5 GHz Project: CPU Cooling With Liquid Nitrogen

Features
By Frank Völkel
published

Insulation To Counter Condensation Build-up

Without adequate insulation, considerable condensation would quickly build up on the copper pipe. We therefore developed an insulating method as part of the preconditioning phase that was very easy to realize and at the same time is very effective. The following images provide a short summary.

Matching pipe with double-ply foam filling for external insulation

Additional protection with special adhesive tape

Recesses for CPU fixture

The insulation applied

The insulation against condensation build-up is ready
Frank Völkel
6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jayh619
    So would u have to cool it constantly? or.. wat?
    Reply
  • If they stopped cooling it the processor would die.
    Reply
  • Now, with that big of a heatsink how do you plan to close the tower? How do you plan to renew the liquid nitrogen without blowing up your PC
    Reply
  • you will notice that this was done outside... so not very safe I bet. Also you would never be able to keep switching the system on and off as the ice would damage the pc
    Reply
  • NEOhm
    I couldn't help but think that there was a lot more they could have done to insulate the rest of the system from the CPU's immediate area .... I'm sure this system must have gone onto a crashing spree once all that ice built up and started short-circuiting all those electronics around the CPU's base .... for one example, they could have gone as far as to coating that area with silicone, i would think; or in the vary least, covering that area more to protect from the super cooled 'steam' flowing over the top of the copper tube and down onto the motherboard.

    Secondly, the over-use of thermal pastes ... from my understanding, application of thermal paste between a chip and a heatsink is supposed to be EXTREMELY THIN and evenly spread; any excess paste REDUCES thermal performance and just splotching it on can easily introduce air bubbles which would cause 'hot-spots' wherever a bubble lies.

    If your going to draw attention to yourself by breaking some world records, it would be probably a good idea to do everything you can to make everything as perfect as can be ... for example, cleaning up the copper soldiering residues to 'good enough' levels isn't Good Enough!, go all the way and use scouring pads, polish and some attention to detail and people will respect you the more for your efforts and clean presentation. A key to success in life = Strive for excellence in whatever you do! Don't settle for second-best.
    Reply
  • Zorg
    I know it's late, but you guys are clowns.

    They did it and then took it apart and threw it in a box. Sorry it won't fit in a case and it wasn't shiny enough for you nitpickers.

    Let me know how cool yours is when you get done.

    If you're going to post garbage then don't post at all.
    Reply