Best case for a dusty area?

[JamesV]

I've been researching cases for my next build, and get alot of conflicting information regarding dust.

My first choice was the Antec Lanboy Air, which is supposed to have positive air pressure within the case to keep dust out, but I'm having a hard time finding any reviews with that in mind. The modular aspect is also a high selling point for me. Plus, it's only $149 with NewEgg rebates until the 14th.

I've also looked at some Lian Li cases, with dust covers, like the PC-9F. For about the same price as the Lanboy, and being aluminum, it looks like a great case.

Can anyone tell me how the Lanboy works for them considering dust, or of any other cases that are good for dusty areas?

 

[cubeless]

antec skeleton and a shop vac...

 

[BoomerD]

I live in a very dusty area as well. I have to take my case outside and blow the dust out of it at least once per month.

You COULD go with a case that has filters on the fans, OR get filters to put on the fans...or just blow it out on a regular basis.

I opted for a CoolerMaster HAF 932 case. No filters, but the mesh does a pretty decent job catching larger particles, (and pet hair) but I still have to clean it monthly.

The house gets vacuumed at least once per week...but we're surrounded by almond orchards and other farms...so the air is VERY dusty all the time. (wash your car today...tomorrow it's covered in dust again)

 

[JamesV]

I'm guessing Cubeless hates the Lanboy Air, and you just blow out your case regularly (which I do, except when I forget). I've never had my PC die from dust, even when I forgot to do it for 2 months and big dustbunnies all over, but I was more then a bit intrigued about the claims of the Lanboy Air's positive air pressure.

Never had a case with filters, but imagine I'd be cleaning them weekly, and was hoping to hear more about the whole 'positive air pressure' thing. Thanks for replying, and if anyone else can give some more info on their experience with filters/air pressure, I'd appreciate it.

 

[CurseTheSky]

My Silverstone FT02 was the least dusty case I've ever used. The filter setup on the bottom fans was excellent, and positive pressure really did help with keeping dust out.

It still needed to be taken outside and blasted with air from time to time, but about half to a third as often as other cases. The only real trouble spot I had as far as dust with the FT02 was the PSU intake. They had an external filter there, but dust would still get caked up a bit on the inside - still, not much worse than other cases.

I eventually sold my FT02 simply due to the size. It's a GREAT case, but too big for the area that I have. I'm rocking out an FT01 now.

 

[Zap]

Hello JamesV, and welcome to AnandTech Forums.

Positive air pressure in a computer works in conjunction with fan filters to keep the computer parts inside your case cleaner.

How this works is because your computer case is not airtight. There are gaps all around it that can let air in and out. If you have negative air pressure (how most cases are set up) then it will suck in air (with dust) through all those gaps. With positive air pressure the air will be forced out of those gaps. Thus, in a case with positive air pressure ventilation, all you need to do is to put filters in front of the intake fans and you won't get dust (not as much anyways) inside your case.

Note that this doesn't mean you don't have to do the maintenance of cleaning it, just that it is easier to clean some filters than to clean all your computer parts. Also note that generally speaking you will have to clean your filters MORE OFTEN.

Also, airflow with filters will be less than without, resulting in higher case temperatures. The filters can also get dirty enough such as to block all airflow, resulting in overheating.

JamesV, if you were wanting to NOT have to do cleaning maintenance, then you are out of luck.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I live in a very dusty area as well. I have to take my case outside and blow the dust out of it at least once per month.

You COULD go with a case that has filters on the fans, OR get filters to put on the fans...or just blow it out on a regular basis.

I opted for a CoolerMaster HAF 932 case. No filters, but the mesh does a pretty decent job catching larger particles, (and pet hair) but I still have to clean it monthly.

The house gets vacuumed at least once per week...but we're surrounded by almond orchards and other farms...so the air is VERY dusty all the time. (wash your car today...tomorrow it's covered in dust again)

I'm narrowing down where you live Boomer

I have a HAF 932 and live in a very old house in an area that has lots of dust in the air as well... I blow it out monthly as well, especially the WC radiators, they get nasty fast.

There is no way around it, you will have to do some maintenance to keep your machine clean. Positive airflow and filters help, but you can't get around the fact that you are taking dusty air in the room and pulling it in to your case. The dust doesn't magically disappear, it is still there and will get stuck somewhere.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm narrowing down where you live Boomer

I have a HAF 932 and live in a very old house in an area that has lots of dust in the air as well... I blow it out monthly as well, especially the WC radiators, they get nasty fast.

There is no way around it, you will have to do some maintenance to keep your machine clean. Positive airflow and filters help, but you can't get around the fact that you are taking dusty air in the room and pulling it in to your case. The dust doesn't magically disappear, it is still there and will get stuck somewhere.

Hell, it's no secret that I live in beautiful, scenic, Modesto, California...

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Hell, it's no secret that I live in beautiful, scenic, Modesto, California...

Oh, hello there fellow central valley friend

 

[BoomerD]

Oh, hello there fellow central valley friend

There are several of us who live in California's toilet bowl...

 

[skipsneeky2]

Loved the antec 902.

Good filters but it seemed every week i was cleaning out all the filters cause my internal temps would go up cause the filters would be caked with duster.

 

[sjong1]

My Silverstone FT02 was the least dusty case I've ever used. The filter setup on the bottom fans was excellent, and positive pressure really did help with keeping dust out.

It still needed to be taken outside and blasted with air from time to time, but about half to a third as often as other cases. The only real trouble spot I had as far as dust with the FT02 was the PSU intake. They had an external filter there, but dust would still get caked up a bit on the inside - still, not much worse than other cases.

I eventually sold my FT02 simply due to the size. It's a GREAT case, but too big for the area that I have. I'm rocking out an FT01 now.

+1 for the FT02. The considerable positive pressure from 3x180mm fans against 1x120mm fan helps prevent dust buildup inside the case.

 

[Zap]

There is no way around it, you will have to do some maintenance to keep your machine clean. Positive airflow and filters help, but you can't get around the fact that you are taking dusty air in the room and pulling it in to your case. The dust doesn't magically disappear, it is still there and will get stuck somewhere.

QFT and well said.

 

[CurseTheSky]

There is no way around it, you will have to do some maintenance to keep your machine clean. Positive airflow and filters help, but you can't get around the fact that you are taking dusty air in the room and pulling it in to your case. The dust doesn't magically disappear, it is still there and will get stuck somewhere.

Very true, but there are definitely cases (like the FT02, as I mentioned) that will extend the intervals between cleanings. That thing REALLY amazed me. I could get by with pulling the fan filters and quickly shaking or blowing them out once every month or two, and do a real cleaning every 4-5 months.

In comparison, every other case that I've had has been caked with dust within about two months. My FT01 is better than most others, but still doesn't quite hold a candle to the FT02.

I just wish the FT02 wasn't so friggin' big and heavy.

 

[cubeless]

i was just giving the simple answer...

i run into all kinds of dust issues here in orlando for whatever reason...

i build boxes for kids and use lots of fans and overclock to save $$$... they all get dirty as sin inside due to the air volume they pass through them...

i find that the antec 300 works well, since i tell people that if you see dirt on the front grill then you need to think about looking inside (and don't forget the vid card!!!) to be sure you aren't getting dust bunnied...

but they still bring the things over complaining about bluescreens and performance and when i open them up there's a fur coat over the cpu hsf and the gpu fan is at full speed trying to grind away at the hairball in the heatsink...

i think it's a maintenance thing... case just doesn't matter that much overall (although i have used air conditioner pre-filter material over the fan intake a couple times when i knew people had cats) ... if u live in a dusty place you just need to have a peek once a month and suck it up...

 

[Krynj]

Lanboy Air owner here. Chiming in to say that despite its wide open construction, dust build up has barely been noticeable. I've been running it since about early February, and I've barely had to clean the inside at all. The fans don't have much buildup, nor do any of the components. I also tend to leave it off all day while I'm at work, so, part of me thinks dust buildup would be even less noticeable, if it were on 24/7. I was worried about dust, but I can honestly say, it hasn't been much of an issue. I'm rather quite pleased with it.

 

[joetekubi]

.
Positive air pressure in a computer works in conjunction with fan filters to keep the computer parts inside your case cleaner.

How this works is because your computer case is not airtight. There are gaps all around it that can let air in and out. If you have negative air pressure (how most cases are set up) then it will suck in air (with dust) through all those gaps. With positive air pressure the air will be forced out of those gaps. Thus, in a case with positive air pressure ventilation, all you need to do is to put filters in front of the intake fans and you won't get dust (not as much anyways) inside your case.
.

+1
I modded an Antec case last year with a middle rating Filtrete filter - ran the rig in my sig for over a year. the outside of the filter was nasty dirty, but the temps were not rising, so no worries. Finally opened it up and it had ZERO dust inside. Proof to me concerning positive pressure cases.

I've since moved to a cheap Rosewill case, again modded for positive pressure, but this time with a holder for a standard 14" x 14" Filtrete filter - I figure I'll just replace it when needed. Need to take pics and post them - ping me if you want them.

 

[Zap]

Very true, but there are definitely cases (like the FT02, as I mentioned) that will extend the intervals between cleanings. That thing REALLY amazed me. I could get by with pulling the fan filters and quickly shaking or blowing them out once every month or two, and do a real cleaning every 4-5 months.

You are still cleaning the filters, no? Having filters doesn't mean you don't have to clean. It just means your cleaning is much easier (clean filter vs clean entire rig).

Why we emphasize that cleaning maintenance is still needed is because there are people who think that once they are using filters, they can ignore cleaning... including ignoring cleaning the filters. Just ask people when the last time they replaced their home A/C filter was. Yeah, that happens to computers too.

 

[JamesV]

Hello JamesV, and welcome to AnandTech Forums.

Thanks, been coming here for ages and rarely posted, but my DailyTech/Anand user/pass doesn't work on the forums anymore (last time I actually posted was years ago).

I decided to go with the Lanboy Air while cleaning out my Antec 900 and thinking about it. I love the 900, but I literally have to take the case apart to clean it (lots of dust behind the bay covers over the fans and so on).

My thinking is that I can simply pop off the sides easily and clean them on the Lanboy, and when I do blow out the case, I won't have to go through the chore of taking apart my 900 to get at all the dust.

Thanks for all the replies, I always come here first for info, even if I don't post, and my PC experience has been great in a large part due to these forums.

 

[sticks435]

Yep, I have a 900 and those 2 front 120's suck in quite a bit of dust on the front. The holes are small enough to trap a lot of it though. I usually take a can of air to it once a month or so. Had it apart for the first time since I built it 3 or so years ago and took an air compressor to it to get a through cleaning. Wasn't to bad.

 

[k9cj5]

I live in Arizona and have three dogs so I have a similar problem. I ended up with the Haf X and every fan on the case is filtered. I've been using it since March and I love it. It helps that its huge and pretty easy to build from. Its heavy but it does have wheels.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

I have been considering the Antec Lanboy Air case as well and I was wondering if I could add filters to the fans I have installed in it to prevent some dust from entering the case or is it pointless with the mesh design?

 

[BoomerD]

I have been considering the Antec Lanboy Air case as well and I was wondering if I could add filters to the fans I have installed in it to prevent some dust from entering the case or is it pointless with the mesh design?

You CAN add filters...how easily is another question...

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

 

[CurseTheSky]

You are still cleaning the filters, no? Having filters doesn't mean you don't have to clean. It just means your cleaning is much easier (clean filter vs clean entire rig).

Why we emphasize that cleaning maintenance is still needed is because there are people who think that once they are using filters, they can ignore cleaning... including ignoring cleaning the filters. Just ask people when the last time they replaced their home A/C filter was. Yeah, that happens to computers too.

Right. But the fan filters at the bottom are extremely easy to pull out of the case, take outside, blow out with air, and replace into the case. I could do that once every month and then do a real cleaning every 3-4 months (give or take, depending on time of the year); it wasn't bad at all. On the other hand, with my Antec P182 SE, for example, I had to drag the entire case outside once a month (every 2 months at the most) to hose the entire thing down with compressed air. What a PITA.

 

[aigomorla]

Ghetto Dust Box FTW!

Catch the dust B4 ur computer catches it.