We are looking at the possiblity of putting our computer/proof room on a separate thermostat. Does anyone have any documentation or articles that I can refer to regarding the recommended room temperatures for servers and bank equipment? I have heard that higher temperatures can cause equipment difficulties, however I have not seen anything to document this.

Computer rooms are generally cooler so the machines operate optimally. The equipment itself should indicate the best temperature. There may be some industry guidelines, but I'd start with the company specs using the lowest setting for a piece of equipment.

We have 13 servers in our room with 5 monitors and two printers. I keep the temperature around 65 - 68 (F) and there is a seperate cooling unit in the server room to keep things nice and chilly.

I work in I.T., so to address your question specifically, higher temperature and poor ventilation do cause equipment failure because most modern computers shut down when their core temperatures reach certain levels. Most users won't notice the heat that their box is generating, but, if you go into the computers' BIOS (built in operating system) you can check the system temperature and see how things are running. Even dust can affect the system temp, due to dust bunnies clogging the fan intakes / outputs.

Hope that helps some.

What about cold temperatures? Our boss is arguing against turning the heat on in the area where some of our data tapes are stored.

Chi:
It's my understanding that regular PC's, including a network servers (outsourced environment), really don't have heat problems like mainframe type equipment. Is that correct?

Some info on room temperatures.

"Most devices are not certified to function properly beyond 50°C-80°C (122°F-176°F)."

Chi, you seem pretty knowledgeable on this. Why aren't the fans designed to blow air INTO the case, where a filter could be put on the outside and regularly cleaned? This would help keep dust and debris out of the cases. I've never seen a filter for this, but it makes sense to me unless the fans can't move enough air through a filter without getting to loud or strained.

Filters at vents would also help. I've heard time and again of techs getting into a case and finding computer bugs, real bugs. Nasty stuff.

I suppose I can point to the last part of your post to answer your first question. If you have fans that are sucking air in, you're going to be pulling A LOT of nasty stuff in there and putting a filter on the outside, you're going to have all that gunk blocking the airflow. Yes, they would be easier to replace, but that sort of maintenance (think about a computer on the floor acting as a vacuum) is unappealing to the average user. You can get fans that do that (or, if you're the playful kind, re-wire the fan) but generally speaking if your computer is crammed with components, you have decent air flow which should keep things relatively cool.

They actually do have fan filters out on the market, the only problem is that most manufacturers see it as an expense that isn't necessary. Day to day users don't open their boxes unless there is a problem, and the manufactuers think what they don't know about can't hurt them. So, a box that has been sitting on the floor for five or six years that has never been touched...well, I'm putting on chain mail gloves before I go into that thing for fear of brown recluses and rattlers.

I build 'modified' computers as a side business. Basically, I buy cases, put windows in them, etc. use trick lighting (cathode tubes, led fans, black lights) and make them a little more aesthetic. I've found that cheesecloth makes a really good filter, it's hardly noticeable and easily replaceable / cheap.