Why are my PC temps so high?

dark006

Member
Case: 24H X 7.5W X 17D
Lights: 4 26W CFL's (over Lexan sheet)
Ventilation: 120mm & 80mm for exhaust, 120mm for intake
Walls are mylar covered cardboard frames (centers cut out)

From what I've read and looked at I feel like what I have is an overkill for ventilation. The lexan sheet isn't sealed air tight. On 3 edges is tight up against the wall and on the edge closest to the fan it is about an inch from the fan. Exhaust fans are on the top back side and the intake fan is on the bottom front side where that little vertical line is with slots in it. I also cut out the bottom of that front panel to let more air in underneath. The only thing I can think of is that the intake opening isn't big enough for the fan to draw in enough cool air. Here are some pics.

 

a mongo frog

Well-Known Member
thats one funky, cool ass box dude. nice job. i thinkl your right on with the intake hole. but others might know more than me in your case.
 

pazuzu420

Well-Known Member
Could be some other factors to consider as well such as ambient temp, you can't expect to cool the air inside the box if the air you are taking into it is the same warm air you just spit out. Does it get lower when you open the window next to it?
 

dark006

Member
Yeah yeah yeah :) Ambient temp with the side door off is 73 deg F so yeah can't expect it to be any less than that. Sorry that was pretty stupid to not even post what the temps were at....the couple times I tested it topped out at 82 deg F. Like I said the lexan sheet isn't completely sealed. Would I help to seal it on the 3 edges? I feel like that big 120mm fan should be able to pump out the heat produced up top. I still have to drill some new intake holes in the front.
 

cruzer101

Well-Known Member
I'd kill for 82° man.
So like you got 82° with outside the case temps at 73° you boost ambient temps by 10° and that's without one side completely sealed. I think you seal that up and it raises it by at least 5° check it out. What do you do when ambient temps hit high 80's and you got a lot of foliage in there? Run lights at night and A/C in the room?
 
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