~ OT? Dust in a computer

[default]

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
modifying the computer.

It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
vents.

Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
something like a furnace filter in its place.

More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.
--


----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

 

On Nov 21, 1:19 pm, default <defa...@defaulter.net> wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out?  Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
already.  I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
modifying the computer.

It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case.  Holes in the side bring
air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
vents.

Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
something like a furnace filter in its place.

More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.
--

----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----http://www.pronews.comThe #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

keep the room closed at all times and only use the a/c. the office
where i work is little more than a box with only 2 doors and 2 a/c
units. i recently opened up my case after a year and found
surprisingly little dust. that's not to say there isn't any, but there
was surprisingly little. it's impossible to have it dust-free, so this
is the best you could hope for.

 

[Jasen Betts]

On 2008-11-21, default <default@defaulter.net> wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines

industrial cases with filters at the air intake.

perhaps something like this: http://www.rackmount-direct.com/Rackmt/RM0238.htm

and how's it working?

filters need regular (but not frequent) cleaning.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

default wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
modifying the computer.

It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
vents.

Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
something like a furnace filter in its place.

More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.
I keep mine away from the floor(tabletop or higher) and have

almost no dust buildup.

 

[Tom Biasi]

"default" <default@defaulter.net> wrote in message
news:0jgci4l53ki93bfe0rbqvcbu6spikrd67p@4ax.com...

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
modifying the computer.

It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
vents.

Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
something like a furnace filter in its place.

More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.
--


----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

You should see the ones cat owners give me to fix.

Tom

 

[Eeyore]

default wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I don't fit the sides since I'm often messing about with them. This seems to help
avoid a lot of dust collection.

Also avoid any video card, CPU + cooler, chipset that requires a high speed fan.
Better to have a large heatsink and a slow 60-80 mm fan than a small heatsink and a
fan that screams. It'll last longer and be quieter too.

In fact I have 2 identical mobos. On one the chipset is convestion cooled with a
larger heatsink, the other has a smaller heatsink + fan. Look for heatsink upgrades
in this case.

Do you really need a case fan too ? I'll bet half of them are fitted by the sake of
an overbloated spec.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

Sjouke Burry wrote:

I keep mine away from the floor(tabletop or higher) and have
almost no dust buildup.

That's pretty effective too.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

default wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

Get a fan free PC ?

Graham

 

[default]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:56:42 -0500, "Tom Biasi"
<tombiasi@optonline.net> wrote:

"default" <default@defaulter.net> wrote in message
news:0jgci4l53ki93bfe0rbqvcbu6spikrd67p@4ax.com...
Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
modifying the computer.

It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
vents.

Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
something like a furnace filter in its place.

More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.
--


----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

You should see the ones cat owners give me to fix.

Tom

Yeah, exactly. Long hair named Tribble.

A minor point perhaps - but one can never own a cat - one merely
serves at the pleasure of a cat.

air conditioning isn't an option and moving it higher ain't an option

I guess I'll scope out furnace filters first, since I can do that
without major effort and its easily reversible if it doesn't work out.
--


----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

 

[default]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:59:40 +0000, Eeyore
<rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote:

default wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

I don't fit the sides since I'm often messing about with them. This seems to help
avoid a lot of dust collection.

That's kind of where I was heading with the furnace filter replacing
the side. The side has holes strategically placed to direct air to
the processor fan and card banks.

I think both my processor fan and case fan are too energetic. I was
worried about the lack of air conditioning - but may have shot myself
in the foot because the dust stops the flow and it is an insulator.

Also avoid any video card, CPU + cooler, chipset that requires a high speed fan.
Better to have a large heatsink and a slow 60-80 mm fan than a small heatsink and a
fan that screams. It'll last longer and be quieter too.

In fact I have 2 identical mobos. On one the chipset is convestion cooled with a
larger heatsink, the other has a smaller heatsink + fan. Look for heatsink upgrades
in this case.

I may give the heat sink idea a go. Thanks.

Do you really need a case fan too ? I'll bet half of them are fitted by the sake of
an overbloated spec.

It originally had no fan. I put the weakest one I had in it. The
drives run hotter than the CPU.

Graham

--


----== Posted via Pronews.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

 

[Eeyore]

default wrote:

Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote:

Do you really need a case fan too ? I'll bet half of them are fitted by the sake of
an overbloated spec.

It originally had no fan. I put the weakest one I had in it. The
drives run hotter than the CPU.

High rpm I assume ? I've got this funny idea you can get localised HDD coolers which
might avoid the need for the case fan.

http://www.google.com/search?&rls=en&q=hdd+cooler

Graham

 

[Ross Herbert]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:39:33 +0100, Sjouke Burry
<burrynulnulfour@ppllaanneett.nnlll> wrote:

:default wrote:
:> Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
:> those lines - and how's it working?
:>
:> I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
:> already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
:> modifying the computer.
:>
:> It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
:> and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
:> air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
:> vents.
:>
:> Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
:> something like a furnace filter in its place.
:>
:> More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
:> mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
:> filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
:> 4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.

:I keep mine away from the floor(tabletop or higher) and have
:almost no dust buildup.


I agree. Every PC I have opened which sits on the floor is usually choked with
dust, particularly if in a carpetted room. In contrast, table mounted computers
have very little dust accumulation. That is one reason I selected a table top PC
enclosure - although this is not mandatory.

 

[krw]

In article <4h1fi4hguep5rb3su1sesr2400vufgfvn2@4ax.com>, rherber1
@bigpond.net.au says...>

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:39:33 +0100, Sjouke Burry
burrynulnulfour@ppllaanneett.nnlll> wrote:

:default wrote:
:> Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
:> those lines - and how's it working?
:
:> I have a desktop that's less than a year old and is packed with dust
:> already. I can't make the environment dust free so that leaves
:> modifying the computer.
:
:> It, like most computers, is run with negative pressure, 90mm case fan
:> and ~50 mm PS fan exhaust air from the case. Holes in the side bring
:> air in - along with disk drive doors, and various unintended case
:> vents.
:
:> Easiest idea I've come up with is to remove one side panel and fit
:> something like a furnace filter in its place.
:
:> More difficult, but maybe more bullet proof, build an external box and
:> mount a blower in it and hang an automobile air cleaner or furnace
:> filter on the box and use it to pressurize the case with a length of
:> 4" clothes dryer exhaust hose.

:I keep mine away from the floor(tabletop or higher) and have
:almost no dust buildup.


I agree. Every PC I have opened which sits on the floor is usually choked with
dust, particularly if in a carpetted room. In contrast, table mounted computers
have very little dust accumulation. That is one reason I selected a table top PC
enclosure - although this is not mandatory.

I prefer full towers, but have found that all it takes is a few
inches (off the floor) to make a huge difference in dust
accumulation. Desk space is too precious for the PC. ;-)

 

[Rich Grise]

On Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:19:37 -0500, default wrote:

Any good solutions to keep the dust out? Anyone doing anything along
those lines - and how's it working?

My office opens onto a fab shop, both machining (coolant vapor) and
welding (weld fume) and grinding (grinder dust).

Every few weeks or so, I shut down the computers (my office is also
the "server room"), and blow the dust out with shop air. I constrain
the fans from spinning with a pencil or pen.

Good Luck!
Rich