Putting a CPU or GPU Rad directly in a stream..?

[beany_bot]

I've often wondered. Plenty properties around me that have a stream in the garden, some very near the house. Is there anything stopping you just getting some hose extensions, a beefy pump and banging the Rad directly in the stream? Surely that would cool to epic levels? I know about condensation issues if you cool the CPU below ambient, but this is pretty easily taken care of with some putty and time as is done in phase change cooled PCs. Really not that hard. Just wondering if anyone has done this? I think I would definitely try this if I had a stream in my garden. Temps would be sick. No fan noise either. And you can house the pump outside so completely silent.

 

[beany_bot]

or indeed, if you live somewhere with no metered water charges (Scotland) then you could make your own "stream" with an outdoor tap. This I could actually do where I am now... Hmmm

 

[beany_bot]

Infact, further thinking out loud. Why not just go whole custom loop connected directly to the tap?? The water here is cold and super super soft. Hardly anything in it. I don't think it would damage or gunk anything up for years, wouldnt need a pump either. Just run the tap.

 

[beany_bot]

Things like this are really trying to solve a problem that isn't there. Pumps can be turned down, fans also - running a long hose to a radiator outside is only ever going to be a source of problems at some point... unless you desperately want things to run at 10c there really is no need. What ever happens you shouldn't use a standard rad and just chuck it in a river.

I'd think it's significantly easier to run it to a chiller stashed elsewhere in your house...

But I'd be able to tinker and overclock like Crazy. Pointless yes but fun, a lot.

 

[beany_bot]

Im thinking this. Would run super cool (basically infinetly cool as the tap water here is pretty much 8-14 degrees all year.)

No issues with sediment because the loop for the PC is still closed.
No fan noise
No cost as water isn't metered
Really very easy to do and cheap. Just build an enclosed box for the rad.

I'm kinda failing to see a downside here? I know most people don't consider this because of water charges but we don't have that here. So seems a no brainer. Just leave the tap on 24/7. With cold water constantly rushing past the rad I very much doubt you could ever get the CPU too hot while overclocking.

 

[beany_bot]

That's a ridiculous and extremely wasteful idea. We may not have water meters up here but water is not endless, it has to come from somewhere and up until now we have had very little rain this year compared to normal rainfall for the time of year. I believe that you could also be fined if you are caught. If I remember right, a few years ago a farmer was done for wasting water. The water company noticed abnormal water usuage and eventually tracked it back to a farmer who had the water running 24/7 for some reason or another.

I'm in the west of Scotland. We have excess water to the degree that everyone of our water collection bodies has an overflow that is constantly running into the sea... As I type two of the M8 lanes are closed due to flooding.. And i'm talking about using a trickle. So really I'm not buying that card. The fans to cool the radiator normally would use more energy (harm the environment) than a trickle of water that would go into the sea anyway. So yeah. Not buying it.

 

[beany_bot]

Hmm the more I think about it. The more I think the idea is sound but the main issue will be condensation. It would be really tricky to control. And probably not worth it.