Computer Question

[The_Dude 1,142]

I just bought an Alienware computer and looking at the invoice noticed that it comes with a liquid cooling system. I've never personally had one before, but had a friend who did years ago and ended up demolishing his mobo, gfx card and HD when it leaked. Does anyone have any experience with liquid cooling?

[AaronM 0]

I just bought an Alienware computer and looking at the invoice noticed that it comes with a liquid cooling system. I've never personally had one before, but had a friend who did years ago and ended up demolishing his mobo, gfx card and HD when it leaked. Does anyone have any experience with liquid cooling?

Some people use Distilled water for the cooling , because Distilled Water will never boil due to the heat of the computer . Make sure its always filled with water . Maybe this was the problem your friend had .

[Dan J 277]

Some people use Distilled water for the cooling , because Distilled Water will never boil due to the heat of the computer . Make sure its always filled with water . Maybe this was the problem your friend had .

Distilled water will boil if it gets hot enough, but if your computer is that hot, you have problems.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Any non-conductive liquid is fine. I'm a fan of fans myself...even if my computers sound like a vacuum.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Sousuke

[The_Dude 1,142]

Any non-conductive liquid is fine. I'm a fan of fans myself...even if my computers sound like a vacuum.

I am too, but alas, Alienware does not offer that option. I suppose with the dual gfx cards i'll probably need a liquid cooling system. But I'm a bit jaded about them. Granted, my friends debacle with his liquid cooling system was a little over 10 years ago when the technology wasn't quite as refined as it is today.

[NickD 203]

I am more familiar with sealed heat exchanger systems where cooking, motor and silicone oils are used for the media. The microprocessor is a main heat dissipating unit, it's static current is extremely small, but increases drastically by the constant charging and discharging of FET gate capacitance. In an extremely small area where chip dissipation can exceed 140 watts. The function of liquid cooling is to carry this heat away from that small chip to a much larger heat exchanger where in the most part is fan cooled. In better systems, the fan itself is variable based on the temperature of the heat exchanger. To rely strictly on convection cooling, without a fan, the heat exchanger would have to be made substantially larger. Such a cooling system is used in my 600 watt Sony professional stereo receiver.

In regards to leakage, any system using a gas or a liquid can leak, the question is how long. Really not to concerned about computers, a throwaway item, with a normal life of about three years. It's not the hardware that becomes obsolete, but the software that forces obsolescences. There, these companies have us by the proverbial balls.

Course you can still use these older computers, have one that is over 20 years that is still a very useful tool, provided you stay off the net.

[Davebear 0]

I just bought an Alienware computer and looking at the invoice noticed that it comes with a liquid cooling system. I've never personally had one before, but had a friend who did years ago and ended up demolishing his mobo, gfx card and HD when it leaked. Does anyone have any experience with liquid cooling?

Chances are he had a defective unit, or filled it with tap water ( against instructions ) or some other conductive liquid...

They're alot more reliable now adays unless you get a borked unit, just don't overclock or tweek untill your out of your 2year warrinty...you did pay extra to get it covered right?

Anyway to expand, Liquid Cooling units really, dont do a whole lot better then current alloy fin style air fans...and while the fans might sound like vaccume cleaners you endup with somthing thats alot easier to clean and handle, and doesnt sound like Uncle Jimmy garggling in the morning if it gets a small airbubble in it.

Without knowing what sorta system you have its hard to say if you actually need liquid cooling, that is, If your running the sort of machine that at Cap would push that sort of heat, then there is no NORMAL peice of software out there now that would push it to run that hot unless your say, running the production studio for Pixar on your desktop...now if you paid for last gen parts and are running say...Crysis at Ultra settings then possibly you might need the liquid cooling...

P.S.

IMHO Alienware while good, not worth the 40% markup in price for that little greyhead logo.

[Niels Bohr 72]

There are several different coolants for liquid cooling. Most that has additives are conductive. However, newer type of coolant are non-conductive. Liquid cooling is far superior than air cooling. It is quiet, and reduce the temperature by as much as 40 degrees celsius compared to air cooling. This is good. Don't worry. In air cooling, the fan will break as well rendering the components useless.

However, the chances of failure is so small. Heck, the only thing that needs replacing is the pump every 4-5 years. Reason why liquid cooling is better is the thermal coefficient of liquid being greater than air.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Niels Bohr

[The_Dude 1,142]

IMHO Alienware while good, not worth the 40% markup in price for that little greyhead logo.

It was actually cheaper than a Dell with similar components.

There are several different coolants for liquid cooling. Most that has additives are conductive. However, newer type of coolant are non-conductive. Liquid cooling is far superior than air cooling. It is quiet, and reduce the temperature by as much as 40 degrees celsius compared to air cooling. This is good. Don't worry. In air cooling, the fan will break as well rendering the components useless.

However, the chances of failure is so small. Heck, the only thing that needs replacing is the pump every 4-5 years. Reason why liquid cooling is better is the thermal coefficient of liquid being greater than air.

Thanks.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You should have gotten an Australian computer, they're much better. Australia is #1 in computers while the US is #8.

See attached graph:

Australia#1

US #8.

spookyturtlegraphs.com