General PC question Do you use a front case dust filter?

PerpetualCycle · Nov 20, 2021

Slavic said:
Vacuum cleaner-like fans = very strong air flow = excellent cooling, all dust is removed with air flow, great noise

Between two points, obviously, should exist a transition zone like a curve function of air flow - dust collection with a point of maximum collecting, were dust income is much more than taking out (the main purpose of typical PC fan is still to cool the device, not to move the dust with strong flow). So, there should be two slopes on this curve. I prefer to be on the left side with as low noise as possible; you apparently are on the another side of curve, right of maximum, where dust is being removed more efficiently for a price of stronger noise. Both approaches may exist, of course.

Air flow doesn't remove dust. If you don't want dust to accumulate in your case, you need positive pressure. If you have negative pressure inside the case, then dust will get pulled into the case through any openings. With positive pressure, air in the case is forced out through any openings. Simple example of airflow with negative pressure is a single fan blowing air out of the case. Simple positive pressure example is a single fan pulling air into the case though a filter. Both have about the same airflow, but one will dust the inside of your case, the other will not. So for positive pressure the airflow of the intake fans must be greater than the airflow of the exhaust fans,.

Scott · Nov 20, 2021

A Guy said:
I have a near silent PC with 5 case fans and 3 filters (front, side, and bottom) as well as the fans on PSU and GPU and CPU Cooler. Fans don't have to mean lots of noise, you just need to have the right case, good air flow and quiet fans set low. Of course, I didn't need a monster size case I don't game so no honking GPU and huge stress, so it may not apply to your usage

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A Guy

I love Antec cases. I have the DP502 FLUX. It came with 4 filters, front, side, top and PSU. I have 6 fans (no RGB) 3 intake, 3 exhaust all controlled by ASUS Q-Fan. They speed up or slow down based on CPU temp.

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Slavic · Nov 21, 2021

geneo said:
... If you don't want dust to accumulate in your case, you need positive pressure.

Vacuum cleaners create underpressure or negative pressure, as you said. And they are able to remove the dust very efficiently. Moreover, when I move a cleaner's pipe close to CPU cooler, the cooler's fan begins to rotate in opposite to normal direction, which effectively removes the dust from the blades. Would PC switched on in this case, vacuum cleaner would be able to cool CPU as well (but of course PC is switched off during cleaning).

PerpetualCycle · Nov 21, 2021

Slavic said:
Vacuum cleaners create underpressure or negative pressure, as you said. And they are able to remove the dust very efficiently. Moreover, when I move a cleaner's pipe close to CPU cooler, the cooler's fan begins to rotate in opposite to normal direction, which effectively removes the dust from the blades. Would PC switched on in this case, vacuum cleaner would be able to cool CPU as well (but of course PC is switched off during cleaning).

Well you just made my argument. Vacuum cleaners are creating negative pressure to pul the dust into the cleaner - just the opposite of what you want for a Computer case.

iko22 · Nov 21, 2021

geneo said:
Well you just made my argument. Vacuum cleaners are creating negative pressure to pul the dust into the cleaner - just the opposite of what you want for a Computer case.

Urm, I think their post #43 suggests they are opening up a computer case, using a vacuum cleaner, and noticing the fans spin in opposite direction. :wink:

That is me, I could be wrong.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 21, 2021

iko22 said:
Urm, I think their post #43 suggests they are opening up a computer case, using a vacuum cleaner, and noticing the fans spin in opposite direction. That is me, I could be wrong.

I interpret it differently because of what Slavic quoted of my post. The "negitive" pressure is in the vacuum, not the case.

Slavic · Nov 21, 2021

iko22 said:
Urm, I think their post #43 suggests they are opening up a computer case, using a vacuum cleaner, and noticing the fans spin in opposite direction. That is me, I could be wrong.

Not only noticing, I do this intentionally and switch the performance of vacuum cleaner to maximum. So, the blades rotate with the speed much more higher than during normal work (I try to set RPM on minimum so it's almost silent). Some people may say that it could be harmful for a fan, but I still didn't notice any problem, and dust removing is very good either from the blades and heatsink attached to CPU. I hope you understand :)

iko22 · Nov 21, 2021

@Slavic it would make your fans spin "stiffer", like there are no ball bearings inside. Electrically and Magnetically you cannot see the total effect. Your choice.

iko22 · Nov 21, 2021

geneo said:
I interpret it differently because of what Slavic quoted of my post. The "negitive" pressure is in the vacuum, not the case.

Bit like a "before Dust" and "after Dust" job. "Before dust", you want Dust Filters, "after Dust" you want a suitable cleaner. I use a brush myself as it pulls out the dust neatly.
Yes, I like your explanation of negative and positive pressure. I think you need negative pressure to suck air in front, and positive pressure to pull air out of top or back of case. Not much good if there is a lot of dust, mind. Is that what you suspect too?

PerpetualCycle · Nov 21, 2021

iko22 said:
Bit like a "before Dust" and "after Dust" job. "Before dust", you want Dust Filters, "after Dust" you want a suitable cleaner. I use a brush myself as it pulls out the dust neatly.
Yes, I like your explanation of negative and positive pressure. I think you need negative pressure to suck air in front, and positive pressure to pull air out of top or back of case. Not much good if there is a lot of dust, mind. Is that what you suspect too?

Not what I meant. Negative pressure is just a term denoting a lower pressure relative to something else. I am talking about the pressure inside the case relative to outside the case. Ignoring the restriction of airflow from intake filters etc., and assuming similar fans, if you have more intake fans than exhaust, you have will have positive pressure in the case, and air will be pushed out of all the little holes and cracks in your case. if you have more exhaust fans than intake, air and dust will be pulled into the case through all of those openings, even though you have filters on the intake fans.

The way to keep dust out is to use filters on intake fans and keep a positive pressure (unless you want to seal it all up). or you could clean it out more often. LOL.

Dru2 · Nov 23, 2021

glasskuter said:
@Dru2 you have a spaceship whereas I have a plain old stock Dell. Beautiful machine you've got.

Sorry, just seeing this.

Thanks, it's my love of building custom PC's :)

Dru2 · Nov 23, 2021

Wisewiz said:
Not arguing, Wynona; just sayin': Even the softest brush used in even the gentlest way can dislodge delicate connections. And canned air is expensive (for air!) and the power isn't controllable.

Like anything in life, it depends on how you do what you do. I've been using canned air and brushes to clean the inside of my PCs since I started building then in 1998 and never had an issue.

Perhaps a steady finger and non-heavy hand with a dose of careful works well for me

Wisewiz · Nov 23, 2021

Dru2 said:
Perhaps a steady finger and non-heavy hand with a dose of careful works well for me

Well, when you reach the age I have reached, you'll fondly remember having "a steady finger and non-heavy hand."

Just (sorta) kidding. I admire your skill with the brush and spray can, but I rely on more completely controllable devices, and I, too, have never "had an issue." TEHO (to each, ...)

Winuser · Nov 23, 2021

geneo said:
Well you just made my argument. Vacuum cleaners are creating negative pressure to pul the dust into the cleaner - just the opposite of what you want for a Computer case.

I would never use a vacuum cleaner on my computers. I have used them to clean the dust out of my televisions. When I did I always used the hose on the exhaust side to blow out the dust. I also took the TV ouside.

iko22 · Nov 23, 2021

Winuser said:
I would never use a vacuum cleaner on my computers. I have used them to clean the dust out of my televisions. When I did I always used the hose on the exhaust side to blow out the dust. I also took the TV ouside.

Agree. I found using a vacuum cleaner practically impossible. Virtually all the dust seems to braid together, and the vacuum cleaners cannot suck the braided fibres up that well. Much easier to gently use a brush, in my opinion.

Dru2 · Nov 23, 2021

Wisewiz said:
Well, when you reach the age I have reached, you'll fondly remember having "a steady finger and non-heavy hand."

Just (sorta) kidding. I admire your skill with the brush and spray can, but I rely on more completely controllable devices, and I, too, have never "had an issue." TEHO (to each, ...)

Yeah cause 23 years ago I was the same age as I am now. Anyway, I rely on my ability to do what I do. YMMV :wink:

And just because you don't agree doesn't mean it's not viable; it simply means "you" don't agree :wink:

clam1952 · Nov 23, 2021

Yes I have a front filter, I use a small soft brush and a Turkey Baster to blow stuff out of heatsinks and fans, yes it does work! Same as the rubber bulb air blowers you can get.

PerpetualCycle · Nov 23, 2021

Winuser said:
I would never use a vacuum cleaner on my computers. I have used them to clean the dust out of my televisions. When I did I always used the hose on the exhaust side to blow out the dust. I also took the TV ouside.

Don't quote me on that!

Quote the source. I wouldn't use one either, I was discussing vacuums in the context of something quite different.

ThrashZone · Nov 23, 2021

Hi,
Yes I use a front and top case screen filters, they did come with the case and I use both as intake
I better them with speaker cloth which catches micro fine dust not just the bunnies the stock screen filters catch

I have used regular a/c filter material too but it's a tad on the restrictive side
I make a metal grid to attach the cloth to so it doesn't get sucked into the fans...

Only have one image on this machine this is on top