Oil for computer cooling?

KristianWaring · 15 Oct 2010 at 09:43

Just seen some videos on utube, and there using "OIL" to cool the systems, like putting the whole system in a tub of oil basically, I don't get it.

Does it actually make much of an effect on cooling, or is it just to look strange?

Tealc · 15 Oct 2010 at 09:47

Oil is a better conductor and transporter of heat than air so you can passively oil cool an older rig but for a modern system with hot CPU and graphics you'd need to pump oil through a radiator and cool it with fans.

http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/case-mod/2010/09/15/the-mineral-oil-pc-by-andrew-mollman/1

iamtheoneneo · 15 Oct 2010 at 09:49

yes as the oil has a massive heat capacity.
it can take a lot of heat without having to expel it which basically means you temps rise very slowly.

plus it also looks cool.

but yes it is beneficial and not just some fad.

d_brennen · 15 Oct 2010 at 10:23

It's certainly possible but I think it's a waste of time, money and effort.

Most non conductive oils are quite expensive and quite viscous so pumping it through rads is a problem. Fans in the oil are obviously a no no. Oh, and it needs to be a closed system, maybe even vacuum sealed. Believe it or not the oils used can evaporate and get clogged up with gunk. Might look quite cool though!

Custom PCs Dream PC of the year or whatever they call it was a submerged computer, though it was built by an OcUK competitor so no links unfortunately

Surveyor · 15 Oct 2010 at 10:47

Could be a bit messy come upgrade time and I'm sure you'd have fun trying to sell used parts.

geoirv23 · 15 Oct 2010 at 10:57

Looks slick!

olivier renault · 15 Oct 2010 at 11:04

Cool project. Crazy, pointless, but cool.

nippynoo · 15 Oct 2010 at 11:10

and the motherboard wont rust :-)

Aeleys · 15 Oct 2010 at 11:11

http://vimeo.com/15538129

1Day · 15 Oct 2010 at 11:42

A couple of overclockers and bencher's have been using a oil bath type thing to place their motherboard into when going sub-zero using LN2 - the reason was mainly to prevent condensation killing the motherboard and bits.