Eliminating dust inside the case?

[cobra1981]

I haven't purchased a new case in the last 10 years. Now that I'm looking at some they look very ventilated with lots of fans, yet I see no filters to keep dust out.

So, how do you guys keep the dust out? Have any of you custom made dust filters? I hate dust getting in my case, it clogs up the fins on heatsinks.

 

[lehtv]

So, how do you guys keep the dust out?

Dust filters help, but over time dust will get in regardless. Since you haven't purchased a case in 10 years, maybe it's time to get rid of the old scrap metal and buy a new case - with filters - that will last you another ten?

Positive air pressure (intake > exhaust) makes it more difficult for dust to settle. Negative air pressure attracts dust on surfaces.

Whether you have filters or not, you should clean the inside of the PC regularly. The easiest thing to do is to just use compressed air cans. I do that every month or so - blow air into fans and heatsinks, and other potentially dusty areas, and gather the dust that's puffing out with a vacuum cleaner. You should avoid using the vacuum cleaner too near the components though, it creates static electricity that may damage them.

If you've got so much dust in your heatsink that it's clogging up the fins, you should definitely remove the heatsink and clean it properly (wash it and let it dry if nothing else gets to the dust). Clean the old thermal paste off (from the sink and the CPU) with a TIM removal liquid and a non-linting cloth, apply new paste and reseat.

 

[WT]

The dust really becomes apparent when I take my case outside and blow it out with my Datavac Duster. I can blow out a good bit, but some of it gets caked on every surface and always leaves a fine coating inside every fan, so that's the stuff that I wish I could clean out.
I wish I was more motivated to just pull every component out of the case and hit it with the garden hose. Wouldn't help the fans, but at least the interior would have that clean look back again.

 

[Wangstang]

90% alcohol + q-tips work great for cleaning heavier build ups in electronics.

If you really want a dust free system....you need to enclose you case in a cabinet that has a high flow fan/blower to create positive pressure inside of the cabinet and uses a higher grade residential filter that you change on a regular basis on the intake side.

Wes

 

[Bryf50]

My Fractal Define XL came with dust filters for every intake fan. I still get some build up slowly but its many times better then my last case without filters.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I use a toothbrush to remove dust from fan blades
it gets most all of it out

 

[imaheadcase]

I have my case on a roll cart, like those you see in food industry, and its the same height as the window in room, so i just roll it over to window open it, with it on blow can air into it and blow dust out window

 

[billyb0b]

fan filters - http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g47/...an_Grills.html

 

[lehtv]

Those are fan grilles........

 

[BoomerD]

Those are fan grilles........

But...but....but dey goes over da fans!!



Try this:

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...1351f081a15b9e

 

[Tikerz]

fan filters - http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g47/...an_Grills.html

I hear the girl laser cut one keeps out the dust the most.

 

[aigomorla]

I use a Magentic Fine mesh DeciM filters:

You pull them off because they are magnetic... for cases like mine which are made from alu and not magnetic, they give you a magnetic tape to apply.

I wash the filters once a week with soap and water... dry with a towel and pop them back on.

 

[Slugbait]

Dust filters help, but over time dust will get in regardless.

I have the original, all-steel Armor case, and vacuum the dust off the front panel filters every month or so. When I swapped out the guts last year (after two years of service) I could find no dust in the interior.

Whether you have filters or not, you should clean the inside of the PC regularly. The easiest thing to do is to just use compressed air cans. I do that every month or so - blow air into fans and heatsinks, and other potentially dusty areas, and gather the dust that's puffing out with a vacuum cleaner. You should avoid using the vacuum cleaner too near the components though, it creates static electricity that may damage them.

Actually, the easiest thing to do is to use the vacuum cleaner with a micro vacuum attachment kit, I have this specific one: http://www.amazon.com/Micro-Vacuum-A...7687376&sr=8-4 but you can find other kits for half that price.

The bad thing about compressed air is that you can easily wedge dust deeper, such as in the heatsink fins, making it even more difficult to get the dust out. You could try to catch the flying dust with a vacuum cleaner after shooting with compressed air, but you won't catch more than half and the wife will be standing behind you tapping her foot and tersely stating, "I just vacuumed in here YESTERDAY..." In other words, skip the compressed air+vacuum, take it outside.

Yes, I speak from personal experience.

If you've got so much dust in your heatsink that it's clogging up the fins, you should definitely remove the heatsink and clean it properly (wash it and let it dry if nothing else gets to the dust).

But do NOT wash with water. Water+dust=mud, and then it becomes a chore. Also consider what happens if you have a Zalman or similar and water gets to the spindle or ball-bearings. Best solution I've found is to use a credit card (or perhaps thinner, depending) and dig the dust loose.

Almost two years ago I built a machine for my 8-year-old nephew out of old parts. Used an Inwin A500 case, and taped a USED dryer sheet to the front intake area (under the bezel), and had a relatively strong fan behind it sucking in air. He brought the machine back a couple of months ago: the dryer sheet needed replacing, but the interior was almost completely dust free. Ghetto, yes, but very effective.

 

[lehtv]

I have the original, all-steel Armor case, and vacuum the dust off the front panel filters every month or so. When I swapped out the guts last year (after two years of service) I could find no dust in the interior.

That's very nice. Is that a positive air pressure case? I have fan filters on my R3 and it gets slightly dusty even though I clean the filters regularly. I suppose some if it falls in through the open top fan slots when the PC is off, and some simply gets through the filters

Yes, I speak from personal experience.

Or you could just do the case cleaning when you do vacuum clean the room. Not all of us have a wife to clean our rooms

But do NOT wash with water. Water+dust=mud, and then it becomes a chore

Err, not really? Water + dust is not mud. Mud is water + sand. Wet dust is just wet dust - when it dries, it's still just dust. Most if not all of it should get out with thorough washing. Not referring to heatsinks where the fan is not removable.

 

[Slugbait]

Err, not really? Water + dust is not mud. Mud is water + sand.

Never been to a Hawaiian beach, eh? Skipped geology class?

The literal definition of mud is water + soil. Sand is not soil, it's rock and mineral particles.

Dust is primarily particles of soil. Indoors, dust is usually a combo of soil, hair, skin cells, and plant pollen...all organic materials, not rock and/or minerals.

Ergo, getting dust wet turns it into mud.

 

[GoStumpy]

Ohhh, he said 'ergo'... It's on

Anyhoo....

Monthly, or bi-monthly cleaning is pretty important...

Any case with filters over the fans will get the filters clogged, and lose cooling... (Filters that will keep ALL dust out, anyway)

I have the mesh/screen filters in an Antec 300 case that we've had at the warehouse for about a year now, and I've cleaned the screen out once (it was clogged full of dustbunnies)... Opened the case the other week and everything was sparkling still inside... Didn't even need to blow it out!

Other computer you needed to blow it out outside, freaking clouded the entire warehouse it was so dusty.

 

[lehtv]

Ergo, getting dust wet turns it into mud.

Meh. I guess if we go with your Ergo line of reasoning, you may be correct.

It still doesn't turn to mud in my experience, just like water doesn't turn to wine and piss doesn't turn to gold.

 

[Slugbait]

It still doesn't turn to mud in my experience, just like water doesn't turn to wine and piss doesn't turn to gold.

Try drinking piss. It might taste like wine.

 

[aigomorla]

dude those DECI M filters are EASY to clean with water and soap.

And yes my system gets BAD...

How bad? Here:

If your in a moderate dust enviorment tho... this is the BEST:

Its a dust box.... its simple... if u have an area picking up dust... then your computer will get less dust..
I was playing with AC filters.. and came about this notion to make a simple Dust box... And yes it collects nicely.. here is my testing when i only used HALF the filter as trial:

So with a "DustBox" ur filters dont need to work as hard.


But i use soap and water on my DeciM's... the dust literally melts off the screen... and then i mat it dry with a towel and just pop on.

 

[lehtv]

^ Ahaha that AX1200 looks so out of place

Try drinking piss. It might taste like wine.

Hmm, interesting proposition but... I'll pass.

 

[beginner99]

I use a Magentic Fine mesh DeciM filters

Yeah I have some of those too. Better than certain case filters because they are so easy to remove and clean.

 

[piasabird]

I have an antec case and it has grills over the openings that are like a coarse metal mesh. I have had the case for like 2 - 3 years and it seems like the dust collects on the outside of the mesh. You just rub it clean once in a while. For some reason the dust likes to stick to the metal mesh for some reason. I have not opened it since I purchased it. I think maybe the back exhaust should be hinged so you can open it, clean it and then close it. However, if you can keep some of the dust from getting inside, that is even better.

Looks similar to this, except it is all black and is MATX:
http://www.directron.com/nsk4482b.html

It has a nice shiny black Finish.

 

[Slugbait]

Hmm, interesting proposition but... I'll pass.

...a kidney stone?

 

[BoomerD]

I take my HAF 932 outside about once per month and use a vacuum cleaner (with the hose reversed) to blow out the dust. If I get lazy...

it looks like that at about 6 weeks.

Doesn't matter how often I vacuum the room it's in...but the room does get vacuumed at least once per week...with 2 small dogs and one large cat...plus, living in an area that's surrounded by farms and almond orchards...dust is a constant problem here.
Wash your car, within 2 days, there's a layer of dust/dirt on it again...so I don't wash the cars

Fortunately, the mesh on the case does a very good job trapping MOST of the dust. When I take it down for cleaning, there's a small bit of dust on the edges of the fan fins, and a little bit that comes out of the heat sink fins, but overall, not that much.

 

[lehtv]

...a kidney stone?

Yes, that's the only thing keeping me from drinking piss. Spot on. I'm too embarrassed to ask my friends to provide me with an organic wine sample.