Can computers become TOO cold?
- Thread starter ellman12
- Start date
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TechyInAZ
Titan
Yes, but they actually DON'T malfunction. They start operating in a different way so the software that's on the PC is no longer compatible.
Learn more here: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm
Learn more here: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm
Isokolon
Judicious
- Jul 24, 2016
- 6,369
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- 34,390
Well from my point of view you can.
As every extra fan will cost money and produce noise without any gains
Depending on the fan setup, more fans can actually cool worse: if your case has 2 intakes front and 3 exhausts top and you fill all 3 top slots, the fan can take the fresh cool air away from the cpu cooler so your cpu will actually run hotter than without the additional top exhaust fan
Also having too many fans in the wrong positions, can disrupt a proper airflow.
But damaging your pc it will not.
As every extra fan will cost money and produce noise without any gains
Depending on the fan setup, more fans can actually cool worse: if your case has 2 intakes front and 3 exhausts top and you fill all 3 top slots, the fan can take the fresh cool air away from the cpu cooler so your cpu will actually run hotter than without the additional top exhaust fan
Also having too many fans in the wrong positions, can disrupt a proper airflow.
But damaging your pc it will not.
aquielisunari
Judicious
- Mar 31, 2011
- 6,499
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As long as the motherboard and PSU offer the right connections and power you can't have too many fans. High end overclockers use dry ice and liquid nitrogen to cool their CPUs. Liquid nitrogen is about -321F. Too cold for a CPU is about −387.4 °F. There is not even a remote possibility that fans can cool your components that much. Fans only move air. They don't cool the air. The only dangerous condition would be in a freezing cold room where condensation could accumulate and cause issues.
I agree with Isokolon's point of view.
As long as the user knows how to configure their fans correctly there can't be too many. Correct cable management is also necessary so that airflow isn't restricted. Some say positive pressure helps.
Electronics have a temperature spec. For example a part might be rated for -10'C - +40'C operating temp. A same part but in military grade might be rated for -25'C-+50'C. Yes computer parts have a rating in the negative range and it's probably around -10'C. I'm not exactly sure.
Harddrives don't like cold temperatures. SSDs won't suffer this problem. The main problem is condensation at sub zero temperatures.
But I've never seen an actual operating temperature spec on things like motherboards and cpus. CPUs are usually -20'C - +120'C. I checked a manual on an Asus motherboard and it just said to avoid temperature extremes or humid areas or condensation. No actual temperatures were given.
Fans do not cool, they move air or aid in the exhaust of heat and intake of fresh cooler air. Only refrigerated coolers would be capable of lowering temperatures to a point where you would need to worry, or installing a computer outdoors or in an non-insulated area where ambient temperatures are below zero.
I just checked a laptop spec for a Sager. It sates operating environment should be +10 - +35'C and non operating as -20'C - +60'C
Harddrives don't like cold temperatures. SSDs won't suffer this problem. The main problem is condensation at sub zero temperatures.
But I've never seen an actual operating temperature spec on things like motherboards and cpus. CPUs are usually -20'C - +120'C. I checked a manual on an Asus motherboard and it just said to avoid temperature extremes or humid areas or condensation. No actual temperatures were given.
Fans do not cool, they move air or aid in the exhaust of heat and intake of fresh cooler air. Only refrigerated coolers would be capable of lowering temperatures to a point where you would need to worry, or installing a computer outdoors or in an non-insulated area where ambient temperatures are below zero.
I just checked a laptop spec for a Sager. It sates operating environment should be +10 - +35'C and non operating as -20'C - +60'C
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