Watercooling a laptop on the cheap

Step 3 Get other stuff

Tubing:
I used 3/16 ID vinyl tubing from the hardware store, it is strong yet flexible it has an OD of 5/16
More tubing:
I used 5/16 ID for this, if you can't see where I'm going with that...
A pump
I got one from ebay $20 shipped with power supply. If I were to do it again... I'd get a proper water cooling pump.
Radiator
I'm using an add-on transmission cooler from O'reilly auto parts. It comes with mounting hardware and looks pretty nice. It should have the thermal capacity of 800 of the laptop's built in heat sinks.
Fans
Whatever. I'm using two thermaltake fans wired in series with a temperature controller. One fan is a smartcool the other is a thuderblade. Both together were $29 shipped from newegg. If I were doing this over, I'd skimp on fans and splurge on pump.
Reservoir
A gerbil water bottle from petsmart. It has a detachable clip on the back and 3/16 tube fits right in the hole where the metal drinking tube went.
Power supply.
I'm using a 13.5 v psu for the fans and a 12v psu for the pump (the one that came with it)

Comments

[pinstripebob]

Harbor Freight, a tool company that sells mostly junk, has some tiny water pumps for really cheap. I got one that works pretty well for $3. I guess the only problem there is that it's meant to be plugged in to a household 110V outlet rather than, say, a USB port for power.

[Derin]

You could also use a windshield washer pump.

[jack ruby]

Do you have a part # ? The pump I was using has died and a cheap replacement is in order. Thanks for the tip!

[sqeeek]

www.kidwind.org/xcart/product.php 
Try that one. 

Lol if you get one from Harbor Freight, be sure to buy at least 5, you'll need to keep replacing them. ;)

Bought a Sawz-all from them once... lasted a good 3 minutes. But now I have an awesome 110v speed controlled motor to do something fun with, so no complaints :D

[pinstripebob]

If you go to http://www.harborfreight.com/ and search for "mini pump," you'll find a couple that are under $10. The only problem is that they need to be submersed in fluid. You could just stick it in a soda can and seal it with some silicone.

[James (pseudo-geek)]

mods, mods, and more mods. hack it to run off a battery, and hack it to not need to be submersed. this is all about modding.

[DreamTheEndless]

submersion keeps the pump cool so that it doesn't overheat.

[Yerboogieman]

Add some copper tubing on the inside, and make the pumped water go through the copper tubing to cool it and have a pump. =D