Effects of Dust

[Ninjutsu PiloT]

I realize dust on a heat sink or filter is bad for cooling etc but how does it effect something like a sound card. Besides looking trashy would a reglar card that doesn't require additional cooling have performance decreases because of a faint layer of dust or is that no factor?

[FuzzyPlushroom]

A thin layer's no big deal. If it builds up, and you have a high-end wanky sound card, there might be heat issues, but I've never noticed any issues with my (rather dusty) machines.

[Ironcat]

Here's my theory, and I have absolutely no way of knowing if I am right.
While the dust build up may not create heat problems for cards that ordinarily don't need cooling, the dust could bridge connections and allow things to short out.

BTW... In case you didn't know, like 85 or 90% of household dust is made up of discarded human skin cells.

[cured]

nice knowlage, nice to know when i die, there will be a peice of me left with my computer :)

[MaxOC]

actually more like a few trillion:p

but no. its no problem. fromt the computers ive seen.... 3 years unopened. dear lordy.

only problem would be static bridging and shorting. but thats after this stuff builds up over a few years. think rubbing a cotton swab over your card over and over

[nil8]

Dust doesn't cause a problem unless it's mixed with smoke or pet hair. Both of those two mixed with high volumes of dust can cause components to overheat or fans to burn out.

[Quakken]

Actually, most of dust is made up of dustmite poo that they make when they eat the discarded human skin cells.

There ya go.