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PC hardware: Cooling tips
the most obvious cooling problem
by mntncougar - 7/8/05 3:25 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyI use Soyo motherboards to build my computers, and they have a display that shows at startup what the cpu temp is, plus a utility with a temperature display. I dont know that the temps that are shown are accurate, but they do show relative temperatures when they change. Recently I noticed that the machine I'm currently using was running quite a bit hotter than when I built it. One hot day Windows shut down because the temp had reached the danger limit I had set. When built the cpu temp showed an average of about 136* F. When it shut down it showed 170*. When I opened the case the first thing I did was remove the cpu heat sink fan. As I suspected, there was a thin layer of dust over the top of the cooling fins. Very little air was being blown down between them. I cleaned them and, of course, all the case openings, etc. as well. Now all is well and it's running at 136* again.
Cooling PC - Air Flow
by bobncat - 7/8/05 4:35 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyAir Flow depends upon the ability to push undesirable hot air out and pull cooling air in. Sounds obvious but: Imagine a straw with one hole at each end. It is simple to push air through the system as pressure is focused. Now punch a series of holes and your not getting much air out, as seen by how you have to sit down after the effort :>
Same with cutting holes in the case. The fans are not assisted by pressure to push the air out. Same goes for just placing fans anywhere. My strategy is having the front case fan pull air in and the rear case as an exhaust. Its just a matter of which way you face the fan.
Leaving the side covers off just invites dust and real bugs, not to mention the integrity of the case is compromised--- for those who stack hardware.
My speciality is on software, yet the idea of memory and hd cooling fans is met with skepticism. Same for the double cpu cooling fan.
This is a great msg thread.
cooling tips
by sirgraves - 7/8/05 5:37 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyWhat I have done is put a floor fan in front of my computer or hang one in the area to blow cooler air around it.That makes it run alot better,been doing this for a couple years and it's made a big difference.
Software Cooling
by d2r4 - 7/8/05 6:23 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillySoftware cpu cooling can be very helpfull. Allowing the cpu to cool durring all those unused cycles. It works expecially well on my Athlon XP 1700+ which went from 115F to 97F normal temp. with CpuIdle Extreme. Also big fans, my 120mm keeps my two HDs at just a hair above room temperture most of the time.
Cooling tips
by dickharris - 7/9/05 7:19 AM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyMucho thanks for this tip.
Cooling !!
by smosner - 7/9/05 11:09 AM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyI use a different method, I have the sides off the puter, with a small box fan on it all the time! Never had a problem in 5 yrs!!
way to elevate
by Bob Richmond - 7/10/05 8:35 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by Willy>> use system away from floor or place higher/elevate from floor <<
I have a small 14" tower (and cable modem) that is sitting on a plastic, milk crate like stand. Besides keeping the computer off the floor, it raises its top to desktop level and I use the top for my mousepad. I have the opening of the stand facing the front of the computer so I can turn on / off my surge suppressor which is inside the stand. The holes in the back of the stand keep all the AC / Coax / telephone / ethernet cables going to my surge suppresor from getting tangled.
You can buy this type of stand at most office supply places as it is actually a hanging file folder holder.
Good one, milk crates
by Willy - 7/11/05 11:42 AM In reply to: way to elevate by Bob RichmondReal milk crates are just the greatest, they're tough and re-usable, easily multi-purpose and best of all, return them if you get tired of them or pass them on. I have found those look-alike milk crates while decent do vary in quality and break more easily than the real McCoy, so placing too much weight shouldn't be over-looked. But, yeah, you seem to have a good setup going. I used to make shelves out of them and stash all sorts of papers, until I got some real shelving. 
tada -----Willy 
Simple, Effective DIY Cooler===>
by leaglebob - 7/11/05 7:35 AM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyI like modding my case/set up. My latest is to mount a 80 mm fan in the right side of the case--ie, the side that is next to the motherboard. On the outside of this, one inch in from the sides, I mounted a spacer 3/4 inch thick and on top of that I placed an air filter. The fan fits through a hole and faces the internal racks for the harddrives so now I have clean filtered air blowing directly on these units==they are cool to the touch. The fan also lights up the case which I view thru the clear panel on the left side of the puter. (All parts scavenged except filter for total cost of $3)
I ran for years without the sides mounted on the case until a dropped pen bounced into the case--nothing happened, but I was warned.
Dont use filters.
by Alan703nva - 4/13/08 4:26 AM In reply to: Simple, Effective DIY Cooler===> by leagleboblegalbob-
I dont recommend filtering your fans because of dust build up.
Cooling performance could whind down because the filter will collect dust and wont be able to suck the dust out through your exausht fans.
You'll be changing or cleaning filters more offten than using an aircan to clean you componets. Those preciouse moments when the filters clog up before you clean them could cause unwanted damage.
I only say this out of personal experience and research. You'll also notice that computer companies only use small mesh grilles at most. Not because the companies want to rip you off, its because the companies know the danger of dust clogging airflow. Dust can also start fires. Remember ALWAYS that filters are ment to do one thing- and that is to TRAP DUST!!!!
Trapped Dust = Poor airflow
PC cooling tips
by Alan703nva - 4/13/08 4:14 AM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyAlong with many of the common sense ways to cool your computer, there are also two major ways you can also keep your invesment cool.
-------------------------------------
Positive AirFlow Vs Negitive AirFlow
-------------------------------------
++++++++++++++++++
+Positive AirFlow+
++++++++++++++++++
-Positive AirFlow is when you have more air flowing INTO your case than you have flowing out.
-If you can constantly have cold air blowing in, then this works great.
-Its not the best because you will have more dust flowing in.
-It may circulate already hot air thats trapped in your system.
***This only works well if you have a 120mm fan stuck to the side of your case that runs high RPM. It's not so good because the hot air takes longer to circulate out. If your room is constantly cold, then you might be able to pull it off***
++++++++++++++++++
+Negitive AirFlow+
++++++++++++++++++
-Negitive AirFlow is when your fans are sucking out more air than they are forcing in.
-Works well even in cramped or hot rooms.
-Circulates the Hot Air OUT a lot faster.
***I use negitive airflow, I also recommend it. Blowing air on your componets are one thing, but it wont mean jack if your blowing hot air on them. So having a case setup to circulate new air in and circulate the onld air out even faster is, in my opinion, the smarter thing to do.***
My Setup(Good Example of Negitive Airflow setup):
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Air Blowing OUT-
Rear: 2x 80mm fans
Front Bottom: One 80mm Fan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Air Blowing IN-
Side Of Case: One 80mm Fan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Neutral Cooling-
-CPU Fan
-Video Card Fans
-ChipSet Fan
-Memory Cooler
-HardDisk Cooler
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hope this Helped!
-Alan
Another tip
by 3rdalbum - 4/14/08 5:07 AM In reply to: PC cooling tips by Alan703nvaSome cases have fans with a little switch for fan speed, rather than having it controlled by software. Open up your case and see if your fans have any of these switches, and put them all up a notch.
I've also heard that it's a good idea to have more fans blowing out than in. The fans blowing out will also pull in fresh air from the front.
While we are focusing on airflow through the case itself, don't forget about airflow through your whole room. If you have windows on opposite sides of the room (or as opposite eachother as possible), open them both up. If you get a flow of air through your room, that will cool your room and therefore cool your box.
Cooling tips #2
by Willy - 4/14/08 12:16 PM In reply to: Cooling tips by WillyCooling addendum #2
-------------------
My first post on this topic generated abit of feedback. I had hoped in general terms that cooling tips would benefit those that read and passed along their tips. It seems it has, thanks.
I like to add that cooling in general has been taken a serious step by vendors to provide "bolt-on" items to better cool your system. These are:
1) replace original cpu fan/heatsink(HSF) with a better rated one
2) add extra fan(s) on case or larger size fan(s)
3) use water cooling
4) replace case side covers, extra fan holes/exhaust
5) replace/wrap wire harness(better airflow)
6) relocate psu to bottom(depends)
7) use of buss/slot fans
8) use of refrigeration cooler or peltier units
9) better cases in general
10) laptop/notebook cooler
Any cutting, removal or additional work to a system case is considering "modding". The term implies you've done something extra or done DIY project beyond the norm. As everyone's system is different, what works for you is obviously better outcome. Some users have relocated their system to custom cases(they build).
As for up off floor statement, that was meant to imply to remove off floor to lessen dust intake and pet dander, etc.. It needn't be much, but some users have used milk crate. A small table does fine as well but again what works for you, is fine.
Please add your comments. thanks -----Willy
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