Help Making PC Cabinet Dust Proof

**100khz** · 05-04-12, 01:03 PM

I have recently purchased Corsair 400R

My Rig:

i7 2600k

gigabyte z68xp-ud3

seasonic s12ii 620 w

16 gb corsair

OS: Lion

If you see the above link of Corsair 400r cabinet, there are top and side openings for fixing 4 120mm fans. Front has 2 fans pushing cold air inside, but there is a air filter preventing dust. PSU also has a dust filter and is fixed at bottom of the cabinet to fetch cold air.

Rear Fan (120 mm) throws hot air outside so no such dust issues..

I am worried about the top and side panel fan openings, which is empty as i have not fixed more fans there. I do not see any need. But if i do not put fans there, dust is entering everyday. I am worried.

Can you guys suggest anything?

Besides, can i close these extra fan openings with paper or some blocking material, if it does not harm the PC?

please suggest..

thanks

**viralbug** · 05-04-12, 01:17 PM

Dust proof cabinet in India is simply not possible.

Those fan openings would hardly bring any dust inside compared to what the fans themselves do. Even with filters, some amount of dust will get inside, but definitely less than without filters.

Keep cleaning your cabinet regularly.

**100khz** · 05-04-12, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by viralbug

Dust proof cabinet in India is simply not possible.

Those fan openings would hardly bring any dust inside compared to what the fans themselves do. Even with filters, some amount of dust will get inside, but definitely less than without filters.

Keep cleaning your cabinet regularly.

yeah i agree.. but the filters on this cabinet are quite good and thick as i could see.. Just so that the side panel and top panel is totally open. Big porus openings are there.. thats what bothers me.. I may just go ahead and close them and go for liquid cooling for cpu to make things less warmer..

also, for cleaning i normally blow air on parts with a vacuum cleaner.. not too strongly though.. is this the best way to clean?

how do you guys clean..?

**sam000** · 05-04-12, 01:51 PM

I keep my side cabinet open and the dusts choke my PC to a halt every three months ....PC will freeze and refuse to boot thats the sign for me to clean it lol after i dismantle and clean everything it boots like nothing has happened

**100khz** · 05-04-12, 02:34 PM

hmm..it seems like no one has proper dust proof plan here.. we need to come up with some. I have tried to make my room dust proof though. May try and buy AC air filter from market, put some of them on cabinet's open areas. Have to do some desi jugaad..

corsair's air filters are good quality and dense. Will put cut out AC air filter on extra fan outlets.

**allrounder799** · 05-04-12, 03:36 PM

Putting AC filters seems a good idea, will definitelty try it

#[member='100khz']

Vaccum cleaner can causes some problem in the components, better avoid it, compressed air cans are option, but are pricey and hard to find

I had one link of making DIY compressed air can will put it here once I find it

**CA50** · 05-04-12, 07:39 PM

I too like dust-proof system, and i have one 90mm front intake fan and another 120mm intake at bottom. To reduce the amount of dust, i have used mosquito net (2 folds of mosquito net). Though its not the best solution, yet its somewhat effective

**100khz** · 05-04-12, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by CA50

I too like dust-proof system, and i have one 90mm front intake fan and another 120mm intake at bottom. To reduce the amount of dust, i have used mosquito net (2 folds of mosquito net). Though its not the best solution, yet its somewhat effective

your system is surely mosquito proof..

check this out

http://www.dustfreepc.com/index.php/...uter_enclosure

**ch@ts** · 06-04-12, 07:10 PM

You've got to find a balance between dust and air-flow.

Putting in dust filters will reduce the airflow making your computer warmer.

Dust filters will eventually get clogged making the airflow worse over time.

I've used mosquito netting, really porous sponges, t-shirts, and muslin cloth. But everytime I open my pc there's always dust build-up. And with the filters in place the comps always a couple of degrees warmer than it should be.

I think you need good filters, but unless you've got really heavy duty fans that can pull air in through any barrier, don't bother too much. Use mosquito netting. It'll help a bit, and won't affect thermals too much.

**CA50** · 06-04-12, 08:03 PM

#[member='100khz'], yep mate, totally insect free

**cooleagle** · 06-04-12, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by allrounder799

Putting AC filters seems a good idea, will definitelty try it

#[member='100khz']

Vaccum cleaner can causes some problem in the components, better avoid it, compressed air cans are option, but are pricey and hard to find

I had one link of making DIY compressed air can will put it here once I find it

Hi buddy, I tried to find a DIY compressed air solution to clean dust but the ones I came across used a fire extinguisher( http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...=232736&page=1 ) or a leaf blower(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5C-qitxPBQ ) which we can't make easily.

If you have a better way of making it then do post it here.

**allrounder799** · 07-04-12, 10:03 AM

Finally I found the link, although that's not the original one, but the instructable user who made that also made this, and he told that it can also be used as compressed air can, you just need to remove the paint

DIY Spray Paint

**Jarod** · 09-04-12, 11:15 PM

You need positive air pressure in your case i.e. more intake air pressure than exhaust.

That way the air along with the dust only flows through the intake fans and fan filters. How dust free it is, depends on how well the fan filters are blocking dust while still maintaining sufficient air flow.

If you have more exhaust fans/exhaust pressure, air will start to flow into the cabinet through various grills and gaps in your cabinet and you cannot control the dust.

You can also look at passive cooling, and keeping the number of fans you use to a minimum.