Can you put a computer in the loft?

[HistoricalNeowin]

Has anyone done it?

I want to put my server and PCTV up there so i can have them on all the time, and for sharing files etc. I was just wondering in the summer would it get too hot do you think or would there be any other problems?

We have enough room up there and i can get power up there but it's not been converted into a room or anything.

Thanks, Law

[konstantinos]

i would be more worried about the dampness of the air up there. it shouldnt be much hotter up there than the rest of the house.

how about putting the servers under the stairs, that is true geek fashion.

[RDPaul]

I've been considering this for a while as well, just time and money has stopped me :(

My loft also hasn't been converted either, the only real problems I?ve been able to see so far with my loft, is the heat in summer, (although winter will be an overclockers dream), and the dust up there, but if there isn?t too much movement up there (e.g., moving things around that are in storage) then dust shouldn't be too much of a problem. But I would still check the PC every couple of months or so.

The only solution for the heat that I?ve thought of so far, it's to stick some sort of exhaust, like the ones that you see on the back of tumble dr:(rs :(

[HistoricalNeowin]

Yeh heat int he summer was exactly what i was thinking about, we dont move stuff around much especially because it's in like a different section of the loft that's difficult to get to. Is there air vents int he loft or something? Maybe could hook up some of the tumble dryer ducting to an airvent for the intake...

[RDPaul]

Well, with my roof there is a facia board just under the end of the slope on the roof (see picture).

The red square is where i was planning to have an intake, there isn't anywhere else i could place it. Just have to watch that no wasp's decide to make a nest in the case though... :blink: :huh:

[HistoricalNeowin]

Well if you had a grill, and made sure the ducting went upwards quite a bit before it goes down to the pc then i think that would be ok. It would have to go up a fair bit just to make sure no rain slashes into it or anything. Also if it's too big you'll get people crawling itno ur pc :p

[RDPaul]

Quite right about the filter, just have to make sure that it doesn't get blocked with anything.

I think that i would have some sort of deflector to make sure that no rain gets in.

Would also need some sort of an exhaust, to vent the warm/hot air

[lostspyder]

I would find a diffrent spot for it :whistle:

[mikebeech]

hey, my server is in the loft it has been for nearlly 2 years now and there's been no problems at all :yes:

[Kerm]

Im sure it will be fine, so long as you can keep the temps down a bit in summer.

Make sure it has decent cooling tislef first really.

Invest in some Zalmon, etc.

[Mando]

the loft will be fine for a pc as long as you keep the sides panelled up

Seriously if you saw some of the envirnonments we install pcs in our engineering firm & the conditions they are put in a loft seems like a nice snug place!

All id recc is add sponge filters to your intake fans to keep dust levels down to an acceptable level..

;)

we have p200 systems that have been running in a shotblasting factory that are totally orange inside with Iron Oxide and they work flawlessly.

its humidity levels you have to watch more than dust tbh.

Edited December 5, 2005 by Mando

[HistoricalNeowin]

Hrmm i just asked my mum if it would be ok she's worried about if being a fire risk :blink: or invalidating the house insurance :blink: Any ideas about that? CHnces of a pc catching fire due to dust?

[Greedyjimbo]

Dust might clog the fan but couldnt imagine that causing a fire ;)

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

I shouldn't think its a huge problem personally. I've seen plenty of PC's just stashed in broom cupboards, etc and have yet to see one blow up / whatever because of the area it was being stored in.

If anything it should be an ideal environment - nice and cold up in the loft usually, not much movement up there so whilst there is dust there won't be loads of it around near the machine. I say just go for it, and try and get a system in place that monitors system health remotely on another PC.. sure there must be a dozen freeware apps that let you do that sort of thing! :)

[Fit4130Rider]

Also, I wouldn't put it on the floor in the loft. Every single computer that I've worked on that has been placed on the carpet or hardwood floor has been completely filthy with dust and hair. However, the computer that have been on the desks or on a table have been a lot cleaner than those on the floors. That't not to say that people that have their computer on the floor are really dirty people, but its just picking up all the stuff off the floor that gets kicked up.