Need ideas

[Polykranopalous]

the birdcage idea wouldnt be that bad, infact I have a few of them lying around here...<BR>some good old tuck tape would work

[zaltec]

If you run some 4" ducting and use door or window moulding on the outer side and a light application of silicone on the inside that should make it close to watertight.

[roy]

I have never ever modded before but my first project will be on this old generic case I have. I will eventually get around to building a gaming system in that case so I wanted it to be built with optimal air flow. What I want is to cut a hole right over where the CPU will sit. I want to create a duct that goes directly from the CPU heatsink fan directly to the outside of the case so that the CPU sink fan is always getting a fresh supply of air from the outside. I think my friend has the tools to do the cutting on the metal, I was just wondering what I could use to bridge the side panel to the fan. I want it to be as airtight as possible.

[CompSnake]

put it in a birdcage, there would be lots of airflow there<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><BR>at any home building center you can get this flexable tubing its usually use on the back of your dryer, but you can get smaller sizes of it, i was gonna make a duct out of that, but i havent got around to it yet. that stuff should work great

[Avid6eek]

The fan on the HS is probably square so build a square tube out of plexy, and have air get sucked in from the outside though that.

[GNXtreme]

that would be pretty cool Shiznit....

[zaltec]

Hmm, Shiznit. That is an interesting idea. Lemme look into that one a bit more, whip out the old paper and pen.<BR>The reason I suggest ducting, especially if it is the same size as the fan itself, is air flow. It gets convoluted enough through the ribbed side of the duct to remain relatively cool, and also to provide some form of back pressure providing air fr the fan to bite, the moe bite in the air the more cfm you get, just like a plane propellor. <BR>A completely smooth sided square would provide more airflow theoretically, but it also creates dead zones of hot air in the corners. While probably not enough to affect your temps by more than a degree, it will make your fan work harder and also reduce it's hold on the air. However, ending your plexi idea with a cone adaptor, set to the size of the fan and round quite obviously...would eliminate most of these problems.<BR>You also want to add more exhaust to compensate for a fresh intake of that size. otherwise you'll probably destabilise your case. <BR>(while all that explanation may look cool and sound cool, it probably won't affect your case unless it's moving<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">)

[Avid6eek]

I think Zaltec just copied that paragraph out of some kind of book. Either that or he's thinking too deeply into the question asked <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[zaltec]

Ah, Shiznit...you do forget that I work with air intake daily<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> j/k but seriously...I have found that my aerodynamics training has helped in placement of fans etc...If I still had my machine shop I owuld build my own case to maximise airflow and create no dead spots.<BR>Plus I relish any challenge to think about it<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Avid6eek]

If that's what gets your jollies off, go for it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[zaltec]

Well, it's not as much fun as working with my car, but seein as I have finished that, I need new projects<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[Avid6eek]

It would be nice. You should design your own form factor that is more efficent that the current tower setup. I know they used to have the CPU socket int he lower right hand side of the mobo so it was bathed in cool air. I think they should go back to that. It would then warm that air and cause the rest of the system to run a little warmer, but it won't really hurt anything. The video card is already placed in a pretty cool spot.

[roy]

I agree with you Shiznit. What's funny is that I was worrying about cooling last night and I was thinking the exact same thing. Although I've never seen a motherboard that place the socket or slot near the bottom it's definitely a good idea.

[Avid6eek]

Many of the original Pentium mobos had the socket in the lower right.

[zaltec]

Those were the ones that didn't "really" need that heatsink<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

[Avid6eek]

It would be nice if my Athlon didn't "really" need a heatsink <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

[roy]

Haha yes. I hope the future brings computers that don't generate heat therefore making them completely quiet. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[Avid6eek]

Computers and heat belong together. You can't have one without the other. It'd be nice if we could have a little more computer, and a little less heat, but it seems to be going the other way. Maybe once AMD takes over the CPU market things will change <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[roy]

If we think of different ways to perform calculations then there's no need for heat.<BR><BR>We're already progressing into alternative methods. For CPU's we're looking into DNA to do calculations for us. For memory, magnets.

[TranceJunkieXL]

I've read about quantum computer technology (<i>pleeaase</i> don't ask me to explain that one) that would probably run much cooler than today's silicone. Some very interesting theoretical discussions for those of you trying to find the end of the internet (ie., have a cable modem and plenty of free time on your hands).

[Avid6eek]

I've read about the quantum technology in the past. Seemed interesting, yet very far away. I think microprocessors as we know them still have a long way to go before they reach the end of their usefull lives.