[Ham-Computers] Computer shutting itself down

[Philip, KO6BB]

Hi,

For a Pentium IV it seems like that computer is vastly under-powered and 
undercooled.

This machine is a 3.4GHz Pentium IV dual core in a full tower.  The 'Stock' 
Power supply was 400 watts and I had them build it with the optional 550 
Watt PS.  It has a huge 4" variable speed round fan mounted on the CPU that 
is contained within a round "shroud" or tunnel, drawing in fresh air from 
the left side of the computer.  The power supply has a large fan and there 
is another "exhaust" fan mounted below it on the back panel.  Fresh air 
comes in through the shroud on the side as well as from the front of the 
machine where it flows directly across the Hard drives (3 of them, one 
disconnected but cloned as a back-up).  Everything stays nice and cool, 
though it does do a pretty good job as a "space heater" in the radio room 
;-)

In addition, all the cables to the hard drives, CD drives etc are the skinny 
little kind that aren't supposed to restrict air-flow.  The old style 
"ribbon" cables can and do block airflow to vital areas of the machine

I can tell when I'm working the CPU "extra hard" as I can hear the CPU fan 
"rev up" (if the room's quiet).  Otherwise the CPU fan just pokes along at a 
nice slow pace.

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!

Ten Meter CW Beacon KO6BB/B, 7 Watts 24/7 on 28.248MCs.
THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
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Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh

> In a message dated 4/28/2007 3:50:57 PM Central Standard Time,
> dcorio at zitomedia.net writes:
>>     The fan mounted on the CPU is blowing the heat from the CPU directly
>> into the power supply. But worse than that is a vent in the rear of the
>> case, about the size of a small box-fan, _directly under the power
>> supply_! Outside air has no chance to get to the CPU, as it is drawn in
>> through that rear opening and  sucked into the power supply and
>> exhausted out by that outflow fan!
>>
>>     My first thought is to pick up a small box-fan from Radio Shack and
>> mount it on that rear opening blowing in. That would put
>> room-temperature air almost directly onto the CPU, then to be blown into
>> the power supply and out through that. If I then tape closed the front
>> vent opening, it would insure good air circulation.
>>
>>     Thoughts on this?