Looking for Cooling Advice

The Nanite · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 12:57 pm Post subject: Looking for Cooling Advice

Not the normal advice you'd get from me or BBF. I need a more radical solution.

Cooling for my PC:
Power Pack fan, twin fans on processor, fan & duct above processor, fan on video card, 80mm case fan in front of tower, PCI blower in PCI slot.

The Problem:
I recently moved into a Co-op in Queens. The room my office is setup in has the fire escape so I can't install an airconditioner in that window. It has a ceiling fan but it only circulates the warm air.

I never had a temp problem before moving so I know it is because of the room. Under my desk and especially behind the PC it is extremely hot. I am also getting alarming temperature readings from inside the case. I used to leave them on all the time, now I only boot them up to use and shut them off imediately again.

What I Want:
Any idea how to cool the area under the desk or how to add additional cooling to the case area. My friend cut out the side of his case and installed some kind of liquid cooled system. I'm not thrilled about that extreme but will do it if no one can come up with any ideas.

Thanks for the thoughts in advance.

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OSU Snipe Shocker · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 10:21 pm Post subject:

Quick cheap and easy...

BOX FAN!

I know it might no work,but hey, its worth a try.

I would say if that doesn't work, you might have to either get a liquid cooling system, or pick up one of those "Personal Air Conditioners" that you can find at like Best Buy or HH Gregg.

Hope that helps.
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I WAS (back in august of 02) just better than you, thats all.

ROOFCUTTER · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2002 10:28 pm Post subject:

Remove cover disconnect you 55 other fans except your powersuppy,
cpu and graphics card.
Get box fan, one of those 5 inch ones or bigger if you want to really hear it roar

hang with zip ties pointing directly at cpu area. plug in,

dont put your cover back on.

Works like a charm we have all of ours like that and even when the room is sweltering the computer keeps on running.

If you for some reason haave interference with anything then....your in trouble....

we have a house full of electrial things including wireless phones and doorbells and well lots more and we dont have any problems with interference.

Snaggletooth · Guest

You could try my "still in idea phase" case. Take one of those midsized dorm fridges and put your computer inside it. What I hope to some day do is make it so I can cut an opening in the front door so I can use the CD/DVD drives without opening the fridge. But for now...it's just an idea of mine.

OSU Snipe Shocker · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:12 am Post subject:

sweet idea snagg. I wanna do it, if I could ever get my hands on working fridge that i could hack up

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I WAS (back in august of 02) just better than you, thats all.

The Nanite · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 5:07 am Post subject:

OSU Snipe Shocker · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 10:32 am Post subject:

Use weather stripping...OR

I just thought of this...

Silicone Sealer. That stuff that you use on bathtubs and stuff. I'd bet that'd work!
_________________
I WAS (back in august of 02) just better than you, thats all.

The Nanite · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 1:36 pm Post subject:

BitterBeerFace · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 3:44 pm Post subject:

LOL, normal advice? Who, me?

Be like my roommate Sasha. He was having cooling problems, so he took a 24" floor fan, duct taped and wired it to the side of his case (totally open on both sides) and turned it on "high"... never had a heat problem again, until I repo'ed MY fan back from him...

You could also keep your current case, get some flex-tubing, cut holes in the case for your air "feeds", install some extra fans in the tubes to literally pump the air into your case and out the other side.

The dorm fridge idea is good, but a bit too huge for my taste... I'd try some water cooling systems. If money's no problem, you can get a whole radiator/tubing/and CPU/GPU/chipset coolers for 150-200 bucks. Efficient as hell, and hey, it looks sweet, too. It'd also be as quiet as a mouse fart, or so I hear...

Now if you want to go totally balls to the wall, I'd get one of those abso-freakin-huge copper "fins" heat sinks, several smaller ones for other hot chips, a dorm fridge, some flexi 5 or 6 inch diameter tubing, AND some small liquid-tubing stuff. Make it a forced cold air-system hot-air return system. You cut two holes in the door of your fridge... on to the little freezer part (where the air goes out to your CPU) and one in the bottom of the fridge (for return flow). You use fans to cycle the air from inside the fridge, to all around inside your case (seal the case well)... by using the little tubes, you should be able to get direct 25-30 F air onto the heatsinks, and then have the air sucked out the top or otherside of your PC tower. That would be the UGLIEST, most ghetto-rigged, and obnoxious cooling system, but I'll bet a nickle that it'd work nicely

Ok, well maybe condensation would form with the combination of hot and cold air... it'd probably make some nice smoke and fun burning electronics fumes!

Oh well, so much for my attempt at radical advice

OSU Snipe Shocker · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 10:05 pm Post subject:

*devil on nanite's shoulder* DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!DO IT!!!

#Fade in

I would love to see the pics of a Fridge PC

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I WAS (back in august of 02) just better than you, thats all.

ROOFCUTTER · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2002 10:49 pm Post subject:

Getting the computer in and the door cut is easy, Sawsall and some caulk...to hold the computer in place then, when you close the door it pushes lightly against the foam seal you have glued onto the inside of the door.
I would use a small fridge that they make for bar areas and such.

The BIG problem is moisture condensing in and on your hard drive and other moisture sensitive items.
Rust and corrision may make your computer useless...but cool

DaKon · Ville Supporter Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 2342

Water cool it.

DK
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P4E @ 4.00 Ghz, LeadTech 6800GT 420mhz/1.16Ghz, 1 gb Corsair PC 4400, Creative X-fi, Raptor

The Nanite · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 11:46 am Post subject:

How about this? A Vacuum PC. If you have a vacuum and have no air can heat still be generated from the CPU/GPU?
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Snaggletooth · Guest

Yes, heat can still be generated by the CPU, but it would be forced out of the case by the vacuum. The only problem is creating a good seal...same as the refridgerator case.

Bright Red Nipples · Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2002 12:13 pm Post subject:

Condensation would be a huge problem with the fridge idea. If you live any place other than Vegas where the average humidity is 15% than once the temperature of any components reaches the dew point your screwed.

I had the same problem with a previous machine and ended up removing the cover and using a 6" clip fan to blow air across the CPU. This is after I spent tons of $ on numerous types of CPU fans. It ended up being the cheapest and most effective of all my attempts.