Server overheating

Hi:

I purchased a new computer, but decided to stay with my old one, and it's a 950mhz AMD Athlon 128mb, enough to run a personal server, but it overheats, and screws up.

The hard drive gets really hot, and so does the power supply. I assume I need a new power supply. Is there any way to cool down the heat??? Thanks for your help!!

Ken Cooper

More fans. Get a 2 fan power supply. You can also get hard drive coolers. Before you buy anything though, clean out any dust and such that has accumulated in the system, dust is an insulator. Be sure you have space around the box for airflow too, and don't keep it in a hot attic or something, put the box where the ambient temp is as cool as possible.

Thanks for the advice. I'll do what I can. It's just an old computer that I have no use for, and don't want to put too much money into it. But I'll see what I can do. I couldn't put it in my basement, because the wiring is weird. Currently, it's in my room on my desk, with one of the sides off, so I guess enough air is getting through. Is this ok? Thanks again for the advice!!!

Ken Cooper

You may be doing this already, but try blowing a fan into the open side, rather than just letting it stand there. If the cpu is overheating a lot, you could try removing the heatsink, cleaning it and the cpu carefully to remove the goop, and reseating it with some good thermal paste. If you're more ambitious, you could try lapping the heat sink, for better heat transfer.

Hi:

Thanks again for the reply. I actually fixed it. Ya see, I guess I was looking/taking parts off my server comp for my new computer, and then noticed the CPU fan wasn't plugged into the motherboard, and then plugged it in when I saw it, and then it ran like usual.

But still, do you think my room is good enough to place my server? Obviously, it's an open room, and I took one side off the computer, for better airflow, and I check for dust periodically. Is this good enough to run it? THanks for your help!!!

Ken Cooper

Yeah, disconnected cpu fans will do that. You're lucky it didn't fry itself.
Your room is fine, especially b/c its just your personal server. There really aren't any special, unique conditions needed for a server compared to a regular computer, it just serves a different function.