Watercooling a laptop on the cheap

Step 5 Prepare cooling block

Most laptops have an integrated cpu cooler block/ heat sink.
Remove this and figure out how to get water through it.
The compaq has a single copper pipe across the top. I cut a section of it off. Then cut off the end. Then I removed the copper mesh inside.
Then I flared the ends of the tube.
Then I stuck tubing on them by heating them gently and stretching them over the pipe. I borrowed this method from Bard Lund Johansen.
The tubes are also glued/caulked on using a 'household welder' adhesive.
Just for good measure a short (1/2 inch) length of 5/16 tube was slid over the top to keep it all snug.

While the block is off you MAY want to try lapping the cooler. That is up to you. It is VERY time consuming, and I just don't know about the gain. BUT I did it, so... just look at that shiny cpu cooler.
I think I lapped it even more after i took this photo.

Comments

[knexfreak32]

While your computer is disassembled you may want to use some thermal grease on older laptops if it is dried up.

[sqeeek]

 Awesome, I thought those were solid copper. This looks like it's a heck of a lot easier (perhaps more effective, too) than building your own water block, nice job.