TIPS & HINTS:

OPTIMIZING COMPUTER PERFORMANCE

To optimize the performance your computer and keep it running as smoothly, fast and as reliable as possible, you will have to do some type of maintenance that includes software and hardware. Software maintenance will include installing and updating of drivers, software and anti-virus software and making use of utilities to keep the software environment clean and clutter free.

Hardware maintenance will always start with cleaning of components and the inside of your computer case itself. DEMCiflex Filters were designed to help you keep your hardware clean without the need to open the case. If you use a positive pressure airflow setup where the airflow inside the case actually help to keep the inside clean, less time will have to be spent on cleaning it and more quality time can be spent on the primary function of your computer.

CLEANING

Cleaning your computer.

If you have a service contract that covers maintenance consult with provider to have your computer professionally cleaned. Otherwise, follow these steps.

• Check your owner's manual. If the manufacturer has provided specific instructions, follow them.
• Get any supplies you might need: a can of compressed air, Endust for Electronics or any household plastic or metal cleaning fluid, a soft brush (such as a paintbrush) and an anti-static rag, plus a dust mask if you're allergic to dust.
• Shut down the computer.
• Leave the computer plugged into the surge suppressor but have the power off.
• Disconnect all peripherals from the computer.
• Remove the computer cover (see your owner's manual for instructions).
• Ground yourself to the computer with any professional grounding equipment you have. Otherwise, ground yourself by touching a metal part of the chassis.
• Spray compressed air over the fan blades, power supply chassis, drive chassis and circuit boards. Be sure to stop the fan blades from spinning while blowing compressed air over it. This can be done with a toothpick. Blow as much dust out of the PSU as possible. Do not open unless you are familiar with the dangers and precautions needed.
• Gently brush off dust that the forced air didn't dislodge.
• Brush any remaining dust out from the bottom of the chassis.
• Wipe the inside and outside of the cover thoroughly.
• Replace the cover and reconnect the peripherals.
• Place filter over air intakes.

Cleaning your DEMCiflex Filters.

The only maintenance that your DEMCiflex Dust Filters need is cleaning. Depending on how dirty the filter is, different methods may be used.

• Please check the filters on a regular basis to ensure that it stays clean, Dirty filters will hamper airflow.
• Remove the filter from the case by hand and lay it down on a flat surface.
• Remove dust and dirt by gently brushing it clean by either using your hand or a soft brush.
• If the filter becomes excessively dirty, use a bit of soapy water and a soft brush to wash it while it is laid down on a flat surface.
• Rinse the soap out with cold water under a slow running tap. Do not use hot water.
• Again lay the filter flat on some absorbent material like kitchen paper and pat dry from the top,
• Make sure the filter is completely dry before refitting it to your computer.

If the instructions above are followed carefully it will be as good as new after cleaning.

TIPS & WARNINGS

• If possible, work in a non carpeted area.

• Be careful not to touch any of the chips or other electrical components. Touch as little as possible inside your machine. Static damage (and even oil damage) may cause failure months after the incident.

• Some sources recommend using a regular or specialty electronics vacuum cleaner. These appliances could cause magnetic damage or static electricity, or dislodge or inhale poorly secured chips or components.

• Check and clean your DEMCiflex Filters regularly by removing the filter from the case and brush off any debris by hand or rinsing it under running water. Soap may be used but be sure to rinse the filter thoroughly. Dry the filter completely before using it again. Replace the filter back over air intake vent of the computer case.

• Do not cover exhaust vents like the vent on the back of your power supply unit with any filter.

POSITIVE PRESSURE

Air (and dust)) enters and exits your computer case in three ways and if these can be controlled then it would be possible to have a dust free and cool running computer at the same time. These are:

• dedicated air intake vents or ports
• dedicated air exhaust ports
• and most difficult of all to control, all the other openings in the structure of the case. This includes but is not limited to: optic drives like CD and DVD drives, USB, Firewire and all other I/O ports, non air-tight panels and any other crack or opening in the case.

The first two types are fairly easy to control as fans can be used to move predetermined amounts of air in any direction desired. Because of the sheer variety of case types and configurations involved in the third type it will be virtually impossible to control. The secret in achieving this is called "positive pressure" and this concept is widely used in the medical and telecommunication fields (and others) where creating dust free environments are essential. The basics are like this:

Theory
If more air enters the case through the intake fans than air leaving through the exhaust fans the surplus air will be forced out through any other gap or crevice in the case, preventing dust from entering by this route. This equates to positive pressure.
Positive pressure inside your case will help keep it clean and therefore cooler. In the real world this is more difficult to achieve because of computer cases being very "leaky" and most fans having fairly poor delivery capacity. The more air you put into the case the faster it will run out the other side (through exhaust fans and case openings combined).
This situation however is changing fairly rapidly as cases are being built better and the choice and quality of fans are improving constantly.

Method
All fans have a CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating. This rating tells you how many cubic feet of air the fan is able to move in one minute. A fan's CFM ratings are achieved by various means like fan speed (RPM or revolutions per minute), the size, depth, shape and angle of the fan blades as well as the number of fan blades. Normal 80mm fans have between 6 and 8 blades that push less than 20CFM. To create positive or neutral pressure the total CFM sum of the intake fans must be higher or equal to the total CFM sum of air extracted from the case.

To Calculate what you need to setup positive pressure in your computer or electronic unit's case, please follow the information and instructions below.

How to determine CFM ratings of fans:

CFM ratings of fans are usually indicated on the packaging or the fan itself but in case of this information not being available, contact the manufacturer of the fan through their websites. If you are unsure contact your dealer.

Factors to take into account:

• Filter rating - CFM inhibited by filter action (% of filtered intake). By it's very nature all filters will affect the flow of air. DEMCiflex Filters has been optimize to have the least affect on airflow while still stopping dust into your unit..

• Internal fans - CFM in needed to cool components. These are fans inside the case of your computer and will include CPU fan(s), graphic card fans, HDD cooling fans etc.
• Intake fans - CFM in. These fans are situated on the case of the computer drawing air into the case.
• Exhaust fans - CFM out. These fans might be found on the case of the computer as well as power supply units and PCI slot fans. It expels air out of the computer case.
• Openings in case - CFM in either direction. All other unfanned openings leading into and out of the case

Filter rating: F
This rating will depend on the filter rating you are using. This is expressed as a percentage and is indicated on the packaging. Example: If the filter rating is 15 it will inhibit 15% of the air from entering the computer case. This sum will have to be added to the required CFM of air needed for the intake fan(s) to compensate for the loss of air. Let's call the filter rating value F. Remember that this is a percentage value. DEMCiflex Filters are rated at 15.

How to determine the CFM sum of the internal fans: C
Add all the internal fans CFM ratings together. This is the minimum CFM of air that is needed to cool the internal components like CPUs, RAM and graphic cards. Call this value C

How to determine the CFM sum of the intake fans: A

Add all the CFM ratings of the fans blowing air from outside the computer case into the case together. Call this value A

How to determine the total air intake into the computer: T
Deduct the filter rating value (F) from the CFM sum of the intake fan(s). Call this value T

How to determine exhaust fans CFM rating: E
Add the CFM ratings of all the fans blowing air out of the computer together. This will include the power supply unit fan(s), PCI slot exhaust fans and in some cases the graphics card fans. (Some graphics cards have their own exhaust systems.) Call this value E

How to determine the CFM sum for openings in the case:
As this value could be positive or negative we can assume that this value will always be equal to the total value of the CFM of air leaving the case. Without intake fans this would be true as the same amount of air will replace the air leaving the case.

How to calculate intake CFM needed:
Internal fans like your CPU and graphic card cooling fans CFM rating can be used to help determine the minimum CFM intake. Intake fans CFM rating must be at least but preferably higher than these combined as this is the minimum amount of air that the computer uses for cooling. When your total CFM sum entering the case (after filter rating is subtracted) is more than the CFM sum leaving the case through the fans it equate to positive pressure. The surplus air will force its way out of the case through any other openings like optical disk drives, card readers etc. and so help to keep these components clean.

Calculation:
Determine the value of C
If you use DEMCiflex Filters the value of F will be 15%
Multiply F with A. This value is T
T has to be bigger than C and bigger than E to achieve positive pressure with adequate cooling. If T is smaller than C the components will not get fed enough air to satisfy its demand for cooling. If T is smaller than E negative pressure will be present forcing air(and dust) to be fed through all the unfanned openings to satisfy this demand.

Formula as follows:.

A - (F x A) = T
T - E = Positive or Negative CFM

Using the values in our Positive Pressure example below, our calculation are as follows.

C = 150
F = 15%
A = 200
E =100

200 - (15% x 200) = 170
170 - 100 = +70CFM

So in this case you will have 70 CFM of air leaving the case through unprotected cracks and openings of the case. Positive pressure is achieved! The more porous the case is the higher this value will have to be.

TIPS & HINTS:

• Never cover exhaust fans, like power supply units, with filters
• Establish the CFM rating of all the internal fans. Add them together. The CFM rating of your intake fan(s) must be higher than CFM sum of your internal fans and higher than your exhaust fan(s) CFM sum. Fans like the CPU and graphics card(s) fans can be considered as internal fans as they are fed from the air that intake fans supply.
• If you have fans on the computer already, try and make the bigger fan the intake fan or if it has two small fans, make both intake fans.
• DEMCifilter must cover all intake fans.
• Try to arrange the cabling inside the case in such a manner that it is out of the direct airflow path of your fans. Rounded cables have less resistance than flat ones.
• If you add exhaust fans be sure to compensate for them by increasing the CFM sum on the intake fans. Try to put the exhaust fan on the front panel of the computer case as these panels are usually covered by some type of fascia and this impedes filter placement. This will make the filters easier to clean as you do not have to open the case.
• Bigger fans CFM rating is usually higher and is normally achieved at a slower speed, which will ensure less noise.
• If your computer has temperature utility software shipped with it, use it to determine the effect on temperature your fans have inside your case.
• Remember that airflow without the filter will be higher (depending on the filter rating you are using) as the filter will inhibit the flow by that amount of air in the filtering process. The higher this figure is the better the filtering would be and the more you will have to clean the filter. Compensate for this by increasing the intake CFM sum by this percentage or more.