Cold Weather Cooling

[pHaestus]

Ok so it is starting to get cold outside, and I am finally going to get around to using nature's cold to cool my CPU. I am planning on putting a heatercore and 172mm fan outside and then just running hose (and fan wires) through the window to my system.

Has anyone else played around with this? The chilled water will be used to cool a 169W peltier I am thinking

I disregarded the use of a large bucket instead of a radiator as being too inefficient and also due to a risk of stagnant water freezing. Has anyone tried just putting a bucket outside vs. using a heatercore and fan? What about no fan and just convection? Would a different type of radiator be better suited to this?

[bigben2k]

I remember a fellow over at OCAU that did this, recently. If you're interested, I'll dig up his name.

[pHaestus]

Sure. I suppose I can just try it both ways, but I am soo lazy of late

[bigben2k]

Oops, my mistake. It was an external bong.

linky

My search didn't turn up anything.

[pHaestus]

No bongs for me; I would forget to fill for sure. Plus it would have to have antifreeze and I am not gonna leave that open outside.

[Joe]

yer luck, you would have a canuk woodchuck or soemthing setup home in the bong and there goes all yor good cooling

those canuk woodchucks... crafty beasts

[g.l.amour]

didn't unaclocker have some sort of rad hanging outside? if i recall correctly, he wasn't getting very good results though.

[pHaestus]

Ya since they took away the firearms those bastards are getting bold! I caught one using a palm pilot to try and unlock my car the other day!

[The Spyder]

Im using right now on my AMD Xp 1600@1953~ outside goes from 18-0c and i get 22-16c temps~ maze 3~ via 1300~ 86 chevvete core~ 2x 120mm 100cfm fans~

[gogo]

I was going to do the same thing since i'm in Alaska, but found out there is a neighborhood restriction on puting "heating & cooling" devices on the outside of my house. (probably meant for Air Cond. from the 80's) So I can't have a radiator strapped to the outside nor can I have Livestock in my backyard. So much for strapping a chicken to a 79 Mustang radiator. I was so hoping to have no fans and an alarm clock.

[pHaestus]

i am not overly concerned with the local constabulary.

[Joe]

just the wood chucks

[UnaClocker]

My results were bad because of a crappy radiator and pump. I've swapped out the radiator which helped a bit, and should have the pump swapped out shortly. It works well for me, and definately keeps the noise down, since I don't have to have any fans in the computer anymore.

[Arcturius]

Originally posted by Joe
just the wood chucks

<mod_voice="John Ratzenberger">
Actually, the Marmota monax, aka Woodchuck, Groundhog, Whistlepig, are true hibernators, in that they rely soley on bodyfat to survive through their October to March hibernation. Thus, they should not pose much of a threat to anything, during those months. In fact, during their hibernation their body temperature drops to a typical level of 8 degrees Centigrade, so you might actually wish to investigate the addition of some Woodchucks to your cooling setup.

Also, they are the most solitary of marmots, and prefer burrows in well-drained locations. While they have been observed climbing trees and swimming, this tends to be a last resort in satisfying their herbivorous appetites. So they should not present an issue in the summer, either, should you end up using your bong cooler.
</mod_voice>

[Joe]

Wow who knew I would learn that much about woodchucks from the ProCooling forums?!

[airspirit]

If you shrouded the radiator and fan well enough, who in your neighborhood would know what it is, anyway, gogo? Unless you're using some extremely loud fans, it would just look like a box ....

[gogo]

I thought about that too, the problem is that side of the house is 2 stories and the only details are the windows, flower boxes, and the groves in the T-111 siding. I've been tring to figure out how to hide it in a flower box. kind of have some fake flowers in front of it, paint it to match the house. Maybe decorate it at Xmas with greens and holly berry. (or Holly Berry)
The other concern I had was freezing. It hits 10 - 20 below and we get some nasty winds up here being right off the inlet.
Though If I had a good enough pump, at 40ft of lift, I could just put it in the garden or under the fron porch or in the crawlspace it stays between 10 to 20C down there.

Just had an image of wall mounted quick fittings w/trim plates next to the Cat5 jacks.

[airspirit]

If you're concerned with freezing, do what you do with your car. Add antifreeze for the winter, and then go to some regular coolant for the summer. *shrugs*

Because the coolant will be constantly moving, and will be heated by your CPU, I don't think you'll have a freezing problem if you add in about 15% antifreeze.