Dust everywhere...

[TechGaloot]

Are there any good ways to reduce/eliminate dust from collecting on all the components?

I'm getting ready to upgrade my 2 year-old machine (new MOBO, CPU, RAM, Video), and I want a nice clean envorinment in my case. Unfortunately everything is coated with dust. The kind of dust that just sticks to everything. I've spent the last hour just taking a q-tip and cleaning the blades of my 6 case fans. There has to be a better way! The dust does not "blow off" because is sticks to everything!

How do you deal with dust and dirt in your computer? Is there a way to protect the system from dust?

TIA

[Cricket]

You can use filters in front of the intake fan(s) to help keep dust out of the computer. Keeping the computer off the floor helps to keep it cleaner inside too. Blowing out the case on a regular basis helps a lot too. But there will always be some dust, you just can't get away from it.

Cricket

[glc]

You need to open the case every 3 months and blow the dust out.

[TechGaloot]

Originally Posted by glc You need to open the case every 3 months and blow the dust out.

Oh great - another one of those routine chores that I'm soooooooo good at.

I've tried the filters on the intake fans, but they really seem to have minimal effect. I guess I'll just try to not let it get too thick?

Thanks for the responses!

[Panama Red]

Don't set your tower on the floor. That's where all the dust settles. Put it on the table or desk if you can.

[sdkfz]

Sticky dust I have found to be exacerbated by:

Smoking tabacco
Cooking Grease not vented to the outside (unfortuantly most stove vents just pull air through a metal mesh filter and blow back into the living space)
Humidity

Try to reduce these and the dust should not stick as badly. As mentioned already rasing the PC helps a lot.

Be careful of filters as they will need periodic cleaning/replacement start by checking weekly and then gradually increase your time. A clogged filter will stop all air movement.

I have seen good results with aquarium filter pads- these are cheap and totally customizable as to size here is a link but any fish store/petsmart etc will carry it. http://www.amazon.com/MarineLand-Mar.../dp/B0002565PW Place the blue side to the incoming air as this is the 'coarse' filter - the while side being the 'fine' People also have used furnace filters, but they are much finer and so clog faster especially the HEPA style ones and the cheap blue cloth ones I found to be harder to mess with than the aquarium pads- plus I already keep fish and use the stuff there too.

Google "pc dust filter" - there are options for toal PC protection mainly aimed for manufacturing cleints such as concrete and other dusty products.