Computer temps in a very hot room

[Toddo97]

I'm looking to see what an approximate case temp will be for a computer that will be running in an enclosure outside. The room temps will be 110-120F and I need to get a good guestimate for what the interior temps will be running. Is there a calculator that will do this based on room temps? I need to have a temp that I can show people at work that this will be a bad idea. Thanks

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Toddo97
I'm looking to see what an approximate case temp will be for a computer that will be running in an enclosure outside. The room temps will be 110-120F and I need to get a good guestimate for what the interior temps will be running. Is there a calculator that will do this based on room temps? I need to have a temp that I can show people at work that this will be a bad idea. Thanks

What type of hardware? If they don't know that it would be a bad idea in the first place, I doubt you'll convince them. I run P3's in the garage where it gets about that hot (South Texas), and I'll be taking temps here pretty soon. But I'm sure you are going to be using newer hardware, and that's just scary.

 

[pkme2]

My ambient temp is 24C. My rig's CPU temp at this moment is 36C and mobo at 31C. My CPU is 44C at load.
http://www.gen-x-pc.com/cputemps.htm
Your ambient is about 48C. Overall, your CPUs would possibly overheat. You will have to air condition your computer room.
Other links.
http://www.casecooler.com/3sidithco.html
If you have an ASUS mobo, you may use The ASUS PC Probe to check computer temps.

 

[CreepieDeCrapper]

this situation brings up another question, how effective will system cooling be with high ambient temps? obviously 110+ degrees F is exremely high, but what about a typical room without a/c in the summertime (i.e. 80-85 degrees F)? in this situation, i wonder if it's better to turn OFF (or around) the intake fans and simply focus on exhausting internal warm air only

any ambient air brought into the case may be too warm to draw in the system heat away

 

[Continuity28]

Originally posted by: CreepieDeCrapper
this situation brings up another question, how effective will system cooling be with high ambient temps? obviously 110+ degrees F is exremely high, but what about a typical room without a/c in the summertime (i.e. 80-85 degrees F)? in this situation, i wonder if it's better to turn OFF (or around) the intake fans and simply focus on exhausting internal warm air only

any ambient air brought into the case may be too warm to draw in the system heat away

I don't think that will help.

Having the intake fans on creates positive pressure inside the case, which makes the air move quicker and out of the case faster. The computer components will be hotter than ambient temperatures unless cooled without air, therefore, the faster you move even the hot air past a component, more heat gets transferred off of the component.

 

[CreepieDeCrapper]

makes sense, thanks for the explanation... i'm getting concerned about my own situation as i don't have a/c and summer is rapidly approaching... of course w/o my new pc yet i still have time to think about it

 

[Noubourne]

Here's what you do: State the obvious.

First, computer cases are only as cool as the air surrounding them. Due to the heat output of components (CPU, GPU, MOSFETs, soundcard, networking chips, northbridge RAM, PSU, hard drives, and anything else with power running through it!), even the coolest rig will be 5-10C warmer inside than the ambient temperature. IF IT IS EXPOSED TO SUN (ie: heat radiation) IT WILL BE WAY HOTTER THAN THAT!!! So clearly you'd need shade to even attempt it. Anyway, figure out what temp it is in the shade, then add the 5C (be modest). With 45C shade you're at 50C. Then the CPU is typically going to be another 10C warmer than that at idle, and 20C more at Load. That puts you at 60C idle, 70C load. Since most CPUs will either throttle or outright shut off before or around 70C to protect themselves from burning up, you can see that running a computer in an ambient temperature of 45C is asking for trouble.

That being said, P4s can handle temps up to 95C without dying (although both Northwoods and Prescotts will shut off around there), and Athlon 64s will shut down closer to 70C, so the P4 would be the choice if you were to make an attempt. Plus, I wouldn't do anything so mean to an Athlon. They don't deserve it, really. Prescotts though, those things are born in fire. Burn away!!

If you were to water cool it would be better, but assuming your reservior will heat up to ambient temperatures sooner or later, that will only buy you 10C leeway. Expensive alternative. CHILLED WATER might work, but if you've got water running below dewpoint in a hot environment you get what, childrens? That's right: Condensation. Frzzzzt!!! Baaaaad idea. A/C in a computer room isn't just good for cooling, it's also good for humidity. Humidity and heat will wreak havoc on any attempts to run a desktop computer. Maybe you could buy one of those air-conditioned cases... forget who does that.

 

[thescreensavers]

I remember there is a Case that hada compressor in it or somthing Like AC inside of it so that temp inside will vener excide a temp if You or any once else can find it the You should get that case

edit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811221002

 

[Toddo97]

Thanks for the replies. I did a bit of searching and found that a car can get up to 160 degrees (71 C) in the summer (this will be located inside of a large news truck) so if you tack on another 20C or so, it's getting pretty dangerous. Plus, these are just your typical work computers w/ no extra cooling. I may do some more research into the AC cases to see how well they work.

 

[bob4432]

what do you think atms are? they use off the shelf components, usually intel stuff and intel boards. and in phx az the ones outside in the direct sun aren't cooled any different than the ones inside.