[PROJECT] Nuke and Boot - Overclock.net

scottsurfs · 01-23-09

GIVE THIS SOME FREAKIN' TIME TO LOAD!
(there's gonna be a whole lot of pictures)

Well, let me start with my problem. My Computer. It has a slight cooling problem, and by slight I mean a serious cooling problem.

CPU Idle - 55C
CPU Load - 70C
GFX Idle - 65C
GFX Load - 95C

This is with it running naked on my desk. I know there are all these various ways to remedy this, but this is not me asking for help (and I am most definitely not spending any money, and have done all to help already). This is a mission. A project? It honestly is to prove to people that you CAN experiment with things. I am just sick of hearing people say things like "That will not work" or "Hope you have the money for another computer." Well that and make it run cooler so that it isn't heating up my room in winter anymore. Plus if no one experiments with this kind of stuff how do you really know what can and cannot be done? I have scoured the Internet trying to find anymore information with pictures of homemade cooling equipment...and honestly I was surprised out how little there was.

My computer is a Pentium 4 650 that hangs out on my desk in an Intel D915GEV motherboard with a EVGA Ge-Force 8600GT 512MB graphics card that you can cook on. NONE of these parts are in anyway overclocked, actually I cannot overclock them...If you do your homework that Motherboard is an old desktop board that was built to be rugged, and by god it is. It currently has the best air-cooling system available...no computer case...it just sits on my desk with the HDD and PSU hanging out beside it. It was actually the only way I could safely run it without catching something on fire. It has run in this manner for over a year, since I first built it. Built mostly from outdated parts given to me by friends and co-workers who buy every new latest greatest piece of hardware. The reason this thing gets so hot is because the ambient temperatures down here in Florida can get pretty steamy, and I do not have the best A/C...as a matter of fact I don't have A/C, and If I did I probably would not use it (except on those 90 degree+ days with 100% humidity).

I have already amassed a collection of various components from junked cars and kitchen appliances in hopes of building something to fix my cooling problem. I have already begun the project, however, my camera battery died and I have to wait until tomorrow for pictures. Keep in mind the goal is ONLY to make it cooler...I am not a fancy-pants who has to have a quiet computer or a pretty one. I plan on constructing a water-cooling system that can successfully drop my temperatures. Here is a list of the parts and where I acquired them.

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Heater-Core - It will be the radiator, it is top-notch and German-made. Plus, it fits perfectly in my case.

1980's Sharp-Brand Microwave - It served us well...until it shorted out and became useless as a microwave. So I decided to convert it into a computer case. It was the perfect size, and all of my potentially hazardous cooling equipment can fit snugly outside of the motherboard area while still being concealed in the fake-wood-grain case, and allowing awesome air-flow.

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon Windshield Washer Pump - Not 100% sure if it will be strong enough, but I will test to see what kind of flow-rate it has. Pulled it off the same Vanagon the Heater-Core was from (Genius right?). I will probably resort to a washer-machine, dishwasher, or aquarium pump if all else fails.

120V 60HZ AC Fan - This was what kept the transformer in the Microwave cool, and it pushes enough air to blow your hair back...I'm talking Gale Force winds here...and just as loud. I will probably figure a way to make a PWM circuit to slow it down, but nonetheless a sweet find.

Assorted Heat-sinks - I scavenged these off of old server processors, They will be modified into water blocks for my GPU and CPU. I do not really need RAM or Chip-set blocks because I do not overclock my equipment. If I did, can you imagine the temps?

TEC Cooler - I got this off of a Mini-fridge. It was a really sweet find. I am hoping to find another one to put on the GPU as well. *fingers crossed*

There are also numerous other pieces of Equipment I have, such as temperature monitoring devices, Switches, Relays, and a modified PSU that I plan on using to run the entire cooling system.

I am doing this for a few reasons, none of them really matter. What does matter is that I do this, and accomplish my mission without spending a dime. You really wouldn't believe what kind of electronics people throw away...or what dangerous things are inside household electronics that you use everyday. So please do not try any of these things and try to say I told you that you can do it...because you cant...you will probably die. I am a professional, and will take this risk for you. If you have to ask a question about AC power, you probably shouldn't take apart anything. Getting shocked really sucks...like really...I have been hit with 220v...it hurts...bad...probably why I think of ways to cool a computer with kitchen appliances and auto parts.

Well, I will update tomorrow...Guess I'm gonna go MacGyver myself a sandwich out of various electronics and paperclips.

UPDATE: 1-24-09

A very Naked Computer...

Here are some pics of the early framework of this massive project.

This is the Microwave.

I have removed the outer shell, control plate, and door.

It is going to sit like a normal mocrowave. Desktop Style. The Bondo is me sealing up grill vents, i just hammered them closed and bondo'ed over them.

The radiator is going to sit in here, I am debating on whether or not to mount the fan grilles, or just drill out the bottom as a square that fits around the radiator. There are two fan-holes there because the heater-core idea came after my first plan. Water-cooling was not in anyway my original design.

And this is the hole for my 120v 60hz exhaust turbine.

I cut the screen out of the Door, which means i get to hang out with all the cool kids who have acrylic doors on their cases now! SWEET!

I made the motherboard lock n' load. Got these off my old desk. Like the part that slid out the keyboard tray.

The Power Supplies - I will explain how they are modded later, i got dinner to get to.

This is the Exhaust Fan.

My Watercooling system?

Some Close-ups on the heater-core...its so dense looking but has 100% Air-flow.

Pump Valve!

Should have measured twice...radiator...ALMOST FITS

Finally MAYBE this will become a water-block...who knows...might be these plus some others and some copper pipe...

but i have to go to dinner...will update later.

UPDATE: 2-3-09

well...got shmammered(drunk for "****-hammered") last night and passed out...so i couldn't update.

most of my time has been in trying to get my test machine together (if you read my other thread) and working on the water blocks/heat sinks for my CPU and GPU.

First thing I did was destroy my original stock heat sink...i mean it obviously sucked anyway...turns out what i thought was a copper heat sink...is aluminum with copper electroplated on...way to keep it classy nvidia...the zirconium of heat sinks.

The plan is to turn these ^ into something like these V

now granted these do not have the copper lines run through them...but...work with me on it.

I acquired some more pumps...these ones pump pretty good...I'm going to test them against each other to see which is faster and quieter.

Automotive dimmer switch that I am going to link to my "case alternative-to-cathode lights" that I plan on installing later.

I then milled down the mating surfaces. flip belt sander upside down and you have a small milling machine. I will have to fine-tune it on a piece of glass...but this sped-up the process of getting a good flat-surface.

it fits....well almost...gotta make some adjustments so that capacitor doesn't touch.

oh and i cut the holes for my power sources...

2 for the power supplies...and a little 120v one so i can keep the 120v fan on a seperate circuit. I am considering making a harness with fuses in it in case of a short or surge...like an on-board surge protector!

I also plan on plumbing it this week or next...gonna use almost all copper for my lines...screw that cheap rubber stuff...ill leave rubber for aquariums...just makes me nervous having something like rubber...besides copper transfers heat much better than rubber! so in theory it will extend the abilities of my heat sinks. Well that's it for now...hope to update next weekend...hopefully with most of the case-work done.

later.

LATE UPDATE:

So I haven't had a whole lot of time on my hands this last week. (i also am still at a stand still on my other tests involving using a CPU as a heat transfer pad can't find RAM for my test machine!)

I did, however, get a chance to test my pumps, and it was kind of interesting (I know these results are nothing to throw a pump at, unless you want to! because I think anything pumps better than these...lol)

I mean if you compared these to a swiftech or other standard CPU loop pump equipment...then ~317 GPH would be your speed...and you would be very unhappy with these results.

so on with my tests.

They were tested on 9v to move 2 cups of water from one container to the next. These pumps are ALL 12v so keep in mind this is not at full capacity. I rated the Noise level just on personal opinion, low meaning loud enough to be drowned out by sound or earphones. Moderate meant loud enough to be annoying. Respectfully I believe these devices, at full power (12v), will run nearly double the pump-rate that is listed below. All of this while maintaining a low line pressure. I know they do not move fluid as quickly, but the point is not spending money...now if i only could come across a washer-machine pump....

PUMP DATA

PUMP #1

9 GPH

Speed @ 9v = 00:00:50
Noise @ 9v = Low

PUMP #2

DOA (dead on arrival)

Speed @ 9v = N/A
Noise @ 9v = N/A

PUMP #3

13.64 GPH

Speed @ 9v = 00:00:33
Noise @ 9v = Low

PUMP #4

8.18 GPH

Speed @ 9v = 00:00:55
Noise @ 9v = Moderate

also keep in mind that my GPH was determined based on the speed these moved 2 cups of water. Therefore they are only approximations (and the results are an average of three attempts)...I did not have the time to measure how fast it would pump a bathtub...lol

I also have finished some more with my water blocks and case...will update with photos sometime this weekend or next week.
(when i get time to document)

peace out.