Thread: WuNgUn PIC'S-Water cooled car PC 95% done!

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What water cooling have you got?
I'm going to go water cooled I think
Can you explain what components you have in your cooling? like what pumps, radiators, reservoirs etc you have, and how you got the speedfan to come on at 50C?

I'm hoping to do your excellent layout but upright against the back of the back seats. Need to do some measuring first though. I'll post some pics during the process, I'm hoping to do it between August to December, it's not going to look anywhere near as good as yours though so don't put your expectations high lol.

JM

First, you want Tygon tubing...I understand it's the best stuff to use.

Also, you might want to use anti-freeze/water mix, depending on where you live! I'm running 20/80% mixture...

Don't skimp on the pump...I use Swiftech MCP655 in both my desktop and car PC's.

Swiftech make some very nice rads as well. Careful here, as other company's rad inlets are very restrictive. I'd go 1/2" ID on both the CPU and chipset (if you want).

I also use a Swiftech MCRES Micro resevoir in the car...mainly to help remove any air in the system. My desktop doesn't use a rez, but a T-Line filler neck instead.

As for your CPU block, it all depends on what CPU you have I guess...
I have an old DangerDen block on my 939, and I had to custom mount it, as it was designed for a different system...
I like both the Swiftech blocks and DangerDen blocks...try to find one that uses a single metal, or is at least coated if not, to help prevent corrosion...

Great job and fantastic looking focus there... One thing about the watercooling... if you hit a pothole and shake up the coolant in the res you could get an airlock which would then leave your entire system to fry :S

You res has to be the highest point of the system (like it is in a car if you like) or this will always be a real risk.

The loop is so short, and the coolant flows very well, they a 'lock' would be nearly impossible...
I've tilted the case while running to purposely induce air into the system, and while it makes a fair bit of noise, and clouds the coolant with tiny air bubbles, eventually the bubbles get worked out in the resevoir and the coolant returns to normal...
At no time did I notice the flow stopping all together.
You would need to starve the pump for far longer than what a bump might cause...like roll the car onto it's roof?

It's never impossible to get an airlock that stops the flow. Years and years ago I was doing watercooling and had to make our own waterblocks out of solid copper chunks lol... Always had various problems and one was airlocks, even if you're getting micro bubbles running through your system your cooling efficiency is down a heck of a lot to the point the CPU could start to cook, especially with a restrictive heat exchanger.

I remember another common problem was water pumps with thermal cutouts (generally used for protection against dry running), sometimes people had them cut out just from the case and water temps, so make sure your pump isn't too advanced for it's own good lol...

IMO watercooling today is a poor method to cool components given the alternative technology and products on today's market. Watercooling was most efficient when used in conjunction with tecs, but even this is rarely used now.

I would say a good quality heatsink and a couple of 120mm fans would do the job just as well if not better, and is going to be less probmatic.

Go for a large finned solid copper hs like zelman produce and add a fan (they're designed for fanless operation which means they're ULTRA efficient when used with large 120mm fans with minimal deadzones.

thanks, it would also be alot cheaper lol.

I always thought water cooling is the best.

Originally Posted by jellymonster

thanks, it would also be alot cheaper lol.

I always thought water cooling is the best.

Its better, but its also alot scarier. I would $h!+ my pants everytime I drive down the road if I had water cooling. Only because if something goes wrong your equipment is wet and most likely f$^ked.

^ +1
I'll say water cooling is awesome, but I wouldn't use it unless it cannot be done without it.
My current PC has 3 120mm Fans, 1 200MM fan, the cpu fan, and the graphics fan. It's not quiet, but at least i don't have to worry about water shorting my stuff out.

Water cooling would be like having a bear as a pet. It's awesome, but scary at the same time. that's why most people don't mess with it.