Cooling idea, see if im crazy

[Vampiel]

Isnt water cooling pretty expensive for any good type of system?

[Johnny Fist]

Yeah, its expensive to buy a kit. Its a little cheaper if you try and DIY it.

[Happy Joe]

Cheap watercooling;
Find a junk car swipe the heater core- free (air conditioning condensers and transmission coolers from cars also work -still free
Check out garage sales frends & aquaintences for a 150 to 300 gallon per minute fountain pump, if all else fails buy one from harbor freight - free to $24 (wait for a sale) (try to get one that will push the greatest head)
about 4 - 6 feet of black plastic tubing, 3/8" minimum ID(1/2" will flow better but is harder to make sharp bends with.) (black helps prevent algae growth) - $3 to $6 at any good hardware store
tupperware sump for the water - free to $4 - kitchen or any supermarket/walmart etc. (can also be made from plumbing parts)
Fan for the heatercore - free if you have an extra - $2 and up at directron (plus shipping)
build a waterblock - $2 to$5 (material and a couple hours of time)
If purchased new up to $50. Search for water cooling and copy a design or make up your own. (don't forget to lap the side that goes against your processor)
Assorted clamps, hose barbs and hardware - $15(new) Can be scrounged off of many automobile engines if you have a friendly junk yard - free to $5.
Springs and plastic bolts with nuts to secure the waterblock to your motherboard $5 at a good hardware store.
During your search (on the internet for watercooling or waterblocks or overclocking etc) you will find references to water wetter to reduce the surface tension and inhibit corrosion. Its availiable at many autimotive stores but it stinks (smells quite bad) if you can afford it, get one of the products sold for overclocking that do not smell as bad.
Always remember to start the pump before you turn on the computor. Try plugging both into a powerstrip with a switch then turn the switch off after you shut the computor down.
If there is enough interest, I could probably knock out a short artical on how to put it all together but a diligent serch of the internet should provide the rest of the needed info...
Enjoy!

[Vampiel]

Hmm.... drilling a hole through the floor sounds easier.

[Happy Joe]

Yeah... it might give the water a place to go too.
Enjoy!

[crossedup]

If purchased new up to $50. Search for water cooling and copy a design or make up your own. (don't forget to lap the side that goes against your processor

Copper recommended or is aluminum okay?

Still going to do the floor thing but i want to water cool as well and i dont want to buy a kit. I want to DIY so i understand how it works and what is wrong if it doesnt.

Already have ideas for HS and searching the internet is best option anyway.

[Vampiel]

Originally posted by crossedup
Copper recommended or is aluminum okay?

Still going to do the floor thing but i want to water cool as well and i dont want to buy a kit. I want to DIY so i understand how it works and what is wrong if it doesnt.

Already have ideas for HS and searching the internet is best option anyway.

I would be careful.... watercooling is nice..... BUT you can severly damage your system esp. in a DIY for the first time environment. Just be careful..

I cant give you advice on this one... ive never used water cooling.

[crossedup]

As far as DIY, i was thinking more along the lines of the pump, radiator and lines. Was going to buy the first CPU block so I know it would be okay.

If I ever run across a solid chunk of the right material im going to try to fashion my own but until then will buy a pre-made.

Hmm.... drilling a hole through the floor sounds easier.

LOL, with that description, your right. Hard to adequately put words to paper ( or keyboard ). Im going to save the chunk i drill out of the floor so if it doesnt work right i can put it back in somehow.

[Sir William]

Ever think about putting your computer in the basement?

If you really want to upgrade your cooling, try a new HS/F. You never mentioned what kind of HS/F you were using to begin with. I'm running my 1700+ (133.7x11**, 1.5v) with stock HS/F and I get about 39°C idle. My room temp is around 70°F-75°F, so it's kinda warm. I built this rig last fall, so I don't know what kind of CPU temps I'll be getting in the summer. I remember seeing my P3 system go up to 50°C last summer (HS only, with a case fan blowing cool air on it). Don't forget that cable clutter can reduce air flow.

Yea, they're noobish comments, but they work!

**Heh, I got a "leet" FSB. CPU-Z says so. Woo!

[stix_kua]

If i were you, instead of destorying your case and you house, I'd spend about the same amount of money and get a better heatsink/fan combination. This idea seems like a bad one because alot of things can go wrong...

just my 2 cents...

[Happy Joe]

Personnally I have made several watercooling systems. All worked OK some were awsome for the time (1 to 2 years ago). I'm currently running a SLK 900 heatsink ducted from the outside of the case and have no plans to try water again. I have found that a good heatsink on air (ducted) works as well or better (but not necessarily quieter) than the watercooling systems that I, and several friends, have put together (including those assembled with high priced comercial parts). It was fun experimenting though.
Remember, the second law of thermo dynamics will prevent either a standard heatsink or watercooling from cooling below the temperature of the ambient air. Of course, if you put the radiator for the watercooler in the cellar/crawlspace/ basement you will be able to get the max. benefit (lowest temps). (You would also have 2 (relatively) small holes instead of one large one)
Enjoy!

[Vampiel]

Im not sure where the second law of thermodynamics states that, but it does make sense. Unless you have an air conditioner. They hooked up the AC to the computer, and use liquid nitro.

like this one
http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20031230/index.html

[nothing]

I agree with stix_kua.

You could also buy an ar conditioner to the room where the computer is. That would solve the problem.

[Happy Joe]

I'm guessing that Crossedup is looking for an inexpensive solution. I am also not sure of the level of fabrication expertese availiable, so I hesitate to suggest the building of a phase change cooler. I favor the better heatsink and fan idea (with a duct to the outside of the case(lowers CPU temp aprox. 10C)). But ... watercooling (with a basement mounted (heatercore + fan) radiator) would also provide lower temps, at resonable cost, with some risks and smaller holes in the floor.
Enjoy!

[crossedup]

Not looking for inexpensive or expensive ideas really, it was just an experiment on my part. Its a barton 2600 sitting at 45 cpu and 27 sys. Got a 80mm on top blowing out, 2 80mm on side blowing out and a TT HSF on the CPU. Will be adding a 120mm fan on the back soon, the cutout is already there.

Its in the same 10'x12' foot room with a Barton 2500 rig , an xp 2200 rig, a PIII 800 rig, 2 19" crt's and 2 15" crt's. It can stay a good bit warm in here with the window open.

Ducting the HSF to the outside of case might work just as well, will give that a go.