On Tue, 4 May 1999, John C. Ellingboe wrote: >Michael Stenner wrote: >> I disagree that the cpu would need a fan - I used to run a very old P60 >> (a REALLY hot chip) without a fan (fan kept breaking...) and it was >> toasty but caused no problems. If you choose a cpu that runs cool, you >> should be OK. You can also look into thermoelectric (or Peltier) >> coolers -- no moving parts. > >You still have to get the heat (cpu + Peltier device) out of the box. >Even though the cpu will be cool, when using a Pelier device the box >will become quite toasty. One of the heat pipe devices would be a >better choice. There you would have a heatsink plate mounted on the >cpu and a tube running out side the case to a heatsink.
Admittedly, I may not be as cautious as I should be about these things, but it doesn't seem to me that the box would necessarily get dangerously hot. When I was doing it, I left the box open, but as I said, that was a VERY hot chip. I've never heard of a "heat pipe", but that sounds quite nice. I'm a little confused: is it a true pipe (i.e. with air inside) that relies on convection? or is it something like a copper rod? I must also say that the suggestions about controlling the Peltier cooler are quite good. You can buy a ready-made device for cheap. -Michael Michael Stenner Office Phone: 919-660-2513 Duke University, Dept. of Physics [EMAIL PROTECTED] Box 90305, Durham N.C. 27708-0305