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PC Cases for High Dust Enviornments?

Posted by Cliff on from the keeping-the-dustballs-out dept.

Ummagumma asks: "My computers have recently been relegated to the basement by decree of the fiancee. Problem is, the basement is carpeted (with a really old carpet), and I have two cats, which generate alot of 'fuzz'. I have had to disassemble my PC to clean the fans and heatsinks out several times now. I am looking for a case that has a built in filter of some kind, even a simple one, that wont blow the bank balance. I have found the Antec SLK3700AMB, but cannot verify that is has a filter, though I have been told it may have. I figure at least a few of you are in a similar situation, so what are you using to prevent dust and fuzz from getting into your cases? My only requirements are: At least mid-sized (full size atx board), room for 4 5.25" drives, minimum 300W powersupply, a front and rear 120mm case fan (or mountings), with a filter at least on the intake." Some of the aluminum cases from Lian Li (and I can't remember the exact model numbers) have simple filter in their front mounted fans. What other case manufacturers have such features?

2 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Don't put your case on the floor by KurdtX · · Score: 2, Insightful


    Well, if you're worried about keeping dust out of your case, keep it off the floor. Don't put it on your desk, either. I use a small table or 2x4s to keep my cases above ground-level... there's not too much dirt in mid-air. For me, it's cut the dust down to an unnoticeable level.

    --

    Kurdt
    I'm not anti-social. Just pro-technology.
  2. Antec SX1040BII is 4x80mm fans is okay by embobo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Antec SX1040BII definitely has a filter for the intake fans, as indicated in the link and because I have one. It doesn't meet your requirements because it has 4x80mm fans, not 2x120mm. The one I got has a good Antec Truepower 400W power supply. It was $80 at CompUSA (I needed a case fast).

    I would suspect that since there is not explicit mention of a filter on Antec's page for the SLK3700AMB that it doesn't have a filter.

    You may want to head over to the Case and Cooling Fetish forum at Ars Technica and search for filter-related posts. Some members there know their stuff. The two tips I gleaned were:

    • Have positive pressure in the case, i.e., more suck than blow. Otherwise, air will be sucked in through the cracks in the case, not the filters.
    • Used fabric softener sheets make good filters. Others in the forum have found cheap filter material at Home Depot.