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papaschtroumpf:
My cab computer started alarming yesterday because the temperature inside the cab had reached 55 degrees C.
My cab is based on a reduced size version of Lucid's plans, which means that he bottom part below the monitor shelf is more or less closed (the monitor shelf doesn't go all the way to the back of the cab, and there is an open space about 8 inches tall behind the monitor.
The computer sits in the bottom part and the top and sides of the case are off.
I'm running an XP2400+ with stock cooiling fan, and a Ti4200 with Zalman passive cooler (I know, overkill, but it was "leftover" from my gaming rig which now sport a Radeon 9800XT).

Do you guys have any opinion on the best cooling method/fan placement/fan type?

Here are a few of my ideas:

- I could drill a bunch of large holes in the monitor shelf to allow the heat to rise above the monitor shelf, and hopefully escape out the back

- I could drill a bunch of holes in the bollotom of the cab and/or the back to allow more fresh air intake

- I've got a 110V 92mm fan with pretty high CFM (can't remember offhand) that I could used without to have to spend any additional money, but the question is where to place it?

- I could make a fan hole at the bottom of the cab to blow air upwards (my concern is that the cab is pretty close to the carpet and I'm worried the fan wouldn't get enough air)

- I could make a hole in the back of the cab towards the top of the bottom compartment to blow hot ait out the back, here again my concenr is that th fan will be blowing into the wall that's behind the cab, less than 2 inches away.

- maybe I could mount the fan to puu air from the bottom compartment to the monitor compartment but I'm not sure there is enough room around the monitor stand for a 92mm fan

- I don't want to place the fan at the very top of the cab for 2 reasons: there would be light leakage from the marquee area through the fan, and it would only draw air from the monitor and marquee compartments since the bottom back of the monitor compartment is open.

- I'd rather avoid placing the fan in the front of the cab (no much room around the coin door) and I'm reluctant to put it on the side because of little fingers around the house, even though it might be the ideal solution as far as airflow is concerned.


Any help/suggestions would be very welcome.

Zathras:
I know some cases are designed with a particular airflow in mind so sometimes taking the sides off of them will actually cause them to get hotter.  It may not work but at least it is free and easy to try :)

Santoro:
Take a look at this page:

http://members.cox.net/mame1/hardware.htm

This is the solution I used.  You would have to drill the holes in your shelf then put a vent on top.  

I was worried about the light also so I chose to use opaque tape and masonite to build a light-proof barrier behind my marquee light.

The beginnings of the arrangement can be seen here:


Dave



Edit: changed image constraints

papaschtroumpf:

--- Quote from: Zathras on March 16, 2004, 11:56:20 am ---I know some cases are designed with a particular airflow in mind so sometimes taking the sides off of them will actually cause them to get hotter.  It may not work but at least it is free and easy to try :)

--- End quote ---

That may be true however the ambient had reached 55 degrees according to the onboard sensor so the air in the entire cabinet was too hot (I could definitely feel it when I opened the door). When I get the ambient down, I should try putting the sides back on (if I have them) to see if it helps the CPU and graphic card temps any.

JustMichael:
You need some way for air to enter and exit the cabinet.  My Xevious cab has a grill on top and a gap down in back for letting air in and out.

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