Is it safe to run an older computer in an enclosed area?

[gimlids]

I have an old 133 Mhz IBM with a 5.1 GB Western Digital drive and 48 Megs of RAM. Would it be safe to put it in a cabinet type enclosure with basically no way for air to get in or out? The computer fits perfectly in the cabinet with no room on either side, nor in front or back, and maybe a foot above it (where a wireless router and a cable modem will likely reside). It might be possible to remove the back of the cabinet, but is it necessary?

 

[rommel]

make sure itrs real clean inside and that there is thermal paste of somekind betweent eh heat sink adn the cpu and it will prolly be ok...but some aire would be better even for that rig i would think

 

[Gunbuster]

Fans are on the PSU and CPU for a reason. If you cant pull room temp. air it will just keep getting hotter

 

[LordUnum]

IMO, the cabinet needs at least a little venting. Even an older computer will generate some heat, and will be in need of eventually expelling that hot air built-up within the cabinet. I have a 486SX/25 (which generates hardly any heat to speak of) in a square desktop case serving as a router/gateway, along with the switch, cable modem, and 9" monitor all sitting neatly above the case. It generates quite a bit of heat (I'd say mostly from the older LANCity heatsink... er cable modem ). I quickly took a hole-saw to the middle rear-end of the cabinet, and still find the need to crack open the front door when in use.

 

[TunaBoo]

Run it for an hour and see, that is your best method