Fans for Cocktail Tables

[NickS]

Hello,

I am looking for your recommendations regarding the fan requirements for a PC based Mame Cocktail Table. It has been built to match the Ms PacMan style following the plans supllied by Kyle Lindstrom on this site:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/arcade_cabinet_plans.shtml#kyle_PacMan

There is a hole at the bottom of the cabinet that would fit a fan. I was thinking of using a cooling fan from happcontrols such as:

http://www.happcontrols.com/electrical_supplies/80000610.htm

The PC will be kept in its case and the monitor will be an open WG U3000.

Do you think this one fan on the bottom will be enough or is it a bad idea ?. Should I put a fan with a vent on the side of the cabinet ?. Or should I do both ?.

Your opinions will be appreciated.

[Mike]

That fan would work but is way over priced. You can but them for a couple of dollars from a computer store.

[RacerX]

I would recommend that you at least remove the cover from the case if you are going to do this.  I don't blame you for not removing the motherboard, hard drive, et. al. from the case, but removing the cover will allow much better airflow.

It wouldn't hurt to put a small vent on the side near the top of the cab with a small fan like you were talking about.  It's going to get mighty hot in there otherwise if you have any marathon gaming sessions.  

[NickS]

I would recommend that you at least remove the cover from the case if you are going to do this.  I don't blame you for not removing the motherboard, hard drive, et. al. from the case, but removing the cover will allow much better airflow.

Thanks for your reply.

I was thinking of removing the case but I did a search through the archives and I found replies stating that It was best not to remove the case as they are designed to improve the air over the components of the PC.

[RacerX]

Thanks for your reply.

I was thinking of removing the case but I did a search through the archives and I found replies stating that It was best not to remove the case as they are designed to improve the air over the components of the PC.

You are quite welcome.  Well, yes and no.  If you have your PC set up outside the cabinet, then yes, that would be true.  But a computer was not designed to be completely enclosed inside a wooden box.  If you have a fan to suck air into the cabinet in the bottom and a fan to blow air out at the top of the cabinet and position the coverless case between the two, you will have the correct airflow over the components.

That's just my suggestion, though.  It's your project, and you should do it as you think is best.  Either way, have fun!  That's what this hobby is all about!  

[Minwah]

What PC / CPU are you using?  If it is newish and has temperature reading capabilities (in BIOS or software) then just try it and make sure it is staying cool enough.  If you thinks it gets too hot try removing the side of the case, or adding more fans.

If you're using an Athlon (gets VERY hot quickly) then definately be over-cautious with your cooling.  The PSU in the PC can have a dramatic effect on cooling - make sure you have a decent one (1 fan drawing air from around the CPU / motherboard, and 1 exhaust fan).  Also, you may want to consider changing your ribbon IDE cables for rounded ones (escpecially if you're keeping the PC case) - these help air flow quite nicely.

Good luck

[HeadRusch]

Suggest you ditch the case completely, or at the very least ditch the cover completely.
Computer fans are easily run off your PC's power supply, just make sure if you have the fans drawing air out of the case, you have a few holes somewhere else in the case for fresh air to get *in*