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Any horror stories from not properly ventilating a MAME cabinet
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Donkbaca:
I've never seen a pc or other electronic device that blows air in, they all exhaust. But people over build their mame cabs all the time
SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: eds1275 on June 28, 2011, 09:45:21 pm ---For what it's worth every single audio install I have seen and or worked on pulls cool air in from the bottom [with a fan] and lets it out through the top. And I am talking amplifiers, tube equipment etc - the hot stuff. I have never seen one installed with fans pulling air out from the top. Though it would work, maybe it wouldn't be as effective. I don't know the science behind it.



A pc though? I think adding some fans and or vents is more for piece of mind than really a requirement.

--- End quote ---

What you're describing is a positive pressure system. This is where air is forced into the um... "container" and the exhaust is passive. A negative pressure system is where air is forced out of the container and intake is passive. What you're trying to accomplish determines what type of system you use. Grocery stores use air curtains creating a pseudo positive system to keep flying bugs out. A hospital might use a negative air system to help keep airborne disease inside and to help in a quarantine situation. Most PCs are negative systems (Donkbaca, is correct. IIRC early AT specified intake fans on the PSU ATX changed this to exhaust to... no idea why....) but, IMHO, a positive system is better since it precisely allows you to control intake points and thus, add dust filters.

I've installed fans in both directions as well but I've always leaned towards forcing more air inside than drawing more out.
Donkbaca:
The reason they exhaust is because the point of the fans is to remove heat, not intake air. The pc doesnt need air to function. If you blew air in and just let it leak out, you run the risk of heat building up as all you are doing is recirculating hot air around the case.  The heat sinks radiate heat away from the circuits, warming the air around them the fans blow this hot air out. If you had fans blowing in, you would be blowing this hot air right back on the circuits until it found a way to escape 
leapinlew:

--- Quote from: boardjunkie on June 28, 2011, 11:18:47 pm ---Dude I've played arcade games for more than 30 years and repaired 'em for 20. Its not my top priority in life. Why do you care so much that I want my stuff to last? I'll do it the way I want to, so quitchabitchin.....

You can build a fire in your nifty MAME cab for all I care.....

--- End quote ---

You've been playing and repairing arcade games for a long time. Big whoop. Who here hasn't.

I was just giving you grief.  ;)
SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: Donkbaca on June 29, 2011, 12:35:55 am ---The reason they exhaust is because the point of the fans is to remove heat, not intake air. The pc doesnt need air to function. If you blew air in and just let it leak out, you run the risk of heat building up as all you are doing is recirculating hot air around the case.  The heat sinks radiate heat away from the circuits, warming the air around them the fans blow this hot air out. If you had fans blowing in, you would be blowing this hot air right back on the circuits until it found a way to escape  

--- End quote ---

Sounds to me you're assuming traditional placement of the fans. It would be absurd to draw air IN at the top and expect enough hot air to exhaust at the bottom. Intake fans are placed at the bottom section of a case, vent the top, as long as you avoid a short circuit, you get your air circulation and vent the hot air.

In any case different methods anyways. I use what I need to use.

The way OEMs cut corners with a single case fan (and through the PSU no less) is almost comical.
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