Submerged

[Skard Paradigm]

I've seen stuff about submerged computers on several other sites around the net (hardocp, virtual-hideout, etc.), and I must say that I'm intrigued. I understand the concept. If you mix pure H2O (no impurities, the kind you get in chemistry classes) and certain types of oil, you get a non-conductive liquid that freezes at extremely low temperatures. I'm interested in doing this, but the chemicals that they talk about using are mad expensive. Any ideas on maybe some other stuff that will achieve the same effect without quite so much of a dent in my wallet? .SP.

[Eclecticos]

Well this one is in Mineral Oil. . Thats preddy Cheap.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/455/mineraloilcomputersubmeti0.jpg

Here (http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php) is the How-To Video (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/565060/mineral_oil_submerged_computer/)

[Outlaw]

Same with vegetable oil

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ8L1Prl6tk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8shVDvMdo4&mode=related&search=

Might be cheaper, but it can be smelly.

[nil8]

Plant based oils will turn and become acidic over time. Do not use veggie oil.
Mineral oil is your best bet and is the cheapest long-term solution for immersion cooling.
It doesn't screw with marine adhesives nearly as badly as many other options.
Plus it's crystal clear.

You don't have to have distilled water. It can be just mineral oil.
The one thing I will say is never upgrade or expect to use the machine afterwards. It's really time consuming to return the hardware to a normal environment after immersion.

Make sure your setup is enclosed. Dust is awful to get into your tank.
Do NOT put the hard drive into the fluid. It will not work. Hard drives must have air.
Make sure to leave the connectors on the motherboard exposed enough to connect in your keyboard, mouse, lan, etc or be happy with the setup you have for a long time. Cleaning your monitor cable is a real pain in the butt.

Also, don't let dead zones occur. Put a fan in there to move oil. Sleeve fans will be the best because they will have less tendency to burn out quickly when immersed.

You can also include an air supply for looks, like the case above. It's not necessary and it doesn't do anything but make it look cool.

Most importantly, have some scrap towels to wipe your hands on and just in case you have problems with the fluid.
The best way to do this is tank, then parts, then fluid. Build your tank how you need. Glue in supports or risers or whatever you're going to do. Then put the equipment in. TEST IT BEFORE ADDING FLUID! Make 100% sure everything is going to work. Then add fluid and viola! You will have done something very few people, much less geeks, do. Immersion cooling.

[Skard Paradigm]

Thanks a bunch for the great advice. I think I'm going to try two of these. I've got two spare tanks (I've had alot of fish over the years, and after each tank upgrade, i just threw the old ones in the basement.) and I work for a school district, so I'll just gank an old junker computer to try it out, and then build a better rig for the real deal.

Originally I was just looking into this as an oddity, but now it seems really doable. Does anyone have any specs on what types of temperatures I can expect to see with something like an athlon XP 2500+ or so processor?

[nil8]

It depends on your motherboard and on the ambient temperature of the air around the fluid. Several gallons of mineral oil can tolerate a lot of heat.

If you're going to use an old box, make sure to clean all the dust off of it before you fill up your tank. Dust really gunks up and screws up immersion cooling.

As for your oc'ing ability, that depends on your mobo.
If you have some experience overclocking, then you know how to gradually step higher and higher.
Just remember, it can take up to 10 hours to get your temp reading accurate in ~8 gal of fluid. Patience is mandatory, or you will be cooking your hardware, literally.

It's really not that difficult, it just takes time and proper planning. I'm somewhat surprised more geeks don't do it, but to each their own.

[Zephik]

Jeez nil8, after reading your posts, I almost feel like doing it myself! I always thought it was rather complicated, but apparently all you need is proper planning. ...and around 120 smackers.

How trustworthy is this? Even after seeing that video, I would still feel scared to drop in a system that I spent a good chunk of cash on. I guess that would be anyones worst nightmare, to have your entire system go "snap, crackle, pop" on you. ><

I bet it would be pretty easy to cut out an I/O area on a plexi tank and then use some sort of ?marine epoxy? to fill in around it. That would save you some trouble with switching monitors or usb devices or keyboards and mice. I would probably do the same thing with the power supply, seems like it would make things loads easier. Hmm, actually, I would probably just buy an all acrylic pc case and fill in all the gaps and holes with something. Then add some marine vinyl to the back side/outside of the case with some bubbly action goin on on the inside to give it a "fish tank" look. I wonder if you could add lil plastic fishies in there without them screwing something up?

Just saying some of my idea's out loud, maybe it will give someone an idea or two. ^_^

[nil8]

It's extremely stable providing that you setup a plan and follow it properly.
I've given you just about all the little tips I know from my single experience with immersion cooling. Next time I do it, I hope to do it right, with a plex stand to mount the mobo in and effective lighting, but it will still be a project box and not entirely useful for anything real. Although, it would make an interesting HTPC...

Burning out systems can happen with any modification. Don't let that stop you. Double check your work and it won't happen often.

You don't need to cut out an i/o board. Stand it upright, or use extension cables to draw everything out of the oil.
Remember, the less openings you make, the less likely for leaks, just like watercooling.

Toms Hardware did the acrylic case idea with veggie oil and I thought it looked horrible. Aquariums are already sealed, easy, cheap and look good out of the box. The only downside is either cutting glass or creating your mounts.

A couple of words about mounts, don't use wood or metal. They can modify the properties of the oil if you're going for a long term setup. Only use if you have no other options or if you are just trying it out to try it. Clean plex is your best bet.

The best idea, providing you can afford it, is to get an old 50 dollar box off ebay or through some other means, and try immersion for the first time. You will make mistakes and a mess and it will be a good learning experience. This way, when you have your 1000 bucks worth of equipment, you already have knowledge of some of the kinks that come from immersion.

This is how I did it with an old 500mhz k6-2. I just never got back around to doing it for real with real equipment.

As long as the fishes don't run into your fans, they would be fine.

I've actually thought about an aquarium PC, but that would be a LOT of work that I'm not sure I could handle. Having a 100 gallon tank split in half long ways. The back half is 4 pc's immersed in oil, the front have is a freshwater tank with fish in it.

The PC's would be dedicated to something like the folding @home project.
The fish would be, well, fish.

Just thoughts I've had. Fat chance of it happening. I have too little time, money or drive to make that a reality.

Now an immersed PC in a 10 gallon tank with some special lighting and some uv reactive color plex mount is more feasible.

Damnit, this thread has sparked my interest again.
FYI, Target sells really cheap mineral oil.

[Zephik]

What if you used UV Coolant? Would that work?

[nil8]

I don't think so. I don't know to be honest.

[haha49]

im wondering if you can put a peliter in there and not have condinsation isuse since its in mineral oil..

[nil8]

I know I'm not the only person around who has done this.

As for your peltier question, no freakin' clue man. I've never messed with one in a PC. I understand the theory, but never actually handled it.

[Greco101]

Youd think that resistance on the PSU fan would burn that out pretty quick. Not really a use for it... wonder why he just didnt take it out.

This sparked my imagination for my old pc but I have a few priorities to get outta the way before I start including buying all the tools since my dad kept/sold everything from his shop when my parents divorced.

[Jim Beam]

peltier, no way how about phase change at -30 degrees well depending on the freezing point of the mineral oil