case fan filters... do they work

[MikePanic]

i have 2 cats who shed all the time, and i try to keep my desktop (where my case is) and surrounding area's as clean as possible... but my cats do jump up on the desk from time to time when im not around..

ive seen the filters they make for fans that look like foam (im sure i could make em too from hope depot) but im wondering how well they work and how much airflow they actualy restrict... and if they are worth it at all?

 

[Qu1cK]

My case came with a filter for my 2 intake fans and you wouldnt believe how much dust and other stuff that thing filters out. I think they are very much worth it, saves me the hasle of buying a can of O2 every month to keep the inside of my case clean.

 

[0roo0roo]

theywork, but they lower air flow. if your going for quiet pc, its not worth it. easier to just get a can of air and blow out the pc everyonce in a while. u gotta clean filters anyways so its not maintenance free. and the better the filters, the more they cut fan flow, the faster u gotta set ur fans..the more often u gotta clean..
i just use a clear windowed case with lighted case fans. if theres dust on the cpu cooler, i can see it. the side panel comes off without tool, simple latch, gotta love chieftec/antec.

 

[dpm]

As 0roo0roo says, they aren't perfect, but they are very useful.

You do have to clean them every once in a while, and they reduce airflow slightly, but overall its a tradeoff worth making.

 

[Cerb]

With positive air flow, they are great...but it would be nice if some manufacturer made a shadow box for the intakes, increasing the surface to pull through, reducing the reduction of moving air (that sounds weird).