Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

CPU Convective Water Cooling

Posted by chrisd on from the ugly-computers dept.

biso writes "The possibility of cooling a CPU with gravitational convective flow of water is here analyzed and experimented with positive results. Many liquid cooling systems have been experimented by overclockers to better dissipate the heat from CPUs. The major part of these coolers is characterized by a relatively complex system requiring pumps or other active devices. Sometimes even liquid nitrogen is used. I built a simpler cooler, able to dissipate the same heat flux of a normal heatsink."

4 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. odd by The+Other+White+Boy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ok, i can see the extra bit of silence from not having a pump would be nice. but ... isnt a bowl of water on top of your computer just asking for trouble? something tells me this guy doesnt have cats.

  2. not that complex... by AmigaAvenger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've built numerous different water cooled systems, and the $20 pump from the aquarium supply place is NOT the most complex piece. A good waterjacket for the cpu is by far the most complex and generally most expensive single piece, and also the one that is most critical for good performance. Still need the waterjacket in this design, so it isn't really saving anything...

    1. Re:not that complex... by havardi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      More importantly; it's a moving part. When computers have absolutely no moving parts... well, that will be nice.

  3. too hot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I really think that phase change cooling systems are the future of the PC. Only with phase change cooling systems do you get high quality cooling able to remove the utmost heat away from a CPU and cool it to below freezing.

    I saw a presentation by Intel last year in which it pointed out that modern CPU's emit more heat per area than molten lava, and they expect that within a few years they will emit more heat per area than the sun.

    With these considerations passive water cooling is only a good first step and bound to be insufficient, even over the short term.