Computers; How to make a hot box Cold!

Isaac Witlin

Computers?

• Small machines that process data • Most computers in a home have the capability

to preform better• Thermal limits prevent this• Case fans and cases are inefficient

Heat

• When a computer runs it generates heat• This heat is difficult to dissipate in a small

space• Conventional methods are ineffective

Overclocking

• Expanding the limits of your computer through a increase in thermal temperature– Increasing speed of

CPU and Video Card• Very Hot!• Traditional methods

of cooling do not work!

Problem Statement

Personal desktop computers get too hot to function at maximum performance

My plan is to design and prototype an effective solution to desktop personal computer cooling

Criteria/Limits

• User configurable• Reasonably priced for the high end market

(below 1000 dollars)• Needs to dissipate heat• A no noise version must be possible• Needs to cool better then the conventional

norm• Small enclosure (not any larger then what we

have now)

Solutions?

• Mineral oil • Liquid cooling• Compressors• Fans

Fan based cooling case

Benefits

• Cheap• Proven

Problems• Fan based cooling brings in a lot of dust and causes systems

to not function• Fan based cooling methods are loud • Fan based cooling method does not cool effectively enough

Liquid

Benefits

• Proven• Cools better then fans• A bit more quiet

Problems

• Dangerous• Still not quiet• Expensive• complicated

Compressor

Benefits

• Cools better then liquid

Problems• Complicated• Expensive• Loud!• Does not subtract heat

Mineral oil

STE Mineral Oil

Benefits

• Only quiet solution• Can cool better then liquid if it is louder

Problems• Unexplored• Heavy• As expensive as liquid • Messy• No marketable product

Pudget Systems

Their SystemMineral Oil Put Directly through a radiator

Com

pute

r

Min

eral

Oil

Cool

ant

Radiator

Pudget Systems

Razor Project Christine

Chats about the capability of mineral oil

• http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/239915-29-mineral-submerged-overclocking

• http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1784133/water-cooling-submerged-mineral.html

• http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276288-29-mineral-links

• http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/276602-29-water-cooling-mineral-king-noise-great-temperatures

• http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/need-to-keep-mineral-oil-cooled-again.139223/

Prototyping/Experimenting

Com

pute

r

Min

eral

Oil

Cool

ant

Radiator

fan cooled

Components

• Radiator: $42.99• Oil: $169.34• Pump: $76.99• Tubing/Tube adaptors: $66.69• Total: $356.01

idle 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 600

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Comparison Between Cooling Types

Control

Mineral Oil

Time (Min)

Tem

pera

ture

(deg

rees

Cel

sius

)

Product

Conclusion/Moving forward

• Mineral oil has proven to be a effective and safe cooling method

• More long term research should be carried out

• Prototyping and finding the right plastics for product

• Cost of manufacturing