PREVENTING DUST: more intake or more exhaust?

Pollux · Jun 16, 2004

i have an antec sonata with the stock fan as exhaust and an enermax adjustable for intake. which should i have at intake and exhaust to prevent dust buildup.

mtb856 · Jun 16, 2004

You should have more air flowing in to help keep dust down... of course you have to have filters over your intakes to keep them from blowing dust in your case, but they are easy to make with stocking or actual filter material from Home Depot or Walmart.
Don't forget to cut out the grills on your case for better airflow and less noise.

[KX3]rAge · Jun 16, 2004

Wouldn't filters like that really block a lot of air??

legendosiris · Jun 16, 2004

i'm kind of skeptical of the filters, but i guess it wouldnt hurt...now what about the dust that builds up on the fan blades. i get dust on my cpu heatsind and all the fan blades every now and then...would the filters help alot?

mtb856 · Jun 16, 2004

If you have the fan's blowing on the filters or if you have the filters mounted too close to the fans... then, yes, there is a performance drop. If you mount the filter a few inches away from the fan, then you won't really see that much of a performance drop.

The reason for the performance drop is that axial fans suck at working against resistance, and if the filter is too close it ends up trying to suck the air through the filter. If there's a gap between the fan and the filter, then air can flow in by itself just by the slight pressure difference caused by the fan, and the fan can push that air through while not working against as much resistance.

[KX3]rAge · Jun 16, 2004

Alright, I was just thinking if someone was using silenxX or stealth fans that do now blow a lot of air to begin with and they add a filter to it, then next to no air would get through...

legendosiris · Jun 16, 2004

heheh, possibly....i think the best solution to dust is Canned air bi-weekly

[KX3]rAge · Jun 16, 2004

legendosiris said:
heheh, possibly....i think the best solution to dust is Canned air bi-weekly

Yes I agree, my computer does not even get that dusty to begin with really
it helps a lot if it is not sitting on the floor, mine is up on a nice computer stand that is about the same height as my desk
dust hasn't really been a problem at all for me

mtb856 · Jun 16, 2004

Yeah, mine is one the floor and I have 3 cats and 1 dog, so I had to take more serious measures.

legendosiris · Jun 16, 2004

mines off the floor too, but i guess i'm just anal bout keeping it squeeky clean, hell i windexed the window last night

tikki50 · Jun 16, 2004

LOL lenged I did the same thing! Clean clean clean.

DayUSeX · Jun 16, 2004

LOL only time i ever clean my comp is when im doing a complete system overhaul. Dosent get to dusty though it seems, and its not like i ever touch my window so no worries there. Maybe that is the benefit of only having 2 120mm exhaust fans =P

bobad · Jun 16, 2004

legendosiris said:
i'm kind of skeptical of the filters, but i guess it wouldnt hurt...now what about the dust that builds up on the fan blades. i get dust on my cpu heatsind and all the fan blades every now and then...would the filters help alot?

Here's the deal on filters. A filter that's the same size as the fan can be very restrictive. I like my filter to have about 1.5 times more area than the fan or opening being filtered. I also like my filter to stand off at least 2" from the fan blades to eliminate the possibility of shear and turbulence. These 2 things ensure that fan restriction is very insignificant.

In case you didn't see this site or the new pictures posted there, take a look.

http://webpages.charter.net/bobad/cool.htm

It shows a 155mm filter on a 120mm fan, and is the only inlet for air to enter the case. So, all air entering the case is filtered, and the CPU and graphics card are very happy with cool clean air blowing on them.

bobad · Jun 16, 2004

[QUOTE='[KX3]rAge dust hasn't really been a problem at all for me[/QUOTE]

I have 2000 square feet of carpet and 2 cats I would like to give you. :bang head

JTanczos · Jun 16, 2004

Meh. Sew together long sheets of filter material into something you can slip over your case. Cut holes in for your exhaust fans. Take the side panel of your case off and just have the filter material. Then ya dont have to worry. Im planning to line certain parts of the case with filter material. Hopefully it will help.

JT

navicaph · Jun 16, 2004

Doesn't the sonata come with a filter on the front already? Oh, and you can cover up that the drilled out letter on the side panels to reduce dust.

OLMI · Jun 16, 2004

legendosiris said:
heheh, possibly....i think the best solution to dust is Canned air bi-weekly

This works, or even just use your lungs to get rid of it

OBLIVIONLORD · Jun 16, 2004

So besides Pellon for that 155mm filter intake.. What else could you use thats comparable?

Vio1 · Jun 16, 2004

you are never gonna stop all the dust from entering your pc. Best solution is not to have filters and just clean your pc every month. That way you dont reduce the air flow into the case.

JTanczos · Jun 16, 2004

Vio1 said:
Best solution is not to have filters and just clean your pc every month.

Wow... How do you find the time? I have to clean 5 computers in the house including mine. I dont want to clean em up more than I have to.

JT

PREVENTING DUST: more intake or more exhaust?

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Registered

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads