Re: Going to one HD
From: CWO4 Dave Mann (misterremovefixit_at_loveremovespamable.com)
Date: 08/25/05
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Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 18:21:23 -0500
On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 15:59:46 -0700, mechdan wrote:
>
> CWO4 Dave Mann wrote:
>
>>1. Open case, clean out mouse droppings, dust bunnies and taco chip
>>particle.
>
> Good to do every few years, at least. Mouse droppings,
> taco chips, and dead bugs have no significant effect on
> the computer (although you may not like the smell).
> Dust, OTOH, can build up and block airflow--particularly
> underneath CPU fans--and cause overheating.
>
>>2. Apply foam weather stripping per the MaximumPC magazine
>>article to make air handling more efficient and close of
>>avenues for #1 stuff above.
>
> IMHO, not worth the effort, unless it is part of a
> particular airflow strategy. If you are trying to put
> together a quiet PC, then careful airflow design can
> eliminate some fans and reduce noise. If you are not
> trying to put together a quiet PC, then this sort of
> thing is IMHO a waste of effort.
>
> If your concern is accumulated dust then the best
> solution is to design for positive pressure and to filter
> the intake fan(s)...
>
>>3. Install larger and quieter fans with the modified
>>HEPA vacuum cleaner filters, again per the MaxPC article.
>
> If you are truly concerned about dust, then positive
> pressure plus intake fan filters is the way to go.
> You don't need to block every possible opening, since
> positive pressure will turn every little opening into
> an exhaust.
>
> Personally, I don't use filters on any of my computers,
> and my environment is fairly dirty (3 cats and a dog).
> OTOH, I'm also a quiet computing enthusiast, so my
> computers run at lower airflow rates (reducing the speed
> of dust buildup).
>
> Let me put it to you this way: If you don't use air
> filters, then you MIGHT have to deal with dust after
> a few years. If you do use air filters, then you
> WILL have to deal with replacing air filters every
> few months (or more frequently).
>
>>4. Remove the heat sink from the CPU (750Mhz Duron)
>>and replace with a larger fan unit and new thermo paste.
>
> Exactly why are you doing this? Unless your CPU is
> overheating now, there's no need to invest in a better
> heat sink. You'd be better off saving the money for
> a future upgrade to a faster and cooler running processor
> (like an Athlon 64).
>
> If you want to get into quiet computing, then a CPU
> heatsink change or mod may be called for. For an old
> 750Mhz Duron, I'd personally go with modding the
> existing hardware. (My favored technique is removing
> the CPU fan, flipping/undervolting the PSU fan, and
> ducting the PSU exhaust at the CPU.)
>
>>6. Remove old power supply (350 watts and install new
>>500 watt unit per MacPC magazine.
>
> IMHO a complete waste of money. 350 watts should already
> be massive overkill for your system. However, most
> advertised CPU ratings are greatly overstated, so in fact
> a 350 watt PSU is merely significant overkill for your
> system.
>
>>7. Remove existing 20Gb hard drive (hda1) which has
>>a broken Windows Xp install on it and return it to the spares bin.
>
> Ah, now THIS is a good move! The best one listed so
> far! Having just one hard drive per computer is helpful
> for reducing heat and power, noise and vibration, and
> boosting reliability. In your case, it also boosts
> performance (due to the way IDE channels work, among
> other things).
>
>>8. Change the plugs on the 200 MB hard drive (hdb)
>>and make it primary.
>
> WARNING WARNING WARNING - ACTUAL USEFUL ADVICE FOLLOWS:
>
> Before you chuck the 20gig drive and move the 200gig
> drive (surely not 200 megs), boot into Linux and
> modify your /etc/fstab file. You want to replace
> all references to "hdb" with "hda". Then you can
> move the drive and fix up GRUB and such.
>
> Isaac Kuo
Hi Isaac! Thanks for the good tips. As you can tell from my list, I love
to tinker ;-). I will do the positive airflow thing instead of all the
rest. I'm thinking a bigger fan + slower revolutions will move the air
quieter. At least that is what I garnered from here and the magazines I
read (MaxPC, Linux Journal, Dr. Dobbs).
Yes it is a 200 GB drive vice a 200MB. Actually I do have a few 200MB
drives out in the shop in case I need to upgrade any 386's which come my
way ;-)
Aha! The fstab entries. I am glad you reminded me about that. I've
gotten everything printed off, so I have hard copies in front of me.
The Power Supply option is just something I thought up, assuming that the
PS would not have to work as hard and hence be cooler. But OTOH I am
pulling out one HD, 1 CDRW and the flop and cleaning up all the internal
cables with new compact round ones.
OK! Tomorrow is the Big Day!
Now, back to restoring my Heathkit H89 with the 1Mhz clock, 64K of Ram and
2 (yes Two!) single side single density 51/4 inch floppies.
Cheers,
Dave
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