Nice Desk

[jackellis]

Make sure the fans in the computer case are working properly and periodically clean the vents on the cabinet so they don't block air flow. Especially if you have pets that shed.

Another option is to install a piece of software that monitors CPU and case temperature to make sure things are not getting too hot.

[Bruce Cohen]

Dave, Try this one out, no plans, but you can always wing it.

The first one was made by Darrell Peart, he has a web site.

The second one. I made, plans were from an old issue of Workbence mag. Although I customized it some.





Enjoy,

Bruce

[Salty]

I considered this as well when I built mine. I decided not to use a door and to use a large cutout at the back. The unit on the right has a fan on the top of the case and that seems to help a lot. There is also plenty of space on all sides for airflow.

[jonmulzer]

Sarge, if I understand you correctly you should be just fine. You are saying the sides of the box will be slatted? If so, you will have plenty of airflow. If it will be enclosed in a 5 sided box where there is no back then you can cut a hole in the bottom of the compartment inside the door and make some arrangements for airflow in the toekick. Even without that, you should be fine with what you have, but it would be better if it had good airflow.

[SARGE..g-47]

Thanks for your in-put, Jon. I believe I have it eye-balled and have a plan in mind at this point with various in-put I have recieved.

Thanks to all that replied...

[drumpriest]

I'll agree with these guys Sarge, if you have an open back, or the sides are slats, it's no big deal, you just need enough air flow that the case fans can get air through the case, for most people's computers that doesn't take a bunch, for setups like mine, it's a bit of a different story. My airflow design allows for air intake up front and exhaust out the back and side of the case, which is why it butts up against the desk on the left side.

btw, 7 fans in my case to keep it running cool. Not very many people keep a high end GPU running full bore for 10+ hours a day, gamers do have a tendency to strain their systems, game developers (such as myself) push it all the time.

[SARGE..g-47]

Thanks for your in-put Keith.... my wife does run a small business on-line but only spends about two hours a day on the computer.. I spend about 1-2 with various forums.. and our son will use it to game for an average of 2. Knowing that ventilation is critical now I am going to go ahead and enclose it but... design it with maximum ventilation.

Slat on the side.. open rear and I very well may vent the bottom also as it won't show anyway so that leaves that option. Probably over-kill but better too much than not enough. We do seem to replace a CPU every 4-5 years and perhaps poor ventilation may be a key as to why. From opening them up after replacing... I have a haunch that dust may play a role in fatality also.

Regards...

[drumpriest]

Dust is often the major culprit. A friend of mine just asked me why his machine was running really slow, turned out the dust had clogged up his CPU fan and it stopped working, so his machine would slow itself down when it got too hot.

The bottom is probably not worth venting, it's about how the airflow works, really, typically air gets pulled in from the front and expelled the back. I've not seen any cases where the bottom is used for air flow purposes.

[jonmulzer]

I try to open up my computer every 3 months and blow it out with compressed air. Never use a vacuum, there is easily enough static there to fry the CPU and such.

My Antec case and two of the HP's I have here in the house draw air from the bottom front along with a few other computers I have worked on. Essentially I was looking for some place to get a little air moving in an enclosed box without detracting from the exterior design. If the sides will be slatted, a porthole in the bottom will certainly be overkill.

[SARGE..g-47]

"If the sides will be slatted, a porthole in the bottom will certainly be overkill".

Have tools.. have know how.. have time.. will save about one board foot of QSWO and in case some are not aware.. QSWO per board foot cost more today than my first used Remington pump shot-gun did in 1959.

Am I cheap? Let's say frugal in an economy that promotes frugality today and probably more-so tomorrow and the next day. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..

Regards...

[woodinville guy]

Dave, Try this one out, no plans, but you can always wing it.

The first one was made by Darrell Peart, he has a web site.

The second one. I made, plans were from an old issue of Workbence mag. Although I customized it some.

[ATTACH]11741[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]11742[/ATTACH]

Enjoy,

Bruce

The first one looks really cool.