Full immersion systems

[natr0n]

Have a mop ready.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Why submerge a computer whose components are already liquid cooled?

Well with it being so complicated odds are if someone broke into the house they wouldn't bother stealing the PC because it would be too heavy or they might think it's some kind of fancy space heater?

 

[Frank_100]

I've mentioned it before, probably others have too. We're being ignored, it seems (maybe on purpose?).

The warnings are appreciated.

..but the thread is about how to build an efficient desktop immersed system.

If you were told you had to build such a system that fit in a Mid ATX Tower,
how would you do it?

Just some thoughts
- You still need flow within the tank to carry away hot fluid at a faster rate than convection.
- The fluid will likely wick though the cables eventually.

The fluid wicking up the cable is a big concern. This maybe why it is not being done.

 

[maxfly]

I believe Gigabyte built one a few years ago for one of the computer shows... I cant remember what they called it. I can only remember the video of the clear coolant boiling straight up, off of the bare die CPU.

Immersion Cooling Solution for Data Centers - GIGABYTE Global

The scalable, faster, and energy-efficient way to cool your data center, immersion cooling can save more for your business and is overall more reliable.

www.gigabyte.com

First video is from CES 2019, I was a few years off.

Two-Phase Liquid Immersion Cooling for servers | Solution - GIGABYTE Global

Drastically enhances your server PUE, GIGABYTE offers Two-Phase Liquid Immersion Cooling solution for servers and data centers with 3M and Allied Control

www.gigabyte.com

 

[Frank_100]

I believe Gigabyte built one a few years ago for one of the computer shows... I cant remember what they called it. I can only remember the video of the clear coolant boiling straight up, off of the bare die CPU.

That was two phase system.

A two phase system would require me to build/buy/find a condenser.

I don't have the tools/knowledge/skill for that kind of metal work.

 

[maxfly]

That was two phase system.

A two phase system would require me to build/buy/find a condenser.

I don't have the tools/knowledge/skill for that kind of metal work.

C'mon man. No excuses damnit! Just do it!
Hehehe ;P

 

[AusWolf]

The warnings are appreciated.

..but the thread is about how to build an efficient desktop immersed system.

If you were told you had to build such a system that fit in a Mid ATX Tower,
how would you do it?

It may sound counter-intuitive to the question, but personally, I wouldn't. There are lots of more cost- and work-efficient ways to build a cool and quiet system without the aforementioned drawbacks of full immersion.

Edit: I appreciate curiosity-builds, I really do. But there's a reason why full immersion has been, and will always be, imo, nothing more than a curiosity.

 

[A Computer Guy]

The warnings are appreciated.

..but the thread is about how to build an efficient desktop immersed system.

Diving into the theoretical and my deep desire to draw crude diagrams. Not recommending any of this btw.

I would consider immersing everything you need as a single package so only rad input/output and power cables pass through the wall of the chamber.
The enclosure should be some kind of unibody non-reactive material to your fluid with a sealable top.
Go wireless on mouse, keyboard, video, and network. You need some kind of IMPI to service uefi/bios/motherboard.
Use internal duct work to enforce flow across heat sinks and components.
Immerse pump for noise reduction.
Put some nice handles on it so you can move it around. (not shown in diagram)

For icing on the cake instead of power cable passthrough do power delivery via induction through the wall of the chamber instead and have a completely sealed unit.

 

[Frank_100]

Diving into the theoretical and my deep desire to draw crude diagrams. Not recommending any of this btw.

I would consider immersing everything you need as a single package so only rad input/output and power cables pass through the wall of the chamber.
The enclosure should be some kind of unibody non-reactive material to your fluid with a sealable top.
Go wireless on mouse, keyboard, video, and network. You need some kind of IMPI to service uefi/bios/motherboard.
Use internal duct work to enforce flow across heat sinks and components.
Immerse pump for noise reduction.
Put some nice handles on it so you can move it around. (not shown in diagram)

For icing on the cake instead of power cable passthrough do power delivery via induction through the wall of the chamber instead and have a completely sealed unit.
View attachment 298732

Dayum.

 

[AnotherReader]

The Cray 2 beat all the Gigabytes of the world to the punch for immersion cooling.

 

[joemama]

Even in a single phase system, you still need to dissapate the heat from the coolant into the air, otherwise you are only increasing the heat capacity
It would slow down the temperature change but not lower the maximum temperature reached under longer usage

 

[LabRat 891]

Submersion cooling is big money for specialized applications. Usually Military, Industrial, or State-funded supercomputing. On that note:
IIRC, Some company went and Patented the concept; making it very hard to get submersion-cooled kit to (the consumer) market.

(As no doubt already covered)
Mineral oil works, but can be messy/risky to clean components if swapping/upgrading.
'Fluorinert' and derivatives are what mil-inds favor, but the stuff is neither easily available or affordable (in quantity).

So, sadly; no. We won't be seeing any companies introducing submersion cooling chassis, etc. It's most-all DIY at this point.

BTW, Tractor Supply Company sells semi-bulk amounts of 'horse laxative (mineral oil and vitamin E, IIRC). Depending on where you live, a 'farm supply house' might be the most affordable source of 'coolant'.

 

[Fangio1951]

Imagine the nightmare when you wanted to upgrade any of the submerged components !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Mineral Oil Cooled PC

History of Puget Systems mineral oil aquarium PC project from our earliest prototypes up through the do-it-yourself kits we offered for sale.

www.pugetsystems.com

Pretty old, so the hardware was different, but it does a good job of explaining the advantages and disadvantages.

There was also the approach of putting the PC tank into a fish tank to double as an aquarium heater and dissipate the heat from the oil.

 

[LabRat 891]

Imagine the nightmare when you wanted to upgrade any of the submerged components !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If using mineral oil: CRC makes an electronics cleaner that would degrease a card well (after blowing off the majority with a hair dryer.)
Problem is, you'd want to stock up (it's not cheap, nor terribly expensive) and work outside or in a vent hood.
Rubbing alcohol and some soft paint/toothbrushes might work too. Thankfully, you don't need to 100% clean the parts (the mineral oil is no more a problem than the oil that many thermal pads 'eek out' over time)

I've seen people dishwash cards/boards in the dishwasher, but the debate over that method's risks is endless...

 

[A Computer Guy]

Why submerge a computer whose components are already liquid cooled?

I had a thought about that.... for example if you chill your water loop then submerge everything in mineral oil it will prevent condensation around the chilled water blocks. Now that Thermal Grizzly Carbonaut Pads are a thing you can immerse your components without thermal paste degradation in the oil. In this case the oil isn't so much acting as a coolant but an insulator from water vapor.

 

[LabRat 891]

I had a thought about that.... for example if you chill your water loop then submerge everything in mineral oil it will prevent condensation around the chilled water blocks. Now that Thermal Grizzly Carbonaut Pads are a thing you can immerse your components without thermal paste degradation in the oil. In this case the oil isn't so much acting as a coolant but an insulator from water vapor.

I've often wondered why 'Extreme OCers' haven't just "gone all the way" and submerge their boards and cards (and the base of the LN2/DI pots) in mineral oil.
They already 'glob on' vaseline, which is basically 'thick mineral oil'.

In fact, the pot isn't even necessary:
There was an OCer (YEARS ago) here on TPU, that didn't even bother w/ a LN2/DI pot; he just stuck his parts in a big 'tupperware', submerged in oil, and dropped in dry ice chunks.
He 'was' a world recorder-holder for OCing, using the lowest-effort possible 'extreme cooling setup'.

Edit: I looked through the first 50 or so pages of the Case Mods Gallery trying to find the build; I know it used to be in there...
I hate it when 'stuff' solidified in my memory just *poofs* off the internet...