FAQ: Cooling Your System

Bugbyte · 06-20-2005, 09:21 PM

Worried about cooling your PC? This is a hot topic (pun intended) among our members. Some of the higher power consumption processors such as the Pentium 4 run very hot and require lots of cooling. Others have installed their computers in tight spots (i.e. behind the dash or in the glove compartment) or in areas where heat can be trapped such as the spare tire well.

CPU's have *max temps* in the 70-95 degrees centigrade range (~160-200F). In general, the fan and heatsink that comes with your computer often works just fine. In some cases, aftermarket heatsinks or fans/thermal grease can help. In extreme cases, other measures must be taken.

Here's some links to posts by members about ideas for cooling their PC.

1. Peltier cooling (dielectric)
2. Submerging in vegetable oil
3. Water cooling
4. Cooling the CPU using the car's A/C system

WizardPC's ghetto cooling test

*Note that using your A/C system to cool your CPU faces two issues. First, the A/C in the summer is your heat in the winter. You'll need a way to keep the heat from blowing inside the computer if you tap in to your A/C. Second, after turning of your car, the CPU will be cooler than the outside air, inviting condensation to form on the system.

If you have other cooling tips or links, add them to this thread!

Cheekz185 · 07-06-2005, 01:27 PM

Just got some feedback from VIA, Im a little afraid of what the heat can do to my mobo in my trunk:

Quote: Originally Posted by VIA

All of our boards have been verified to run at temperature from 0 to 50 degree Celsius (32 to 122 F). Since you are using fan with your system, that should be sufficient to get your system to run in New York.

Quote: Originally Posted by VIA

Temperature was measured in the case, and is referred to the ambient temperature. The actual CPU temperature might be higher than the ambient temperature.

Actually, Motherboard Monitor does not correctly measure our EPIA’s temperature. So, we do not really recommend it for reference temperature reading.

So with MBM5 it tells me my cpu goes really high when i play mp3's dvd etc. My CPU readings can go up to like 145 degrees farenheit. But according to VIA they said it all boils down to the temperature inside of the case i guess.

The strange thing is, my CPU temp can jump up/down at least 15degrees in like seconds. It is weird. I highly doubt it can get cooled or heated that quick...

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Laidback · 07-06-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Cheekz185

Just got some feedback from VIA, Im a little afraid of what the heat can do to my mobo in my trunk:

So with MBM5 it tells me my cpu goes really high when i play mp3's dvd etc. My CPU readings can go up to like 145 degrees farenheit. But according to VIA they said it all boils down to the temperature inside of the case i guess.

The strange thing is, my CPU temp can jump up/down at least 15degrees in like seconds. It is weird. I highly doubt it can get cooled or heated that quick...

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Erm, they also say that MBM5 *DOESN'T* measure the EPIA temps correctly...