Slashdot Mirror
Want a Cool and Quiet PC? Dunk it in Oil
The Last Gunslinger writes "Tom's Hardware Guide has published an article (complete with video) showing how they employed their own approach to the liquid cooled computer. To offset the loss of normal airflow around their Athlon FX-55 and GeForce 6800Ultra, the mad scientists in the lab decided to fill the case up with 8 gallons of cooking oil. The oil temperature leveled off at a comfy 104F during benchmarking operations intended to tax both the CPU and GPU to their limits. Interestingly enough, they first attempted this operation using deionized water. It worked for 5 minutes before developing short circuits...but the hardware was amazingly undamaged." Slashdot has covered similar projects in the past but it was neat to see the differences in oil and the look at capacitance around the CPU pins.
...and make french fries.
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Would you like fries with that?
Do you have to change the oil and filter every 3000 programs? On the bright side, you can use to old oil to make bio-diesel!
Did this guy take pointers from the William Shatner School of Websites?
You get like half a...
a sentence and then...
have to click Next Page...
How's the buff Asian guy next to you going to feel when he and his machine are doused in cooking oil?
Extra Crispy?
"Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
This is a fun solution for hobbyists, but with the current prices of oil it would be cheaper to fly in bags of ice from arctic expeditions. *ducks*
Always remember the five enemies of oil: SWACH
Salt
Water
Air
Carbon
Heat
These five things will slowly reduce the quality of your oil, forcing pre-mature replacement, and adversly affecting the taste^W [operation] of the product^W [computer].
Salt is introduced into the oil when [you eat] the french fries are salted too close to the vat^W computer. This has immediately damaging affects on the oil. Always ensure that you salt the fries [you are going to eat] in the bin^W^W^W [on your desk] rather than over the vat^W [computer].
Water is naturally introduced into the oil from the air around us, and the moisture contained inside the french fries.^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W Try to shake off excess ice before cooking the fries.
Since air is all around us, there is not too much that can be done to stop this enemy of oil. However, keeping the lid on the vat^W [computer] when not in use has been shown to reduce oxygenation of the oil.
Carbon is introduced into the vat^W [computer] as the french fries are cooked. Use the handheld strainer to remove excess carbon from the vat^W [computer].
Heat is a constant threat to the oil. Since the french fries are often cooked at 400 degrees or higher^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W^W [Since the computer regularly operates at temperatures rivaling a nuclear power plant], it is important to constantly monitor the clarity and viscousness of the oil. Use of a portable strainer can remove destroyed oil, and allow you to rescue the oil that is still in good condition.
Follow these simple tips, and your french fries^W^W [computer] will remain tasty batch after batch!
* tongue planted firmly in cheek
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
So would this mean a machine cooled in such a fashion could be a Crisco Router.
you'd have 8 gallons of cooking oil that wanted out, and if you weren't at home could very well destroy the board.
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Leave it to a geek to be worried about his mobo when 8 gallons of oil spill onto the floor.
I'd rather replace my mobo anyday. Try getting 8 gallons of oil out of burbur. Or better yet, try the same mess on hardwood or linoleum. I can see it now:
(slip) Shit, my fscking back. Gotta hurry, must get up before mobo dies!
(slip-splotch-boom) Oohhh... My aching head. How am I ever gonna get outta this mess!
(bam-slip)(careening into corner of desk, eye-first) Ahhhh! I can't see! I'm blind! My baby! My baby! Don't worry, I'll save you, baby!
[voice from bedroom] Is everything OK dear? Who are you talking to?
(splotch-bam-boom) Everything fine, honey.. Just a few minor diffi.. (bang)
Honey! Quick, call Compusa, STAT! She's not gonna make it!
the lube is right there!
Pre-warmed, even.
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
Transformers have used oil for a very long time for cooling.
They also compress and store it in 'energon cubes' and transport it via the Space Bridge in support of the war efforts back home on Cybertron.