Author Topic: Anyone here into watercooling or phase change? (Read 2609 times)

zx2slow · « **on:** June 17, 2006, 09:17:17 PM »

My new watercooler will most likely be my last. I'm building a crazy h2o loop into a TT armor case, and I will most likely go to phase change cooling for my next system.

I made a mistake and got a koolance system for my first watercooler. Koolance isnt bad at all, just limited. I have never seen a phase change system or even a watercooled pelt. I'd like to check out a system in real life to get an Idea what i'll get into.

sully! · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2006, 09:35:34 PM »

I've never explored water cooling because I always thought it wouldn't be very durable or portable when going to LAN parties. The last thing I'd want is to have something crack or a hose come loose and leak all of the water all over everything.

TekieB · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2006, 09:52:01 PM »

i've played with pelts, nothing ever made it to the cpu though...

i'd love to do water, but I can't justify the cost when you could invest the coupple hundred $$ in better hardware vs overclocking it

zx2slow · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2006, 11:59:33 PM »

My opteron is running at 3ghz, it was ~$215, it beats the crap out of a $1000 (at the time) FX-57 at 2.8Ghz.

kona · « **Reply #4 on:** June 18, 2006, 08:10:46 AM »

I've been watercooling since the PII days (had to make my own blocks then), I still feel it's a great way to cool a PC.

The Shoctor · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2006, 09:46:00 AM »

I personaly like taking a dip in the pool when it is too hot... But you know with some phase changed water (ice) in your beverage that is also another way of cooling down... So I guess I have "experimented" and used both for cooling.

llDayo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2006, 09:41:55 AM »

My computer rests up on the third floor of our house. I turn on the air conditioner before the computer just to lower the air a few degrees before gaming. The other week I came home from work to see my processor idling at 70C! Maybe I'll have to look into water-cooling, as soon as I get a new case that'll allow that.

Agent4054 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2006, 09:46:29 AM »

ouch... on a hot day my cpu idles at 36c with an ambient temp of 43c or so. I just keep my ceiling fan going with my windows open.

cuzzNkev · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2006, 10:29:01 AM »

I have dabbled in water cooling. Mainly with premade box kits. I had the Aquagate cooler that fits into two drive bays. Worked pretty good. Had a PCI interface to shut down your system if reservoir or block temps got too high.

When I first put it in, the default temp was like 30c. I booted, and within about 2 mins, the reservoir temp exceeded the default. This thing starts screaming and beepin, then shuts down. I was like wtf. I think agent was on the fone with me when it happened.

I want to get into a danger den setup, but just dont want to drop that kind of change into it. i have been thinking about a system where you run water in combination with a small refrigerator. Put the reservoir inside the coil freezer unit to chill things a lil. Not real phase change, but an extra chill.

llDayo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2006, 11:04:29 AM »

cuzznkev, is there any such device out there that would be basically a tiny air conditioner or refrigerator? That would definitely be ideal to fix onto a computer case!

TekieB · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2006, 01:39:10 PM »

Quote from: "llDayo"

cuzznkev, is there any such device out there that would be basically a tiny air conditioner or refrigerator? That would definitely be ideal to fix onto a computer case!

http://www.ocmodshop.com/default.aspx?a=232

they're called air chillers

Agent4054 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2006, 01:50:50 PM »

Quote from: "TekieB"

http://www.ocmodshop.com/default.aspx?a=232

they're called air chillers

Taken from that site:

Cons -

llDayo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2006, 02:42:48 PM »

That thing seems a little too bulky as well. An entire case built with a cooling unit implemented inside would probably be great! One that's pretty well sealed to allow little exchange of outside/inside air would work as the unit would then circulate the air inside cooling it down more and more.

zx2slow · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2006, 05:33:33 PM »

Quote from: "cuzznkev"

I want to get into a danger den setup, but just dont want to drop that kind of change into it. i have been thinking about a system where you run water in combination with a small refrigerator. Put the reservoir inside the coil freezer unit to chill things a lil. Not real phase change, but an extra chill.

You are thinking about a water chiller setup, they are easy to set up but with the cost involved you could go with a full phase change cooler and run the cpu at -40C.

Danger den makes great everything but waterblocks. I'll be using a Swiftech Storm waterblock, a modded Danger den DDC+ pump, and a Danger den Black Ice II 2x120mm radiator in my next system. I dont think theres anything better out there as far as equipment, I could go to a 3x120mm radiator but the 2x120 is overkill as it is.

Mr.Tibbs · « **Reply #14 on:** June 19, 2006, 07:37:45 PM »

Have you looked into Vapochill, it is like an outside AC unit in your pc. Cools the processor down to astronomical levels, expensive as an alienware computer but it works great. The only thing you have to worry about is condensation, as with any water cooled system. Condensation is a very bad thing and should be avoided when you are building a water cooled pc. In my experience, I really haven't played with water cooling and I doubt I ever will. But if you are up for the challenge pursue it, by all means go ahead.