for weight considerations, and so it's easy to get inside the computer on the bottom or middle i'd suggest using some kind of shelf. depending on you're need for aesthetics you could make a simple shelf with 2X4 poles and probably 2X2 cross pieces forming shelves that are open on the top and bottom by running the 2X2's side to side and a few front to back. you could also run the 2X2's front to back, and put some 2X2's across them in 2 or 3 places for better support while still keeping things open. or you could find a shelf without a back possibly, possibly a narrow metal shelving unit, or again you could make one with the pre drilled angle iron. it's a matter of aesthetics which way you go. obviously the more open the shelving is the better for ventilation. you definitely don't want to stack any thing on top of another boxes vent holes, it might work, but you'd definitely be shortening it's life. if a machine has vents on the top i'd definitely give it at least 2" of vent space on top.
by using the shelf, one computer isn't being squashed by the ones above, isn't taking all if it's vibration and being an extended sound board etc. and as i suggested you'd be able to work on any of the machines far more easily. the shelving unit also provides a place to mount an outlet strip and something to tie cables to for cleaner routing. with a shelving unit also don't have to figure out how to stack things so the whole stack doesn't fall over and you can mix case sizes more easily. however, if you do have interference it's best to seperate the effected cables. neatly bundled cables cause the most interference problem because they are running close and parallel and hence couple to each other well. i would keep the power cables away from other cables as much as possible, and if you use a dialup modem i'd keep the phone line separated as it's one of the few signal lines likely to be sensitive to noise pickup. depending on how cramped the space is you could also put wheels on it so you could pull it out for access to the connectors and cables (when i'm running multiple machines i usually wind up playing with the cables often enough to make this worth while). if it's going in a corner, especially if it's partially blocked on 2 sides adding a fan might be a good idea, specifically a fan at the bottom blowing fresh air up for the machines to draw in and helping the hot air be driven away (you don't want to blow down and fight the natural convection currents the heated air creates). i wouldn't expect and serious interference problems, at least not between the computers. obviously running multiple machines makes interference with a tv or radio in the room or nearby more likely. having a proper ground helps this allot. > I have a bunch of computers I intend to run in one workstation, using a > switch box. I've got all the pieces but haven't put them together yet. I'd > like to put them all together in one stack, per below, but worry about heat > and interference, etc. Any advice? -- "There are reminders to all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do, and this is not a time for remarks like that; there never is." White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, how much blood will it take to win back the first amendment, which the Bush administration clearly does not support! The thought police are amongst us. -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:pci-powermacs@;mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:pci-powermacs-off@;mail.maclaunch.com> For digest mode, email: <mailto:pci-powermacs-digest@;mail.maclaunch.com> Subscription questions: <mailto:listmom@;lowendmac.com> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
