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Computer heat in enclosed spaces

UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
edited April 2010 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
I just got a new computer desk, and it's one of those that comes with a cabinet specifically built for a tower. I thought I had read somewhere before that it's not good for a computer to sit in an enclosed space, so I was going to put it beside the desk on the floor...but then I realized that the cords might not reach so well. The cubby is in exactly the right place for cords. Is it alright to put my computer there? Have I heard wrong, and conventional wisdom is more along the lines of move it if you do encounter a problem?

Computer cabinet kind of like this:

1000532404961a400.jpg

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Posts

  • TofystedethTofystedeth Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    If you're not doing anything intensive you'd probably get by with it. If you're gaming or something, it'll work with a few conditions.

    If you take off the door and the back is open, or can be made open so you can get air flow across. If your case has a side fan you'd want to make sure there's enough room on that side for it to get good draw.

    Tofystedeth on
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  • SiliconStewSiliconStew Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Cut some 4 inch holes in the back panel roughly where your fans are on the back of the case. Prop the front door open so it has at least a 1/2 inch gap.

    SiliconStew on
    Just remember that half the people you meet are below average intelligence.
  • ScrubletScrublet Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    After you do the above suggestions, download a temperature monitoring utility and see what your heat is. Depending on your CPU there are different acceptable levels but just as a general rule you want to try to stay under 70 celsius.

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  • runethomasrunethomas Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    The reason why computers can't be in an enclosed space is because of the heat they put off. If you allow for airflow from the side, and rear fans and they have somewhere to blow the hot air away from the computer. (some computers don't have side fans and the power supply should always have some type of fan blowing out the back.)

    Most of these desks have no back in the computer cubby, if this is the case then you should be fine as long as the desk is a few inches away from the wall.

    runethomas on
  • Dark ShroudDark Shroud Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Open back is the best way to go.

    I'll also add that you do not have to take the door off. Just leave it open when gaming or doing video encoding.

    That is a nice desk.

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