I have a ceiling that slants down where my desk is, and I'm just concerned that this iMac is too close with regards to the vent. Anyone have an idea on how much space is needed for this vent to properly cool things off. Is it okay for the computer back to feel warm at the top, is there a way to check (internally) that the cooling is working okay?
iMac, iOS 4.3.2
The back should feel warm; it's acting as a kind of heatsink. The top slot is an exhaust vent. Hot air is forced out by the fans. I can't say how close is too close, since you don't give any idea in inches or feet. But, just leave enough room so the hot air at the back of the case and at the top slot has room to move away. You don't want to trap it there. I run a small fan aimed upwards at the upper left of the back -- the hottest area -- when necessary. This helps dissipate case heat, especially in summer.
Get free, Temperature Monitor
A "typical" minimum would be about 2 inches on all sides to allow adequate ventilation. As WZZZ says, the computer is going to be warm especially on the rear upper area which seems to be the area the gets hottest. Also, don't block the bottom edge since that is a vent area.
Kappy wrote:
A "typical" minimum would be about 2 inches on all sides to allow adequate ventilation. As WZZZ says, the computer is going to be warm especially on the rear upper area which seems to be the area the gets hottest. Also, don't block the bottom edge since that is a vent area.
Two inches on all sides of what? That sounds like it would be cutting it very close. And, I'd want to leave a lot more than that for the case heat to vent.
Obviously, on all sides of the computer. Read what I said - a minimum. That is typically more than adequate in most situations other than, perhaps, an area that had no ventilation itself.
Of course, you're welcome to leave more space. Probably most users have the computer on a desk in a room, so there will be even more space for ventilation. But the user's concern was if there was a minimum space concern. That was the question I answered.
In that case, I think that's cutting it much too close. Those iMacs can throw off quite a bit of heat. I wouldn't want to give any kind of recommendation as precise as that, and I don't know what you're basing that on, anyway. Perhaps, you can explain where the two inch rule is coming from. For me, it's "you know it's not enough when you see it."
Or, if the whole area around and above the computer feels warm -- warmer than the rest of the room -- then it's not enough -- not talking about the temp from touching the case.
Perhaps the OP might want to post a photo of his setup, if available, and the temps from Temperature Monitor.
You're welcome to your opinion. And, "a minimum of 2 inches" is hardly what I would call "precise." I'm basing it on 30 plus years of experience. You're basing your opinion on "you know it's not enough when you see it." Se what, exactly? You see the heat? Or you just don't think you've provided enough space? In either case I wouldn't call that very strong evidence of anything but your personal opinion. And, that's fine. Provide more space. I've no problem with that. I only have a problem with you arguing I'm wrong about providing a minimum of 2 inches on all sides with not stronger evidence then that is your opinion. Frankly, I haven't a clue why you have a problem with what I said or wish to make a big argument about it. You just feel a need to get in my face over this? Or, did you feel i made a criticism of your first reply to the OP?
No interest in getting into a protracted or "big argument" over this; that would be silly. But I have to respond, at least this one more time. It's that you are providing a recommendation to someone who may take that recommendation as authoritative and empirically based. And, that person may, according to said recommendation, strangle the needed ventilation for his computer, resulting, possibly, in hardware failure over the long term. My opinion not based on over thirty years experience, yet I have to disagree.
I don't feel a need to get "in your face" and I didn't feel you were criticizing me. I'm solely interested in the well-being of the OP's computer. That you seem to be taking this personally doesn't strike me as reflecting your usual clear thinking modus operandi.
I don't know why "thirty years of experience" would provide an adequate basis for a conclusion which requires actual testing. As such, giving two inches as a minimum requirement makes it appear that this is a conclusion based on something factual. Why not three inches?; why not three feet? Just where is this coming from? Saying it's based on over thirty years experience just begs the question.
If someone told me what foods are nutritious, and I asked what this information was based on -- and the reply was, "I have over thirty years experience" -- I'm sorry, I would have to dismiss this until I saw evidence based studies.
By the same token, my, "I know it when I see it" was certainly not meant in any such authoritative way.
I wouldn't dare to give a minimum space requirement (except that two inches, as I've said, seems to me -- admittedly, only an impressionistic reaction -- cutting it extremely close.) I don't think, absent the actual measurement of internal temps according to different space allocations, your recommendation is anything more than impressionistic, either. That's why, even if your recommendation turned out, after testing, to be correct, I would want right now to err on the side of recommending far more room for ventilation.
Fine. I have authoritative experience which you are unwilling to accept. i can't do much about that nor do I wish to make more of this than you already have. You've stated your opinion, I have stated mine. No doubt the OP can make of it what he/she wants.
Okay, sorry to get you two so worked up over this. I now have 3-4 inches from the top vent to the slanted ceiling. I downloaded the suggested temp guage (which apparently isn't updated for this new iMac) and the "secondary heatsink" is 73 degress Celsius. Everything else in the 40-50s, also Celsius of course. The top of the computer is hot to touch, but I can hold my hand to it and it doesn't burn. So there's some real data. What will the heat do to the computer in the long run, as you've suggested?
I'm not really that worked up. 3-4 inches should be fine as long as the ventilation is otherwise adequate. Heat travels upward and should vent away because of the slanted ceiling.
My iMac sits on a desk in an open room. Here is what I see:
As you can see I observe practically the same results without any close walls or anything that blocks adequate ventilation. This computer stays on 24/7. I have two such animals, and the other one is virtually the same although it sits within a hutch. All temps in ºC.
how much space should i leave the vent at the top of the imac?
