Mini Fridge Setup

[Yodums]

Hmm I was thinking of buying a mini fridge sometime soon and cooling my comp with it..

Although the thing that concerns everyone is condensation..

You think its worth a shot? Is it hard?

I believe you have to spray your motherboard with all this condensation spray as well as the cpu...

You obviously don't put the heatsink and other heatsinks in there right?

Since the fridges are pretty cheap and I think they will cool down to sub 0 temps and my parents will have no complaints about my little room being so hot... And they don't allow me living in the basement! BLAH

[ButcherUK]

A mini fridge probably doesn't have the capactity for a computer. You should check the capacity of the compressor / condenser setup it uses.

[Yodums]

Originally posted by ButcherUK
A mini fridge probably doesn't have the capactity for a computer. You should check the capacity of the compressor / condenser setup it uses.


You sure about that?

I saw on some other sites they did that..

[ButcherUK]

No I'm not completely sure, but it's something you should check. If the compressor overheats your fridge will burn out.

[Tiger]

Go have a look at this;
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~insanex
This was built by a student. Read it thoroughly. There is also a link there about another unit built in the USA.
I am using a fridge to house my res and am using sub-zero cooling. Have just reduced the holding temp to -13C and system is running +1C under full load and -1C idle. It has a 110W compressor and is an under-counter unit that I picked up at the local recycling centre for £5.
I have a lot to say about putting mobos in fridges and condensation because it appears most don't understand the relationship between Relative Humidity and condensation. But go and have a good look at the link above.
Finally I don't believe that most small fridges will be able to supply the necessary cold air to do this. My unit struggled in another configuration.

[ol' man]

Originally posted by Tiger
Go have a look at this;
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~insanex
This was built by a student. Read it thoroughly. There is also a link there about another unit built in the USA.
I am using a fridge to house my res and am using sub-zero cooling. Have just reduced the holding temp to -13C and system is running +1C under full load and -1C idle. It has a 110W compressor and is an under-counter unit that I picked up at the local recycling centre for £5.
I have a lot to say about putting mobos in fridges and condensation because it appears most don't understand the relationship between Relative Humidity and condensation. But go and have a good look at the link above.
Finally I don't believe that most small fridges will be able to supply the necessary cold air to do this. My unit struggled in another configuration.


A pic is worth a thousand words.

http://hhrol.bobsville.com/cryo.jpg

If you have a good enough compressor you will be fine. I surely doubt a 150w pelt and a 100w athy would work though with this setup. You would need a better condensor. I put fans blowing on the back of my fridge where the condensor is. I would highly suggest you do this alos if you try it. I don't recommend putting the whole computer in your fridge though without a real good air seal and a desicant(water absorber)

[hunter00]

i think i heard you could get little freezer things for like 25 bucks, and i was thinking, would it be a good idea to stick my radiators in there? so, would it be a good idea to stick my radiators in there? would i still need fans on the radiators? would i get really cold water? does really cold water in silicon tubing form condensation on the tubing?

[AntmanMike]

My thread "project condensation" on this forum describes how I am doing it. wait until im done, then you will se if it works.

[ol' man]

I thought the frostyness of my tubing above would have shown that indeed there is condensation:D

[Yodums]

Originally posted by ol' man
I thought the frostyness of my tubing above would have shown that indeed there is condensation:D


Questions about your diagram:

Whats the first picture the big white chunk of foam it looks like.

And can you explain your diagram w/ more details I mean that green chemical looks like acid or something :p

[ol' man]

Originally posted by tsunami



Questions about your diagram:

Whats the first picture the big white chunk of foam it looks like.

And can you explain your diagram w/ more details I mean that green chemical looks like acid or something :p

Hmmm, well the green stuff is definatly not acid:D It is antifreeze.

The white foam looking thing is my frosted over WB here immortalized in ICE.

http://hhrol.bobsville.com/block8.jpg

I gave a pic tutorial on how to make the block. It is very easy even if all you have is a drill and some taps.

[ol' man]

Whoops, I meant here it is immortalized in ICE:D

http://hhrol.bobsville.com/ice.jpg

[hyperbob]

Is doing this really worth it? You could buy a lot of computer stuff with that money.

[Yodums]

Originally posted by ol' man
Whoops, I meant here it is immortalized in ICE:D

http://hhrol.bobsville.com/ice.jpg


Some crazy stuff though ol'man how much did the whole thing cost.

I think I might pass on the fridge and may go water cooling when I get the job and money.

[AntmanMike]

I am working on a Fridge Cooling project right now. I am going to cool the WHOLE motherboard and cards (not PSU and drives). I freeze the air before it hits the parts, removing water, IE no condensation. Let me finish my project, then I will give you the schematics.

[r0ckstarbob]

thats exactly what i hope to do. keep me posted. i'm curious to see how it works for you.

RSB

[Yodums]

Originally posted by AntmanMike
I am working on a Fridge Cooling project right now. I am going to cool the WHOLE motherboard and cards (not PSU and drives). I freeze the air before it hits the parts, removing water, IE no condensation. Let me finish my project, then I will give you the schematics.


Well I'll keep that in mind although if it sounds too complicated and too stressful and my upcoming exams are right around the corner so I might pass or not pass.

Although I've seen the project been very well done with sub zero temperatures although they only cooled their cards and motherboard while you saw they had rubber things on the door so there were ide cables coming out and the PSU wires coming out ...

Thus very good results and this seems cheaper in my opinion than Water cooling since I believe I can buy a used fridge which will probably fit my mobo .. if not then bah!

[AntmanMike]

They waterproofed theirs. im not waterproofing mine. IM preventing condensation, not protecting from it. My way also results in cooler temperatures (cold air directly to motherboard, not just cooling ambient in fridge. Wait until im done. Youll need my schematics. Mine uses the latest scientific information.

[Tiger]

I think the you should be clear about the objective here.
1. Do you want sub 0 cooling or
2. Do you want cooler air for the heat sink?

The first obvious point that we must come back to is that air is in the order of 20 times less conductive than water. In order to achieve sub 0 cooling with air your going to need some serious heat transfer. Ever tried air conditioning a room with a fridge? You are not going to get sufficient heat transfer from air with the kind of refrigeration units you are trying to use.
I am currently using a fridge that is probably slightly more powerful than the units that u are going to use and it is just keeping up with the heat output from the processor using a direct water medium. There is no way on earth that this unit is going to be able to transfer the same heat load from air. Based on the system I am using it would require a refrigeration unit that is roughly 20 times bigger than I have to dissipate this heat load.

[ol' man]

Originally posted by hyperbob
Is doing this really worth it? You could buy a lot of computer stuff with that money.

Haha that is funny as I would say the cost to me was about $50 for the works. The fridge was free and I made my own WB for about $15.

[The Overclocker]

i knew i should have done this instead of spending lots of money on watercooling

[insanex]

Originally posted by Tiger
I think the you should be clear about the objective here.
1. Do you want sub 0 cooling or
2. Do you want cooler air for the heat sink?




My main aim was
1. Noise. These HSF are loud compared to a P2
2. Cooler than 40C
3. Cheap

Offshots
Simple
Entire system cooled.

;)