F7Lans Gaming Community

So for those of you who don't know, I am going to be attempting an "underwater" case mod. It's not really a case mod as much as it is me sticking a computer in a bath of liquid.

http://russellware.com/liquidpc/

It is a cooling method called Full Liquid Immersion cooling, and it is 100% unnecessary and pointless which is why I must do it. It is actually a great cooling method as long as the box doesn't spring any leaks, and it's mineral oil and not actual water, but I can't resist the idea of seeing a system underwater with lights and bubbles.

I am gonna hopefully set this up in the next couple days, and I want to put it in the office with a web cam in front of it if my boss will allow. I'm not sure what I'll do with it, I may setup a server on it and we can play some Underwater TF2 or L4D, but we'll see.

Oh and Happy I don't care how old this is, it's still cool.

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Far2Paranoid: Knew this guy in HS
Far2Paranoid: Built a box with 2x 350Mhz Pentium2, back in '98
Far2Paranoid: The trick was, filled his bathtub w/ glycerin
Far2Paranoid: Took apart a mini-fridge and used the coils to cool the glycerin to ~40F
Far2Paranoid: Then sunk the box so he could OC the CPUs to 1.3Ghz
Far2Paranoid: Coolest shit I've ever seen.
AlbinoChpmnk: If this was sitting in his tub, how did he shower?
Far2Paranoid: After what I just said, what makes you think he showered?

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Take a VIdeo when you're done man.

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City 17 Episode 1 | Portal Map Pack | Portfolio

I do feel the need to comment here.

I too have to say I have been researching this over the last few weeks. Ive found great information involving mineral oil. The trouble you will encounter with any liquid in an enclosed environment is that Heat, without removal will build in an attempt to reach the same temp as your CPU. Its almost necessary for any cpu with any video card for the "fluid" to be sent out to some sort of radiator. I highly advise taking a trip to the local junk yard and getting a heater core out of a chevy truck. Ask specifically for NO-Air Conditioning Heater core from chevy/GM. They measure 170 x 170 MM, and perfectly fit 4x 80 mm cooling fans.

Stay away from Motor oil, ANY WATER, cooking oil etc. There are nothing but bad things that can happen. Mineral oil is used by power companies to transfer heat on transformers and other items. Obviously they use a modified formula, and depending on who you ask, they mix pure alcohol into it. Mineral Oil will not evaporate below 230 degree, whereas alcohol will. (If your computer is 230 degrees, you will probally notice some slowdown, blue screens, and fire/smoke) DO not use bubbles. By mixing air, you are in essence disturbing the heat transferring ability of the "solid" liquid mass. Also, you can be introducing humidity from the surrounding air. Obviously oil and water do not mix, but eventually it can dissolve into the oil, and cause a murky look as well as reduced heat removal.

*EDIT* I forgot to add. MAKE SURE you have your wires to the "outside" totally sealed off with silicone sealant. Oil is a Newtonian fluid, and will eventually use surface tension to climb upward, and outward. It will follow wires to the source. Also, mineral oil will cause the insulation on any and all wires to become hard and brittle. This is no issue if you are not fidgeting with your computer ever other week or so.


This is a project I have been assembling parts for myself. Im designing my "enclosure" from scratch however, and it will involve a good bit of plumbing and directing of fluid.

Good luck

I may get a "normal" water cooling radiator, I don't really like the idea of having a dingey car radiator next to my PC.

EDIT
To go further since I was walking out the door when I posted that. As always I like to have nice, clean, show-off hardware and I think having a vehicle radiator would detract from it. Once I get it done I am going to let it run un-radiated for a while and see what the temps are like, and if necessary I'd like to get one of the nice looking standard water-cooled radiators to hang on the side next to the power supply and hard drives.

I am not planning on messing with this system very often, other than to transport it to any LANs and replace the oil if it gets dingy or anything. And obviously I am not going to put vegetable oil or motor oil in this thing, that would both look stupid and destroy the system. Again I am doing this purely for the visual and not as an effective means of cooling the systen, even if that is a side effect.

My only concern is the enclosure itself and finding something that is deep enough for the motherboard + video card. Most things I am finding are about a half inch too shallow, but tomorrow I am going shopping around. I have already committed the hardware to being unrecoverable, even if the oil is nonconductive and if I let the hardware hang out to dry for a month, I imagine it will still have residue all over it.

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Hit up the aquarium store yet? I imagine they come in all shapes and sizes and obviously are water tight. There's a store next to the Chili's over at Gwinnett Place mall. There's also two big pet stores, a PetSmart and some other big one near the mall too.

If you can't find anything exact, you can buy some Lexan and fabricate it yourself. I did some computer mods back in '00 using Lexan and it was pretty easy to work with.

techfuzz

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--reserved for future development

Actually that is what I wound up doing was going to a pet store. Not only is there zero selection for outdoor acrylic document thingys, but the only size they make is too thin and the wrong dimensions. It is 12" high and I need 12" wide. So, I went and made my first set of purchases today.

5 gallon fish tank, great size - $7.99
Air Stone - $2.89
Air Pump - $5.99
Tubing - $1.75
Total + Tax - $19.73

I searched high and low, and I can't seem to find mineral oil or baby oil for any cheaper than about $2 for a 20 ounce bottle. That is about $12 for a gallon, and assuming I am not going to fill it 100% full and assuming the hardware displaces a reasonable amount of volume, I am looking at somewhere between $30 and $40 in fucking baby oil. Let me say that again because of how ridiculous this statement is - thirty or forty American dollars worth of baby oil.

The only thing I need to buy next really is the oil, so I might wait until the next paycheck to do that. I might pick up a cathode or some LEDs while I'm at it, and maybe some gravel to make it look more aquarium-like. Unless someone really wants to see this go online sooner, in which case PM me for my personal Paypal account.

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Got a membership to Costo or Sams? I bet you could pick up a flat of the baby oil there a little cheaper.

techfuzz

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--reserved for future development

Check this out, and look how they have the radiator setup

http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

Most "Computer" radiators are infact automotive heater cores with fan shrouds attached. Also, hardware can be rinsed with rubbing alcohol.

Get in touch with Tractor Supply Co, as they sell mineral oil, and can order it in 5 gallon buckets. The price of 10-12 USD a gallon is standard, and probably the best you'll find.

Yeah I hit up a Sams already, don't know anyone with a Costco membership.

Whippy, I did some research and apparantly mineral oil is used as a horse laxative and it is sold through some vets. I am going to call around and see if any of the bigger vet offices around here can hook me up, if not someone who did a similar mod gave me a pointer on where to look at Walmart again.

Good news, I got the webcam setup and it's working. Will show the broadcast later.

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