Cooling fans to cool entertainment systems

[c0ldb33r]

Last night my 60gb ps3 overheated. We were using it to watch a few movies and it must have been pretty hot. I remember thinking it was running pretty loud meaning the fans were going overtime. I thought it was YLOD, but it works fine this morning now that it's cool.

My entertainment center isn't perfect. My bottom shelf has my ps3, wii, 360 and 360 HD DVD drive all in close proximity, like maybe an inch between everything. There's only about an inch clearance on top too.

So, I want to install two fans at the back of the entertainment center that will blow the hot air out and therefore suck cool air through the front. Basically I want something simple like a pc case fan, but hopefully larger and quieter that will plug directly into a normal power outlet. It would also need a power switch of some kind so that I could turn them off when not playing games.

Does such a thing exist?

[heybtbm]

There are all kinds of entertainment center fans available...way too many to list here. Some work off of AC, while others are USB. Most I've seen are standard 120 mm just like PC fans. Google, "home theater fans" or "entertainment center fans".

[c0ldb33r]

Yes - thanks. Actually I was going to edit my original post, showing that I answered my own question (http://www.amazon.com/Coolerguys-Powered-Cabinet-Cooler-Theaters/dp/B002MYSR7U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1277038322&sr=8-3) - but you're totally right. Lots of options :)

Why don't entertainment centers come with these built in?!? Someone's missing a major opportunity.

[Sothy]

turn on the AC

[buzz_n64]

I'd recommend not using USB fans or that interact cooling fan that attaches to the 360 because they use the system's power to operate, dissipating the power resources and f**king up the system even faster. Stand alone fan or ac is the way to go.

[megasdkirby]

turn on the AC

I really can't stress this enough. :)

What Sothy stated makes a world of difference. Whenever I use the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3 without the AC on, the heat of the air removed is very hot. However, when I do turn on the AC (usually full blast, at around 72 degrees), the removed air is barely hot and the console is really cool to the touch.

Also, don't place the console inside a shelf, as this will increase it's overall temperature due to lack of proper ventilation.

[skaar]

Closed in entertainment centers are like closed in computer desks - a bad, stupid idea that was OK 15 years ago but doesn't really work with modern components... too much heat.

CPUs used to be able to run without fans, remember :)

Fans pulling air out of the back of the center will help somewhat, and the larger the fan the less noise it'll make, usually. I have a friend who powers a few off his Media PC's USB ports (easy solder to 5V on a USB cable) and it works well.

[c0ldb33r]

We don't have AC in the house. I live in Canada next to the Atlantic Ocean. It's cool enough outside.

What I'm doing is buying three small fans, each powered by USB. I'm mouting each at the rear of my entertainment center, blowing outwards. When a system turns on, the fans will turn on and blow the air outwards. This will create an airflow and get rid of the hot air :)

I got three of them for a great price off of amazon. Pretty quiet ones too I think (29db? maybe it was 20, can't remember).

[garagesaleking!!]

just use a cheap box fan, thats what i do sometimes with my xbox.