Subcooling CPU without insulation

[_HL4E_HalfLife_]

I have an idea to subchill a CPU without using any insulation around the CPU itself and not kill the CPU or mobo in the process. The pic i made below will help but ill try to explain this further.

I intend to make a hollow box made most likely of plexiglass with a top on it to fit around the cpu with about 1inch of clearance on all sides and have a hole on the top for the SS suction line/cap tube and another hole to fit a brass peice for the gauge hose to screw onto. The plexiglass box will be sealed to the mobo with a silicon sealant or some other bonding agent. Once the sealant has hardened ill use a vacuum pump to remove all the air and moisture from the box and see of it will hold a vacuum indefinitly. Once this is achieved no moisture should ever form around the cpu or the evap for as long as the vacuum holds.

What do you guys think? Would this work?

[eBoy0]

I had a simular idea once with a plastic cup, though i never went through with it and tryed it, i think it will work!
Though i wonder, wouldn't the pressures from the vacuum crack the mobo?

[n00b 0f l337]

You really dont want to use a vacuum. Make a sealed box then fill it with nitrogen. Its been done before.

[rockdude14]

the mobo will get cold
and the mobo outside the box will be below ambiant so youll still have a risk of condensation just depends on how cold the cpu gets

just not under the box

[Comp-Freak]

I'd use a round "box" because it's stronger.

[_HL4E_HalfLife_]

I had a simular idea once with a plastic cup, though i never went through with it and tryed it, i think it will work!
Though i wonder, wouldn't the pressures from the vacuum crack the mobo?

I wouldn't think so because the clips that hold a hsf in place apply a fair amount of force on a mobo without it cracking. Creating a vacuum over such a small area shouldn't be a problem.

You really dont want to use a vacuum. Make a sealed box then fill it with nitrogen. Its been done before.

But the downside to pressurizing the box is there more chance the nitrogen will leak out but if theres a vacuum,the vacuum itself will help hold the box to the mobo which also helps to reinforce the walls of the box.

[adamwinn]

It all sounds like more trouble than its worth to me. I really don't see the advantage aside from the 'cool' factor (no pun intended.)

Would you take the IHS off before you pulled vacuum on it, or just slit one side of it? I'd be afraid of air sneaking in from somewhere - ie, cpu pin sockets, under the ihs, etc.

[[XC] MarioMaster]

You'd probably need some coating on the motherboard as the cold is conducted through the cpu pins and some insulation on the back.

[mesyn191]

I wouldn't think so because the clips that hold a hsf in place apply a fair amount of force on a mobo without it cracking. Creating a vacuum over such a small area shouldn't be a problem.

Those clips don't really use the mobo as a support though, they use the backplate which is directly behind the CPU to hold the HSF down. If you try to pull a vaccum with fibreglass that thin it'll probably crack.



But the downside to pressurizing the box is there more chance the nitrogen will leak out but if theres a vacuum,the vacuum itself will help hold the box to the mobo which also helps to reinforce the walls of the box.

Its just as likely you'd lose vaccum to you know. BTW you don't really need to get the pressure up that high, just enough to force all the air out of the box and then leave it.

[_HL4E_HalfLife_]

Those clips don't really use the mobo as a support though, they use the backplate which is directly behind the CPU to hold the HSF down. If you try to pull a vaccum with fibreglass that thin it'll probably crack.

Its just as likely you'd lose vaccum to you know. BTW you don't really need to get the pressure up that high, just enough to force all the air out of the box and then leave it.

Im not using fibreglass i said i was going to use plexiglass, unless thats what u ment to say?

Well to be blunt i don't have any nitrogen and im not gonna spend 50 bucks to rent a bottle only to use 2oz of it its not worth it so a vacuum is the best i can do.

[_HL4E_HalfLife_]

It all sounds like more trouble than its worth to me. I really don't see the advantage aside from the 'cool' factor (no pun intended.)

Would you take the IHS off before you pulled vacuum on it, or just slit one side of it? I'd be afraid of air sneaking in from somewhere - ie, cpu pin sockets, under the ihs, etc.

Why would i want to remove the IHS or slit one side of it? I don't think you quite understand what im trying to do here. The plexiglass box will surround the CPU socket with about 1inch of clearance on all sides so i can't see how any air could possibily get in around the socket pins or under the ihs.

[n00b 0f l337]

Hes talking about air inside the cpu Ihs i think?

[adamwinn]

ya, there's air inside the cpu ihs.

I've always wondered when running a DD if any condensation forms between the ihs and the chip? There's plenty of space in there and it gets plenty cold enough... hmm-

[n00b 0f l337]

There normally sealed in very low humidity environments.

[eBoy0]

There normally sealed in very low humidity environments.

There's a small slit in the IHS and CPU so it's not 100% sealed.

[adamwinn]

ah if there's a slit already, then the vacuum woudl take care of that :)

[mesyn191]

Im not using fibreglass i said i was going to use plexiglass, unless thats what u ment to say?

Well to be blunt i don't have any nitrogen and im not gonna spend 50 bucks to rent a bottle only to use 2oz of it its not worth it so a vacuum is the best i can do.

The mobo is made of fiberglass....

Any inert gas will do, nitrogen is not required. I think you can get argon/xeon for almost nothing in some stores.

[Xenogias]

I say try it. You never really know until you try. Bet it would be a pain in the ass to set up and I wouldnt blame you if you dropped the idea (not to discourage you).

[C-BuZz]

depending on temps you'd still have to insulate the back of the mobo ;)

C-BuZz

[[XC] MarioMaster]

They have these air dusters for computers at staples that use CO2 cartriges, you could use that to fill it with CO2, I think it's like $10 or something.

[adamwinn]

Be careful w/ CO2. The last thing you want is for the CO2 to condense or even freeze-

Pressure + Low Temps = Trouble

http://www.acpco2.com/img/2121diagramme2-fr.jpg