http://www.videosift.com/video/Mineral-Oil-Submerged-Computer#leavecomment
PC built in an aquarium with mineral oil!
PC built in an aquarium with mineral oil!
Mineral Oil Submerged Computer
- Thread starter supaidaaman
- Start date
Nice. The idea behind it is that oil is very stable in temperature, much like water, is that correct?
This idea is more than a couple of years old, but still quite entertaining to say the least
Also the oil gets really yucky kinda fast
Also the oil gets really yucky kinda fast
I think more that the oil acts like a big heatsink for all the components. You can run systems immersed in alcohol or distilled water as well.
It should work as long as you keep it clean. Any kind of contaminants that are conductive may cause a short.
pradeep1
Golden Member
- Jun 4, 2005
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I remember back in 1992 when I went off to Georgia Tech, they had a supercomputing lab on campus and they had this Cray computer cooled with a liquid cooling system. It was the size of a Volkswagon Beetle and probably as powerful a one of those new quad core CPU system Intel has put out. 
Hard drives require air to work. I think you can see it on the table to the left of the aquarium.
I remember somebody doing this years ago and posting it. I believe one of the major hardware sites, THG comes to mind, did this a while back as well.
THG did this a few years ago. It's not really a long term solution but it is kind of cool. as to Matthias99 distilled water would be a horrible idea (I doubt it would work for more then a few minutes before enough came off the motherboard/case to make it conductive and fry everything).
Exactly, the idea behind doing this isnt that it cools the computer (though the oil obviously conducts the heat from the components faster than water does). The idea behind this is the simple fact of "like dissolves like." Oils tend to be non-polar, so they do not dissolve ionic species that would normally allow a solution to conduct current (which is why the guy doesnt mind putting his finger in the thing).
Distilled, or deionized water, does not work for the same but opposite reason. Water tends to be quite a polar solvent, and thus tends to dissolve ions quite well. So, if you filled the tank with water you would definitly short circuit the case. However, even if you could make sure that no ions were present in the water, you would still have concentrations of H+ and OH- in solution, which I imagine would be sufficient to carry a charge in the tank.
Originally posted by: pradeep1
I remember back in 1992 when I went off to Georgia Tech, they had a supercomputing lab on campus and they had this Cray computer cooled with a liquid cooling system. It was the size of a Volkswagon Beetle and probably as powerful a one of those new quad core CPU system Intel has put out.
3m makes coolants specifically for computers. They are more expensive than mineral oil, but probably better in the long run.
This is actually kind of a neat idea with the aquarium. This isnt the first time I have seen mineral oil used. I remember reading a review in 1999 where somebody submerged the parts in mineral oil.
But realistically how long would something like this remain presentable? Meaning the oil stays clear, water doesnt contaminate the oil ect?
But realistically how long would something like this remain presentable? Meaning the oil stays clear, water doesnt contaminate the oil ect?
Rubycon
Madame President
- Aug 10, 2005
- 17,768
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LOL!
The watt densities of today's CPU/GPU are quickly revealed by the temperatures. This is not an efficient solution for cooling solid state devices. The delta between the cpu/gpu core and the oil temp is too great.
And yes, I agree leaving the fans in place (and running!) is just plain silly. The added strain on the commutator-less motor is bad as they have locked rotor protection (which cycles the driver on and off) but no restricted rotor protection. The driver stays energized the entire time which is bad. At least the oil probably does help cool the FET's but the (fans) should not be in there in the first. place.
The watt densities of today's CPU/GPU are quickly revealed by the temperatures. This is not an efficient solution for cooling solid state devices. The delta between the cpu/gpu core and the oil temp is too great.
And yes, I agree leaving the fans in place (and running!) is just plain silly. The added strain on the commutator-less motor is bad as they have locked rotor protection (which cycles the driver on and off) but no restricted rotor protection. The driver stays energized the entire time which is bad. At least the oil probably does help cool the FET's but the (fans) should not be in there in the first. place.
Googer
Lifer
- Nov 11, 2004
- 12,576
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Originally posted by: Rubycon
LOL!
The watt densities of today's CPU/GPU are quickly revealed by the temperatures. This is not an efficient solution for cooling solid state devices. The delta between the cpu/gpu core and the oil temp is too great.
And yes, I agree leaving the fans in place (and running!) is just plain silly. The added strain on the commutator-less motor is bad as they have locked rotor protection (which cycles the driver on and off) but no restricted rotor protection. The driver stays energized the entire time which is bad. At least the oil probably does help cool the FET's but the (fans) should not be in there in the first. place.
It needs a circulation pump to prevent hot spots from building up around the critical components. If you have ever swam in a pool during the summer you know what I mean and have felt very cold spots and warm spots in the same body of water.
Googer
Lifer
- Nov 11, 2004
- 12,576
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Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Originally posted by: pradeep1
I remember back in 1992 when I went off to Georgia Tech, they had a supercomputing lab on campus and they had this Cray computer cooled with a liquid cooling system. It was the size of a Volkswagon Beetle and probably as powerful a one of those new quad core CPU system Intel has put out.
3m makes coolants specifically for computers. They are more expensive than mineral oil, but probably better in the long run.
I think Texaco or Shell has a special coolant for submerged electronics/computers. But I cannot remember which one or the name of the product.
Rubycon
Madame President
- Aug 10, 2005
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A fan (for moving air) and a circulation pump are two entirely different things. Also pumps are designed for moving liquids of a specific viscosity. I could go on and on but this "experiment" was conducted by pc techs, not engineers.
That's called Fluorinert and it's quite expensive.
Comdrpopnfresh
Golden Member
- Jul 25, 2006
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I heard awhile back there was a movement where people were pouring baby oil into PSUs then epoxying them closed to have truly silent computers. Same premise.
Comdrpopnfresh
Golden Member
- Jul 25, 2006
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Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
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Been around for years, IIRC, there is even a story about a guy who had one of these mineral water cooling systems setup and his cat fell into it or something when he was away. Was probably not true, but interesting read when I saw it a few years back.
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