vacuum a few times a year at least.

New rig will be built in April when Ivy Bridge comes out, in a Corsair 550D. Haven't decided on fan config, but probably 1 front intake, 1 top intake and 1 rear exhaust, or maybe 1 front in/1 bottom in/1 rear out/top blocked for noise reduction.