How does extreme heat effect desktops and servers?

[rmhand]

Our office building manager turns the air conditioning off during the weekends. Aren't computer rooms supposed to be climate-controlled? We have a server and 28 desk top PCs in our spaces. Could someone please direct me to a site where I can print out some good reference material explaining what happens to PCs exposed to extreme heat/humidity.

[Ed_S]

Let's clarify "extreme"

I work at an auto dealership, in our shop there are terminals and stand-alone PCs in a NO climate control environment. These things have never felt AC & no heat related problems, most are several years old and run 24/7. This is a two-shift shop so they're in use 16 hours daily M-F. Never get cleaned, either. Inside has to be a mess, what with exhaust and dirt continually in the air. Granted, these older machines were more tolerant than today's, but they should have died long ago.

My job is wholesale parts sales, going to shops & body shops to solicite business, have seen countless PCs running w/o air conditioning in poor conditions. Doubt that spending the weekend, which is idle time, in a nice clean building without A/C will do any harm.
On the other hand, it has to be expensive to cool it down every Monday. We just turn the office thermostat up for weekends, not off.
But this is for us, not the machines!

[BBA]

I have to agree, I used to work as a Mechanic for Dodge. We had several PPRO workstations that ran all day long in a shop with no AC, no climate control and very little heating. It would get between 110 degrees ambient in teh summer to almost freezing in the winter, PC's are tougher than you are when it comes to heat!

Besides, most server/workstations have heat ranges they can work in, and almost all can work in up to 85 degrees celsious, which is hotter than I want to work in!

BBA

[rmhand]

Sorry, I should clarify a little more. This is in Louisiana where the humidity gets over 100 degrees in the summer. I've always been told that high humidity decreases the life of PC components.

[rmhand]

What I meant to say is it gets from 90-100 degrees with 100% humidity.

[Ed_S]

St Louis, Mo here.

100's common, though probably not as often as in Louisiana, but high humidity most of the summer.

BBA's in Florida, bet that's hot & wet too...

[rmhand]

Just wanted to share some information with everyone in case you run into a similar problem.

In my research I found that most computer components come with an environmental recommendation, i.e. monitors, motherboards, network cards, modems, mouse).

The HP LaserJet 6MP printer states in their manual that high humidity can cause "ghosting" images. Microsoft Tech Net documentation states that “low temperature and humidity can exaggerate a ghosting condition” on this type printer. Also states to “make sure the printer’s environment meets the requirements given in the printer’s user’s manual.” And, “light or dark ghosting caused by the developer is HIGHLY affected by environmental conditions.”

[G_MAN]

the warehouse where i worked in south florida which i would have to say has the most extreme summers. in the summer it rained everyday which meant there was always high humidity after the rains. we had no AC and all the dust and exhaust from the forklift. the computers ran 24/7 365 and never once had a problem. the printers on the other hand were always having problems with dust and stuff on the print heads so it was a matter of cleaning them weekly. the AS 400(much newer than the ones in the warehouse) inside the main building in it's own climate controlled room was always giving us fits. it seemed we would have something fail on us every 6 months. i don't think you should have a problem. by the way the guy who turns the air off is a tight ***!!

[KillerBug]

I have no data, but my P2-300 died in about 2 weeks outside in Florida (no rain, but 100% humidity every day, and it was summer), it was set to 333, but that should have made no difference, retail sink. It was a tourchure test I perform on some setups before I recomend them to people, cheaper to fry one P2 300 than an office full of them. Do you pay for your electricity? Perhapse your company could put in a few windows AC systems.

[KillerBug]

I have no data, but my P2-300 died in about 2 weeks outside in Florida (no rain, but 100% humidity every day, and it was summer), it was set to 333, but that should have made no difference, retail sink. It was a tourchure test I perform on some setups before I recomend them to people, cheaper to fry one P2 300 than an office full of them. Do you pay for your electricity? Perhapse your company could put in a few window AC systems.

[Ed_S]

rmhand - No one will run into similar problem - There is no problem other than an employee who does not want to be slightly uncomfortable on Monday morning!

You've gotten several case histories which prove there is no need to AC the machines. The manufacturer's will always have an environmental recommendation because this covers their **** & gives them a possible way out of warranty claims (Ooops, now you'll say ac is needed to prevent voided warranties...) We have several HP LaserJets in the conditions I've already described, some installed by ADP and some by Ford Motor Co., all are under contract, all work perfectly.
In addition, the state of Missouri requires every state inspection facility to have a computer operated analysis machine, including printer, functional in the service bay. Body paint mixing equipment is computer assisted, these run in an environment which is heated for the paint - year round!

Maybe your building manager needs to leave the ac off permanantly to prevent the problems of temp variation from hot to cold...

BTW, what's the manager's e-mail, he would find this thread interesting...


To all - sorry for the flame, you know it's not usually my style, but this guy's just flat out wrong!!

[rmhand]

Thanks for all the postings. I agree, it is wrong and it's a shame our office manager had to find some justification in order to get them to leave the AC on. It worked though, because I hear that now he plans to leave it on 'round the clock. The unit was breaking down a lot too; we'll see if that changes.

[KillerBug]

Kool, by the way, My P2 was an old .35 micron, with a retail sink, but the fan was fried, extreme heat is tolerable, if it is not made by the system. I think true "extreme haet" would be like putting up your computer in space and sending it tward the sun.

[BBA]

Killerbug? You mean you had a P2 300 Klamoth at 333 with a fried fan? And it lasted 2 weeks? Thats an amazing feat in itself! It really doesn't make a good case for argument on this post though it is interesting.

BBA

[This message has been edited by BBA (edited 06-24-99).]