Watercooling sub-ambient insulated system

Taylor Trotter · Dec 9, 2016

NOTE: I do not know if this is in the correct forum.

I am designing a system for a client that wants a system that is silent to the observer with sub-ambient cooling using an 8000 BTU/hr AC unit, and 4 420mm radiators. My question is twofold: one, can the 8,000 BTU/hr unit successfully dissipate the a TDP load of 500-800 watts, with the air itself being cooled by the unit, and two: What precautions will I need to take, assuming the motherboard, and components are isolated from the cold air, with only possibly sub-ambient waterblocks touching the hardware? will I need to insulate the socket?

basically there will be a closed loop of air that the unit will intake from and exhaust the cooled air, while outputting the hot air through PVC pipes. The cooled air will pass through the radiators in series, using HSP fans. The motherboard and other components will be in a different compartment, hermetically sealed from that compartment(this will have airflow, separated from the cooled air from the cooling loop.

Quick additional info: the room is 70-80 degrees all year, and the RH% is 40%, controlled by the House HVAC unit.

greens · Dec 9, 2016

Taylor Trotter :

Cold air going over a radiator isn't any better at cooling than room temperature air, in fact i believe it may be worse...

The thermal conductivity of air at 0c is .0243. The thermal conductivity of air at 20c is .0257.

Additionally, fans are silent. They are brushless, the only contact is their bearings. These also don't make any audible noise. When you hear a PC - you hear the air being moved. It doesn't matter if the origin point is a mile away, you can still hear the air. Just like you can hear air coming out of a heat vent even though the furnace and blower is 3 floors down.

oczdude8 · Dec 9, 2016

I don't quite understand ur setup, but ideally, you would want everything to be away from the PC that is required to be silent, and only water lines running into the pc and again out from it. You should not be ducting air.

The need for insulating /waterproofing depends on how much lower then ambient you want to obtain. For example, a few degress lower requires nothing. You can do a simple test. Put out a glass of water a different temperatures and see at what temperature condensation forms.

faalin · Dec 9, 2016

If you go through with this or try it a smart person would insulate everything.

One of my old build was a i7 950 on a Asus Rampage 3 extreme board and 2 gtx 580's. I ran 3 different loops, one for the cpu, motherboard, and 1 for both 580's. The side of the case was modded with a carbon fiber box to hold 2 danger den black ice extreme 480mm radiators and had push pull Scyth Ultra Kaze fans.

One winter i decided to place the case next to a window and use cardboard to build a duct from the window to the radiator box and then from the top of the case back to the top of the window. My 950 ran at 4.9GHz @ 15*c and the 580's at 1000Mhz @ 9*c, 20/20 hind sight i should have insulated the computer somehow. The fans blew 30 to -30*f air straight at the mohterboard all winter long, but boy were those the best OC'ing months i ever had

Taylor Trotter · Dec 9, 2016

greens :

Taylor Trotter :

Cold air going over a radiator isn't any better at cooling than room temperature air, in fact i believe it may be worse...

The thermal conductivity of air at 0c is .0243. The thermal conductivity of air at 20c is .0257.

Additionally, fans are silent. They are brushless, the only contact is their bearings. These also don't make any audible noise. When you hear a PC - you hear the air being moved. It doesn't matter if the origin point is a mile away, you can still hear the air. Just like you can hear air coming out of a heat vent even though the furnace and blower is 3 floors down.

Thanks for the reply. what advice would you give to maintain minimal noise?

Taylor Trotter · Dec 9, 2016

oczdude8 :

What type of insulation would be necessary for a motherboard and gpu?

Taylor Trotter · Dec 9, 2016

greens :

faalin :

The alternative being chilled water loops, what insulation is necessary for the GPU and motherboard to prevent condensation?

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