It seems to me that with all the know-how and gadgets we have today, wouldn’t it be plausible to create a “sealed” computer that is virtually dust-proof? For example, couldn’t it have all the fan inlets and outlets sealed with HEPA filters?
Does this kind of computer already exist?
Well, there are computers like this one. The whole thing’s passively cooled; since there’s no need for fan vents, there’re very few holes for dust to enter through.
Sure it’s possible. You could always build a radiator system along the lines of what cools an automobile engine. Whether is it is even reasonably practical is the question.
Another thing is that even severe dust buildup isn’t really that much of a problem. I’m constantly amazed at the amount of dust built up in my (smoker) father’s comp every time I open it up. I’ve given up blowing it out since it never seems to make any difference when I do or make any harm when I don’t.
Dust proof computers are actually fairly common for industrial use. You can use fans and filters, but you have to change the filters fairly often. Liquid cooling systems are practical. You can also make passively cooled computers (like the one Catalyst mentioned). Some folks just use a heat sink the size of a buick. Others get a bit more creative and use something like a heat pipe.
The high-end Panasonic ToughBooks are both dirt and waterproof, I believe.
It should be fairly simple; pipe the heat to a heat exchanger on the case, then attach this to a radiating heatsink with fan if required.
The biggest problem is that there are multiple heat sources inside a typical PC; the CPU and GPU are the obvious ones, but considerable heat is also emitted by hard drives and some of the controller chips on the motherboard - it certainly wouldn’t do merely to pipe heat away from the processors and ignore everything else.
I do recall, though, reading about an overclocker who built his PC into an old refrigerator; this could easily be run as a sealed unit (in fact, sealing it would be essential to exclude atmospheric moisture that could cause condensation).
Only mechanical parts are particularly vulnerable to dust. Get a harsh environment membrane keyboard and perhaps seal or do away with removable media drives and an ordinary computer can be quite dust resistant. There is a limit where cooling is effected and the combination of dust and moisture is a bad one but dust itself typically doesn’t harm circuit boards.
The main problem with dust (in my experience) is that it tends to clog heatsink cooling fins and foul fans, causing catastrophic overheating; this is more likely to be the case if the dust is the fluffy kind - some households have more of this than others.
Strong disagreement here. Dust causes small electrical leakages. Given the small amounts of currents used in many computer components, this is not good. Especially sensitive are the areas around the memory sticks contacts.
But even worse is heat buildup. It will definitely shorten the lifetime of things and you can have stuff go “pop”.
I thought that one of the primary puposes of the computer case was to store a lot of the dust that builds up around the computer.
I duct-taped dryer sheets across the inside of my intake vents; by changing them out about once a month I get rid of the biggest dust particles. Also, my PC smells spring-laundry fresh! Seriously, though: I cleaned the machine’s innards out right before I switched to this method, and I’m amazed at how clean all of the parts still are.
That’s a good idea, but you are still impeding the flow of air; might not matter in most cases, but on a system that is near capacity for cooling, it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
It’s not dustproof, but it’s dust-resistant.
I use pieces of pantyhose over the intake fans. It has reduced the quantity of dust that gathers inside my comp quite a bit. My computer’s chasis temp may have gone a degree or two C, but not enough for me to reliably notice. It’s still stays under 40C and usually over 30C.
I agree – I didn’t try this until I had switched to a mobile processor, which runs cooler, and a processor load-relief system that underclocks my PC when I don’t need the extra horsepower.
Alienware already makes radiator style cooling system for their CPU’s and video cards. Combine that with a dedicated filtered air intake and a relatively dust free computer would be reasonably easy.