pugetsystems.com— Built in an aquarium! Cooling is provided by submerging the system in mineral oil. With lights and bubbles, it looks great, and is not as expensive or difficult as you might think.
May 7, 2007View in Crawl 4
By the way, when you build yourself a computer, what sort of warranty do you get from yourself, and how do you go about invalidating that?"Oh no, I spilt biscuit crumbs in my computer, and now I refuse to fix it.""Aw, please""NO. I invalidated my warranty from myself.""Doh!""Doh's right. The joke's on me, sucker.""Yeah. The joke's on me."
I ran a similar setup about 2 years ago. I used basic Canola oil (cooking oil) for my setup, as Canola oil will not conduct electricity either, and it is ALOT cheaper than mineral oil. I picked up 20 Liters for $7.99. I had the system (a p3 866) running completely submerged for a 3 month period.(hard drive, power supply, and optical drive was all that was external from my tank). During this 3 month period, the pc might have been turned off for a total of 2 days. It always ran 100% stable, and the oil never got "hot". The warmest i can recall the temp of the oil getting is 26 Degrees Celcius (approx 79 Fahrenheit). This was also in the middle of summer on the 3rd floor of a building, so i was quite pleased with those results. I never had any issues of fans burning out under the increased load. or any hardware failures of any kind.
this is a awesome way to cool your PC if you use a water cooling system like they suggested, but use thin oil or even baby oil, it will be easier on your pump, and will cool faster.
I just discovered this site. This is a great idea. I am surprised that this idea has not caught on more. I recall from my Navy days that we had oil cooled electronics, but never where they were submerged in the stuff. I will have to try this next time I need a new computer.
This is the same stuff they use to coat gummy bears and gummy worms to keep them from sticking. I totally love the idea of cooling my system with oil, but I would rather not soak my components in oil just to drop 10 degrees or so in temperature. My air cooled system doesn't really get that hot even after 2-3 hours of gaming and mineral oil on a white carpet probably isn't fun to clean if the thing leaks. I may have to give it a try when I decide to build a new one though.
grumpyrainMay 8, 2007
THG did this about 18 months ago. Although this does look more polished than the THG attempt.<a class="user" href="http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/09/strip_out_the_fans/index.html">http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/09/strip_out_the_fans/index.html</a>
drunkinbdaMay 8, 2007
then he'd have an air cooled cpu...
blackadderiiiMay 8, 2007
By the way, when you build yourself a computer, what sort of warranty do you get from yourself, and how do you go about invalidating that?"Oh no, I spilt biscuit crumbs in my computer, and now I refuse to fix it.""Aw, please""NO. I invalidated my warranty from myself.""Doh!""Doh's right. The joke's on me, sucker.""Yeah. The joke's on me."
ghankMay 8, 2007
I ran a similar setup about 2 years ago. I used basic Canola oil (cooking oil) for my setup, as Canola oil will not conduct electricity either, and it is ALOT cheaper than mineral oil. I picked up 20 Liters for $7.99. I had the system (a p3 866) running completely submerged for a 3 month period.(hard drive, power supply, and optical drive was all that was external from my tank). During this 3 month period, the pc might have been turned off for a total of 2 days. It always ran 100% stable, and the oil never got "hot". The warmest i can recall the temp of the oil getting is 26 Degrees Celcius (approx 79 Fahrenheit). This was also in the middle of summer on the 3rd floor of a building, so i was quite pleased with those results. I never had any issues of fans burning out under the increased load. or any hardware failures of any kind.
bryanjkMay 8, 2007
...why would you sell your new computer? I wear all my hardware out before I sell it :P
kylekruchokMay 9, 2007
All you need now is some slow-fading-multi-colored lights.
darthpooMay 12, 2007
Good thing water vapor doesn't condense.
kylekruchokMay 13, 2007
Nothin' like ice cold mineral oil to keep your computer nice, eh?
jonbachJul 20, 2007Submitter
Update after two months has been posted:<a class="user" href="http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php#update">http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php#update</a>
striikerJul 20, 2007
Two month update has been posted at website, <a class="user" href="http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php#update">http://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php#update</a>
krash667Mar 10, 2008
this is a awesome way to cool your PC if you use a water cooling system like they suggested, but use thin oil or even baby oil, it will be easier on your pump, and will cool faster.
howardtj43147Jun 10, 2009
I just discovered this site. This is a great idea. I am surprised that this idea has not caught on more. I recall from my Navy days that we had oil cooled electronics, but never where they were submerged in the stuff. I will have to try this next time I need a new computer.
delusional1Aug 29, 2009
This is the same stuff they use to coat gummy bears and gummy worms to keep them from sticking. I totally love the idea of cooling my system with oil, but I would rather not soak my components in oil just to drop 10 degrees or so in temperature. My air cooled system doesn't really get that hot even after 2-3 hours of gaming and mineral oil on a white carpet probably isn't fun to clean if the thing leaks. I may have to give it a try when I decide to build a new one though.