Dust Problem

[Gamingphreek]

Im using a cheiftec dragon case with 4 300RPM fans. I cant help but notice that i clean it and like a week later it is completely dusty again. Anyone have any suggestions?

-Kevin

 

[InlineFive]

Try filtering the intakes with some forced air filters. It works moderately well on mine.

 

[Zepper]

If you have a negative pressure case (CFM out > CFM in) air and dust will come in thru every crack and crevice in the case. If you arrange for a positive pressure case (CFM in > CFM out) then you can largely control the dust by the filtration you employ on the intakes.
.bh.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well my case is front in rear out. 3000RPM fans. I just got finished doing a really thorough cleaning and organization in there. I do not have any fiilters... none came. Wont they make my system hotter anyways.

-Kevin

 

[Anubis]

filters will slow teh fan output a lil but you only need it on the intakes, you can just use some pantyhose they work fine

 

[RussianSoldier]

Originally posted by: Anubis
filters will slow teh fan output a lil but you only need it on the intakes, you can just use some pantyhose they work fine

I don't even want to ask...


When I first started working at the local school, I opened up one of the servers to check for dust, as I knew that they were never cleaned before, and I noticed they were almost completely free of dust... The room has it's own filtration and positive pressure keeps the room pretty much dust free...

 

[SniperMerc]

If you look on the underside of the bezel on yer Chieftec case, you'll notice that there is a slot there, if you pull the bezel off there is a large chamber right behind the grill, normally this is meant for a removeable filter, but I have yet to see one actually in place. So I just went down to the hardware store and bought house filter for $.75 and cut a piece out to fit that slot. Works quite well . As for the side fan, just get one of the $.99 fan filters from SVC or Newegg and yer set.

I still stop and blow out my case every few months, and the filters about once a month. The ammount of money I spent on canned air last year was enough that I could actulaly buy an air compressor and nozles for blowing it out.

Edit: heres a pretty good view of that chamber. http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/Chieftec/1021.htm

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well my case is front in rear out. 3000RPM fans. I just got finished doing a really thorough cleaning and organization in there. I do not have any fiilters... none came. Wont they make my system hotter anyways.

You also have your PSU blowing out, so the net effect is CFM out > CFM in in your case, hence the build up of dust. And yes, adding effective filters will raise your case temps slightly.

Personally, I'd disable one of your exhaust fans (the lower one, specifically) ... in my experience, a second exhaust is neglible compared to the benefit of good air intake and positive pressure. But test it for yourself to see.

 

[Sundog]

Move your case off the floor if that is where it is now.

 

[Gamingphreek]

and put it where?!?!? Its a full tower case where else is it gonna go?

-Kevin

 

[xbassman]

He's right. If you have room on your desk, you won't get near as much dust.

 

[PCHPlayer]

If he's in California, one good earthquake and that tower is a projectile. We in CA like to keep things as close to the floor as possible (or anchor them down), just in case...

 

[Dman877]

I have a negative pressure setup in my sonata but there's a filter covering the only real intake so I don't get much dust. I covered up the holes that spell antec with some clear tape. Anyway, I think you just need air filters, sounds like you live in a dusty environment.

 

[Jaxidian]

If you vacuum your carpet frequently, that'll make a big difference.

 

[RandomDude]

dont place the system on the floor.

 

[MedicBob]

Dryer sheets, Bounce, make good air filters too. I am currnetly using those Swifter sheets cut to fit on the intakes of the case and it helps. Get a whole room filter and see if it helps also.

 

[0roo0roo]

chieftecs and many other cases have problems with the grills. cut out the metal fan grillls.. espp the ones behind plastic grills in the front. they slow the air, causing negative pressure. filters... well htose clog and are a pain..lower airflow rather quickly. raise your case off the floor. the source of your problem is your ultra dusty enviroment. get an air filter for the room. else, just be resigned to the fact that u gotta flip it open every other week and dust it out. this was one of my solutions. http://www.fox302.com/index.pl?s=vg&user=oroooroo&category=cases
but it uglies up the case heh. chieftecs are easy to open and clean unlike old cr@p cases like that one

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well my case isn't exactly on the floor. My desk has a metal platform with a shelf on top of that then the actual desk on top of that. I took the shelf off and put the case on the metal thingy. Well then whenever my CDROM spins up it rattles so i cut out a piece of spare carpet and put it there and i put the case on top.

But you guys are saying that putting a FILL TOWER case on my desk would make that much of a difference?

Also would it help if i vacuumed that piece of rug

Cutting out the pack grills is there any other grills that would be OK to put there. Also a dremmel would be a big help. Any idea where to get one of those and how much one costs.

-Kevin

 

[Jaxidian]

You can probably get a cheap dremmel at WalMart for $20 or so. You could get a good one at Sears for $60, maybe. As for vacuuming that little carpet area, it depends on how much of it sticks out around the sides/front/back of your PC. If it's ONLY under it but not in a way where your fans are sucking air off of it (particularly your front fans), then it vacuuming it probably won't make any difference.

 

[0roo0roo]

dremels go for 25+ or so .. depending on accessories..which u don't really need for this purpose. u can buy different bits separately anyways. frys..home depot.. all have decent selections of dremels and bits. black and decker has a bit compatible model. its pretty useful to have around actually. you can cut pipes, or any other metal..wood, engrave, grind down stuff, cutting grooves into shredded screw heads etc etc. cutting wheels arent that much. google up some case modding/dremel info, there are tons of guides for cutting case windows/blow holes etc using dremels. steel takes longer to cut then aluminum though. get corded. batteries cost more and for this purpose, better to have unlimited run time then portability.

does your case have a door latch? make it easy to clean. unless your case has negative pressure ... theres not that much to be done besides trying to clean the air in the room with a air cleaner. oh, use zip ties and cable origami to clean up wires/airflow

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: SniperMerc
If you look on the underside of the bezel on yer Chieftec case, you'll notice that there is a slot there, if you pull the bezel off there is a large chamber right behind the grill, normally this is meant for a removeable filter, but I have yet to see one actually in place. So I just went down to the hardware store and bought house filter for $.75 and cut a piece out to fit that slot. Works quite well . As for the side fan, just get one of the $.99 fan filters from SVC or Newegg and yer set.

I still stop and blow out my case every few months, and the filters about once a month. The ammount of money I spent on canned air last year was enough that I could actulaly buy an air compressor and nozles for blowing it out.

Edit: heres a pretty good view of that chamber. http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/Chieftec/1021.htm

hah indeed, but the metal grill there just slows airflow which already has to go past plastic slats. the metal acts as a sorta sh*tty filter to boot. looky here http://www.fox302.com/index.pl?s=vf&user=oroo&category=Case&file=extremecasedustbuildup.JPG

i just cut out the metal part all together. slowing intakes on chieftecs seems like a good recipe for negative pressure

 

[Jaxidian]

Because of this thread, yesterday after work I went to Sears and bought me a Craftsman dremmel. The one I got was $60 and pretty nice with quite a few bits. They had a Craftsman for $30 but it was fixed speed (35k rpm or something like that). The one I got was 5k-35k rpm. They had some off-brands for as low as $20 as well as a bajillion and a half kinds of bits.