It’s time to finally build the ticket to my freedom from Windows! Join me as I desperately try to make this Linux PC work, and who knows, it might end up amazing!

It’s time to finally build the ticket to my well-deserved freedom from Windows! Join me as I desperately try to make this new Linux PC work, and who knows, it might even end up amazing!

  • Telorand@reddthat.com
    3·
    1 day ago

    My first issue to tackle was the positioning of the fans included in the CPU Cooler, as they needed to be positioned in a certain way so that air could flow correctly; I admit I was extremely confused at what I read online, and it took a while for me to finally get how it worked, so I thought it was fair to explain it to you in the easiest way possible (this is also valid for every other fan that has a logo, not just the CPU ones):

    • If your fan has its logo pointing outside of the case, then hot air will be pushed out of your computer;
    • If your fan has its logo pointing the other direction, inside your case, then fresh air will be introduced from the outside into your computer.

    I’m not sure what you mean by logos being pointed a certain direction. Some fans have logos on the blade side, some have it on the opposite side (where the wires and motor are mounted), and some have a logo on both!

    Perhaps a better way to think about it is:

    • Most fans pull air from their open, bladed side and push it towards the opposite side (the side that’s not as pretty, where the fan wires and motor actually sit).
    • On CPU coolers, manufacturers will sometimes include a fan that works in reverse, pulling air from the motor side and pushing it towards the pretty side.
      • This is primarily for aesthetics, and there’s probably some reason why it’s not the default config, but it’s for the sole purpose of making CPU coolers look prettier, especially when they have RGB.

    Looking at the two pictures with fans you provided, it looks like your CPU fan (the one I can see) is pulling air from the back of the case (outside to case), and the black case fan is pulling the opposite direction (case to outside), so they are likely fighting each other. Assuming the other CPU fan is working in the same direction, there’s probably a negative pressure envelope that’s starving your CPU fans, sucking some of the waste heat from your GPU through your CPU cooler, or both.

    If you want some help with that, I also have an SFF PC, so feel free to hit me up in my DMs! For installing Windows programs, look up Bottles and Winboat. Hope you’re loving Linux!

    • Blisscast@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      Thank you! I ended up adding more fans after the build was done, so I think I fixed whatever issues I was having. I’ll definitely try those two programs tho, as Wine still refuses to work…

      • Telorand@reddthat.com
        1·
        3 hours ago

        Awesome! I haven’t had a need for it, but Winboat supposedly uses actual Windows code and not just translation layers; since it’s new, it’s not yet suitable for gaming, but it’s supposed to be a good option for problematic Windows software.

        Another thing you might look into is Cooler Control for managing your fans. Heat seems like it’s a bit more challenging to manage on SFF builds, so it’s handy to be able to control how and when fans are active.