Cooling computer rooms.

[OVerLoRDI]

As you might have noticed from my sig, I have a lot of computers. They are all not in the same room, but the room I'm talking about has 5 machines, and 14 video cards in it. I'll be going on a trip for a while and I'm trying to setup the best long term cooling solution as the warmer weather approaches.

I have a 10000 BTU window AC that can cool the room faster than the computers can heat. While I'm gone I'll have it set at 80F.

Normally when I'm living in this room, I have the door open with a fan blowing air in as well as a fan mounted in the 2nd window blowing air in. This keeps the room at a very pleasant temperature, and the AC rarely has to turn on.

While I am gone, I cannot leave the door open. Also leaving the 2nd fan sucking air in will not help if the outside temperature is higher than 80F (which will likely happen in a few weeks).

What I'm trying to avoid is running the AC as much as possible since that pulls almost 1000 watts while running.

So options:
1) AC only. currently it is 67F outside, the AC on just pure fan mode is not able to cool the room faster enough and room temp rises to 80F quickly and AC starts. Theory: AC alone does not suck in enough air from the outside to effectively cool the room, unless the compressor is running.
2a) AC plus window fan blowing air in. This helps lowers the ambient of the room effectively as long as temperature is lower than 80F. So the AC will have to run less. If outside temperature is higher than 80, I'll essentially be heating the room as far as the AC is concerned. Typically temperatures greater than 80F will only last for a few hours. (heat waves excluded)
2b) AC plus windows fan blowing air out. This exhausts heat out of the room outside, as well as my expensive cold air from the AC. I haven't tested this configuration yet.

All computers are mounted on a table with a box fan blowing air from the AC across the top of them. 80F is cold enough considering how much air flow they are getting. All computer fans are at 100% (yes it is really really loud in here)

What would you guys do?

 

[aigomorla]

leave a window which u cant get a breakin though open and a box fan on it.

Problem solved.

 

[smackababy]

Are you sure they are only 87F? Because that is 27C and not bad temps and assume you're bit mining. With all those computers I don't think electric cost will be extreme. Might as well be safe and use the AC.

 

[WoodButcher]

If your leaving shut them down or leave the AC set and hope it doesn't fail while your away. Fans in the window in a rainstorm are a bad idea for electronics unless of course you can be sure it won't rain.

 

[pcunite]

I guess your window unit does not cycle on and off as needed?

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I guess your window unit does not cycle on and off as needed?

It does, I'm just trying to find the best configuration to limit the amount of time the window unit spends on.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

If your leaving shut them down or leave the AC set and hope it doesn't fail while your away. Fans in the window in a rainstorm are a bad idea for electronics unless of course you can be sure it won't rain.

There will be people I know living in the house, I can have them turn off the box fan when it rains. In the past though it has rained and we haven't had water fly in because of the overhang. But, that is something to consider for sure.

I think I'll just go with the AC and the box fan. Turn off the box fan on really hot days and let the AC do its thing.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Hmm. I have a 12000 BTU A/C, and it seems to struggle with only my two GTX460 card in two Q9300 quad-core rigs.

I'm amazed that your 10000 BTU unit can deal with 5 PCs, each with like 2-3 video cards each.

WTH am I doing wrong. My AC is only about 3, maybe 4 years old. It has a 5-year warranty.

I've noticed that before (last year), when I had the AC set for 70, it would actually get to 70F, on my wall thermostat. Now, it seems to hang around 74, although today during the day it was slowly creeping up to 80F.

Edit: Checked my desktop rigs with a KAW, they draw 353W under full load, and the 26" LCD draws 63W. So each desktop takes over 400W full load.

 

[Zap]

It does, I'm just trying to find the best configuration to limit the amount of time the window unit spends on.

Set to a higher temperature? Also, see if it has an adjustment for the temperature offset. I've seen some that do, meaning you can set it to let's say 85ºF and it will cool to 82ºF, then go off and not kick back on until 88ºF with a 3ºF offset.

 

[Blain]

What would you guys do?

You've not addressed why these machines need to be running 24/7.
I would power them down.

 

[smackababy]

You've not addressed why these machines need to be running 24/7.
I would power them down.

I am sure he is bitcoin mining.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I am sure he is bitcoin mining.

No, I just really like to run furmark on all my video cards, all the time.

 

[aigomorla]

No, I just really like to run furmark on all my video cards, all the time.

Cool if you can now only get them to scale, you would break the world record..

:biggrin:

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Cool if you can now only get them to scale, you would break the world record..

:biggrin:

 

[dualsmp]

1000 watts spread across 26 GPU's seems like a pretty good trade off. A little over 38 watts each.

I'd keep the AC to kick in at a reasonable temp like 82 degrees or however hot you feel it's possible to run your machines 100%.

 

[muskie32]

I would try the AC/ Push option. Lucky in my PC room the AC is strong enough to cool all my computers. (13 computers total)

 

[Modelworks]

Have you tried a dehumidifier ? Rooms with high moisture levels make it harder to cool.

 

[Blain]

No, I just really like to run furmark on all my video cards, all the time.

So you just like running benchmarks 24/7, even when you're gone?
:\ Your video cards are simply churning through power for your amusement.
Why worry about a few dollars for cooling?

 

[deimos3428]

So you just like running benchmarks 24/7, even when you're gone?
:\ Your video cards are simply churning through power for your amusement.
Why worry about a few dollars for cooling?

I believe your sarcasm meter is broken, sir.

 

[alaricljs]

Have you tried a dehumidifier ? Rooms with high moisture levels make it harder to cool.

Dude what? Rooms with higher moisture levels *feel* warmer. However in terms of cooling capacity for hardware higher moisture levels improve heat transfer. Yes cooling that moister air will take more energy to cool, but that's because it's got a higher capacity for heat and has done more to cool your hardware.

A dehumidifier is a heat machine, bad idea unless you can find one that dumps the heat outside... Oh wait, that's what an AC unit is.

 

[farthestkris]

leave a window which u cant get a breakin though open and a box fan on it.

Problem solved.

the problem with that is in the summer your screwed :awe:

 

[VirtualLarry]

Dude what? Rooms with higher moisture levels *feel* warmer. However in terms of cooling capacity for hardware higher moisture levels improve heat transfer. Yes cooling that moister air will take more energy to cool, but that's because it's got a higher capacity for heat and has done more to cool your hardware.

A dehumidifier is a heat machine, bad idea unless you can find one that dumps the heat outside... Oh wait, that's what an AC unit is.

This.

 

[Blain]

I believe your sarcasm meter is broken, sir.

Rather than endless benchmarking, maybe his CPU & GPU cycles could actually be working on some problems via Distributed Computing.

 

[aigomorla]

Rather than endless benchmarking, maybe his CPU & GPU cycles could actually be working on some problems via Distributed Computing.

he's bitcoin mining..

The furmark was a attempt at sarcasm.

He needs to leave his computers on all the time, because they get coins on completion.

Overlord... dont oc your video cards.. run them at stock... and even during summer they should be okey as long as u have a fan.

Maybe put a fan on a outlet timer.. so it goes on and off every 45 min.

The main thing is you want to make sure its a location which water wont get into when it rains... like u said... or someone can break into the window and jack your farm.

 

[Modelworks]

Dude what? Rooms with higher moisture levels *feel* warmer. However in terms of cooling capacity for hardware higher moisture levels improve heat transfer. Yes cooling that moister air will take more energy to cool, but that's because it's got a higher capacity for heat and has done more to cool your hardware.

A dehumidifier is a heat machine, bad idea unless you can find one that dumps the heat outside... Oh wait, that's what an AC unit is.

Not so. Once the temperatures reach 50C things start to change. The more humidity in the room the worse the cooling. The more above 60C the more of an impact it makes .

Dehumidifiers also do not require heat. You can get dessicant that remove water from the air with no power or heat.