BIOS shut pc down when it gets too hot?

**muldrick** · 12-15-2004, 07:43 PM

I'm installing a pc in my Concorde, putting it in the glovebox. I cut the part above the glove out and the back is cut out (for more room), so it's a very open area.
The HD lays in the bottom of the box, the MB is above it, and the Opus is above that. (all part lay horizontal) I have a fan on the processor but so far no other fan(s) installed.
I modified a floor vent to blow air up, instead of down. (Into the glovebox area)
The car has (auto) climate controlled air conditioning/heater system.
This should work great in the summer, should keep the pc nice and cool.
But in the winter....?
...in the morning, after the engine reaches operating temperature. the (auto) climate control starts blowing hot air through the defrost and floor (mix).
I was just going to try it this way...don't really have room for any fan(s)
However...
Is this hot air too hot, or is it cool compared to the pc's operating temperature.
Really my questions are: most pc's shut off when they get too hot right? Set up in the BIOS? Can I change or look at this setting?
Will the pc shut off before it's too late, or will the damage have already been done?
Think it's ok to try it this way, or will I muck it up?

**Question** · 12-15-2004, 08:43 PM

My experience has been that it depends on the BIOS...some have this option (newer ones do, older ones don't..), and they allow you a few options of when to shut off.

**momanz** · 12-15-2004, 09:09 PM

Take a look at motherboard monitor 5 (MBM5). You can monitor your temperatures and even set the program to shutdown the computer if the RMPs on you fan falls below a threshold (i.e. fan fails) or if the CPU gets too hot. I'm still working on getting my rig installed but I have MBM already set to execute a batch file with the following command "shutdown -f -s" if my fan RPMS are too low or if my cpu is running too hot. This command forces all applications to close without warnings.

You can also set up mbm to log your hardware sensor's readings to a file so you can later take a look at exactly how hot you have been running... Of course all this assumes that your motherboard has the appropriate sensors (most recent motherboards do).

good luck,

-momanz

**muldrick** · 12-16-2004, 01:07 PM

thanks...but, how hot is too hot?

**Bangster** · 12-16-2004, 01:21 PM

Some will say that 65 C is too hot, the ME6000 Via board I have defaults to shutting down when it hit 85 C.

**DarquePervert** · 12-16-2004, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by muldrick

thanks...but, how hot is too hot?

Int he BIOS' that will shotdown the computer if the temperature gets too high, there is usually a section to set threshholds. Using these, you can tell the computer to shutdown when it gets to the point that you think its too hot.

Again, this is only if your motherboard has such tempurature protection...

**muldrick** · 12-16-2004, 07:47 PM

thanks again

**momanz** · 12-16-2004, 09:26 PM

Safe temperatures are largly dependent on the CPU and motherboard you are using so comparing maximum operating temperatures of different CPU makes may not be a good idea. For example my EpiaM10K will start to flake out at around 75-80C. Keep in mind that the C3 chips have the temperature sensor built into the chip... (I think) so the temperature reading reflects the temperature of the die. My Athlon XP system has a sensor built into the motherboard placed in close proximity to the CPU. That chip starts to fail when the sensor reads 49-51C. At one point I had a 1 GHz P3 that started to have problems at around 56 C.

If you are feeling brave there is a program called CPUburn who's sole purpose is to make your CPU generate heat. Now if you have a good cooling solution in place (heatsink, fan and good ventilation) you should be able to run this program and see how hot your CPU can run with good ventilation. You could use that temperature as a reference point beyond which you need to keep an eye on things. USE THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK. If your cooling solution is not up to the task you can damage your CPU.

Do a little searching on your CPU type, "temperature" and "overclocking" and you'll start to get an idea of what temperatures are safe.