Cooling the computer

[usil]

Hi,

My computer is starting to be affected by the hot months here and its stutters once in a while, especially when I am playing games. There is no air conditioning in the room, and it can get a bit uncomfortable in there. Will it help to put a room fan (not a computer fan, a regular fan for cooling people down) in the back of the computer, blowing on the back of the case? I noticed that it was warm in the back, and then it cooled down when I turned the fan on. Does this make a difference?

Usil

[kallikru]

Anything that makes the air in the room move will have an effect - my own personal experience...I have several machines running in a room where the temp gets above 30 C during the summer months...and 50-60 C inside the case. If you can lower the room temp - and if not, then at least move the air around - it will do your system good.
Combine this with a system exhaust fan at the rear (below the power supply) and perhaps an intake fan at the front bottom and you could look at a system temp that's maybe 5-8 C lower.
Or simply take off the side panel and let the fan blow air unto the mainboard/CPU (but this will of course not bring YOU any relief from the heat ).

If you have a little patience I'm sure Train will bring up his schematic of system airflow in a little while..

[usil]

Thanks for the response Kallikru,

I read somewhere that opening the case like you suggested is not a good idea because it will gather too much dust or something like that. What do you say?
Anyway, back in my days, 30C in Denmark was just a dream. We would go to the beach in rain or shine . Maybe the global warming has changed things. Haven't been there in a while.
Anyway, thanks again.

Usil

[104456]

I dont know your budget but have you considered changing to a water cooled system if it causing overheating problems?

[kallikru]

Originally posted by usil
Thanks for the response Kallikru,

I read somewhere that opening the case like you suggested is not a good idea because it will gather too much dust or something like that. What do you say?
Anyway, back in my days, 30C in Denmark was just a dream. We would go to the beach in rain or shine . Maybe the global warming has changed things. Haven't been there in a while.
Anyway, thanks again.

Usil

Nah, the weather here is pretty much the same as 25 years ago some years it's high, some years it's low and rainy...only people's memories are short 30 C happens here from time to time but not that often. But when it's above 18-20 C outside the temp in my office tends to hit 25-30C and above very fast - it's a matter of missing airflow in the room.

Some dust will of course get into your system if you open your case like that but I doubt it will matter if you hit the system with a big fan at the same time. But to completely eliminate that factor you should consider the system fan(s) solution instead - with appropriate filters. The filters will show you how much dust is in their air - you'll be amazed and wonder how you can breathe that stuff...

[usil]

104456,

I am not looking to spend much money, if any, on the computer as its already 2.5 years old, and don't know how long it will last. Its a PIII 800. Thats why I'm looking for a cheap solution.

Usil

[chorro]

check your local computer store for a pci slot fan. They shouldn't cost more than $20 and they run much faster and quieter than most 80mm case fans. I used to run one right underneath my videocard which didn't have a built-in fan. I've got one in addition to one 80mm fan taking out the air from the back and the one that was included in the case that brings air from the front.