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Alternative cooling systems (not based on forced-air technologies) are available, though the associated costs are prohibitive for most enthusiasts. The best of these systems can cool to subzero temperatures, at which electrical circuits can operate quite efficiently. The latest experiments in super-cooling techniques involving liquid helium or nitrogen have revealed unlimited overclocking possibilities.
The predominant concern with subzero cooling is condensation due to the difference between processor temperature and air temperature. Various solutions have been adopted over the years, but most have failed to prove viable. Enthusiasts look toward silicon sealants, Styrofoam blocks, or rubber barriers to seal the processor socket region from outside humidity. These tricks work well for the short term, but tend to break down or fail during long-term use.
The best condensation-blocking solutions are usually the most expensive. Some high-end manufacturers have literally submerged the whole processor, motherboard and all, into a nonconductive liquid to isolate vital system components from variability in air temperature or humidity. Others have opted for a complex processor-to-motherboard socket connector that uses a custom interface to seal the processor completely. While either method works efficiently, implementing such designs can be expensive.
Boot-time problems are also a significant concern. Most technologies lack a real-time response, so the cooling device must reach a certain temperature before the computing system can be booted into operation. Professional products use timing devices and a complex series of electrical relays to shorten the wait. Enthusiasts must often develop homegrown techniques to accomplish the same goal. Responding to the demand for simplified installation and use of alternative cooling technologies, commercial retailers are beginning to stock a number of helpful devices.
Peltier thermoelectric devices are gaining popularity due to their low cost, though many users do not anticipate the secondary costs involved. A Peltier circuit is a thin ceramiclike disk that acts like a heat pump once an electrical current has been applied across its substrate. A nontechnical explanation is that one side of the Peltier disk becomes cooler while the other side becomes warmer.
Cooling the warm side enhances the temperature variance gradient, increasing the circuit's thermal efficiency. This warm-side cooling is usually accomplished by means of a forced-air heatsink, though some use water or vapor-phase cooling to further increase the thermal load coefficient between the warm and cool sides of a Peltier system. A properly designed system can often cool even the hottest of today's processors to near zero temperatures.
Peltier devices require substantial amperage loads to operate at peak efficiency. Average 300-watt power supply units found in today's better computers cannot deal with the demands of a quality Peltier that is 72 watts or higher. An upgrade to a server-grade unit that is 400 watts or higher or adding a second power supply is often required. Wiring an external 12- to 13.8-volt power supply to the Peltier circuit is simple enough, but a relay circuit may be needed to initialize the Peltier at boot time.
Vapor-phase cooling is active refrigeration technology, similar to the processes involved in heat pumps or air conditioners. A gaseous substance, like freon, is compressed, condensed, and forced through an exchanger device to provide a cooling effect. Vapor-phase coolers are specialized systems, usually tailored to the requirements of a specific computing system.
Kryotech (http://www.kryotech.com) is a popular manufacturer of vaporphase refrigerated computing systems. The company provides both pre-configured systems and custom cooling solutions for later system integration. Another popular product is the VapoChill cooler. The VapoChill (http://www.vapochill.com) is a highly coveted aftermarket cooling solution for overclockers. Though its price was previously very high, the VapoChill's North America price was reduced to $469 in October 2002 for their standard edition. The VapoChill is capable of cooling an overclocked processor to less than zero degrees centigrade.
Liquid cooling was once the most popular alternative cooling solution, though the efficiency of today's forced-air systems has decreased demand. In liquid coolers a pump circulates coolant through a holding tank or radiator element and then throughout the system. Fans cool the radiator for maximum thermal efficiency.
Liquid is denser than air and therefore offers greater thermal transference. Adding other cooling technologies, such as a Peltier circuit or vapor-phase system, can further extend the thermal dissipation efficiency of a liquid cooling technique. These options can be introduced, as required, at either the processor or radiator stage of the process.
Many enthusiasts build their own custom liquid cooling systems, but the decreasing cost of aftermarket products tends to encourage purchase over construction. Many quality systems now cost less than $200, making the expenditure of effort and money for a home-built system seem pointless. Moreover, the efficiency of forced-air coolers can reach or even exceed that of most generic liquid coolers. High-end forced-air solutions can cost more than $100, but that is only half the cost of a quality liquid cooler.
Submersion cooling is rapidly gaining favor in hardcore overclocking circles. Submersion implies literally sinking the bulk of a computing system directly into a liquid substance. The liquid can then be chilled to subzero temperatures and with it the computer. The primary advantage of this solution is that no condensation can form on sensitive electronic components. Submersion is a straightforward process: just dip the motherboard into a vat or reservoir of nonconducting liquid. However, you must avoid submerging any drives or power supply units, as these devices will fail, causing system damage.
Submersion cooling is expensive. Fluorinert liquid from the Electronics Manufacturing Division of 3M is the most attractive submersion cooling fluid. However, the cost of acquiring it can be staggering, especially because permits are required to purchase and handle it. Just a few gallons of this material can cost several thousand dollars. (And Fluorinert can evaporate, necessitating the design of a cooling vat system, which prevents evaporation of the liquid, along with your money.)
Enthusiasts have tried other liquids, like pure alcohol, but results vary wildly. Alcohol should never be used, as this material has a very low flash point. The goal is to cool the computer, not set it on fire, or worse, cause it to explode. One alternative is pure mineral oil. Pure is the key concept, as most bulk mineral oils on retail shelves have added water and possibly scenting agents. The presence of either impurity will cause the mineral oil to conduct electricity.
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