PC Cabinet 2

[wikcy]

Can someone recommend me some tips to improve cooling in a PC cabinet? I have sales of computer components in Toronto. I am getting cabinets manufactured by custom metal parts dealer here

http://www.bayviewmetals.com/industries-served/electronics-manufacturers/.

I want to know what can be done other than adding extra fans to improve cooling. Anything that can be done with cabinets shape or the materials used?

 

[goombawaho]

I want to know what can be done other than adding extra fans to improve cooling.

That's kind of like asking, "can I lose weight without cutting down on the amount of food I eat. Fans are the obvious method of cooling.

A metal cabinet would dissipate heat via conduction better than something like wood or plastic
Extra fans is the normal answer - both inside the computer to suck hot air out of the computer and in the cabinet for sucking hot air from inside to outside the cabinet.

Using a solid state hard drive will produce less heat than a traditional spinning drive.
Putting the computer lower in the case will allow heat to rise and having a fan in the cabinet closer to the top will help hot air to be expelled.

If you have a dirty environment, you're going to need the cabinet to be more less sealed tight except for where a filter is located for incoming air (preferably located lower in the cabinet. That filter will need to be cleaned. The exhaust fan located higher in the cabinet can pull air through and out.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[rclarke250]

Go for a neutral air flow case. This means case fans blowing into as well as case fans exhausting out hot air. Most heat is generated by the CPU, Mechanical HDD's, and if present the biggie is the video card. Most video cards will act as an exhaust also. Heat naturally rises, so it makes sense for good air flow in a tower setup that has the power supply on the bottom, drawing air into the case, and vent in front and on bottom of case to have fans drawing air in. Air is then exhausted through venting in the top, and top rear of the case, in a typical ATX setup. Fans at the top of the case and rear top are oriented to push air out. Also you should notify customers that for best cooling, do not block vents, do not place near heaters or air vents. Keep several inches around the case clear for air flow. The fans used are up to you, and the number of fans also. I have a gaming case. For my input I have 2 fans in front that have air filters on them, at 140 mm in size, These work with my power supply fan also 140 mm drawing air into the case. Exhausting from the case I have a 200 mm fan on top and 1 more 140 mm rear top fan. My cpu is equipped with a 120 mm fan, vertical heatsink and exhausts through the 140 mm rear top fan. and my video card has two more fans helping to move air flow. You would think this is loud, but I run the fans at low speed, and have quiet fans mounted all places I can. The rooms heater is louder than my machine. Aluminum although more expensive is lighter and cools better than steel. Do not use Lexan (plastic) or wood, they are horrible for cooling. If they are going to be stamped metal have the edges rolled, if there are too many sharp edges and customers getting cut trying to build in the case, word will get around.

 

[Nelviticus]

If you're looking to sell these cases then you'll want to look into the ATX specification here:
formfactors.org - search for 'ATX'

Nelviticus

 

[wikcy]

That was some very helpful tips @rclarke

 

[goombawaho]

Hey Wendy Whiner here - what about my response? It had at least three of the same points in it - SSD, Fans, filter. Not to mention it was earlier.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[rclarke250]

There ya go Goom, because I can always count on you to for a smile, and good answers.