Matrox M264, Installation And User Manual, Page: 18 / 74

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Chapter 2, Preparing for the DSX Installation
Plan for adequate ventilation
Before using your DSX-equipped system, you must ensure adequate ventilation in
your computer. Because your DSX components are positioned closely together, they
produce a significant amount of heat. Forced air ventilation is therefore extremely
important. Inadequate ventilation may result in erratic operating behavior.
Your DSX system is equipped with numerous temperature sensors to let you monitor
the operating temperature of your various DSX hardware components. These
temperatures are displayed in the Matrox X.info program on a Windows operating
system (see
Chapter 8, “Monitoring Your DSX System in Windows ” for more
information) and in the Matrox mveXinfo program on a Linux operating system (see
Chapter 9, “Monitoring Your DSX System in Linux ).
The best solution is to provide as much airflow as possible between the cards. We
recommend that you install a fan, as explained below:
• Position a fan directly facing the end of the DSX cards, as shown in the
illustration below. You should make sure that the fan directs air between the
various circuit boards. When installed, this fan works in conjunction with your
PC exhaust fan (located at the back of the PC case) to evacuate warmed air away
from your DSX cards.
¦ Note
The illustration below does not represent a specific Matrox card. It is only
used to show proper fan positioning.
• Choose a fan that has a minimum rating of 60 to 80 CFM (CFM stands for cubic
feet of air displaced per minute and is a measurement standard for fans).
¦ Note It is mandatory to provide sufficient airflow so that the temperature sensors
on your DSX hardware remain within acceptable levels at all times. To determine
the amount of airflow to provide, monitor the temperature sensors while all the
system processing is maximized on your DSX system at the maximum expected
ambient temperature, and adjust the airflow, as required.
• Some computers may require you to increase the speed of your cooling fan by
configuring the computer’s BIOS settings. For details about configuring your
computer’s BIOS settings, see your computer’s documentation.
• Make sure to mount the fan as close to the cards as possible. In most systems, you
should be able to place the fan directly behind the card guide slots.
Airflow