OT: Hardware problem?

Atrocities · #1 April 3rd, 2006, 02:23 AM

I have ran my HP POS with the side cover off for a long time. The reason for this was simple, to let the hot air out. With the Video Card, extra HD, and the lack of cooling offered on stock models from HP, it seemed like the right thing to do.

My average temp is 140 to 150 degrees. I put the case cover back on, and now my temp, after an hour of idle time, is 136 degrees. I don't know, perhaps it does help to have the case on. I am still going to install a second fan, but wanted to know, if I have one fan sucking air out of the system, don't I need one sucking air in?

Suicide Junkie · #2 April 3rd, 2006, 02:40 AM

The air pressure in the case isn't going to change signficantly. Any air which is blown out, will be replaced by air coming in through all the little vent holes in your case.

Not to say that having an IN and an OUT working together is bad or anything.

Fyron · #3 April 3rd, 2006, 02:54 AM

If the second fan is on the front of the case, you will probably get better airflow with it sucking air in, and the back fan sucking air out. Easy enough to check the temperatures and compare.

The goal is to get air moving past the heat sinks and hot devices. You've got to take heat away from them. If the case is off, the case fan on the back is no longer doing much of anything, since it is not necessarily moving the hot air coming off the CPU, but just air in general. This is not to say that your computer will always run cooler with the case on, of course. It all depends on the setup and the ambient room temperature and humidity.

Poor ventilation (from crappy fans or poor case design overall) will generally increase the temperature inside a closed case from not having enough air moved around.