preferred fan speed control methods?

[David Ecklein]

I could add that, with the conventional arrangement, your computer becomes
sort of an Electrolux with no bag, filling up with dust bunnies that might
eventually cause overheating, no matter how functional the fans are.  With
the airflow reversed, RPM monitors on three-wire fans could signal when it's
time to pop off the filters.  Even a partially blocked fan will run slower.

The other problem is with people who smoke in front of their computer.  Oh,
I know you high level guys and gals never do that!  But if the people who do
saw what happens to the inside of their machines over time, they would not
need Nicoderm (or whatever it is) to kick the habit.  It is disgusting!  The
dust bunnies combine with the tar to decorate the interior like you wouldn't
believe.  I have had to wash such rigs out with alcohol before daring to
work on them.  Literally hold them over the sink, spray them with isopropyl,
and watch the carcinogens swirl down the drain.

Maybe someone should start a commonsense movement to reverse the
conventional airflow direction in PCs.  If there is a real reason (besides a
mistaken tradition - I don't quite buy the cool-power-supply-first
rationalization), I haven't come across it yet.

Dave E.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Scott" <dragonhawk at gmail.com>
To: "GNHLUG Group" <gnhlug-discuss at mail.gnhlug.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: preferred fan speed control methods?


> On 11/29/06, Drew Van Zandt <drew.vanzandt at gmail.com> wrote:
> > A comment on Dave's question about fans blowing in vs. out:
>
>   And another:
>
>   The original IBM-PC's power supply fan drew air from inside the case
> and then blew it out the back.  Everybody since has done the same
> thing.  Humans are great at mindless imitation.  Every now and then
> you see a design that has some new thinking, but they're rare.
>
>   I don't know why the original IBM-PC was designed that way, but my
> guess would be it was because the PS was, by far, the biggest heat
> generator in that system, so it made sense to exhaust the PS outside
> the case.
>
> > Higher-pressure air inside also helps keep dust from sneaking in the
> > crack, as there's airflow out through even the tiniest ones.
>
>   Yup, positive case pressure with filters on the intakes is the ideal
> way to go.  I retrofitted a system to run that way once, and it made a
> huge difference in how much dust collected on the innards.  Of course,
> it does necessitate regular filter cleanings.  Forget, and the filter
> clogs and you loose all airflow.  Then you *really* have a cooling
> problem.
>
> -- Ben
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