Long term phase change cooling?

Ease · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:28

I've just read my first introduction to phase change cooling. It sounds pretty interesting (albeit expensive) but also a bit risky. There's a wide concensus that you shouldn't let your processor get to near 90-100C for too long, but I've never heard of a MINIMUM temperature. Could you accidentally shatter your CPU from extremely low temps?

Also, is it practical long term? Does it take a lot of maintenance, or does it speed up debilitation much?

Many thanks for any input!

Mr-White · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:38

i dunno about shattering the cpu but there are such things as cold bugs where the temperature plays havoc with sensors in the cpu/gpu/mobo

i dunno if you'd want to have it running 24/7, A because of the noise (think of a freezer always on) B the amount of electric, C the heat it would be kicking out and D the thought of the thing exploding on me

ive known people to hit -70'c with autocascades and people can easily clear -100 with 2-3 stage cascade systems but that means having multiple refrigerants in the system. at this point your room ceases to be a bedroom and becomes more of a lab

MW

Schnippzle · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:41

Id be more worried about condensation that forms around the block, especially on the motherboard.

Mr-White · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:44

Schnippzle said:
Id be more worried about condensation that forms around the block, especially on the motherboard.

neoprene foam, dielectric grease and plasti-coat

MW

RJC · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:45

They put liquid nitrogen on cpu's when benchmarking, I would assume belongs you don't bend and twist the cpu and board and put extreme stresses on the system the cpu would stay intact.

Running the Phase change all day will use a lot of electric, and depends if the unit was designed to run long term with correct cooling and oil return ect.

Ease · 6 Jan 2009 at 17:51

Sounds like a lot of effort and money, guess I'll put this idea off until I'm earning a proper living!

pastymuncher · 6 Jan 2009 at 19:43

Watercooling with a rad in the window works extremely well. Especially with the sub zero temps we have been having up here for the past couple of weeks.