hot computer exhaust

I have three PC's that develop a lot of heat in an office connected to my studio. The office is noticably warmer due to them. The PC's are next to an exterior wall that is not well soundproofed, but I would like not to breach it any further if possible. I would like to exhaust the heat, maybe to the attic. The idea is to exhaust the heat with a vent rather than the A/C. It would be very simple to construct a closet or cabinet to separate them from the office. My questions are. 1. How do I vent the heat outside and maintain a cool temp for the PC's? 2. Would I lose efficiency from the A/C? Obviously, some of the A/C will be going out the vent. 2. Would it be better to simply duct a small return to the A/C from the closet/cabinet and cut a vent in the closet/cabinet? (The return duct is within a few feet.) This would effectively make the PC cabinet it's own space with regard to the A/C. Thanks all! Scott

if its not going to add too much noise to the cooling, i'd add a return to pull the heat out. you'll need a supply as well if the closet is sealed.

Glenn, It would add no appreciable noise to the cooling. I'm thinking that if I installed a A/C return in the closet, I could likely get away with just cutting a vent in the door and letting it suck air from the room. There's no need for it to be sealed. It's just an office. I put the office on the other side of one wall of the control room for the purpose of putting the PC's in there, that way I could simply run cables through one wall. So far it works, I just hadn't anticipated the heat issue. I could easily design a baffle for the intake on the door if I want to lessen the machine noise in the office. Thanks! Scott

One other thought. What do I do when the A/C isn't running? Like when I leave town or or just have it turned off? I don't want to have to open the closet and let the heat into the room. ?? Thanks again, Scott

Just cut your vent into the door - put an exhaust fan in - and don't worry about it - it can never get warmer than the room itself - and as long as the vent is close to the floor - that's the coolest place in te room anyway....... even f the air isn't on - it still can't get any warmer than the room - and the room should never exceed the safe operating temp of the processor unless you have some serious problems...... Older technology chips were ok to around 105 F - but the newer chips are ok up to 158 F - so any way you loook at it you should be fine........ Just set the fan up with a thermostat - and set it to come on about 75 - you should be fine........ Rod

Rod, That sounds like a great idea. Sometimes I amaze myself at how little my brain is functioning. I should have thought to put a t-stat on an exhaust fan. But I didn't and you did. That's why you're the boss! :D Thanks! Scott