Computers and Technology

Computer filters offer dust and dirt protection for your PC. A common fear is that adding a computer filter to the air inlet port near the power supply fan may do little to block dust and dirt from entering the computer unit. New pcs have numerous internal fans and it is often not easy to figure out where air is supposed to enter the main unit and where air is intended to be exhausted. Some fans are used just to circulate internal air as well. A simple computer filter on the back of a PC is not going to work for the long term.

A better computer filter solution is one that is relatively new on the market. It is essentially a breathable filter bag that covers all inlet and outlet ports of a computer unit but still allows the computer to be cooled properly. New dust bag style computer filters protect the entire unit from dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants. They are designed in sizes to fit virtually any computer tower and can be installed in minutes. They work well for monitors and printers as well, both of which need clean filtered air to assure proper long-term operation.

Computer filters used on computer enclosures also do a poor job protecting your computer from dust and dirt in the long term. One reason is because most computer cabinets require you to open the cabinet to operate the computer, for instance to access the CDROM or floppy drive. These operational requirements allow dust to bypass the cabinet dust filter and traps dust within the cabinet which eventually will be pulled inside the PC and settle there. This is completely preventable with a dust bag filter.

It is very important to use computer filters with PCs used in industrial or workshop situations where dust and dirt can very rapidly reduce the reliability and lifespan of the computer. Critical computer components exposed to dust and dirt, particularly the mechanical components like the keyboard and CD-ROM, can cease to operate without warning, and many times cannot be repaired once damaged by these contaminants. Studies have shown that dust can fill an unprotected computer in a matter of days, causing it to overheat. And metal dust can cause circuits to short-out, introducing a new workshop hazard. Dust bag style computer filters can do a lot to minimize these issues.

A problem with traditional computer filters is that they are designed to capture dust without impacting the amount of air that can enter the computer for cooling. This requires them to be fairly porous with the filter designed to capture the larger dust particles and allowing smaller dust particles and other airborne particles to pass through. The small surface area of the standard filter means that the air-flow must be relatively high, and dust and dirt collecting in the filter material quickly begins to restrict air flow. This problem is ameliorated by the larger dust bag, where the huge surface area of the filter translates into lower air-flow speed and a larger area to spread the dust trying to enter the computer. The lower air-flow speed also ensures less dust makes it through the filter material, especially smaller dust particles and airborne mists.
A small investment in a dust filter can offer a level of insurance that your computer equipment will operate when you need it to, and not wear out before its time.
Dust bag style computer filters are especially effective, easy to install and inexpensive.