Heat and noise - inquiry

[Bruck]

Two things that I despise about my current pc setup is that it makes the room about 12 degrees hotter when it is on. I do leave it on all the time and I probably shouldnt but it takes too long to shut down and restart, plus i like to leave things downloading during the day.


I would like to know if any components in my system can be switched out to actually generate less heat. I think this would also be good for my pc components as well. My machine is as follows, maybe some newer or different components would create less heat. (not sure)


Motherboard: asus-P2B-S
Chip : Pentium 3 600mhz
Ram: 512mb
Video Card: Matrox G400 Dual Head
Audio Card: SB Audigy Gold (with Live drive that I barely use anymore)
CD/CDR drives: Plextor 8x burner, Plextor Ultra wide reader (Both scsi)
HD1: Fujitsu 18gb Scsi 10,000rpm drive
HD2: WD 1200JB: 120gb 8mb buffer IDE drive
Lan Card: Linksys
PowerSupply: 300W Do not remember brand but I know it is of the better quality available.


I would like to be able to suspend my system so it shuts off when I'm not using it but It won't suspend correctly, if i go to suspend, the keyboard doesnt work when it comes back. Win2k os runs perfectly except this.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[mechBgon]

First of all, if you have a CRT-type monitor, turning it off will help. But I expect you're doing that already Or consider getting an LCD if you've been waiting for a good excuse.

What would probably be best, other than scrapping the system and starting over, is to work on improving the ventilation of your room. Sorry if that isn't really what you were wanting to hear about, but a P3 600 is hardly a fire-breather, at 35W peak heat production. You might be able to get your motherboard to run a cooler-running CeleronII, but it's a real grey area in Asus's CPU-support finder. Even knowing the PCB revision and using the latest beta BIOS is not a guarantee it'll handle CeleronII's.

 

[Cheetah8799]

You have a P3 600mhz system, and it's heating your room that much? I think you have other problems than the computer. Maybe the monitor is generating a lot of heat. Maybe you need better airflow in your room. Do you keep the doors and windows closed all the time? Do you have furniture blocking the air return vents in the room (many houses have these).

We have a LOT of P3 based systems here at work with similar specs, and they don't generate very much heat at all.

You should try setting up a small fan that will help circulate the air in the room and maybe out into other parts of the house. I have my office setup with a fan next to the window so I can crack the window and have the fan blow the air into the room. Helps on warmer days, or times when I'm gaming and my gaming rig generates some considerable warm air.

As for hardware in your system that generates the heat. I'd bet that those hard drives generate a lot. And your monitor, as I suggested already.

 

[Davegod]

sometimes you just have to say "open a window and door"

seriously other than monitor or going spending all you can realistically do is enable power saving if your mobo and OS support it, even then not likely to be cutting significant heat, and im not even sure what it'd be able to turn off, not harddrives if youre downloading, not network if youre downloading....

 

[Zap]

The only thing that really stands out in your system (besides monitor, as others suggest) is the SCSI hard drive.

 

[nvfx]

12 deg hotter, either you have a very small room with poor ventillation or something else is heating.

What is your room temp by the way..

On a PIII i dont see any heat problems here, i own an NEC branded PIII and i is totally passive system, only large heat sinks.

No heat up here

Even the monitor doesnt create so much heat that will bother you.

I think you have a very small room

 

[0roo0roo]

buy low powered via chip based computer, or even better, a mobile barton amd chip and underclock it..as in silentpcreview.com or was that silentpc.com i forget. overclockers.com forums have info too. laptops with centrino would be also very low power consumption. high rpm drives also put out a lotta heat.

as for the "heat" yes it can heat a room. i once had a p2b asus setup too. depends on ambient, more noticable if its already warm and the comp pushes it into not so nice warm. door closed, window closed also a factor. giant factor is also the monitor