WHY BUILD ONE
There are many advantages of building an oil cooled computer. Many people have build one to achieve lower temperatures while gaming or overclocking hardware. Others have been looking for totally silent use. In addition it's dustless. However most of all it's fun building it and watching it ambitionally running!!!
On the other hand, it can be really messy if something goes wrong, there is no warranty for any of the submerged parts, so everything has to be used. It's rather complicated to add or remove submerged hardware, so the system must stay as it is. And finally it's quite difficult to move it to another place.
On the other hand, it can be really messy if something goes wrong, there is no warranty for any of the submerged parts, so everything has to be used. It's rather complicated to add or remove submerged hardware, so the system must stay as it is. And finally it's quite difficult to move it to another place.
OIL-PC VIDEO
FIRST ATTEMPT FAILED
The first setup failed, mineral oil has a terrific specific heat capacity however that temperature is too high. After 12 hours of normal use, temp stabilized at 85C (185F) which is actually too hot. Lifespan of the components would be shortened at that temperature and it sounds dangerous having 20lt of hot oil all around you. If you want to build something that really works, you MUST have a radiator or another way to cool down the oil. Many times I have had to leave my computer running for more than 24 hours. I couldn't say that something's working well if you have to turn it off to cool down.
OIL COOLING SYSTEM
The biggest issue with this setup is cooling down the oil. Problem solved after installing a pump and a radiator. The pump circulates the oil to the radiator where a silent 120mm fan cools down the heat sink. Since then this computer has been running 24 hours perday, 7 days per week, non stop, with no dust, no noize and no failure.
Idle temperature is 40C (104F) and even after 100% cpu load it stabilizes at 52C (126F) many hours later...
Idle temperature is 40C (104F) and even after 100% cpu load it stabilizes at 52C (126F) many hours later...
ITEMS AND TIPS
MINERAL OIL
In this setup I've used pure Medical Liquid Paraffin bought from my local drug store...it is the same stuff like baby-oil without the aromas so it is actually harmless and colorless too. It is also used in cosmetics and should not be confused with the high flamable paraffin (or kerosene) used as a fuel. DO NOT use vegetable oil...It may disolve some plastic or rubber parts and any metal objects exposed to oxygen may rust. Mineral oil will just make cables hard and stiff but everything will work for years...
In this setup I've used pure Medical Liquid Paraffin bought from my local drug store...it is the same stuff like baby-oil without the aromas so it is actually harmless and colorless too. It is also used in cosmetics and should not be confused with the high flamable paraffin (or kerosene) used as a fuel. DO NOT use vegetable oil...It may disolve some plastic or rubber parts and any metal objects exposed to oxygen may rust. Mineral oil will just make cables hard and stiff but everything will work for years...
RADIATOR
This is a regular heat-pipe direct touch CPU-COOLER with a silent 120mm fan which I bought from my local pc-hardware shop... of course I've modified it to circulate oil instead of air...
This is a regular heat-pipe direct touch CPU-COOLER with a silent 120mm fan which I bought from my local pc-hardware shop... of course I've modified it to circulate oil instead of air...
PUMP
A big aquarium pump 1200 l/h (320 gph) is used to circulate the oil.
LIGHTING
Blue lighting comes from leds and the stripes are
Blue lighting comes from leds and the stripes are
Electroluminescent Cable.
AQUARIUM
Take care of the right size 20lt should be enough. DO NOT prefer glass aquariums glued with silicon...mineral oil will pure out of the slicon. Buy or make one out of plexiglass.
Take care of the right size 20lt should be enough. DO NOT prefer glass aquariums glued with silicon...mineral oil will pure out of the slicon. Buy or make one out of plexiglass.
Links
Monday, 15 February 2010
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