[mudzilla]

This is possibly a hardware related question, but since it combines many aspects of running the system, drives, fans, processors and how fault tolerant the system is, I'll post here.

What's a safe operating temp for a mac?

I'm running a Dual 533 with 1.12GB RAM as the music/file server in my house. It has about 5 drives in the case, a PCI-SCSI adapter powering 2 drives and a wireless G Motorola card. The mac runs headless and without keyboard, VNCing into it when I need access. Otherwise it just streams music via iTunes to my Airport Express, and rips the odd DVD purchase to disk for when I go on holiday with my laptop.

I'm running OS X 10.4.2 and have been using Temperature Monitor app to check out how hot the mac gets, as it's stored in a cupboard under the stairs. When you open the cupboard, you can feel a blast of hot air... so I've been keeping an eye on the temperature.

The SMART disks are the only way I have of seeing how hot it's running, as the processors don't report back a heat temp. But the main IBM boot disk is running at 40ºC, while one of the other disks is at 33ºC. The main drive is an IBM Deskstar (aka Deathstar) which has been in the system since the Dual 533 was bought. In it's time, the dualie has been on constantly for around 3 years and performed sterling work, so I'm not too worried about that disk, despite the reputation Deskstars have.

So anyway, what's a safe operating temp for a mac?

thanks
mud

[TETENAL]

You find the safe operating temperatures for your Mac in its user manual.

[mudzilla]

which i don't have. so anybody?

[tooki]

This doesn't vary much by model.

The maximum operating ambient temperature is probably about 95˚F (35˚C). I'd suggest keeping it under 85 (30) though. (Non-operating storage temperature can be higher.)

Running the machine in a closed cabinet with no exhaust fan isn't a great idea. Cut a hole in the back of the cabinet and put a fan in there, blowing into the cabinet. Put a filter on the outside to keep dust out.

tooki

[mudzilla]

cheers for a useful reply tooki

[OreoCookie]

If the closet is big enough, it should be ok, but make sure to get another fan with a mylex connector for the drives. Run it on high voltage (12 V) for reliability purposes, since noise probably won't matter as much anyway.

Make sure you have enough space around the machine, half a meter on front and rear if possible. The sides are not as important, as long as you don't put stuff all around it (which acts as extra isolation).

Also, you should make sure to have a way to exchange air from the closet with its surroundings as Tooki mentioned. The DAs weren't converting as much electricity into heat, so you should be ok, even without an extra fan

I'm actually doing something similar at my parents' place, I put in an old Netfinity 5000 server in their closet. The thing has 2 ultrabig fans (2.5 cm thick, 120 mm) -- plenty for a single 600 MHz P3 cpu (thermal design power: a measly 18 W ).