To use a foam filter or to get the dust bunnies

[omniviper]

I have been using a foam filter for all my intake fans as having to clean up the dust bunnies really tick me off. I used to do it at 4 month intervals before, now i just clean the intake filters and all is good. However, i do notice a big decrease in the amount of air coming in which equates to a drastic drop in overclocking potential as well as high operating temperatures.

i would like which of the two is the lesser of two evils? And which would you prefer

Also, i want to ask how your fans are configured. mine is 2 80mms intake and 2 80 mms exhaust. but should you put the exhaust in the back or in the front? reason im asking is because if you put it at the back, the cpu would run cooler

 

[MrK6]

Personally, I use a happy medium of stretched stockings over fans. It keeps out a majority of dust while not affecting airflow as much. The result is air flow is still very good, but the much of the dust is kept out. Also, making an intake duct for your CPU helps alot :thumbsup:

Also note that those foam filters block a ridiculous amount of air, the aluminum screen ones are much better.

 

[omniviper]

... stretched stockings? really? im having second thoughts since these have smaller holes than foamies. smaller holes would grate or further separate the air current flowing through your system. Instead of the air entering at a higher speed and at a lower pressure, it enters at a higher pressure, not to mention more stagnant speed. Physics baby!

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: omniviper
I have been using a foam filter for all my intake fans as having to clean up the dust bunnies really tick me off. I used to do it at 4 month intervals before, now i just clean the intake filters and all is good. However, i do notice a big decrease in the amount of air coming in which equates to a drastic drop in overclocking potential as well as high operating temperatures.

i would like which of the two is the lesser of two evils? And which would you prefer

Also, i want to ask how your fans are configured. mine is 2 80mms intake and 2 80 mms exhaust. but should you put the exhaust in the back or in the front? reason im asking is because if you put it at the back, the cpu would run cooler

Rear fans are always exhaust.

You might want to check out some aluminum mesh filters. They're fairly unrestrictive compared to many other fans and are durable.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[sodcha0s]

Originally posted by: omniviper
... stretched stockings? really? im having second thoughts since these have smaller holes than foamies. smaller holes would grate or further separate the air current flowing through your system. Instead of the air entering at a higher speed and at a lower pressure, it enters at a higher pressure, not to mention more stagnant speed. Physics baby!

The velocity of the air isn't that important. What you need is a good steady even flow of air. If the air enters the case at a high velocity and is pulled out just as fast, it's not doing an efficient or effective job of cooling. A stretched nylon stocking is less obstructive of airflow, creates a much more even flow, and traps smaller dust particles than a foam filter. You will have to clean it often to maintain good airflow, but your case will be much cleaner and a bit cooler.

 

[lotus503]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s

Originally posted by: omniviper
... stretched stockings? really? im having second thoughts since these have smaller holes than foamies. smaller holes would grate or further separate the air current flowing through your system. Instead of the air entering at a higher speed and at a lower pressure, it enters at a higher pressure, not to mention more stagnant speed. Physics baby!

The velocity of the air isn't that important. What you need is a good steady even flow of air. If the air enters the case at a high velocity and is pulled out just as fast, it's not doing an efficient or effective job of cooling. A stretched nylon stocking is less obstructive of airflow, creates a much more even flow, and traps smaller dust particles than a foam filter. You will have to clean it often to maintain good airflow, but your case will be much cleaner and a bit cooler.

I have some fan grills that are mesh, good airflow easy to clean

 

[omniviper]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s

Originally posted by: omniviper
... stretched stockings? really? im having second thoughts since these have smaller holes than foamies. smaller holes would grate or further separate the air current flowing through your system. Instead of the air entering at a higher speed and at a lower pressure, it enters at a higher pressure, not to mention more stagnant speed. Physics baby!

The velocity of the air isn't that important. What you need is a good steady even flow of air. If the air enters the case at a high velocity and is pulled out just as fast, it's not doing an efficient or effective job of cooling. A stretched nylon stocking is less obstructive of airflow, creates a much more even flow, and traps smaller dust particles than a foam filter. You will have to clean it often to maintain good airflow, but your case will be much cleaner and a bit cooler.

if air enters too slow and isnt taken out fast, it stagnates, meaning that the internal components of the pc heat it up. thats why there has to be a balance. Stretched stockings area good idea i guess, but the holes are much too fine I would think causing it to be easily clogged. The meshes area good idea. Ill check them out. If not, i'll just stick with the dust bunnies. I bought me a case of dust cans so it should be fine

 

[sodcha0s]

The mesh one's work well too, better than the foam filters. They also have to be cleaned often, but it's easy to do with a vacuum.

"if air enters too slow and isnt taken out fast, it stagnates"

Well yeah, but it at that point you wouldn't really have any airflow. I have a case that came with a foam intake filter and bracket, and the inside of that case would get dirty pretty quick. Eventually I removed the filter and stretched a piece of old nylons over the bracket. The case stayed a lot cleaner, and case temp dropped by about 2-3 C.

"but the holes are much too fine I would think causing it to be easily clogged"

Yes it will get dirty quickly because it's a much more efficient filter. Like the mesh filter it must be cleaned often, but it's quick and easy with a vacuum.

 

[MrK6]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
The mesh one's work well too, better than the foam filters. They also have to be cleaned often, but it's easy to do with a vacuum.

"if air enters too slow and isnt taken out fast, it stagnates"

Well yeah, but it at that point you wouldn't really have any airflow. I have a case that came with a foam intake filter and bracket, and the inside of that case would get dirty pretty quick. Eventually I removed the filter and stretched a piece of old nylons over the bracket. The case stayed a lot cleaner, and case temp dropped by about 2-3 C.

"but the holes are much too fine I would think causing it to be easily clogged"

Yes it will get dirty quickly because it's a much more efficient filter. Like the mesh filter it must be cleaned often, but it's quick and easy with a vacuum.

Exactly :thumbsup:, getting dirty quickly means they're doing their job 🙂

 

[omniviper]

sigh... yes yes thats true. however, if it means that i have to clean up the filters every month just to retain normal temp then i dunno. lol