Computer Component Heat Tolerance When Off?

kelston · Oct 23, 2004, 10:10 PM

We all know what temps we aim for when running our systems and playing games and such. But what about when your system is off? I'm a college student and I figure where I live and where I go, it's pretty hot when i'm driving my computer to and from campus at the beginning and end of summer. Given that, how much heat can your computer actually be safe in while sitting in your car?

It's college. Because I attend a school out of state, I inevitably stop off halfway at a mall or something to get lunch and some extra stuff I always forget to bring. So if it's high noon and hot outside and the sun's beating down on your car, I figure it acts pretty much like a greenhouse especially if you drive what i'm intending to drive - the Scion tC which has an all glass roof.

If i'm going to mess around with my buddies at the mall on the trip back to school, I figure my car and my computer has to sit baking under the sun for at least 3 hours. I can't see this as being good, but how much is too much and what steps can be taken to keep it safe?

Say it's an unseasonable summer and it's 100+ outside, you figure your car probably gets pretty darn hot especially if it's acting like a greenhouse. You'd keep the window cracked but you're too paranoid about someone stealing your stuff somehow, through a 2mm slit.

How hot is too hot and how can you keep the temperature down?

mkk · Oct 23, 2004, 10:41 PM

If you somehow arrange so that the case isn't being directly hit by the sunlight it should be able to take most any 'ambient' heat in a car. Perhaps you could also cover most of the car windows with some cloth or similar during days of extreme heat.

Oct 23, 2004, 10:10 PM	#1
kelston HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bayside, NY USA Posts: 360 Rep Power: 0	Computer Component Heat Tolerance When Off? We all know what temps we aim for when running our systems and playing games and such. But what about when your system is off? I'm a college student and I figure where I live and where I go, it's pretty hot when i'm driving my computer to and from campus at the beginning and end of summer. Given that, how much heat can your computer actually be safe in while sitting in your car? It's college. Because I attend a school out of state, I inevitably stop off halfway at a mall or something to get lunch and some extra stuff I always forget to bring. So if it's high noon and hot outside and the sun's beating down on your car, I figure it acts pretty much like a greenhouse especially if you drive what i'm intending to drive - the Scion tC which has an all glass roof. If i'm going to mess around with my buddies at the mall on the trip back to school, I figure my car and my computer has to sit baking under the sun for at least 3 hours. I can't see this as being good, but how much is too much and what steps can be taken to keep it safe? Say it's an unseasonable summer and it's 100+ outside, you figure your car probably gets pretty darn hot especially if it's acting like a greenhouse. You'd keep the window cracked but you're too paranoid about someone stealing your stuff somehow, through a 2mm slit. How hot is too hot and how can you keep the temperature down?

Oct 23, 2004, 10:41 PM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	If you somehow arrange so that the case isn't being directly hit by the sunlight it should be able to take most any 'ambient' heat in a car. Perhaps you could also cover most of the car windows with some cloth or similar during days of extreme heat.