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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 02:26:37 AM

Title: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 02:26:37 AM
Hello All:

My Miggie is an A1200 with Blizzard 1230 MK IV accelerator card installed.  They have no heat sink or fan on the 68030 processor and I think it gets a bit too hot in there if you use the Miggie for any length of time.

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on cooling the unit a bit better -- other than obviously towerizing it (which I am still considering pending getting the money together to do so ;-))

Suggestions would be welcome!

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: B00tDisk on June 09, 2006, 02:28:28 AM
If you haven't already, yank the metal RF shield.  Keep it, but just get it off the computer.

A '486 cooling fan/heatsink combo attached to the 030 should keep it icy cold.  If you don't want to monkey with the fan's power connection, at least use a heatsink.  You could also jack up the bottom of the 1200's case a bit by sticking a stack of two coins under each "foot" of the case.

That's my recommendation anyway.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 02:29:59 AM
cool.  Is there any particular cooling kit that someone recommends?

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: K7HTH on June 09, 2006, 03:02:16 AM
Quote

irishmike wrote:
cool.  Is there any particular cooling kit that someone recommends?


Quote

B00tDisk wrote:

A '486 cooling fan/heatsink combo attached to the 030 should keep it icy cold.

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: Argo on June 09, 2006, 03:11:14 AM
I have a GVP 030@40 in my A1200 and have never done anything in the way of added cooling. It's been that way for the last 10 years. The case doesn't feel any warmer than the laptop. I did have it up on little quater inch (5mm) rubber feet for air flow under the case at my last place.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 03:11:51 AM
@K7HTH

Yes I read B00tDisk's reply.  I am seeking out a 486 fan,heatsink, and glue for the project :-)  I was asking if there was a specific kit made ready for this configuration, or least that is what I meant by the response.  I like to have more than one idea to try :-)

Thanks for the response, and that may well be the best way to go.

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: motrucker on June 09, 2006, 05:26:58 AM
Is your '030 really getting that hot? None of the 68030 Amigas I use have ever had any cooling on the CPU, and have been running 10 years plus. They run from 33MHz to 40MHz.
My 68040 machine is another story. That puppy gets HOT and needs a heat sink/fan.
Be craeful you don't run out of room adding a heat sink/fan to an A1200 desktop.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: Chain on June 09, 2006, 06:05:35 AM
Man, your 030 need somthin like this
(http://www.1966ford.com/ars/ninja/Img_2167.jpg)

 :-D

nevermind, its a JOKE  :crazy:

EDIT: just found proper heatsink for 040

(http://www.addict3d.org/img/15fd0eeda17500cd.jpg)
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: Brian on June 09, 2006, 07:16:08 AM
If you use the trapdoor cover with the CPU card you can start by replacing it with something that gives more airflow (I used the metal mech of some speakers for my A1200, gives both good airflow and still gives protection to the card).

A realy lowprofile 486/P1/videocard heatsink will do (then you might come away with not having to add extra height to the case).

On the other hand... I've had a Blizzard1230 running almost 24/7 with trapdoor on and no extra cooling without issues for years, so might just be a comfort of the mind thing. ;)
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: fragment on June 09, 2006, 07:53:05 AM
This is how I did it: Two fans connected in series, one blowing in and the other one out. (http://fragment.fi/kuv/a1200_3.jpg)

060, delfina and scandoubler etc
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: SamOS39 on June 09, 2006, 09:11:59 AM
@Chain

that awsome!!!!!!!

but i think youll have trouble getting the lid of the 1200 back on after installing it. :lol:
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: zipper on June 09, 2006, 09:52:31 AM
:::warm the lid with a hair dryer and then stretch a bulge on it :-D
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 12:21:41 PM
I suppose I could simply fix a fan or two to the outside top as well.  Both pulling.  :-)


@fragment

What is the card in the middle of your pic that looks like it has 2 RCA jacks coming out of it?

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: fragment on June 09, 2006, 12:29:48 PM
Quote

@fragment

What is the card in the middle of your pic that looks like it has 2 RCA jacks coming out of it?


That is the Delfina Flipper (http://www.amiga-hardware.com/showhardware.cgi?HARDID=1270) sound card.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 12:36:49 PM
@fragment

Cool.  I was just curious :-)

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: MrZammler on June 09, 2006, 12:59:45 PM
Have my 030/1200 running 24/7 (web server) and under load. No need for heatsink/fans at all  :-D
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 04:06:19 PM
@MrZammler

Perhaps I should raise it a bit for better airflow... the main thing I think I am "smelling" overheating or perhaps there is a lot of dust inside?

@everyone

I am not saying this to offend anyone, but the person who owned my A1200 prior to me was obviously a smoker and there is the fun yellow stuff on the electronics that I have been carefully cleaning off with denatured alchohol on parts I can see, Maybe a good cleaning on the rest would be in order.  The unit produces NOT a "burning electronics" smell, but a "hot smell". (hard to describe) after it has been on for as little as 2 hours.

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: AmigaMance on June 09, 2006, 04:22:45 PM
Quote
Is your '030 really getting that hot? None of the 68030 Amigas I use have ever had any cooling on the CPU, and have been running 10 years plus. They run from 33MHz to 40MHz.

 Well, a 68030 at 50mhz produce much more heat and i can tell you that it does need cooling. At least at the summer.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 04:28:38 PM
so the question becomes:  Is my Blizzard 1230 MKIV card at 50 mhz?   I do not know the answer to this.

Is there a way to tell easily without taking the whole machine apart.

Just a little background on me:  I have been a PC and Macintosh Technician for over 18 years.  I know that back in the Macintosh LC days, they did at least have a fan pulling air through the case even on the older non-PPC processor.

IMHO:  It is better to cool a chip that theorhetically does not require being cooled than to be sorry later because it fails... especially at the prices for the accellerators :-)

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: doctorq on June 09, 2006, 05:50:35 PM
Sorry, but as I see it, for a PC and Macintosh technician it should be more than easy to find out if it is a 50 MHz or not.

Anyway, to find out trough software, just download WhichAmiga from Aminet.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 06:18:49 PM
@doctorq

Yeah, just because I am a technician does not mean I want to open up my box and look at the processor and cross reference the part number and etc ;-)  I imagine that sysinfo would also tell me the processor speed?

The speed according to SYSINFO is indeed 50 Mhz, actually running at 48.40... so cooling seems to be in order IMO.



Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: doctorq on June 09, 2006, 06:47:22 PM
Quote

irishmike wrote:
@doctorq

Yeah, just because I am a technician does not mean I want to open up my box and look at the processor and cross reference the part number and etc ;-)  I imagine that sysinfo would also tell me the processor speed?

The speed according to SYSINFO is indeed 50 Mhz, actually running at 48.40... so cooling seems to be in order IMO.





Correct, but I would at least think that a technician looks over the hardware he is installing, assuming you installed the Blizzard 1230 yourself. The writing on the CPU is clearly visable, so hard to miss.

Anyway, seems like you found out eventually.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: irishmike on June 09, 2006, 06:50:39 PM
@doctorq

Ahhh, you assumed I installed the Accelerator card.   I actually bought the A1200 as it sits.

Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: KThunder on June 09, 2006, 07:48:14 PM
  i ran an 030 50 for a long time with no heatsink or anything and never had a problem. cpus back then were designed to run without anything. a cpu that needed a heatsink or fan was considered "ineffecient"
  an overclocked cpu or a early revision is a different story though. with a normal 030 50 you shouldnt be able to put your finger on the cpu it will get hot. if there are no system stability problems i would say just leave it or get a stickon heatsink.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: amipal on June 10, 2006, 12:38:56 AM
@irishmike
Quote
so the question becomes: Is my Blizzard 1230 MKIV card at 50 mhz? I do not know the answer to this.

I believe the Blizzard 1230 MkIV was only supplied with a 0 Mhz part. Check the CPU - if it's got a gold top, it should be 50 Mhz.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: rare_j on June 10, 2006, 01:49:58 AM
I didn't think my A1200 with Blizzard 1230IV needed any cooling, but it locked up after being on for a long time (12 hrs +), and when I touched the cpu it was so hot it burnt my finger.
So now I have a quiet 40mm fan behind the keyboard, blowing air under the keyboard onto the back of the 1230IV board. Not very efficient, but efficient enough as now the chip is only warm to the touch.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: weirdami on June 10, 2006, 07:30:59 AM
@irishmike

The most cheapest solution is to save the caps from jugs of milk. When you have 4 of them, you're set.
Title: Re: Cooling for A1200
Post by: motrucker on June 10, 2006, 07:51:44 PM
You're a technician? Then what I would suggest is getting a couple of the newest type thermistors, and hook them up so you know temp things are running at! Don't guess.
At todays prices they're really cheap, and you can get a small LCD module to recieve the output. Cheap peace of mind.....

Add.) The Logisys FP206 is a good controller - costs under $30.00, has LCD, and will display temps from thermistors and allow setting fan speeds.
I first saw this in the March issue of CPU magazine....