extreme cold

[mattgmann]

So it's supposed to dip under -20c here tomorrow, and I'm quite tempted to take advantage for some benchmarking. Thing is, I've recently installed a water cooling setup in my main setup. Will I even be able to take advantage of such cold with water? Will 0c be as low a temp as I can expect to get? I doubt the loop would freeze with the cpu heat and constant motion, but that could also be a concern.

Anyway, is this worth doing with water, or should I dig out a TRUE and mount it up for this task? My setup is quiet easy, as I can put a table on my back porch, next to a window. Put the computer on the table, and run all of the cords inside through the window, and stay toasty warm while -c benchmarking. What about anti-freeze? Maybe a high mix would work.

[TimoneX]

Condensation will kill you if you're unprepared. It was -22c here in central MI last night. Absolutely bogus!

[mattgmann]

If the whole rig is outside, exposed to the temps, there shouldn't be condensation. I'm just a stones throw south in Ohio, and it's snowing hard. Gonna have to wait for the snow to let up before taking this outside.

[axis01]

Sounds like a plan to me. Should work out well.

Axis

[TimoneX]

LOL

No there sure won't be. Why would you take your rig outside BTW? Isn't it a little cold to play CSS out there? I'd consider shovelling some snow into my 30gal reservoir, but I sure as hael ain't moving my workstation outside.

[Hobbes2oo]

When the temperature gets really cold outside all I do is open the window in my room and shut the door and seal it with a towel. I have had the ambient temperature in the room down to 10 degrees C and my computer worked great and got some great air cooling benchmarks from my Q6600

[TimoneX]

Now that I can understand. Not sure I'd do it, but I am getting old. :)

[Spawn-Inc]

i've done it before when it was about -10C i had it out there for about 15 minutes at a time. then bring it back it. it got me great results.


and this is with no windows open or anything like that. (my furnace isn't on which also helps)
here is what -15C outside air while in your basement will get you
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5503/coldca4.jpg

[Blazing fire]

It should be fine. The water exiting the radiator would not be -20C. And it is harder for water to turn into a solid state when it is moving than stationary. So the chances of it freezing is rather low IMO.

Do correct me if I'm wrong!

[gangaskan]

It should be fine. The water exiting the radiator would not be -20C. And it is harder for water to turn into a solid state when it is moving than stationary. So the chances of it freezing is rather low IMO.

Do correct me if I'm wrong!


you're right the water, when moving will try to ice inside, think of it as a slush. since it is in motion, the crystals will form where they can if they can being it takes alot with antifreeze to bring the coolant to a freezing point.

from wiki:

Most commercial antifreeze formulations include corrosion inhibiting compounds, and a colored dye (commonly a green, red, or blue fluorescent) to aid in identification.[2] A 1:1 dilution with water is usually used, resulting in a freezing point in the range of −35 °C to −40 °C, depending on the formulation. In warmer or colder areas, weaker or stronger dilutions are used, respectively, but a range of 40%/60% to 60%/40% must be maintained to assure corrosion protection and optimum freezing prevention.

[axis01]

When the temperature gets really cold outside all I do is open the window in my room and shut the door and seal it with a towel. I have had the ambient temperature in the room down to 10 degrees C and my computer worked great and got some great air cooling benchmarks from my Q6600

I don't care how old you are, that is just nutz. There isn't a benchmark in the world I want to score high enough in to work in 10 degree weather.

Axis

[mattgmann]

Well, I'm going to setup and do it tommorrow. The daytime high is supposed to be -15c. I set up a table on the porch next to the window, and should be able to run the monitor cable through a crack. I setup another table inside next to the window to work at. I need to drain my system to fill with an anti-freeze mix, as I plan to use the cold for a quite a few hours. One last concern is the hard drive. I'm not sure how it will handle the cold. I'm hoping, that so long as I keep it running it will be fine. I know I can get this cpu bench stable @4ghz with 1.6v with this mobo. I'll probably go as high as 1.8v, and hopefull get north of 4.2. The only other s775 cpu I have sitting around is an e2160. I'm considering benching it too just for fun.

I am in the beginning stages of a SS phase change build. I've been collecting parts (old AC units and water coolers), and am about to build a vacuum pump with a pair of old compressors. I still need a few more tools before I start the build though, and am waiting to find good deals....

So, until then, the wintery north weather will have to do.

[axis01]

Well, I'm going to setup and do it tommorrow. The daytime high is supposed to be -15c. I set up a table on the porch next to the window, and should be able to run the monitor cable through a crack. I setup another table inside next to the window to work at. I need to drain my system to fill with an anti-freeze mix, as I plan to use the cold for a quite a few hours. One last concern is the hard drive. I'm not sure how it will handle the cold. I'm hoping, that so long as I keep it running it will be fine. I know I can get this cpu bench stable @4ghz with 1.6v with this mobo. I'll probably go as high as 1.8v, and hopefull get north of 4.2. The only other s775 cpu I have sitting around is an e2160. I'm considering benching it too just for fun.

I am in the beginning stages of a SS phase change build. I've been collecting parts (old AC units and water coolers), and am about to build a vacuum pump with a pair of old compressors. I still need a few more tools before I start the build though, and am waiting to find good deals....

So, until then, the wintery north weather will have to do.

HDD's shouldn't be a problem at all. Back in the old days, they use to put dying HDD's in the freezer for a few hours then plugged them in to try to get important data off them before they died again.

Axis