Case for Dust Fitration

verniusix

New member
I live next to one of the largest open pit gold mines in the Unites States. Everything this mine does produces epic volumes of dust, and I live (literally) right next to it. No matter how much you clean, within a few hours there is a fresh visible film of dust on everything. I am looking at building my very first system and am having a very hard time finding a case that has decent dust filtration.

So I now turn to the brilliant minds at the OC3D forums for help. I need a Mid or Full tower ATX case that has excellent dust filtration. Recommendations?
 
My Fractal Arc Midi stops loads of dust entering the case. After around a week or so a pretty large ring of dust will form in the front of the case where the 140mm intake fan is. All you have to do is get a vacuum and suck it out of the filter and your good to go. Only thing is the side panel has no filter whatsoever, but as long as you don't put a fan there you should be good. As for full tower cases i'm not too sure, you'll have to await a reply from someone else for that.
 
HAF-X

I don't know if this case is the best for dust filtration, but I personally have this one and when I open my case after 2 months... I don't see ANY dust whatsoever. There are three filters, one on the front, one on the side and one underneath that do an amazing job of catching dust. The front one is very easy to clean and simply clicks off.
 
Silverstone RV02
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+1 for the RV02 even though I don't own one. I've got a HAF-x and a CM 690II they do have filters but they aren't the finest.
 
The thing is, if you have the RV02 sitting under a desk on the ground... that thing becomes a vacuum and you will be cleaning the filters every week. My friends has that problem.

The HAF-X filters aren't meant to be fine filters, they have a special material and open holes that attract dust to them. Something I was unaware of until I did a little research.

I think it's great. Maybe I'm a little biased though. I've only owned CM cases.
 
I really like the look of the Silverstone RV02! I can't seem to find the RV02-E White for sale anywhere...What is the difference between the RV02-E and the RV02-EW? Would an MSI 7970 be able to fit inside the RV02?

The RV02 just shot to the top of my list, but I would like to have a couple of other cases to compare it to. Suggestions?
 
I really like the look of the Silverstone RV02! I can't seem to find the RV02-E White for sale anywhere...What is the difference between the RV02-E and the RV02-EW? Would an MSI 7970 be able to fit inside the RV02?

The RV02 just shot to the top of my list, but I would like to have a couple of other cases to compare it to. Suggestions?

There is no difference tween the black and white rv02 except colour if my memory serves me correctly and I think you can fit a 7970 in there too and for heavy dust like you were talking about it is a very hard case to beat.
 
If its as dusty around there as you say, I would forget about a new case or filters for your fans, I would go with a filtered K&N case enclosure. Check it out....

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Clean-Aire Computer Case with K&N Air Filter Keeps PC Components Clean in Dusty, Dirty Environments

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Microscopic view of a K&N Air Filter showing layers of specially oiled cotton fibers ready to capture dirt particles.

K&N filters work extremely well in vehicles, but one southern California man discovered K&N’s proven technology also works extremely well in the computer industry.

Clean-Aire Computer Case with K&N Air Filter Keeps PC Components Clean in Dusty, Dirty Environments

Commerce Technologies LLC of Santa Ana, California is in the computer business. For years, employees downed servers and cleaned systems at companies where computers get dirty. “Computer dirt is an afterthought in my industry,” said Peter Maddox, managing member of Commerce Technologies. “When users see the pop-up line, ‘the computer has performed an illegal operation and will shut down,’ it’s usually not a hardware problem, it’s a dust problem.”

In order for a chip to remain cool air has to physically go across the top of the chip. A computer chip attracts dirt because of its magnetic field, said Maddox. “As more dirt builds up, the computer starts to heat up because the air is not moving.”

Maddox said he wanted to improve the way he worked and went on a search for the right filter. “HEPA filters are not reusable and depending on the size of the filter can cost up to $30.00 a month,” he said. “I tested one filter after another, from just about every store you can think of.” Maddox said they all failed and some filters he tested would actually pass small pebbles.

One day Maddox was in an automotive store. “I stumbled across a K&N filter, it was the right size and shape, a perfect 7 inch square, and it was reusable,” he said.

Maddox brought it home and tested with baby powder and a fan. This simulated a situation that could bring down a PC. The K&N filter worked despite the baby powder, said Maddox. “I didn’t have to look for filters anywhere else.”

With K&N’s multi layers of oiled cotton gauge, dirt is captured by tiny cotton fibers as it attempts to travel through a passageway. This area is designed to change and alter the direction of dirt particles. As a K&N filter is used its efficiency rating goes up. It’s true the filter gets better as it gets dirty.

The K&N filters work on computers in conjunction with Clean-Aire Computer Enclosures at several companies, said Maddox. “One of my clients is a greenhouse, and the dirt stays away from the computers.”

When I go into businesses people say, “Hey, I have those filters in my cars and are amazed how efficient K&N filters are on computers,” said Maddox.

“I put the K&N filter in my enclosures and so far the same filters have been running for 4 years at a sheet metal shop in Anaheim, California,” said Maddox. “I used to go in and clean the PCs every 6 weeks, but the designed enclosures with K&N filters brought about an immediate reduction in service calls, at least 40%.”

Maddox uses a black base in his enclosures to prove his point. “You should see my customers when I advise them not to clean the K&N filter,” he said. “I want them to wait until it is completely covered in dirt.”

“I also use the K&N cleaning kit to go with the filters,” said Maddox.

“I tell my customers about the K&N Million Mile Warranty,” said Maddox. “No PC will go a million miles but I’m just starting to get an idea of how long these filters will last. I haven’t had any complaints about the K&N filter in the Clean-Aire Computer Enclosures in 4 years.”

“The filter was the key, nothing matters but the filter when it comes to keeping a computer clean,” said Maddox. “K&N is it.”

K&N Engineering is a filter technology pioneer in automotive, motorcycle, and marine applications. In addition to washable/reusable high flow air filters, K&N offers several lines of high flow air intake systems and heavy duty performance oil filters.

K&N is proud to manufacture air filters for more than 55,000 applications, covering a fast majority of the vehicles on the road today. More than 600 employees research, develop and manufacture K&N products. Go to KNFilters.com to find products for your vehicle or to find a universal filter for just about anything else that needs clean air.
 
I found an RV02-E Limited Edition White at a local PC shop and picked it up for $100USD. Got lucky with that! Thanks for the help guys!
 
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