Hello everyone. I browse the prodject logs everyday and though it was about time I started one of my own. So right now I'm in the planning stages. The idea is to create a File/Media Server mostly from components from my existing (soon to be retired) machines. What I'm going for is huge storage in a small space (girlfriends input). All the hardware that I'll be running is relatively low spec but I'm still worried about the heat build up due to the compact nature. Below is the proposed layout. Originaly I'll start with two hard drives and increase as required. With 2 Drives Fully Loaded Final Info: Because it is a file server. No CD/DVD is required. The motherboard I have has onboard video. The PCI slots will only be used for raid controllers so no back plate required for them. 2 * 120mm Intake fans (front) 1 * 120mm Export fan (rear) PSU 120mm fan (intake from the outside of the case) So what do you guys think? Heat not going to be an issue? Or "Oh my god don't do it! You'll burn down the house." Cheers mnorth
i think you should make a bit more room between the drives and the mobo and put the psu on the bottem underneth every thing it will help alot for cooling issues.
Heat pipes never really crossed my mind. I didn't see a need for them. Plus I wouldn't have a clue where to start looking for them. Take a looks at the pic. It's just a quick mock up of my idea. The case design will use plexi sheets to create channels for the air to flow through over the hard drives. With 10-15mm between the top of each drive and next sheet. With another sheet vertical creating a channel across the top of the mobo. You still think I need more? @DougEdey. Acutally the heat pipe could be used insead of the plexi sheets? Use heat sinks on the side of the drives and some sort of heat pipe rail system underneath them could be quite cool. Not sure how possible this is though. Just a thought.
With the heatpipes you just need to place a block of copper or similar high conductive material around the drive (not touching the PCB) and then run some pipes off it.
it might look good, but what about the wires for all that stuff? it doesn't seem like much room for air flow after its wired and plugged in.
Umm... heatpipes aren't just pipes. They have a fluid of such description within them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heatpipe If you chuck some finned heatsinks on the harddrive (sorta like the copper idea thrown around) and have these fins following the flow of air from side to side then you should see some reasonable cooling
Cheers. I understand the principles of heat pipe cooling. Just haven't got a clue about getting hold of / making custom heat pipes. I'll be using sata drives (so no ugly / huge IDE cables in sight). Also have plans for some custom made power cables and routing tricks to make almost all of the wiring hidden. Don't want to give too much away though until I start the project.
You just need thin copper tubing, bend them to the shape you want first. Then find the appropriate wick.
Ah, no you dont. A heat pipe is a low pressure device (at least for use in computers) and if not correctly designed is worse than a metal bar. They are not easy things to build your self. (if you just use water then the thing you are cooling needs to top 100C before the pipe starts to do anything - hence the requirement for a much lower pressure).
I'd look into getting some sort of exhaust for the cpu heatsink. Squeezing a larger fan exhausting upwards looks quite possible. Perhaps squeezing a blower in the space between the i/o port and the back of the psu. How do you plan on supporting your acrylic shelves? navig
Looks good to me mate, as long as your running say >45 cfm 120mm fans i cant personally see that you'll have an issue, though having either a fan or venting at the top of the case may help in dissapation and stop heat soak from occuring up near the top of motherboard. Cheers -Belial
You could bolt the HD's copper sheet about 2-3mm thick. THensolder copper water tubing 1/2 or 3/8 inch to it in lines make about 3 passes over it. Then connect each pass and wire each end to a WC loop.
That's alot of tubing, also requiring some impressive pumping power. Best to stick to your current plan, as it's cheaper, and modify if necessary. Just throwing this out here, but could an array of fans parallel to the PSU fan (mounted on the side panel) replace/augment the current 3? (apologies if this makes no sense, kinda wasted at the moment)
I think that would be fine for cooling. All cables would be up at the end and not blocking air-flow across the disks. I think soldering copper tubing to copper plate etc is a bit ott.
Lodddsa heat, Seriously thats a lot of heat, and how bout you buy liquid colled HDD racks and hook them up to the fans with a 120mm and 240 mm radiator on each side.. My baby
yh I'm still deciding if i like them or not but they aint stuck so they will be easy to take off but part from that it runs niceeee its in a Thermaltake Armour case. I dunno if i like the red water looking back now MEh But the tubes are tygon
