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Your MAME computer: Clothed or Naked?
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FrizzleFried:
The cooling argument is moot considering that the CASED PC is sitting inside the cabinet sucking the same temperature air from within the cabinet inside the case... there's no "cooling benefit" from leaving it open thereby exposing the innards to the same ambient temperature that would be sucked in to the PC case had the case been there.

NOW,  if you mounted the PC case so as the intake fans were sucking air from the outside of the cabinet,  that is a different story.

You can actually produce the same "cooling" effect with a cab than you can with a PC case...simply install an intake and an exhaust.  I'd recommend an intake at the bottom blowing toward the exposed PC and an exhaust on top of the cabinet exhausting warm air that has risen from the PC area and monitor area up and out the top.

My horizontal cab has a PC case inside with the sides off it.  My vertical cab has the PC mounted directly to a piece of plywood...same with my cocktail.

NOW,  there is an argument in regards to EMF....
Gamester:
EDIT: FrizzleFried stole my thunder a bit in the previous post...   :)

I haven't done any 'scientific' testing of this myself, but I'm not convinced that putting an enclosed computer case inside another enclosure (a cab) would run cooler than mounting the components exposed with good ventilation... especially if the cabinet fans were strategically placed.

I know some have concluded that a closed case ran cooler than exposed components.  But, how was the testing done?  Were you actually doing this testing inside an arcade cabinet?  Did the cabinet itself have fans?  If yes, were the fans placed in such a way that they would be conducive to effective cooling of the exposed components?

I'm just saying I can see how different conclusions could be reached depending upon how the testing was performed.

I'm personally leaning toward mounting the components exposed in the cab itself, but I definitely do see merit in mounting them in a case for protection.  Although the additional cost implications of purchasing a quality case that would provide adequate ventilation are also a factor for me.
TheShanMan:
Have people really had problems resulting from poor cooling with EITHER configuration? It seems to me we're a little more worried about it than is necessary. I'm not using my case because of some perceived cooling issue, and I do have a cheap case (like $35). I have a "middle of the line" new amd processor and a "middle of the line" new video card (both bought last month), so I wouldn't think my configuration is too far off from a worst case cooling scenario in terms of heat production. But my mobo indicates normal cpu temp and I haven't observed any problems with it.

I just wonder if we're worrying about a non-issue here. Seems like mounting preference is what should drive your decision, not cooling.
leapinlew:

--- Quote from: TheShanMan on February 16, 2008, 02:23:44 pm ---Have people really had problems resulting from poor cooling with EITHER configuration? It seems to me we're a little more worried about it than is necessary. I'm not using my case because of some perceived cooling issue, and I do have a cheap case (like $35). I have a "middle of the line" new amd processor and a "middle of the line" new video card (both bought last month), so I wouldn't think my configuration is too far off from a worst case cooling scenario in terms of heat production. But my mobo indicates normal cpu temp and I haven't observed any problems with it.

I just wonder if we're worrying about a non-issue here. Seems like mounting preference is what should drive your decision, not cooling.

--- End quote ---

What drives me is a time savings and ease. Cooling is important, saving time is important.

Whats the point of mounting it inside the cab without it's case? Authenticity? Your using a computer - it's not going to be authentic no matter what you do.

Half of the cabs I've built required me to de-case the computer, but whenever I'm given an opportunity to use the computer in it's case I take it.
leapinlew:

--- Quote from: FrizzleFried on February 16, 2008, 01:54:50 pm ---The cooling argument is moot considering that the CASED PC is sitting inside the cabinet sucking the same temperature air from within the cabinet inside the case... there's no "cooling benefit" from leaving it open thereby exposing the innards to the same ambient temperature that would be sucked in to the PC case had the case been there.

--- End quote ---

Some cases have fans strategically placed to make sure all the components have a flow of air that passes by them to cool them. Obviously you want that air as cool as possible, but the temperature of the air isn't the only thing to consider.
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