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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: LoadWB on May 16, 2017, 01:19:22 AM

Title: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 16, 2017, 01:19:22 AM
I have a few of the Kickstarter A1200 cases.  Of particular interest to my endeavor is the slotted expansion trapdoor.

Would it be possible to run a BlizzardPPC in this configuration without concern of melt-down?

Oh, yeah... I have a BlizzardPPC now :D  It's an older one so I'm going to have to see about upgrades.  That'll be another thread, though.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: UberFreak on May 16, 2017, 02:21:48 AM
The BPPC is a little oven, especially inside a desktop case.
You'll have to raise the A1200 on higher legs, to clear more space for airflow.

I have an A1200 with BPPC+BVision inside.
It has 2 fans attached to the top grill, it is raised by 1.5cm and there's a fan glued to the trapdoor, which is drilled full of holes for airflow.
Even with all that, during summer days the bottom gets quite hot to the touch.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: Acill on May 16, 2017, 04:51:57 AM
You are going to need a better PSU as well as keeping it cool and raise it up as mentioned.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: orange on May 16, 2017, 10:14:50 AM
I used it with bvision in A1200 case for a while, and decided to move to tower.
'040 gets hot too, I'd consider upgrading to '060 like you said.
do you have bvision too?
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 16, 2017, 11:10:21 AM
I have an APower PSU which should handle it without a sweat. I'm looking at bigger feet to help raise it up, as well.

Quote from: orange;825822
I used it with bvision in A1200 case for a while, and decided to move to tower.
'040 gets hot too, I'd consider upgrading to '060 like you said.
do you have bvision too?


No BVision, yet.  I got a complete system for a really good price, which wound up including a Subway USB, IDE interface, and a couple other goodies.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: orange on May 16, 2017, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: LoadWB;825825
I have an APower PSU which should handle it without a sweat. I'm looking at bigger feet to help raise it up, as well.


don't forget to feed it through fdd power connector, too.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 16, 2017, 05:35:33 PM
Quote from: orange;825826
don't forget to feed it through fdd power connector, too.


The BPPC?  I don't remember seeing that connector.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: bbond007 on May 16, 2017, 06:55:39 PM
Quote from: LoadWB;825813


Would it be possible to run a BlizzardPPC in this configuration without concern of melt-down?



When I had the 240/060 Blizzard PPC i could not get the PPC to operate reliably in the desktop case even with the trap door removed.

The interesting thing is that it would work perfectly enclosed in a PAWS case. I assume that is because of all the aluminum dissipated the heat better than plastic.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: orange on May 16, 2017, 08:59:07 PM
Quote from: LoadWB;825845
The BPPC?  I don't remember seeing that connector.


its a floppy power connector on A1200 motherboard. do not attempt it without some additional consultations. perhaps its not needed as you don't have bvision. be sure to use only *single* PSU (and maybe the same 'branch'). also, try it without bppc first.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: Acill on May 16, 2017, 09:32:57 PM
Quote from: LoadWB;825825
I have an APower PSU which should handle it without a sweat. I'm looking at bigger feet to help raise it up, as well.



No BVision, yet.  I got a complete system for a really good price, which wound up including a Subway USB, IDE interface, and a couple other goodies.


For feet go to a thrift shop and get an old audio receiver and steal the feet off it.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: kirk_m on May 17, 2017, 12:19:07 AM
Quote from: LoadWB;825813
I have a few of the Kickstarter A1200 cases.  Of particular interest to my endeavor is the slotted expansion trapdoor.

Would it be possible to run a BlizzardPPC in this configuration without concern of melt-down?

Oh, yeah... I have a BlizzardPPC now :D  It's an older one so I'm going to have to see about upgrades.  That'll be another thread, though.

A few of the kickstarter cases?  Looking to part with one? :)
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: Oldsmobile_Mike on May 17, 2017, 12:22:49 AM
Quote from: Acill;825852
For feet go to a thrift shop and get an old audio receiver and steal the feet off it.

Lol!  Building a big home stereo seems like such an '80s/'90s thing, I'd imagine there's quite a few old receivers kicking around in thrift stores now.

Or you could just buy a pack of feet from a store like Home Depot or Lowes.  :lol:
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 17, 2017, 03:18:14 AM
Quote from: kirk_m;825854
A few of the kickstarter cases?  Looking to part with one? :)


Sorry, I got the exact right number for my uses :)  Now, I *do* have some 64C cases I could part with.

A lot of equipment I install come with varying sizes of feet which wind up not getting used in favor of wall- or rack-mounting.  That way I can make the system not look TOO much like a Frankenstein's monster.

FWIW, I also found a USB header which fits the Kickstarter case's USB knock-outs, but the cord is too short to reach the RapidRoad.  No worries, though, as a 10-pin USB header extension will sort that.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: nicholas on May 17, 2017, 10:11:56 AM
You could try sitting the A1200 case on top of something like this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331889110106
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 17, 2017, 11:32:07 PM
Has anyone ever used heat pipes?  I've been looking around and see what look like PPC-sized heat-sinks to attach to heat pipes to pull the heat out to radiators which would easily fit in the case including a blower.  There are even some laptop assemblies which look like they'd fit in the 1200 case including working around components.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: paul1981 on May 18, 2017, 12:18:05 AM
Quote from: LoadWB;825883
Has anyone ever used heat pipes?  I've been looking around and see what look like PPC-sized heat-sinks to attach to heat pipes to pull the heat out to radiators which would easily fit in the case including a blower.  There are even some laptop assemblies which look like they'd fit in the 1200 case including working around components.


I've thought about it many times but I just can't bring myself to hack an Amiga case, even if it is something simple like vents or an opening. I have one from an old laptop that looks like it would fit my A1200, so I suppose I'll keep it forever until I change my mind one day or buy a Kickstarter case or something. I don't have a PPC but I do have overclocked cards which would benefit from such a mod.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: LoadWB on May 18, 2017, 12:49:50 AM
Quote from: paul1981;825890
I've thought about it many times but I just can't bring myself to hack an Amiga case, even if it is something simple like vents or an opening. I have one from an old laptop that looks like it would fit my A1200, so I suppose I'll keep it forever until I change my mind one day or buy a Kickstarter case or something. I don't have a PPC but I do have overclocked cards which would benefit from such a mod.


I am considering that if I don't need to use the 1230 SCSI any more, I could run the heat pipe along the inside of the case without modifications, put the radiator and blower in a position which would exhaust out the back trap-door opening.

I could still use that configuration and just move the SCSI port to another location.  Yeah, I'm giving this some serious thought now.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: orange on June 21, 2017, 01:31:34 PM
it would be cool if someone made a metal A1200 case.
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: dovegrace on June 21, 2017, 09:43:15 PM
Quote from: orange;827404
it would be cool if someone made a metal A1200 case.


If I still had access to a laser cutter (my customer closed his shop), we could have banged something out...
Title: Re: BlizzardPPC in 1200 without cooling problems?
Post by: ntromans on June 22, 2017, 11:28:40 PM
I ran a Blizzard 060/PPC with BVision in my A1200's case by peppering the trapdoor with holes for ventilation and adding a small fan underneath the upper back vents. I didn't seem to have any overheating problems, but I may have been lucky in this. I also very carefully soldered some wires to the power socket input pins to connect to the pins on the Blizzard, although if anyone was going down that route I'd very strongly advise to check and double check the voltages before plugging it in...

Cheers,
Nigel.