Dust Filter

reluttr said:

So I was recently out like 100$ to ship my 27" imac to a certified repair center because the graphics card was totaled. The technician did not specify but my suspicions was that dust was the cause.

So I am wondering, is there any type of snap on dust filter systems for the imac? I am basically thinking of those things they sell for regular box pc's that you put over the vents to prevent dust buildup and can be cleaned every few months. I could had swore I saw something like this on newegg, but cant find a trace of it now.

Click to expand...

Unless you routinely work in a dust storm, it's highly unlikely dust is a problem. I opened my 4+ year old MBP recently and found almost no dust inside. If dust was causing an increase in temps, your Mac would automatically shut down if overheating occurred, to prevent damage. Your graphics issue was likely a defect, not the result of dust.

The problem with dust filters is that the more effective they are, the more they reduce airflow. This is compounded when even a thin layer of dust accumulates on the filter. This could have overheating implications for the iMac, which is designed around an unimpeded airflow.

My homebuild desktop PC has front filters, and when a filter is removed, airflow increases noticeably.

If you want some filtering, a strip of fine window screen laid on top of the iMac's bottom grille will trap the larger dust particles without much effect on airflow. Cheesecloth would provide more filtering, but with reduced airflow.