why aren't heatsink/fan combos designed like this?

[acejj26]

pic

shouldn't this work better than the current "blowing down" on the heatsink

my idea would create a nice wind tunnel for the hot air to leave the system

your guys' thoughts?

 

[flood]

you only need one fan to do this, and alpha makes their heatsinks like that. it requires that you use a shroud for it to be effective

 

[acejj26]

i haven't seen an Alpha H/S like that in a few years....the PEP66 was the last one i can remember that did something like this

the second fan would help because it would create a wind tunnel.....kinda like in the winter if you just open up a window, not much cold air comes in, but then if you open up your front door, look out....cold air rushes through the window....that kind of thing

 

[Soccerman]

well Alpha's heatsinks are now designed with sucking the air out of the heatsink and blowing it out to the side of the case. ie, if you had a tunnel to direct the flow out of a whole in the side of your case, you could easily attack the problem of the case heating up from CPU exhaust air. unfortunately no-one has ever made a shroud (even if it was built out of paper it would work) and sold it, so it a project you'd have to do yourself, and you won't have to bother redesigning the motherboard to give the hot air a place to exit.

 

[McCarthy]

Because cases and CPU placements vary too much to be able to count on a "windtunnel" as you drew. With my Enlight 7237 case and my Iwill KK266 board the match is very nice, air comes out of my Alpha 8045 and immediately gets sucked out the case fan, though it does have to make a 90 degree turn in the process. With a sink like you drew on my board with this case the air would be blowing straight against the back of the case and would have to do a couple inch just sideways to get out, less efficient than currently.

Only when you can control both the case selection and board selection can you use a heatsink that is tailored to a particular configuration. I think Dell does use a duct so they're using the case fan as the CPU fan, at least someone described their older setup that way.

--Mc

 

[Wingznut]

One of the reasons I really like my Fong Kai FK-320 case, is the duct leading to the exhaust fan. Pic.

Of course, this is only REALLY effective if the cpu fan is pulling air away from the heatsink.

 

[Soccerman]

hey that's a sweet case there Wingznut... u lucky dog!

but I still like my idea better (because it doesn't require the bending of airflow). I just wish there was an easy way to line up the hole in the side with the Socket so I could then make a good duct (probably would end up being sheetmetal mounted on the side case panel so it doesn't lean on the heatsink/fan). that automatically means that the CPU will feed onto the fan I have on the back of the case (in other words, it would be an intake rather than exhaust fan). the only other fan I would put in the case would be in the front, to blow on the cards somewhat.

 

[onelin]

pretty interesting idea... hard to line up with all the diff cases though. I too don't like just a standard blowing down/up on the CPU setup, but I do favor down over up... my solution to this was to mod my 7237 (w/ a guide from this forum oh, 2 yrs back?) to put an 80mm intake fan right above my cpu... exhaust on the back and top of my case. seems to work pretty well, (with a couple front bottom intake also) I'd like to see pics if you ever do setup a tunnel.

 

[Jhhnn]

The issue is really about the variability of processor/fan placement from one board/case to another. I used a ducted side exhaust hole from an Alpha 8045 on a recent microbox project, works fine. Problem is that it's totally custom, only a big system integrator like Dell could put it together any other way.

I'd post pics, 'cept I have no personal webspace- maybe someone could help me find another way.....

 

[acejj26]

jhhnn,

i have plenty of space on my website....if you want me to host your pics, i can do that



i do understand that the rear fan placement will vary, as will the orientation of the socket

here's what i'd like to see, though:

the heatsink i described using the four mounting holes to eliminate the orientation of the socket as an obstacle
some kind of new case standard that will set up something like this.....with CPU's ramping up like they are, it's gonna become VERY difficult to cool these processors with just air alone. some new standard that says "socket must be here, rear fan must be here..." so that cooling can be more efficient may help

just my ideas....i'd hate to have to see watercooling as a requirement in the years to come (could you imagine people buying a PC from Best Buy only to have a seal fail and have water destroy a system...a new, efficient air cooling system must be put into place

 

[Soccerman]

ahh here we go.. my poor little drawing gets to be scrutinzed, but oh well..

there's also another drawing of a previous case design I made, though I don't know if it's all that great now..