CPU coolers

[pqwabbit]

Are the required now? I mean to run stuff - cuz the puters I've cracked open don't have them - they have the fan - you know that one thatis near the power supply but not an actual cpu fan -


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Bunnies make life better.
Massachusetts House Rabbit Society, Inc.
http://www.MAHouseRabbit.org/

[Justin]

Um, I'm pretty sure all CPU's that are at least a 486 DX-66 have a CPU fan stock... it's definately something that you want in any computer. I personally feel that the 2 fans that generally come in a computer are not enough.

Mine has 5 http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif
1) CPU
2) Power supply (AT - pulling out)
3) One in bottom front pulling in (in the vent)
4) Top front pulling in (in an open 5 1/4" bay http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif)
5) One in the back (squirrel cage in an open slot) pulling out.

The only thing I worry about is whether my 250 Watt power supply can handle all of the extra fans http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, to answer your question, if there is no CPU fan, and you're talking about a Pentium class CPU, where did you buy it? You may have been ripped off... I would be very upset if I picked up a computer and it lacked a CPU cooler - that's a $10 investment that can help protect a $100 - $900 investment (depending on the chip) - so even if it's not necessary (which I think it is), it's at least smart.

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[Terra]

For the FQuest servers, I run 3 per full-size case...

The case fans should blow the opposite way that your power supply fan is blowing. This is to insure proper air flow within the case.

Our CPU fans are heavy-duty dual fans running at 6000 RPM pushing 12 CFM...

Nothing worse than an overheating server to ruin your day...

--
Terra
--Would you like lemonade with that?--
FutureQuest

[pqwabbit]

Aint bought the cpu yet - thats why I asked - cuz im trying to figure out should I get the cpu and the fan sperate or can I find a good value if i gert them together - anyways - just mullling stuff over
hmmm then maybe I'm missing something when I've opened other machines but I know like my 2 yr old machine has one fan in there and my mother's P-200 has one fan (unless the second is so dang tiny I need a microscope to see it) hmmm and these are brand name computers (Compaq, Packard Bell) /me scratches my head - I've never had an overheating problem and the thing runs all day at times - stays quite cool - hmmmmm so was confused. The fan in my current puteris like in an open spot it can cool the whole board I guess, but the way the new machine wil be set up - the corresponding fan is enclosed with thpower supply parts - so of course I'll need at least one other.
well that clears up my confusion http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
thanx!
I am geting a cpu cooler certainly (even before i asked) butsincd I'd never actually seen one as depicted inthe pics I've seen I as a bit bewildered http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Lea


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Bunnies make life better.
Massachusetts House Rabbit Society, Inc.
http://www.MAHouseRabbit.org/

[Mandi]

How would this principle apply to laptops. I often compute on the couch, my machine literally perched on my lap . . . and it gets HOT! I do hear its fan cycle on and off, and can feel it vent out the back . . .

[Justin]

Laptops are different. I have seen some with a tiny fan in the side or back, usually like 1/2" wide. Most that I've seen just have no fan at all.

Generally, the CPU's they put in laptops are not as fast as a comparable desktop - from what I've heard anyway. I can't say for sure though. But I'm pretty sure they do run a bit slower, and probably have more heat protection too.

Most (all?) CPU's will decrease performance when overheated, like how a car's computer will lower the horsepower by killing the spark or lowering the fuel when it's hot or low on oil http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif That doesn't mean it's any better on the CPU, just as you still don't want to drive your car out of oil, it just prolongs the inevitable.

Laptops do get hot though, and there's not a whole lot that can be done to prevent it really, other than keeping it well ventilated (eg, not on top of clothes http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif)

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[pqwabbit]

a related question - whats a heatsink? I often seen it used in conjunciton with "fan" as in fan and heatsink? is that any differnt than a regular fan or is it redundant?

Lea

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Bunnies make life better.
Massachusetts House Rabbit Society, Inc.
http://www.MAHouseRabbit.org/

[Del]

A heatsink is a loverly little thingus. Usually made of aluminum or other material that absorbs heat quickly, all it does is help dissipate the heat buildup in whatever it's attached to. The way they work is simple;

Say you have a block of aluminum 1 inch wide, 1 inch deep, and 1/4 inch thick. On the top of it you have one square inch of space for heat to dissipate off of. Now, put ribs on the top of that chunk of aluminum, 1/4 in high, spaced 1/4 inch apart (resulting in 4 vertical ribs). All of the sudden you've gone from one square inch of surface area to (about) 2 3/4 square inches of surface area (if my math is correct, I hate math). It only takes up 1/4 more vertical space, but your surface area has increased by 175% (again, if my math is right, which I doubt. maybe it's up by 275%) which allows heat to dissipate more rapidly.

This principal is at work in our everyday lives, whether we see it or not. Ever looked at a Volkswagen engine? All those little fins all over the heads do the same thing, same on many motorcycle engines (and lawnmowers, weedwackers, etc...). Many stereos have a little aluminum ribbed thing sticking out the back, it's helping cool the power supply. Nifty, eh?

Del

[pqwabbit]

ahhhhhhh! so thats what that unidentified ribbed metal thingy in my puter is! thats probably a heat sink - huh? (seeing as the thing dont have a cpu fan!) the purpose of that chunk of metal always alluded me.

Lea




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Bunnies make life better.
Massachusetts House Rabbit Society, Inc.
http://www.MAHouseRabbit.org/

[flowersource]

My whole den is a heat sink, I don't have the cover on my computer. I took it off for something or other over six months ago and never got around to putting it back. Downside is, I have to blow out the canary feathers once in a while, and I can hear the noisy fans and HDD.
Mike

[Justin]

I have to reply here http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif With the cover off, the air will not flow properly through the case, it just kinda floats around. I would definately (if you are serious, anyway) put the case on. You don't have to put the screws in, just at lease set it on there http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

Last time I cracked mine open, there is a LOT of dust inside of it. Once bit of advice: any time you need to open up the case, you might want to clean out the heat sink, as collected dust will keep heat from dissipating, and will prevent good air flow. I actually took apart the power supply and cleaned it out too, because I had to replace the noisy fan inside of it anyway.

A friend of mine had a mid tower inside of a cabinet under his desk, and he never bothered putting the cover back on either. This thing got so hot inside that it ran very slow (was up 24/7). Finally I talked him into moving it on top of his desk and putting the case on and it's been fine since http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[pqwabbit]

yeh I cant be bothered with screws sometimes-
I make a point of crakcing it open every so often just to scare off the dust - the heat sink and the fan pget particulary - *more* than dusty -0 yeech ever open up someone's comouter they;lve had for eons and see the *hair* on those things?! yech!! and I wipe the vents regularly otherwise they get all cloggedwith dust too - rather quickly I may add and if you have rabbits - or other hairy pets - you will definately find a lot of fur in there too (I wont even describe what the inside of my vcr looked like! after sharing a room with bunnies for years!)



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Bunnies make life better.
Massachusetts House Rabbit Society, Inc.
http://www.MAHouseRabbit.org/