Importance of cooling

By meits

Scribe (6530)

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14-08-2012, 15:31

As many people with a computer with a seperate keyboard, I have my monitor right on top of the computer.
It does, however, block most of the holes on top of the computer case.
I got quite some hardware attached to the computer, so I bet the PSU has quite some work to do there.
After some unexpected freezes, I touched the casing of my Sony 700 and I must say, it hurt.

Any chances the freezes, big pack of attached hardware and temperature have any relation?

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By Miguel_Noe

Champion (465)

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14-08-2012, 20:57

Its power supply is easiest to install a few fans for you can refrigerate.
High temperatures reduce the lifespan of any voltage regulator.

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

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15-08-2012, 12:08

Meits wrote:

Any chances the freezes, big pack of attached hardware and temperature have any relation?

Absolutely... Use some small rubber blocks / pieces of wood or so to create vertical room (say, 2-3 cm) between case and monitor. That way the ventilation holes in the back can be freed, AND heat that hangs in the top of the case elsewhere, can be cooled by convection under the monitor. Monitor might benefit from this too if there's ventilation holes in its bottom.

The Sony 700 has a well built power supply, but it does generate a lot of heat so those ventilation holes in the back are absolutely needed. Exactly what peripherals are drawing power from the machine? (for example a slotexpander may have its own psu, so only its buffer cartridge would draw power). SCC cart / FM PAC etc don't draw much compared to internals of the machine.

Another option is replace voltage regulator(s?) with switching types. But I have no idea how much difference that would make. And might increase noise on audio & video outputs.

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

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15-08-2012, 12:58

Actually, there's two slotexpanders in it without external powersupply (Gouda 5.0)... There's CF, opl4, pana music, philips audio, scc flash 512 and midi pac in it... Furthermore there's 2+ and 7MHz in the computer...

Received a tip to put dice underneath the monitor... Haven't checked its reliability yet... A bit of airflow wouldn't hurt either... Maybe I've to build in a little fan?

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

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15-08-2012, 13:22

Ouch that's heavily packed indeed Shocked! CPU clock is a big factor in power consumption, so switch to 3.58 MHz if you think the machine is overheating. Those slotexpanders have an option to use external power supply?

If you're going for a fan, you might as well hookup a PC psu to replace internal one.

By meits

Scribe (6530)

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15-08-2012, 13:59

There's no external power supply possible on those slotexpanders...

Is the well built psu strong enough for this? Seeing you hinting to replace it with a PC one if I wanna add a fan confuses me a bit about its reliability Wink

By wernerkai

Champion (357)

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19-08-2012, 15:56

Yesterday I used an UT-61C to measure the temperature of Z80@3,575MHz and TMS9128NL with aluminium block over it - with the MSX1 Hotbit closed and after 4 hours of operation.

Z80 peaked 50°C and VPD 53°C.

At the moment of the test, ambient temperature was 20~25°C

By ray2day

Paladin (728)

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19-08-2012, 19:13

Also monitor cooling would be advised during this heat in The Netherlands at the moment;
One deceased yesterday and today also. Third monitor is up. Poor old stuff can't take the heat I guess. @Oss +35°C

By RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

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20-08-2012, 18:56

Yeah, IMHO the heat of summer is the best time to stress-test computers (MSX or other)... Save up for it, and use them mostly in other times of the year, but put 'm together and do cooling / stress-tests when it's hot outside (and even hotter inside LOL! flat roof and all).