Levels of heat and dust affecting performance?

[MrPig]

'lo,

I'm currently (not right now, but in the near future) having to move a PC out into the workshop area of our garage - the temperature out there is affected by the good ol' English weather, meaning that it can vary between the extremes of hot and cold - I was wondering if I should take any precautions with the PC insides before moving it out - would the temperature flux mean that problems would be more likely?

Also, it's not the cleanest of work areas (this is no reflection of the people that work there, it's just comes with the job) and dirt/grime/dust are abundant - should I have certain fans/filters/blowers in place to keep it reasonably clean inside?

 

[Nelviticus]

The variation in temperature shouldn't be a problem, if PCs can run in Jamaica and Norway then you should be OK in Blighty!

However the dust might be an issue. If it does get really dusty I'd suggest covering all the holes with a thin, gauzy fabric, thin enough not to reduce the airflow but thick enough to catch the dust. Clean them every week or so as the dust will build up and block airflow, and open up the case every month or so to blow out any dust that gets in.

Another problem might be moisture. If the garage is heated in cold weather but the heating is turned off at night you can get condensation or worse, frost, forming inside the case. At best this can cause rust, at worst it can cause short-circuits. Not sure what you can do about it - how cold does the place get at night?

Nelviticus

 

[Gummy1]

Wow,, that doesn't sound like a good situation!! the interior is so susceptible to not just heat but the dirt!!

You're in the UK? isn't it moist there! Here's my imagination on it.. if you have to keep it in a place like that.. not only keep it cleaned out but maybe throw a cheese cloth over the tower.. to help filter the debris that is flying around yet the air can still get thru it for circulation.. For humidity, in our storage room in the basement we always kept open bags of cat litter sitting around.. they absorb moisture and mildew.. just a thought!

http://hotspots.81x.com

 

[franklin97355]

I'd build an enclosure (or but one) for the dirt/grime/dust issue. for the temperature if the heat doesn't cause the internal temps to get too high you should be OK. You should check periodicaly to make sure the cards are still seated firmly since the heat/cool cycle will cause them to move a bit.

 

[MrPig]

The garage where the PC is going has two portable heaters, and.. that's about it - when it's cold outside, it's *very* cold in, this is partly due to a big door that is left open constantly to allow vehicles easy entrance to the workshop (I'm not sure about the exact size of the doorway - although it can fit one of these

http://www.gmrecovery.co.uk/OT13.jpg

through).

I don't think overheating will be a problem, and am more worried about the effects that the cold will have on the PC parts - how cold does the place get at night? It depends on the night - as I said above, the temperature inside depends on the weather outside...

 

[paparazi]

Cold isn't the problem! moisture is! and dust but thats easily rectified in a garage with a blow off jet 3 times a year.
You can buy dust covers for the monitor/keyboard and I think tower and as I said, slip one side off the case and blow out the fans 3X a year.
Moisture is the real problem for the monitor and tower but some sort of fabric (towel or decorators sheet) thrown over the whole lot when not in use should do the job.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[MrPig]

That sounds re-assuring!

And cheap, I like that part too

I shall go down that path unless anything else comes up here,

Thanks