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spicemuseum · 03-17-2009, 02:48 PM

I see the fan installation tutorial thread rising up every now and again.

I guess some people perceive there to be a cooling problem. If there is such a problem, surely the PCH would ship with a fan already fitted?

Is this modification just for people who want their PCH to run cooler than normal, or run their PCH in a harsher-than-an-average-living-room environment?

Any helpful insight gladly received.

DaveK · 03-17-2009, 02:56 PM

One of the first things I noticed about my PCH is how hot to the touch it got after only a few hours of running, now even hotter with an internal hard drive. I however, cant say that it is a overheating problem, it just concerned me that's all.

I would hate to somehow lose my HDD (1TB of data) or have it shut-off mid movie, if I could have avoided it by adding a 6$ fan...

If I had two guess, I would guess we will see a fan make it into one of the next few PCH designs.

Rhapsody · 03-17-2009, 03:14 PM

I've got a fan 'installed' as well and for me it was simply a small investment to prevent possible failure.

Though there's plenty of space for air-circulation I do have the feeling that it cools down the system a little bit. I placed some heatsinks on the chips.

But it works fine without a fan. I've been using it for a month without any modifications and it worked perfect.

deparson12 · 03-17-2009, 03:21 PM

We just set ours up last night with a WD Green 1TB drive and while the top lid is warm it is in no way warmer that one would expect from a STB.

I am guessing that one of the major drivers is the amount of heat that the HDD generates. If you put a high performance 7200RPM drive in you are going to see a lot more heat than one that is geared more for the storage needs of the PCH. ala a lower RPM drive tuned for power savings.

You don't need a fast drive in the PCH so why pay the price in terms of heat and power use?

spicemuseum · (This post was last modified: 03-17-2009 04:59 PM by spicemuseum.)

(03-17-2009 03:21 PM)deparson12 Wrote: We just set ours up last night with a WD Green 1TB drive and while the top lid is warm it is in no way warmer that one would expect from a STB.

I am guessing that one of the major drivers is the amount of heat that the HDD generates. If you put a high performance 7200RPM drive in you are going to see a lot more heat than one that is geared more for the storage needs of the PCH. ala a lower RPM drive tuned for power savings.

You don't need a fast drive in the PCH so why pay the price in terms of heat and power use?

I've got a 10,000RPM raptor in mine - it's a bit noisy when it spins up, it was simply an unused disc I had following a PC upgrade. My PCH gets no hotter than "warm to the touch" - hence my questions.

I've had my PCH running like this for 4 months. If there is a preferred (almost) silent fan option I'm happy to investigate, but a large majority of posters in the tutorial thread seem to be extreme modders. So any suggestions fior simple and quiet install ? (I'm in the UK if that helps)
Ditto with heatsinks...

notdavid · 03-17-2009, 04:30 PM

"Warm To The Touch"
Makes me laugh, what temperature is that?
You got a calibrated hand, maybe SAE Certified?
I use something called a temperature probe, AKA, thermometer.
There is absolutely no overheating problem. I own four (4) A100's all with 750GB PATA HDD's, they are running 24/7, I have one as a test bed that has been looping 1080P HD file for months, not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California.
Really, you want to "Pimp Your PCH" please feel free, but don't use a false premise to get your jollies!

ND

spicemuseum · (This post was last modified: 03-17-2009 04:45 PM by spicemuseum.)

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: "Warm To The Touch"
Makes me laugh, what temperature is that?
You got a calibrated hand, maybe SAE Certified?
I use something called a temperature probe, AKA, thermometer.

:-) LOL. Don't be an ar5e, there's no such thing as SAE certification for media players (clue: they're not automotive).
To aid you in your lack of imagination: I would estimate the case top lid to be at certainly no more than 40 celcius (I think that's about 25,000 foreignheit, for you Americans).

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: There is absolutely no overheating problem. I own four (4) A100's all with 750GB PATA HDD's, they are running 24/7, I have one as a test bed that has been looping 1080P HD file for months, not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California.

That's more like useful info. Thanks. (I do note, however, that you're discussing about the A100, not A110, not that I imagine there's a world of difference in temps between them.)

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: Really, you want to "Pimp Your PCH" please feel free, but don't use a false premise to get your jollies!

I have absolutely no desire to "pimp my PCH" (whatever that means), nor get any "jollies" under false premises (whatever they are).
I want only to know whether fan and heatsink modifications/additions are a) required, b) desirable.
I guess in your view the answer to both is "no", I'd be interested in others' opinions, though.

notdavid · 03-18-2009, 02:39 AM

(03-17-2009 04:41 PM)spicemuseum Wrote: :-) LOL. Don't be an ar5e, there's no such thing as SAE certification for media players (clue: they're not automotive).
To aid you in your lack of imagination: I would estimate the case top lid to be at certainly no more than 40 celcius (I think that's about 25,000 foreignheit, for you Americans).

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: There is absolutely no overheating problem. I own four (4) A100's all with 750GB PATA HDD's, they are running 24/7, I have one as a test bed that has been looping 1080P HD file for months, not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California.
That's more like useful info. Thanks. (I do note, however, that you're discussing about the A100, not A110, not that I imagine there's a world of difference in temps between them.)

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: Really, you want to "Pimp Your PCH" please feel free, but don't use a false premise to get your jollies!
I have absolutely no desire to "pimp my PCH" (whatever that means), nor get any "jollies" under false premises (whatever they are).
I want only to know whether fan and heatsink modifications/additions are a) required, b) desirable.
I guess in your view the answer to both is "no", I'd be interested in others' opinions, though.

SAE Certification is in reference to your Calibrated Hand, not the media player.
My information is Facts, Not Feelings, real temperature readings, real tests, real results.

ND

spicemuseum · 03-18-2009, 08:04 AM

(03-18-2009 02:39 AM)notdavid Wrote: SAE Certification is in reference to your Calibrated Hand, not the media player.

Equally, my hand isn't automotive, it is, however, certified human.
Talking of facts, though, it is a fact that the lid feels warm to my hand.

Anyway, it looks to me as though adding a fan to my A110 is a non-starter.

What models of heatsinks are people adding to the peripheral chips, any recommendations?

fillmore · 03-18-2009, 11:35 AM

(03-17-2009 04:30 PM)notdavid Wrote: "Warm To The Touch"
Makes me laugh, what temperature is that?
You got a calibrated hand, maybe SAE Certified?
I use something called a temperature probe, AKA, thermometer.
There is absolutely no overheating problem. I own four (4) A100's all with 750GB PATA HDD's, they are running 24/7, I have one as a test bed that has been looping 1080P HD file for months, not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California.
Really, you want to "Pimp Your PCH" please feel free, but don't use a false premise to get your jollies!

ND

Dude .. you poke fun at the other guy around using a temperature probe, and go on to make a statement "not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California"

I presume the hottest part of summer in South California always is a pre-set constant temperature reading which everyone knows and one does not need a thermometer to measure. Big Grin

**chris57** · 03-18-2009, 12:11 PM

There is no need for any internal cooling.

The key is air circulation. The unit and lid are designed to radiate the heat away from the Sigma chip. The HDD heat will dissapate through the lid and vent through grilled sides aswell.

If you do not give the required circulatory space then heat can build up and in those cases a fan may help move the air out rather than relying on it radiating away.

There is no need to mess about with the heatsink at all. You are voiding your warranty if you remove the fitted heatsink.

notdavid · (This post was last modified: 03-18-2009 06:48 PM by notdavid.)

(03-18-2009 11:35 AM)fillmore Wrote: Dude .. you poke fun at the other guy around using a temperature probe, and go on to make a statement "not a problem, even during the hottest part of the summer in Southern California"

I presume the hottest part of summer in South California always is a pre-set constant temperature reading which everyone knows and one does not need a thermometer to measure.

No, I have already stated dozens of times in this forum my "Facts NOT Feelings" of actual temperature readings, here is just one, of many for the "Search Impaired" have fun!!
http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...#pid124843

ND

Ath3na · 03-18-2009, 07:55 PM

Hi,

here is my input. I baught the newer of the two models and also baught the 1.5tb seagate aproved drive from the wiki, mid way through my second episode of 24 hi def mkv the box turned off. I turned it back on to have no display. i check the casing and to my supprise it was really hot. I had to RMA it. Since then i have the new one sitting on a laptop cooler. its supprising the difference it makes. the casing never gets more than warm now. Maybe i had a faulty one initially who knows? looking on numerious forums there are plenty of posts on heat issues. I personally think a fan wouldnt of gone a miss and i will be supprised if the next model doesnt have a fan.

notdavid · 03-18-2009, 07:59 PM

(03-18-2009 07:55 PM)Ath3na Wrote: Hi,

here is my input. I baught the newer of the two models and also baught the 1.5tb seagate aproved drive from the wiki, mid way through my second episode of 24 hi def mkv the box turned off. I turned it back on to have no display. i check the casing and to my supprise it was really hot. I had to RMA it. Since then i have the new one sitting on a laptop cooler. its supprising the difference it makes. the casing never gets more than warm now. Maybe i had a faulty one initially who knows? looking on numerious forums there are plenty of posts on heat issues. I personally think a fan wouldnt of gone a miss and i will be supprised if the next model doesnt have a fan.

Do you have Temperatures, or you just gonna stick with "Really Hot"?
How about some Facts instead of Feelings?

ND

Ath3na · (This post was last modified: 03-18-2009 08:17 PM by Ath3na.)

what i stated were the facts, I cant give any real temperatures as all i had avaliable was my hand. Besides the poster was asking for peoples opinions and thats all I offerd from MY experiance.

Why do people get so arsey when anyone even suggests their is a heat problem. Reading on muliple forums its pretty obvious their are mixed feelings from end users. Just my input

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