Ok its not like the antarctic but its like 4C
I think that Apple has been fairly consistent when it comes to min/max environmental operating conditions. Here's what Apple says/recommends:
- Operating temperature (environmental): 50°F-95°F (10°C-35°C)
- Relative Humidity: 5%-95% (non-condensing)
- Maximum Operating Altitude: 10,000 feet
If your shed is 4°C...that would be a bit below the 10°C lower limit...but I bet there's a safety factor built into that. The actual (DO NOT OPERATE) temp may be a lower than 10°C. The problem is knowing exactly what is that temp.
I think that the biggest deal is operating at lower temps is increased stress on moving parts (such as a spinning hard drive). Just like any mechanical device that spins...it has bearings & lubricant. And at lower temps...that lubricant (just like in automobiles) will be thicker (more viscous) at lower temps. Which then translates to more spinning stress on the HD mechanism.
There is also thermal stress (going from a completely powered down/cold state)...to a powered on warmer state. This can happen in a very short time with cpu's and gpu's which can heat up very quickly...thus causing thermal stress on the micro-thin metallic connections (expansion/contraction).
So bottom line...the lower the temp the greater the chance for issues. I'm thinking that if the computer is always on...once it's warmed up...things may be ok. But if this computer is regularly powered up...and powered down...this repeated cycle may not be good when in a cold environment over the long term.
- Nick