Computer Furniture Question

[Larry_OHF]

How safe is it to buy a computer desk that has the closed drawer where they expect you to keep your PC? I am referring not the an office PC, but a gaming PC...meaning high-powered graphics card and all that which keeps the temperature higher.

Just for some reference, I have five exterior fans on my case...two outputs and three intakes. Of course inside the case the g-card and processor have thier own fans.

Normal operating temperature for my PC (not inside a drawer):

Case: 96`F
CPU: 98`F

So how hot would it get if inside a drawer?
I guess I would like to hear from people that actually have their PCs inside a drawer.

[wellard]

By asking this question larry I think you know the answer ... don't do it! Keep all electrical items 'in the breeze'. Heat through poor ventalation or dust build up is the main enemy of most things electrical. vibration and moisture being the only other two killers, which PC's are not really subjected too.

[Bungleau]

Look to see what ventilation sources are in the drawer. We have a new armoire-style computer center upstairs, and in the back of the area where you put the computer, there's a large-size knockout so that sufficient air gets in there. We also typically have the doors open when we use it, so air can get in from the front.

If the ventilation is poor, you're asking for trouble. You might stick a thermometer in there to see how hot it gets...

[Felix The Assassin]

Just add a nice oven rack to said cabinet, add some beef, turkey, venison, just no road kill, and give me a call when it's done in a day or two!

[Cloudbringer]

I'm guessing it might get a little too warm, but if you really want the piece of furniture you could always take the door off. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[LennonCook]

If you're willing to replace the whole computer once a fortnight, you should be fine. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Larry_OHF]

Okay, so leaving the door open during the time its used and having the back knocked out would be sufficient, from what I am reading here.

Maybe I'll take a pic for you guys when I pick out what model I will be getting in the next day or so.

[Lady Sedai]

We've got one similar to what you are looking at.

Where the tower goes, there's a door on the front, but it has *no* back (so all the wires can go where they need to ).

During last summer, we left the door on the front open -but you *can*, as suggested, just leave the door off altogether. And, just to be on the safe side, we put a floor fan behind us as we gamed and put the fan on rotate just to give a bit more cooling air to the area.

We never had a problem. [img]smile.gif[/img] And it really does look spiffy when the computer is off and the door is closed. Makes everything look very neat and tidy.

Good luck on your purchase. It's sometimes not so easy to find just the right computer table that also fits your space.

[wellard]

Originally posted by Larry_OHF: Okay, so leaving the door open during the time its used and having the back knocked out would be sufficient, from what I am reading here. Maybe I'll take a pic for you guys when I pick out what model I will be getting in the next day or so.

That’s not my vote at all. The computer should be open on all sides IMO [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Of course that does not mean that the wires should not be bundled to reduce the messy look and extra effort made to keep all the discs neatly stored and such. On a winters night down here the PC provides enough heat to keep the spare bedroom (computer room) snug and toasty.

And on the dynamics of air, air in a room may circulate freely in the centre of an empty room but towards the room’s corners and near any surfaces like furniture and walls and the air remains more stagnant.

However as lady Sedai mentioned, it does look spiffy I sometimes despair of the mess around the computer

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

I think you'l be fine. 96F is only 36C. PCs can run up into the 80s and shutdown at 90s.

Those fans should be able to draw air ok, especially if the back of the cupboard is off.

Don't worry about it.