Trusty, Dusty Computers, Part 2

[Keegan]

To show just how much setting a computer on the floor increases operating temperatures, I've set my computer on the floor. I'll be recording the results, to see just how quickly things degrade. I'll also be recording how much dust there is inside, based on what I can see. I'll graph my results and share them with you all.

On a different tack, I opened my Antec PP-253x power supply and found a crappy, cheap SLEEVE BEARING fan in there. The school's Compaqs have high-quality, ball-bearing Nidecs in their power supplies, which are the only fans in the entire case. So I replaced the cheapo fan with a better, ball-bearing Dynaeon Industrial (Top Motor) fan and achieved far better results as far as CFM. The motor is just more efficient. I did not have to discharge the capacitors, because they were on the other end of the power supply. Those of you with Antec PP-253x's, go ahead and try this with a good 34-CFM fan. Go onto eBay and search for Case Fan. There should be several listings for "case fan 4 pack" or something of that nature. These are great Dynaeon Industrial fans that make great case fans, or fans for anything else. I recommend the 2900 RPM high-speed fans at 41CFM. But one thing's for sure: that **** fan in the Antec supply has to go, preferably sooner rather than later.

[jaida]

huh neat experiment the results should be interesting.

good idea on replacing that fan, that should keep your ps much cooler.

[thekingofpain]

Your temps may well decrease as the hotter air in the room is furthur towards the ceiling, your dust influx may well increase due to being closer to where all your family members are stirring it up from the carpet etc...(dust heavy---settles, heat rises---cooler air down below)

[Keegan]

You have a point. But if the cooler air is near the floor in my situation, wouldn't it be similar for every situation? I'm studying differences in heat removal performance when there is lots of dust.

Oh, and another weird thing I noticed is that the cheapo fan I took out of the PS looks a lot like the Dynaeon Industrial fan. It just has a smaller motor, and the motor gets hot! A lot hotter than regular ball bearing fans, as well as most sleeve-bearing fans I've ever seen.

[thekingofpain]

Friction = heat, ball bearings = less friction then sleeve bearings, and consequently less heat...

[darrell]

well i can vouch for the cooler air on the floor. I have my case on a small stand about 2" high and it sits on the floor with my case on it. With it there i can run my celery 566 stable at 850. I took my comp to a friends house for lan party and put it on a desk. It would crash often withit up there. Both rooms were around the same temp (72F). It makes a big difference for me to keep mine on the floor. Its been there for a while and i get no more dust build up than normal from what i notice.(of course i havent paid attention to the dust.. But i do look forward to your results on the dust.

darrell