Minimum system operating temperature?

[glugglug]

The current mobo temp on my Athlon system is 60F (on the northbridge chip I think). Case intake sensor bottoms out at 68F (20C). T-bird core stays under 115F running SETI. This is completely air-cooled (I like my apartment that way )

Just wondering if there is such a thing as too cool for some components, i.e. the deathstar seems more likely to get bad blocks on cold days.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I used to get my CPU and motherboard that cold during the winter.. I'd open my window and let the cold air in. Never had any problems.

 

[chiron]

Using the AOpen AX45-533 board, with a P4 1.8/512, going into the 'System Health' right after a cold cold boot (hasn't been on for a few hours), the sensors would crash cos the cpu's too cold, and the entire system would hang. Now, I'm always impressed when you can crash a computer from the BIOS!

Well, since I work for an OEM manufacturer, I got the AOpen team in Taiwan to make a new BIOS for me (not available to download).

So, sometimes there *can* be such a thing as "too cold", in some respects

 

[Sunner]

BIOS issues aside, too cool would probably be when you start getting condensation on your components, which is definately a very Bad Thing.

 

[techfuzz]

Physics of Computing 101:
Electrons experience less resistence at lower temperatures. The theory of quantum computing is said to benefit from lower temperatures approaching absolute zero.

Thermodynamics of Computing 101:
As Sunner pointed out, at lower temperatures, condensation may begin to form and quite possibly cause shorts.

Deathstars just suffer the wrath of anything abnormal. I don't doubt they don't like cold air and probably catch a cold like the one I currently have. I've had 4-5 of the damned things since they came onto the market. All have died horrible deaths, but none due to a "cold".

techfuzz