[SOLVED] Will everything be okay with my glass front case?

[JoeTProsser]

Hello all,

So I've bought a PC and used a glass fronted case because I have a few pets and my room is tiny so it gets pretty nasty in here on times.

My last PC was an absolute trainwreck so I thought I'd try a glass front instead.

I have a Masterliquid ML120l V2 on my processor as well as 3 fans behind the glass panel and a exhaust from the CPU cooler at the back as well as another fan up top. I also have the TUF variant of a 3070ti and I've heard this is one of the best variants of the card.

I am trying to protect it from fur and dust as much as possible so I thought a glass case would be a good choice for the time being until I move out and the extra fans and CPU cooler will hopefully offer enough cooling but I was wondering if that seems correct?

And I clean my home regularly it's just hard with carpet + pets. Nightmare territory for a PC 😂

It'll probs run cooler than my last PC anyway but curious on some thoughts. I've read much about airflow issues but not really seen much on the benefit side of things.

TL;Dr: Bought glass fronted case because pets and dust, airflow obviously limited by front glass panel but do you think this would be a good counter given the fans and CPU cooler I've opted for? And what other benefits may a glass panel give me other than aesthetics?

Big thank you.

Been helpful when needed so far!

 

[jay32267]

My thoughts are I wouldn't get over crazy about dust and cat hair.
Reason being....I've been responsible for many PCs in a filthy plant for decades....and I'm pretty amazed at how resilient they are to dirt.

 

[JoeTProsser]

My thoughts are I wouldn't get over crazy about dust and cat hair.
Reason being....I've been responsible for many PCs in a filthy plant for decades....and I'm pretty amazed at how resilient they are to dirt.

That's fair! It's already built now so it's not like I can do anything about it but my last one would get so clogged up and I do want to keep gaming performance and temps as decent as possible.

Thanks for your quick response.

 

[Phaaze88]

You'll have to watch it even more often now that you've reduced the surface area for ventilation.

And what other benefits may a glass panel give me other than aesthetics?

It's purely aesthetic. There are no benefits.
It's an insulator for heat, it can collect dust just like other surfaces, can be broken easily, it's one of the more expensive materials used in chassis...

 

[jay32267]

That's fair! It's already built now so it's not like I can do anything about it but my last one would get so clogged up and I do want to keep gaming performance and temps as decent as possible.

Thanks for your quick response.

What I do with my home computers is.....I blow them out with compressed air roughly annually....that seems to be plenty.
Just make sure the air is clean....and that you don't get too close to components because the force of the air (depending on what you are using) can damage them.

 

[geofelt]

What is the make/model of your case, and what parts are inside?
The best solution to control dust is to have a washable front intake air filter.

 

[JoeTProsser]

What I do with my home computers is.....I blow them out with compressed air roughly annually....that seems to be plenty.
Just make sure the air is clean....and that you don't get too close to components because the force of the air (depending on what you are using) can damage them.

Yeah I clean it quarterly but my last PC started dying the past few years so I kinda' just let it die out 😂 I cleaned it enough regularly for years just like past 2 years it can't run anything and playing an FPS was near impossible, even Overwatch as of late and that can run on a potato.

 

[JoeTProsser]

What is the make/model of your case, and what parts are inside?
The best solution to control dust is to have a washable front intake air filter.

Uh it was an EG Diamond, has a different name some places I can't remember.

Ah well it's nothing I can't switch up at some point and it'll look decent for the time being!

 

[JoeTProsser]

You'll have to watch it even more often now that you've reduced the surface area for ventilation.


It's purely aesthetic. There are no benefits.
It's an insulator for heat, it can collect dust just like other surfaces, can be broken easily, it's one of the more expensive materials used in chassis...

Seen a lot of posts about the heat. Thankfully it is smaller than my prior system so it's further from any walls etc so less cables and stuff compressed.

 

[DSzymborski]

I'm not sure what one has to do with the other. At the same airflow, pet hair doesn't care what material the vents are in. And reducing your airflow will simply have the same effect as pet hair in reducing the cooling.

 

[DSzymborski]

Is this your case? 😬

I can't imagine the thermal performance is anything better than abysmal. Praying for divine intervention might be more useful than those tiny fan vents, on the side of 1.5 fans.

Apropos of nothing, it's amusing the sample image given for this product also contains a real garbage fire power supply.

 

[geofelt]

Cooling air does not come in through the glass front, it comes in through vents in the side and bottom.
To keep things clean, see if you can fit a filter on those front intake vents.

 

[JoeTProsser]

Is this your case? 😬

I can't imagine the thermal performance is anything better than abysmal. Praying for divine intervention might be more useful than those tiny fan vents, on the side of 1.5 fans.

I've already looked into DIY modding it. So might still continue with that thought 😂

How come all cases aren't designed with airflow in mind? I find it a bizarre concept.

 

[DSzymborski]

Cooling air does not come in through the glass front, it comes in through vents in the side and bottom.

You're definitely an optimist!

 

[JoeTProsser]

Cooling air does not come in through the glass front, it comes in through vents in the side and bottom.
To keep things clean, see if you can fit a filter on those front intake vents.

I called a glass shop today to see if there was a possibility of putting a few holes in the front. I've seen a few people use speaker grills over the front of the PC and cauterized the corners to the PC. I think I'd rather spend on a new case than do that but I'll look at filtering the vents.

 

[JoeTProsser]

You're definitely an optimist!

Nothing wrong with that man. Happy Thursday for all, eh?

 

[Phaaze88]

Ohh, got a good chuckle out of that this morning!

 

[JoeTProsser]

Ohh, got a good chuckle out of that this morning!

Congrats.

 

[DSzymborski]

Honestly, the best strategy with pets is the proper cooling amount for your PC, with positive pressure so you know where all the fur is coming in, combined with Datavac-ing the excess pet fur that inevitably will get inside. Don't fix problems by making different ones. And I speak from personal experience with fur.

 

[geofelt]

Cooling requirements are determined by what is installed in the case.
Many efficient processors can do with minimal convection airflow only.
For higher powered gaming rigs, you need to plan on good cooling.
And, all setups in between.
A mesh front case can stay very clean and still provide excellent cooling.

 

[Phaaze88]

Congrats.

I meant the optimist comment. It wasn't aimed at you.
Sorry.

 

[JoeTProsser]

Honestly, the best strategy with pets is the proper cooling amount for your PC, with positive pressure so you know where all the fur is coming in, combined with Datavac-ing the excess pet fur that inevitably will get inside. Don't fix problems by making different ones. And I speak from personal experience with fur.

Thanks man. Appreciate this answer a lot.

It's no big deal to me for the time being I'll be looking to move everything into a Meshify at some point but I had this case on a really decent deal so I just went for it.

I'll just be cleaning it a million times a year probably anyway out of sheer paranoia of it ending up anything like my last potato

 

[JoeTProsser]

I meant the optimist comment. It wasn't aimed at you.
Sorry.

Oh now I feel like a d**k.

Sorry brother/sister.

 

[JoeTProsser]

Cooling requirements are determined by what is installed in the case.
Many efficient processors can do with minimal convection airflow only.
For higher powered gaming rigs, you need to plan on good cooling.
And, all setups in between.
A mesh front case can stay very clean and still provide excellent cooling.

For sure.

I understand.

I will have to move everything over to a new case in a few months when I clean it I think.

I don't play anything intensive anyway thankfully so I won't be running Valhalla at 4K maxed out or anything

 

[Phaaze88]

It's ok.

You shouldn't need to clean it a million times a year. Just check behind the front panel and your fans like once a month.