Airflow intake systems for use with computer cabinet air conditioning systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a computer system includes a plurality of computer modules and an associated air mover positioned in an interior portion of a computer cabinet. The computer cabinet includes an opening that provides access to the interior portion. In this embodiment, a door or other panel is positioned in front of the opening and is at least partially offset from the opening to define a gap between the panel and the cabinet. Operation of the air mover draws cooling air into the cabinet through the gap, and then drives the cooling air through the cabinet to cool the computer modules.