How do I make my computer ROOM cooler??

[Davez621]

Newbie here. It seems everyone here is concerned with making their PC cooler. While I like a cool PC as much as anyone else, personally I much prefer to sit in cool ROOM, than a hot, stuff one. This is where my problem lies. After getting a new system - a Core 2 Duo E6750, with a generic case & 680W PSU, the room almost gets to be like a sauna. The PC itself is running cool, but the case gives off so much heat, it raises the room temp to about 24.5C (76F), which makes it uncomfortable for me. By comparison, other rooms in the house average 21C (or 70F). At first I had a 6800GT in the PC, but that proved to be such a heat monster (room got to over 25C!), that I removed it and replaced with a 6600GT. Now it's gone down about 0.5C, but not enough. I am also using a 17" CRT monitor, but do not want to change this for an LCD.

My previous PC was a P4 2.4B purchased in 2002, and I remember it being so quiet (nearly silent) and so cool.

Why is my current PC turning the room into a sauna?? What can I do?

 

[MarcVenice]

Try ventilating it by opening a window ? I dunno man, pretty sure my x2 3800+ @ 2.6ghz and my 8800gts 320mb give of more heat then your rig. And 2 hd's, and a lcd monitor. I dunno, only in the summer does my room get hotter then I'm used to. Right now I'm not bothered though. Outside temp fluctuations make a much bigger difference, as well as my central heating and opening my window.

 

[angry hampster]

Open your door.

 

[WinnieThePujols]

This is definitely a topic I can relate to!

In the summer, it sucks.

In the winter, I don't even need to turn on the heat!

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Davez621
How do I make my computer ROOM cooler??

Pick your parts better.

 

[JackMDS]

Room ACs are as low as $88.

 

[piasabird]

Dry Ice and Root Beer.

 

[Davez621]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Room ACs are as low as $88.

Wonderful advice, from a typically American-centric viewpoint. Obviously you are unaware of the cost of electricity in most other countries, where nuclear power is non-existant (such as Australia). Secondly (and this even applies to the US I'm sure), you cannot install an AC in a rented property, because it involves permanent modifications to the window or wall (an appropriate 'opening' needs to be cut to fit the unit). I'm not in such a property, but you didn't know that. Lastly, room ACs are noisy, and unsightly (both externally and internally).

 

[bob4432]

living in Phx, AZ w/ 3computers in my office i can relate big time

what brand psu are you using? you don't need 680W and if it is a pos it may possibly be just dumping off heat because it is so inefficient.

turn on whatever intel's version of cool 'n quiet - throttling based on need.

if your gpu can be clocked as needed turn that on too - i have ati for the last couple gpus, so i am not sure if nvidia has a "dynamic" o/c option like ati

have computer go into stanbdy after 30min (or whatever time works for you - computer idling may be ~140W but standby it is probably no more than 10W)

and sadly, get rid of the crt - when i swapped out my crt, that made a huge difference

 

[Skott]

Hmmm... well if you cant install a a/c window/wall unit then maybe ceiling fan? Floor fans help too but ceiling fans do it better at a cheaper electrical cost IMO. That plus open any and all windows. Basically get airflow in the room moving. Short of any of those options you'd need to move onto the pc itself and its components to help keep heat down.

 

[Davez621]

Originally posted by: bob4432
living in Phx, AZ w/ 3computers in my office i can relate big time

what brand psu are you using? you don't need 680W and if it is a pos it may possibly be just dumping off heat because it is so inefficient.

turn on whatever intel's version of cool 'n quiet - throttling based on need.

if your gpu can be clocked as needed turn that on too - i have ati for the last couple gpus, so i am not sure if nvidia has a "dynamic" o/c option like ati

have computer go into stanbdy after 30min (or whatever time works for you - computer idling may be ~140W but standby it is probably no more than 10W)

and sadly, get rid of the crt - when i swapped out my crt, that made a huge difference

Hiya.

The brand of PSU is "SHAW". It is definitely at the cheap end of the pricing scale. The PC store picked it out for me. I didn't even realize it was 680W until I got home.

I cannot replace my CRT - it is invaluable! I've been using CRT since I bought my very first computer, and it provides the best image quality by far. Not to mention a choice of different screen resolutions. But I don't want to get into a CRT vs. LCD debate.

We do have central air conditioning (about 1 in 1 million in Australia have it), but I cannot turn it on when the rest of the house is 20C/70F! It would make this room fine, but the rest of the house freezing.

 

[rudder]

Duct the PC exhaust out the window.



^
|
|
|
Winner! What do I get?

 

[Davez621]

Unfortunately, nobody here is looking at the source of the problem. Why is my PC heating up the room so much more than my old one? Heck, I used a 3.6 Ghz 2M Prescott (the one with a 115W TDP), and the room was cooler running that thing (albiet noisier) than it is now!

 

[bob4432]

if you are using a new psu or at least not the same psu that you had before, that would be my first place to try to rectify it. also, list all of your pc specs.

and i hate to bring it up as i can agree w/ you on the benefits of the crt, but as mine was getting older, it did put off more heat, but again, i can understand your reason in wanting to stay w/ a crt but that was something i noticed in my uses - and my computer room will get well over 82F in the summer time here when the rest of my condo is 76-78F

on another note, that sucks you guys don't have nuclear, but do they have tidal for power? but most people hate nuclear here in the us, so energy is not that cheap

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Davez621

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Room ACs are as low as $88.

Wonderful advice, from a typically American-centric viewpoint. Obviously you are unaware of the cost of electricity in most other countries, where nuclear power is non-existant (such as Australia). Secondly (and this even applies to the US I'm sure), you cannot install an AC in a rented property, because it involves permanent modifications to the window or wall (an appropriate 'opening' needs to be cut to fit the unit). I'm not in such a property, but you didn't know that. Lastly, room ACs are noisy, and unsightly (both externally and internally).

No it doesn`t require permanent anything...if you know what the f... your doing!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: bob4432
if you are using a new psu or at least not the same psu that you had before, that would be my first place to try to rectify it. also, list all of your pc specs.

and i hate to bring it up as i can agree w/ you on the benefits of the crt, but as mine was getting older, it did put off more heat, but again, i can understand your reason in wanting to stay w/ a crt but that was something i noticed in my uses - and my computer room will get well over 82F in the summer time here when the rest of my condo is 76-78F

on another note, that sucks you guys don't have nuclear, but do they have tidal for power? but most people hate nuclear here in the us, so energy is not that cheap

There is definately heat coming from the monitor as well as the PSU and other parts in the computer...

 

[LOUISSSSS]

D u have a window in the room? Try to move the of closer to the window. Put it on the ledge or desk if u need to. My room gets warm with my of too.

 

[Davez621]

Originally posted by: bob4432
if you are using a new psu or at least not the same psu that you had before, that would be my first place to try to rectify it. also, list all of your pc specs.

and i hate to bring it up as i can agree w/ you on the benefits of the crt, but as mine was getting older, it did put off more heat, but again, i can understand your reason in wanting to stay w/ a crt but that was something i noticed in my uses - and my computer room will get well over 82F in the summer time here when the rest of my condo is 76-78F

on another note, that sucks you guys don't have nuclear, but do they have tidal for power? but most people hate nuclear here in the us, so energy is not that cheap

I am indeed using a new PSU... I too feel this may be the problem. The CRT is certainly contributing to the heat, but it's the constant here. I was using the same CRT on my old system. So that has not changed. Australia has an abundance of coal, and that is where most of our power comes from. Unfortunately, despite also having an abundance of uranium, there is no nuclear. The previous government, who was for nuclear power, was voted out 2 months ago (with liberal shmucks now in their place), so all hope has been lost.

 

[Andvari]

My LCD feels warmer than my current 5 year old computer does. (Lian-Li case with 4 80mm fans, P4 2.8, Radeon 9800 Pro, Antec 420 PSU, and whatever else might cause heat in my PC)

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Andvari
My LCD feels warmer than my current 5 year old computer does. (Lian-Li case with 4 80mm fans, P4 2.8, Radeon 9800 Pro, Antec 420 PSU, and whatever else might cause heat in my PC)

sure my 40" lcd is warmer than my 17" and probably warmer than my machine too- quantify the size you are talking about or it doesn't mean anything

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Davez621


you cannot install an AC in a rented property, because it involves permanent modifications to the window or wall (an appropriate 'opening' needs to be cut to fit the unit). ).

No it doesn`t require permanent anything...if you know what the f... your doing!

Indeed. This is absurd. Mine fits via built-in braces into the window and is easily uninstalled. I pull it out in the winter for better insulation. Takes about 2 minutes to put back in, and can even be done with just one person.

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: Davez621

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Room ACs are as low as $88.

Wonderful advice, from a typically American-centric viewpoint. Obviously you are unaware of the cost of electricity in most other countries, where nuclear power is non-existant (such as Australia). Secondly (and this even applies to the US I'm sure), you cannot install an AC in a rented property, because it involves permanent modifications to the window or wall (an appropriate 'opening' needs to be cut to fit the unit). I'm not in such a property, but you didn't know that. Lastly, room ACs are noisy, and unsightly (both externally and internally).

You will have to upgrade to an LCD monitor to reduce heat source. Locate the system as close as possible to an outside opening like window. Crack open or fully open a window and then use a small fan (120mm should be good) and dryer plastic ducting (3' or 4") to suck away heat from the PSU straight into the window. One end of the duct should be connected to the fan (which is blowing into the window while the other end of the ducting is positioned right to the PSU fan).

If this is not enough, then you will have to boxed the system case and install the ducting using a top hole at the back of the box. The only thing you will need to make sure is that there is gap (approx 1-2 inches) around the case and that the case has front mounted fans blowing into the case. There is very little you can do about the CRT since it needs cooling worse than the case, which has active cooling fans while the CRT does not.

 

[mrred]

If you have more than one window in the room, you can have great success by having a fan in front of each window. Set one fan as intake and another as exhaust. This worked wonders at my place, dropping temperatures 2-4 degrees centigrade in the summer (although on extremely hot days it's less effective)

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Davez621

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Room ACs are as low as $88.

Wonderful advice, from a typically American-centric viewpoint. Obviously you are unaware of the cost of electricity in most other countries, where nuclear power is non-existant (such as Australia). Secondly (and this even applies to the US I'm sure), you cannot install an AC in a rented property, because it involves permanent modifications to the window or wall (an appropriate 'opening' needs to be cut to fit the unit). I'm not in such a property, but you didn't know that. Lastly, room ACs are noisy, and unsightly (both externally and internally).

Well if the room has a window no permanent modifications should be necessary, they can be mounted in there and a skirt used to fill in any gap. Of course you'd still probably want to clear it with the landlord but as long as nothing permanent was being done I couldn't imagine them caring. But as you pointed out they are inefficient and can be noisy (although I think newer models are supposed to be much better in this respect).

Not sure what the humidity is like where you live, but if it's really low a swamp cooler may be practical. Above about 40% or so humidity I don't think they work very well, though.

Other than that probably not many options. I know what you're talking about, I'm in a cramped room with a lot of electronics, it's fine during winter but gets uncomfortable in the summer. I have a room fan and it helps but not much, just kind of blows the how air around.

 

[Bluefront]

Without changing any of the PC components or the monitor, a window AC unit is your easiest/best answer. You only have to find one that looks nice to you, and runs quietly and efficiently. If it's only one small room to deal with, an AC unit can be found that's small enough to fit every window without any modification to the window frame. An added benefit....the filter in the AC unit will keep the computer cleaner.

I doubt a good AC unit of this size would cost more than a new power supply. I put a window unit in my bedroom for this very purpose. The house has central heating/AC......but I like to keep the bedroom cooler. In the winter months, you can use it as a vent-fan only.