Question for owners of new Phanteks Airflow cases - How fast does dust build up?

[MustafaXIX]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm currently in the market for a new case and the new Phanteks Airflow cases peaked my interest, mainly because of the glowing reviews from Gamers Nexus and other YouTubers.

 

I'm looking at the P360A in particular but it apparently doesn't have any dust filter on the front intake mesh. My PC setup is in my bedroom so dust is a concern. Owners of this case, or similar cases from Phanteks, how fast does the dust build up/how bad is it inside the case? How often would I need to be using my CompuCleaner to clear it out?

 

If you have other case recommendations for a similar price, £70 to £80, then please leave them in the comments too

 

Edit: as requested here's the fan layout, I'll be using the 2 included front fans and adding my own 2 exhausts to the back of the case. I've read that positive pressure is better to reduce the speed at which dust gathers inside so I'll be setting the exhausts to run at a slightly slower RPM than the intakes.

 

Thank you

[Bombastinator]

The fan layout is going to matter for that.  Might need to be part of the question.

[IkeaGnome]

In my head, if you know it's in a dusty area, you'd want the dust to build up. Less in the filters is more in the internals of the computer...

[Entropy.]

16 minutes ago, MustafaXIX said:

Hello everyone,

 

I'm currently in the market for a new case and the new Phanteks Airflow cases peaked my interest, mainly because of the glowing reviews from Gamers Nexus and other YouTubers.

 

I'm looking at the P360A in particular but it apparently doesn't have any dust filter on the front intake mesh. My PC setup is in my bedroom so dust is a concern. Owners of this case, or similar cases from Phanteks, how fast does the dust build up/how bad is it inside the case? How often would I need to be using my CompuCleaner to clear it out?

 

If you have other case recommendations for a similar price, £70 to £80, then please leave them in the comments too

 

Thank you

I received a prebuilt system around 3 months ago with the phanteks p418r, a case which is exclusive to CBPC or other system integrators, which is basically a ripoff of the p360a. I use it with an 120mm aio on the front in push/pull, another fan occupying the other front fan mount, and two fans exhausting on the top. Dust buildup inside the pc isn't bad, and I usually just swifter the exterior/interior it off every week to a month, and it goes back to looking almost new. I'd expect to have to do a "deeper clean-" where I'd actually take the time to clean/blow out the dust from the entire pc- every say 6-8 months. Of course, This'll depend on the environment that the pc is in. 
 

On a slightly unrelated note, the top fan mounts come with a filter, and you can actually stick it into the front panel. While the fit inside of the front panel isn't perfect, and might look a little janky, you might want to consider it. 

[MustafaXIX]

2 minutes ago, Brok3n But who cares? said:

I received a prebuilt system around 3 months ago with the phanteks p418r, a case which is exclusive to CBPC or other system integrators, which is basically a ripoff of the p360a. I use it with an 120mm aio on the front in push/pull, another fan occupying the other front fan mount, and two fans exhausting on the top. Dust buildup inside the pc isn't bad, and I usually just swifter the exterior/interior it off every week to a month, and it goes back to looking almost new. I'd expect to have to do a "deeper clean-" where I'd actually take the time to clean/blow out the dust from the entire pc- every say 6-8 months. Of course, This'll depend on the environment that the pc is in. 

Thank you for this detailed reply. It's very helpful

[MustafaXIX]

9 minutes ago, Voluspa said:

In my head, if you know it's in a dusty area, you'd want the dust to build up. Less in the filters is more in the internals of the computer...

Why would I want more dust in my PC? I specifically mentioned that the case hasnt got filters on the intakes and was asking about the dust build up inside the case

[MustafaXIX]

12 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

The fan layout is going to matter for that.  Might need to be part of the question.

Added. Thank u

[IkeaGnome]

13 minutes ago, MustafaXIX said:

Why would I want more dust in my PC? I specifically mentioned that the case hasnt got filters on the intakes and was asking about the dust build up inside the case

I thought you were talking about dust build up on the filters in more of a "Are the filters on this case good or not". My bad.

[MustafaXIX]

Just now, Voluspa said:

I thought you were talking about dust build up on the filters in more of a "Are the filters on this case good or not". My bad.

No worries

[it_dont_work]

Depends how clean your house is. Carpets pets, dry dusty part of the country, fabric curtains now fly screens in your house, lots of people coming in and hout. Lots of things increase dust build up not really a 'given time frame' filters or not 

[Bombastinator]

1 hour ago, Brok3n But who cares? said:

I received a prebuilt system around 3 months ago with the phanteks p418r, a case which is exclusive to CBPC or other system integrators, which is basically a ripoff of the p360a. I use it with an 120mm aio on the front in push/pull, another fan occupying the other front fan mount, and two fans exhausting on the top. Dust buildup inside the pc isn't bad, and I usually just swifter the exterior/interior it off every week to a month, and it goes back to looking almost new. I'd expect to have to do a "deeper clean-" where I'd actually take the time to clean/blow out the dust from the entire pc- every say 6-8 months. Of course, This'll depend on the environment that the pc is in. 
 

On a slightly unrelated note, the top fan mounts come with a filter, and you can actually stick it into the front panel. While the fit inside of the front panel isn't perfect, and might look a little janky, you might want to consider it. 

That’s really frequent cleaning for a PC.   If you set them up to be dust resistant they can go years. 

 

given the frequency of dusting it’s unlikely to be a problem period.  It might be worth investing in an electric blower to blow dust out of the fins and stuff if you’re doing it that often.  They’re normally only bought by various pros who have to do it a lot, but it sounds like you’re doing it a lot.  Doesn’t hurt anything.

 

The way to find out if it’s worth it is to figure out what percentage of a can of dust-off you use to clean the case.  Maybe say 1/4 can.  So you divide the cost of a can and see how long it will take to make the investment back. I let a machine go for 3 years once so for me a blower isn’t worth it.  Cans are more efficient. 

Edited March 6, 2021 by Bombastinator

[Entropy.]

6 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

That’s really frequent cleaning for a PC.   If you set them up to be dust resistant they can go years. 

 

given the frequency of dusting it’s unlikely to be a problem period.  It might be worth investing in an electric blower to blow dust out of the fins and stuff if you’re doing it that often.  They’re normally only bought by various pros who have to do it a lot, but it sounds like you’re doing it a lot.  Doesn’t hurt anything.

 

The way to find out if it’s worth it is to figure out what percentage of a can of dust-off you use to clean the case.  Maybe say 1/4 can.  So you divide the cost of a can and see how long it will take to make the investment back. I let a machine go for 3 years once so for me a blower isn’t worth it.  Cans are more efficient. 

I like keeping my pc clean. I don't exactly have the best environment, as well. 

[Bombastinator]

1 minute ago, Brok3n But who cares? said:

I like keeping my pc clean. I don't exactly have the best environment, as well. 

No harm no foul.  Do what you like.  PC cleaning is pretty healthy as things go.  I’m just saying even if the thing sucks for dust you won’t have a problem 

[thrasher_565]

3 hours ago, Bombastinator said:

That’s really frequent cleaning for a PC.   If you set them up to be dust resistant they can go years. 

 

given the frequency of dusting it’s unlikely to be a problem period.  It might be worth investing in an electric blower to blow dust out of the fins and stuff if you’re doing it that often.  They’re normally only bought by various pros who have to do it a lot, but it sounds like you’re doing it a lot.  Doesn’t hurt anything.

 

The way to find out if it’s worth it is to figure out what percentage of a can of dust-off you use to clean the case.  Maybe say 1/4 can.  So you divide the cost of a can and see how long it will take to make the investment back. I let a machine go for 3 years once so for me a blower isn’t worth it.  Cans are more efficient. 

you can buy a hair dryer with the cold button for like $10

[thrasher_565]

dust wont have ant performance impact once so ever. the only time it dose is when it can build up in say the cpu heat sink slowing the fan but that's normally a mix of smoking or pets and never been dusted ever.

 

however re-pasting can get you better temps.

 

the more filters the higher the temps will be.

 

[thrasher_565]

4 hours ago, MustafaXIX said:

Why would I want more dust in my PC? I specifically mentioned that the case hasnt got filters on the intakes and was asking about the dust build up inside the case

he means that the dust on the filter can help keep dust out and you should just leave it on the filter but clean the rest.