Looking for simple solutions for high temperature environment

[Dooling37]

We don't use A/C where I live, so the room temperature is between 80-95 F during probably 6 months of the year. It's also fairly humid (DC area). Obviously this is not the ideal operating conditions for computing equipment, but it's the way it is.
I've had three machines running in this environment for the last four years, and experience occasional hardware issues -- dead PSUs, memory, etc., as well as occasional OS lockups, which may or may not be related to the heat/humidity -- I don't know. I've installed extra case fans in the most important of these machines, as well as a temperature monitoring device, although I never really determined at what temperatures I should really be concerned about the situation, so I never set up the alarming capability. Now I can't even recall how to use the thing correctly, so the only temp I know (it monitors four areas) is on top of the HDD, where it ranges between ~50 - 60 celsius (122 - 140 F).
Anyway, two of the machines died recently, within a week of each other. They were about 4 years old, except for some upgraded components, so it may have just been time, but I imagine the heat & humidity contributed.
So, in looking to replace these two systems, I'm wondering what is the easiest/simplest/cheapest hardware solution to high temperature & humidity computing environments?
Is there a particular type of case/fan/heatsink/etc I should get? I have usually built out my own systems, but am also considering buying complete systems this time around -- any OEM manufacturers/systems that advertise as being especially durable under these conditions?

I really prefer a simple solution here, as I am not particularly adept with, or interested in, the intricacies of hardware cooling. No offense. ; )


thanks much for any suggestions.

 

[zagood]

The "easiest" solution is to get a portable air conditioner. No offense.

Other than that, just keep high volume airflow through your case. In that situation you're going to have to ignore most of the "silent" fans, because honestly you're going to need a full wind tunnel. Since your ambient temps are high the air exchange rate has to be much higher than normal.

Make sure you have intake and exhaust, make sure your PSU has a high operating temperature; some are around 45c which you can hit easily with your conditions, so look for higher.

Otherwise, look into phase-change. Water cooling won't help much if the water's already boiling ;>

-z

 

[Dooling37]

Yeah, a portable A/C unit might be worthwhile. I'd have to relocate the systems away from the sliding door. And high-volume fans are not a problem.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Spanki]

If your cases are also 4-5 years old, they probably have 80mm fans on them... I'd seriously look at upgrading your cases to something with big fans and a lot of air-flow, like the Antec Nine Hundred or the Xclio WindTunnel (the bigger the fans, the quieter you can run them for the same air-flow).

You should also use rounded IDE/Floppy cables, or better yet, upgrade your drives to SATA, if you haven't already... the idea being to tuck those cables up out of the way so they don't block air-flow in the case.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: zagood
The "easiest" solution is to get a portable air conditioner. No offense.

Other than that, just keep high volume airflow through your case. In that situation you're going to have to ignore most of the "silent" fans, because honestly you're going to need a full wind tunnel. Since your ambient temps are high the air exchange rate has to be much higher than normal.

Make sure you have intake and exhaust, make sure your PSU has a high operating temperature; some are around 45c which you can hit easily with your conditions, so look for higher.

Otherwise, look into phase-change. Water cooling won't help much if the water's already boiling ;>

-z

+1 portable AC is always the easiest.

the most cost effective would be to jump mediums. Go on water. This way you can crank the fans on high, and still get your overclocks.

but this would take a lot of planning, and some knowledge or readiness to jump water.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I have a xclio windtunnel and can attest to the air flow this thing has. I would highly recommend one especially in a high temp environment. I would also consider water cooling however some of the larger air hsf's like the enzotech ultra-x that I run or tt big typhoon will give you good cooling and then there's the peltier units like the victor gaming or titan amanda.

 

[manimal]

I got one of those portable ac's and mounted the exhaust duct in a plexiglass frame screen window with some drilled out and dremeled action-was a fun mod- I then cut out a small section in the top of the screen window-dremel-and put a fan set to exhaust as well-I then modded another plate that covers the fan if I want to close off the fan section as well as the exhaust port. All in all it does the job and makes the window look like its from the year 2250-buck rogers ftw!- or from a babylon 5 earth force cruiser!-my wife hates it but its MY office


My little nephew came over recently and saw that thing and saw my computer desk with my TJ09 and SGOI and the wall mounted LCD and the 4 other monitors and the modded xbox and the 360 and said his uncle has the BEST toys!!

Back on topic sorry-

pretend the room is a case, force positive pressure trough the room and it will become cooler, remember you basically have a spaceheater that is your pc and with good airflow you can drop the ambient temps that the pc creates. At best you should only be a few degrees hotter than the rest of your house. If you are more than that get some airflow going.

 

[Dooling37]

cool, I'll check out the windtunnel et. al, and definitely SATA for my next system. thanks all...

 

[swtethan]

my window ac unit cools so well, i was sitting at 31c idle on my system


$80 at walmart

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Dooling37what is the easiest/simplest/cheapest hardware solution to high temperature & humidity computing environments?

Reduce Vcore voltage. You could also underclock your CPU and GPU.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Billb2

Originally posted by: Dooling37what is the easiest/simplest/cheapest hardware solution to high temperature & humidity computing environments?

Reduce Vcore voltage. You could also underclock your CPU and GPU.

BOO! no fun in that tho :T But always the simplist solution.