Looking for a case that helps block out dust

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dmoney1980

Platinum Member
Jan 17, 2008
2,471
38
91
Hello ATOT!

I'm building a computer for a friend of mine and I need some suggestions on a case. He needs a full size ATX case that will accommodate up to 2 GPU's. Minimal overclocking will be done on the CPU (intel based build). The issue is that he has 2 cats, and he has carpeting in his office.

So I need some suggestions on a ATX case that provides good airflow and has dust filters that are easy to access and clean. The case can be a standard ATX or full ATX tower / cube.

Thanks in advance
 
Charlie98

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
6,298
64
91
Probably the Fractal Define R4 or Define XL. I have a Define Mini, with very much the same problems in my office (dog, carpet, dusty house, ) and it works very well.
 
S

Squeetard

Senior member
Nov 13, 2004
815
7
76
If your computer is going on carpet, don't get a case where the power supply is on the bottom it sucks air in from under the case and carpet will block this off.
 
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piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Is this a gaming box or what? It makes a difference. Air flow is what clogs up cases with dust. Even if you use filters, you have to clean the filters. Having the case sit higher than the carpet and having some air and dust room cleaners might help. A HEPA vacuum that keeps the dust from recirculating when you vacuum helps a lot. I have heard that keeping the air moving and cleaning the furnace filters more often helps also. Sometimes in Heat/air conditioner units they add a fan that keeps circulating the air at low speeds and it keeps the air cleaner. It is suppose to be good for people with allergies.

There are 2 ways to use air in computer cases. One way is to use exhaust fans and pull the air through the case. The other way is to try to push the air into the case from the front. Then there is another hybrid method using a top or side fan designed to remove hot air from around the CPU/Video Card and to take out the hot air near the top of the case. I do like having a fan in the top rear of the case. The other main issue is routing cables so they don't block air flow as much as possible.

Some gamers may suggest specific cases. However, the more airflow a case has the more dust it will try to suck in.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,333
1,890
126
I'm a holdover from the last decade when we did a lot of case-mods. For instance, I still believe that "low-tech" foam-board ducting constructions improve air-cooling solutions. On the water-cooling side of strategies, you still use airflow with radiators, and you still have a dust problem.

If appearances and bling matter to you, you may or may not find this suggestion feasible.

You can go down to Home-Depot and buy fiberglass home-AC filters -- usually about 18"x24" with a flimsy cardboard frame -- sold for less than $2 each. You can cut pieces of those things to fit your computer vents, and maybe run a bead of silicon-sealant around the edge to keep the fiberglass from fraying. [Let it dry completely before installing your creation.]

This sort of filter material doesn't obstruct airflow much until they're clogged up. You can either cut new ones, or run them under the cold-tap or spray with the garden hose, let them dry and re-install.

There are different colors -- white, blue, green -- maybe red but not sure.

Again, if worried about appearances, you'll have to figure out a way to finesse it. If you can draw air through the bottom of the computer, nobody would ever see the filtering. Which . . . is a reason I always install 2.5" double-caster wheels on all my cases. Another easy project, but like I said, I'm a holdover from "mod-enthusiasm" of the last decade.
 
Deders

Deders

Platinum Member
Oct 14, 2012
2,401
1
91
piasabird said:
Is this a gaming box or what? It makes a difference. Air flow is what clogs up cases with dust. Even if you use filters, you have to clean the filters. Having the case sit higher than the carpet and having some air and dust room cleaners might help. A HEPA vacuum that keeps the dust from recirculating when you vacuum helps a lot. I have heard that keeping the air moving and cleaning the furnace filters more often helps also. Sometimes in Heat/air conditioner units they add a fan that keeps circulating the air at low speeds and it keeps the air cleaner. It is suppose to be good for people with allergies.

There are 2 ways to use air in computer cases. One way is to use exhaust fans and pull the air through the case. The other way is to try to push the air into the case from the front. Then there is another hybrid method using a top or side fan designed to remove hot air from around the CPU/Video Card and to take out the hot air near the top of the case. I do like having a fan in the top rear of the case. The other main issue is routing cables so they don't block air flow as much as possible.

Some gamers may suggest specific cases. However, the more airflow a case has the more dust it will try to suck in.
Click to expand...

Filters are easily cleaned, especially if they are removable. Plus there is more to airflow than just sucking and blowing. My case has 2 front 120mm intake fans and a rear 140mm exhaust. It also has a side intake fan that gets faster and slower depending on how hot the GPU is.

Having more air being pulled in than out gives the case positive pressure which means that in order to displace the excess air it has to be pushed out of the rest of the holes in the case leaving it dust free, if you have filters on the intake fans.

And for what it's worth I have a downward facing PSU on carpet, nothing too deep but it's fine because my case has feet that keeps it off the ground.
 
D

dmoney1980

Platinum Member
Jan 17, 2008
2,471
38
91
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Regarding the bottom mounted PSU, would it make sense to flip it so the fan is exhausting the hot air from the GPU area to the exterior of the case?

Also, since he is primarily using it for gaming, I'd lean towards a case that offers good airflow by allowing 2-3 intake fans from the front, perhaps one exhaust on the left side by the gpu, one in the back, and possibly one on top. A good balance of intake and exhaust fans should help, but the key feature needed here is easily accessible dust filters.
 
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piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
I like cases designed like the Antec 300. But sometimes they change the cases in ways that reduces air flow like changing the drive cages sideways so they prohibit airflow across the drives. It also depends on what drives you plan on using and how many. I imagine SSD's don't need a lot of airflow. You still might want one or two large capacity hard drives 1 TB or larger.

I see no advantage to having a black finish inside the case but that is up to you.

I have one similar to this design but it does not have the front fans. It is built like a tank with a filter in the front.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-066-_-Product

Some people like fractal desigh R4 with the all black finish but I don't care for the front door. It might limit airflow a bit.

Just make sure about if you want the front USB3 jacks or not. I think the Antec example did not have the USB3 ports. They may have a revised edition. Antec seems a bit old style sometimes.

Some people also like the high air flow Cooler Master HAF cases. Sometimes they are a bit pricey on their case prices for Full ATX.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,333
1,890
126
dmoney1980 said:
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Regarding the bottom mounted PSU, would it make sense to flip it so the fan is exhausting the hot air from the GPU area to the exterior of the case?

Also, since he is primarily using it for gaming, I'd lean towards a case that offers good airflow by allowing 2-3 intake fans from the front, perhaps one exhaust on the left side by the gpu, one in the back, and possibly one on top. A good balance of intake and exhaust fans should help, but the key feature needed here is easily accessible dust filters.
Click to expand...

If you can pressurize the case slightly, flipping the PSU is a reasonable option. With a pressurized case, it's likely the internal temperature of the PSU will actually be lower.

My Seasonic PSUs are bottom-case installations with the fan-intake facing up. The fan never spin up, because the other fans in the case are always forcing air through the PSU.
 
I

inachu

Platinum Member
Aug 22, 2014
2,387
2
41
You guys forgot to mention about the cool cheap trend in keeping dust out in the easiest of ways!

When you or your wife is done with drying your clothes then trow out the cloth softner sheet. -------------------- DO NOT THROW THAT SHEET OUT!

Those sheets make perfect dust filters for computers. Just tape them to the air intake area.

:)
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,333
1,890
126
inachu said:
You guys forgot to mention about the cool cheap trend in keeping dust out in the easiest of ways!

When you or your wife is done with drying your clothes then trow out the cloth softner sheet. -------------------- DO NOT THROW THAT SHEET OUT!

Those sheets make perfect dust filters for computers. Just tape them to the air intake area.

:)
Click to expand...

May be, but the weave is such that airflow will be restricted. I've seen filters that are bundled with cases: CM HAF cases have a fine wire mesh filter, which I think I'm going to simply remove. Other cases have a plastic or foam filter pad which deteriorates over time. I've used the 6"/4"x12" AC vent filters -- mesh too fine and obstructive. That leaves the fiberglass material I mentioned above.

You WILL get dust admitted with the fiberglass filters -- just not nearly as much. Over time, they clot with Kruft. But you can simply wash them, squeeze-dry them, and replace.

If airflow is important to you, you should consider buying the little electric Metro ED-500 electric air-blower for $80 and change:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-002-_-Product

Blast your case interior and computer parts with it once a month. Over a year's time, you should break even on the cost of "canned-air."

For this, I accept dust and force myself to play "Minute-Maid" on a regular basis.

One thing good about filters, though. We had a gas-company inspector in the house a few years ago. [We have about five or six computers getting regular and varied usage.] He said he'd been testing household air all over our county for years, and he never saw house-interior air that was cleaner than ours!
 
R

readymix

Senior member
Jan 3, 2007
357
1
81
haven't got a rec but a plain jane case with the fewest plastic gargoyles and appendages. just holes for fans. lian-li pc-7 like. slap demciflex filters on it and your done.
 
R

readymix

Senior member
Jan 3, 2007
357
1
81
BonzaiDuck said:
I guess I'd rather have more airflow and deal with the dust with my Metro 500 duster . .
Click to expand...

with data I got from McMaster-carr I'd say they reduce airflow about 40%, unencumbered. with 5 intake fans going, 3 in the winter months, it's still plenty enough for me. clean up the fan blades, horizontal surfaces once a year-ish.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,333
1,890
126
readymix said:
with data I got from McMaster-carr I'd say they reduce airflow about 40%, unencumbered. with 5 intake fans going, 3 in the winter months, it's still plenty enough for me. clean up the fan blades, horizontal surfaces once a year-ish.
Click to expand...

I think I'd been looking for "total thermal control" of fans in my systems for the last ten years. I wasted cumulatively a few hundred dollars on fan-controllers that didn't serve me as well as I wanted. I think I "found" motherboard thermal control of fans with my ASUS P4P800-SE Springdale board around 2004, but couldn't get anything more than the CPU_FAN port to work for me.

Now, with an air-cooled system which gives me a sense of triumph, I've discovered that keeping idle fan-speeds low also reduces dust-buildup. I'm beginning to think I could just eliminate fan filters altogether, which I've suggested here earlier.

But that isn't going to work for everybody. It's just my personal observation. I sure got tired of the declining effectiveness of canned air, though! This electrical blower -- the Metro ED500 "Data Vac" -- will eventually save me some ducats, and is quite effective:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-002-_-Product

Folks who only possess a single desktop system probably wouldn't be inclined to pay for it. But I can even imagine it might be useful for eliminating kruft from hidden workings of my new refrigerator . . .

Another thought: "More effective cooling with fewer fans." But this again hinges on your choice of cooling solutions.
 
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