Desktop case cooling

[Wilbri]

I am located in the subtropics i.e. very hot humid summers and warm dry and dusty winters.
I thus have an obsession to ensure adequate cooling and case filtration.
My main aim is to provide adequate cooling at all times and at the same have sufficient case ventilation whilst providing a consistent slight positive internal case pressure.
I welcome the opinion of the forum regarding this philosophy?

 

[bjornl]

A very difficult scenario to keep the temps in a good range given that environment.

Do you have access to a air-conditioner? If so lowering the room temps would be the simplest solution.

If not, I have a friend who solved for something similar. He water cooled his computer (CPU, GPU and I think his N/S bridge.). But, due to ambient environment he was not able to get good cooling on the radiator. And the water pump was noisy and bothered him. So he got one of those small refrigerators like you see in dorm rooms at college. He got some longer hoses, put the radiator in the small fridge and put the pump in there too. His computer ran very cool after that and was close to perfectly silent.

 

[Wilbri]

A very difficult scenario to keep the temps in a good range given that environment.

Do you have access to a air-conditioner? If so lowering the room temps would be the simplest solution.

If not, I have a friend who solved for something similar. He water cooled his computer (CPU, GPU and I think his N/S bridge.). But, due to ambient environment he was not able to get good cooling on the radiator. And the water pump was noisy and bothered him. So he got one of those small refrigerators like you see in dorm rooms at college. He got some longer hoses, put the radiator in the small fridge and put the pump in there too. His computer ran very cool after that and was close to perfectly silent.

Thank you for you reply Borjnl

Yes in considering the alternatives air conditioning the room would be the simplest solution as it would also provide a more comfortable working environment as well.

 

[Paperdoc]

I encourage you to hold onto the idea of positive case pressure. As long as you also use dust filters (typically thin foam sheets) on all your intake fans, this will reduce dust build-up inside the case significantly. There are three notes I would add to ensure this works.
1. From time to time, make sure you clean the filters so you continue to get good air flow.
2. You cannot really guarantee positive pressure just by adding up air flow specs because what fans actually do when dust filters are added and fan speeds change is not predictable. BUT you CAN test what you actually have and adjust if necessary. All you need is a small source of smoke, perhaps an incense stick. You get your system set up and running normally. Then you slowly move a burning incense stick near any case openings and observe which way the smoke drifts. If it flows away from the case opening, then air is coming OUT and you have positive internal pressure to keep out dust.
3. Check air discharge points such as grill openings at the rear where the exhaust fans are. I once had a problem with poor case cooling and found that, with my machine pushed back into its desk cubbyhole, the collection of cables from peripherals plugged into rear connectors was a big tangle blocking air flow out of the exhaust vents. Moving them away solved that.

 

[Wilbri]

I encourage you to hold onto the idea of positive case pressure. As long as you also use dust filters (typically thin foam sheets) on all your intake fans, this will reduce dust build-up inside the case significantly. There are three notes I would add to ensure this works.
1. From time to time, make sure you clean the filters so you continue to get good air flow.
2. You cannot really guarantee positive pressure just by adding up air flow specs because what fans actually do when dust filters are added and fan speeds change is not predictable. BUT you CAN test what you actually have and adjust if necessary. All you need is a small source of smoke, perhaps an incense stick. You get your system set up and running normally. Then you slowly move a burning incense stick near any case openings and observe which way the smoke drifts. If it flows away from the case opening, then air is coming OUT and you have positive internal pressure to keep out dust.
3. Check air discharge points such as grill openings at the rear where the exhaust fans are. I once had a problem with poor case cooling and found that, with my machine pushed back into its desk cubbyhole, the collection of cables from peripherals plugged into rear connectors was a big tangle blocking air flow out of the exhaust vents. Moving them away solved that.

Paperdoc
Many thanks for your reply.
In all my dealings with PC website questions, this must be the most common sensible and practical reply I have ever read on any subject.
So happy be a member of Tom's hardware Forum..