Drunken computers

Bergkamp · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:14

Has anybody ever built a computer inside a beer fridge? Possible?

I'm off to google it now, but was interested if anyone here had any direct experiences.

brummie · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:23

condensation

Bergkamp · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:30

Yea, I had considered that, but assumed some clever, creative type would have worked a solution.... Possibly lots of silica gel?

JonJ678 · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:32

Broken fridge shortly after condensation

wannabedamned · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:33

i can imagine the motor burning out attempting to keep a constant temp

gurusan · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:37

I don't know a whole lot about it but from what I've read the compressors aren't built to deal with constantly being on...so as above it would burn out.

Rroff · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:40

Beer fridges simply aren't designed for that volume of heat anyhow... they are designed to reduce things a little from room temp.

DireEmblem · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:44

Why not submerge it in oil?

I've always been tempted to do something like this

gurusan · 6 Feb 2010 at 21:48

DireEmblem said:
Why not submerge it in oil?

I've always been tempted to do something like this

I'd assume his goal is to achieve sub-ambient temps.

DireEmblem · 6 Feb 2010 at 22:04

gurusan said:
I'd assume his goal is to achieve sub-ambient temps.

In which case, depending on budget, look at Peltier technology.

gurusan · 6 Feb 2010 at 22:05

Yeah...something about using 200W to shift 200W is just bonkers. :/

Cookeh · 6 Feb 2010 at 22:38

DireEmblem said:
Why not submerge it in oil?

I've always been tempted to do something like this

Hideous. Pointless. Stupid.

And a pc in a fridge wouldn't work. As aforementioned it would burn out.

Gundog48 · 6 Feb 2010 at 23:19

I have seen this done somewhere before, may have been a freezer though. The cold produced by the fridge is nowhere near enough to cool the system. You may be able to make a partition using acrylic, build your system in that, and then use a liquid cooling system and put your radiator in the fridge. It will still be expensive and not that good though.

Bergkamp · 6 Feb 2010 at 23:31

Oh well, another dream dies! I have neither the budget or the technical knowledge to attempt anything like what I suggested. I was just curious.

People should keep this going merely to test ingenuity though. I'm sure someone out there could develop something, whether it's efficient or not....

Azra · 6 Feb 2010 at 23:33

Lol submerged computers weigh extraordinary amounts but I guess you don't need to worry about dust lol

wannabedamned · 7 Feb 2010 at 01:37

Bergkamp said:
People should keep this going merely to test ingenuity though. I'm sure someone out there could develop something, whether it's efficient or not....

Phase Cooling exists, It's just specialised equipment and pretty expensive. Vapochill is the main company I can think of

KnightsWhoSayNi · 7 Feb 2010 at 01:48

Well I saw a site showing a chap who submerged his whole PC in vegetable oil (removed all fans) and it ran fine. Can't quite remember how it was cooled though.

e.g.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ8L1Prl6tk

JonJ678 · 7 Feb 2010 at 02:49

Spend enough time on XS and you start to form the idea that phase cooling is extensively used. It works well. Generally the only cheap sub ambient cooling I know of is a modified air conditioner or a beer chiller, the type which deals with cooling tap beer in pubs. The latter can be had for about £100 and works astonishingly well, someone on here is using one at present. Peltiers look really cheap until you realise you need at least half a dozen of the ceramics, and see the price of the cold plates and of the power supplies.