I have been asked to build a computer for someone who heavily Smokes Cigars I wnat to know what the best way to build a case to prevent the insides from getting mucked up.
I'm a cigar smoker but never smoke near my computer because the intake fans will suck up that smoke. Anyway you can convince him not to smoke around the computer? My only suggestion is to make sure all the vents have some sort of filter on them to minimize amount of smoke. Also recommend he clean his computer at least every 2 months.
Kinda hard as its in a cigar lounge for media
I smoked for 10 years before i stopped, the only thing that you would notice with a pc is that the dust collected by fans/filters will be stained slightly yellow like anything else in a room where you smoke. It will have ZERO effect on the components at all, there is nothing to gum a pc up (unless he is planning on stubbing his cigars out onto the pcb like a bawss). regular cleaning is something that any pc should be subject to. Avoid a white case as that will discolour over time/exposure.
need to know some things
- what is the PC doing
- what's the budget
- what country is it in
you'll want to either have it all filtered or have zero ventalation and passively cooled with a large thermal mass and a low power CPU and what not
if you opt for filters then he'll need to clean them EVERY day not every 2 months
I disagree completely, being in a smokey room would not mean he needs to clean it every day.
They are exhaling smoke not sawdust/flour!, smoke will just pass through the pc just like air does and not gum anything up. perhaps if they were smoking car tyres then some consideration to long term exposure might need to be considered (barely) but just being in a smoking lounge? nothing special to be taken into account aside from not using a white case as it will discolour.
Nicotine does in fact coat parts and reduce cooling and add some dust you have a recipe of death for your components. Any heatsinks like your cpu coolers and gpu coolers need to be regularly and thoroughly cleaned. the best thing is not to put a computer in such a smokey enviroment.
I'm going to base my serveral experience FIXING smokers computers because their VRMs and Heatsinks are gummed up every 3 months over your one expereince
also this is different from one cigarette to a densly filled room of smoke
and freaksmacker is correct
They are exhaling smoke not sawdust/flour!
I'm sorry. Do you know what smoke is? Smoke is make up of tiny particles. Those particles WILL stick to the insides of a PC. it isn't "Just like air"
most of the brownish dust inside of a PC is from smoke, normal dust buildup is grayish in nature.
So yes, it really is "Just like flour". Just finer particles.
Also.
Gunk from cigarette smoke can clog up the ventilation holes, which can cause the computer to overheat.
CPU Fan
When tar from cigarette smoke builds up on a CPU fan, it can keep the fan from spinning properly, which can make it overheat.
Hard Drive
Smoke can damage a hard drive by getting stuck between a platter and the head, or by damaging the motor.
Motherboard
Cigarette smoke can corrode electronic circuitry on the motherboard, which can cause the computer to stop working altogether.
Exterior
Smoking around a computer will eventually discolor the keyboard, mouse and other exterior surfaces.
http://www.squidoo.com/cigarette-smoke-computer-damage
EDIT:-removed a rant/bash, nvm im walking away from this one then
Edit:-post that i didnt see with link.....
Though I will say that does the system in that article you linked to look like it has been remotely maintained and cleaned properly during its service?Would you or anyone who takes care of their system ever allow that kind of buildup? nope,
yeah the dust is discoloured but frankly...agh nvm ill not edit again, common sense seems to be lacking again, fill your boots.
cheers
Being a ex smoker, I understand what its takes to try and maintain your computer in that enviroment. Always seemed like a losing battle no matter how often you clean it. Most definitley shorten the life span of many components. If fact I just started builting new PCs every 6 months to a year. Crazy expensive. Now i vape and wonder what the long term possible impact of that is going to be on my pc. Its not as harmful as smoking. Since my place always smells like my favorite flavor at the moment, I wonder if the juice may also buildup over the long term and cause issues.
There's fan filters...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999234
and then there's ultra fine fan filters:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999249
I would recommend the ultra fine mesh for your friend's case.
I wouldnt worry about it but you can buy a fan less designed pc tar is really hard to clean off fans and vents. I have never experienced a failure due to smoking though and have seen some really bad pcs before. As with fan filters I cant believe im saying this but you may be better off without them. *insert hate mail here* Tar can bead up on screens and ultimately prevent any air from getting through. You will need to invest in canned air. Also by the time this thing gets really bad you ll find an excuse to upgrade it.
I can see why you would say no fan filters, but, in the end, it's easier to wash off a fan filter than the inside of your PC.
To be honest,
Assuming the PC is not going to be used for situations where latency is going to be an issue ie; gaming... then it would be a far better idea to have the unit sitting in another room (storage room perhaps) and have anything attatched either wirelessly or with extention cables, or a combination of both if possible.... this way the Media is being delivered to where it needs to be, and the PC itself is well out of harms way....
I would personally go for a case that didn't have an open mesh front design.
Maybe a small case too so it could be stored out of the way under a desk or something.
DIYPerks had the very same setup. Not only did he had a custom chassis for his PC that's really quiet, he also has it sitting in another room. Everything is custom made, but most importantly, everything looks professionally made and clean.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB-_JIjhAyA
+1 to that .
you would need to wash it with something like alcohol tar is like glue. For a media pc you could go fanless