Wisconsin Cooled Personal Computer

This instructable documents my quest for extremely superior air cooling for my desktop using found materials and the testicle-shrinking chill of a brisk Wisconsin winter. I achieved this by cutting two holes, one in the side of my case, and another in a board which I inserted into my window frame and attached with some wicked plastic ducting. Please read on for details!

Step 1: Hole / Fan installation in case

I am basically skipping this step since I did this a long time ago and didn't take any pictures or keep a diary of the event but if you want help there are many guides online already, a good one that I found just by googling is right here. The picture below is the ideal configuration of the hole however this is the top of the case and we want ours on the side for the purposes of this guide. (The second pic is my actual setup)

What you need is a hole in the side of your case, that is going to suck in cool air and blow it onto your preferred components. I chose to make my fan blow directly onto my CPU since I bought a big ol' heat sink with fan already. Specifically I purchased the Thermalright XP-90 shown here and below.

Some tips for this step are:
1. Be EXTRA careful to try and line up the hole you are cutting EXACTLY over your CPU, I used a laser level dohicky for this.
2. Also know your materials and what it takes to cut it, not all cases are made the same, some of the new aluminum models would probably be cut fine with a dremel but I had a tough steel case which I went overboard with and cut with a plasma cutter basically just because I had access to one.
3. Depending on your fan size and case you might have to improvise with the hardware, I thought I could get some screws to mount the fan on the case at a local PC shop but I ended up just going to a hardware store and getting some long screws, rubber washers (reduce vibration noise!), and nuts.

Comments

[zack247]

the only thing i would be worried about would be frost...

[SniperBEAST1515]

If you overclock it enough, you won't have to worry about that! Although, I don't know how long the pc would stay stable for... depends on the parts inside...

[capridrifter]

I did this last winter and I used just a large computercase fan and a metal bendable gas vent tube and Insulation around the tube, for a filter to keep the dust out I used a filter for a home A/C cut down to size and folded over and taped over the fan. even with my cheap junk CPU heat sink I got temps as low as 19*C .

Sadly My office in my new house doesn't have a window that opens to outside:(

It works very well for a ghetto cooling system, Not so well in the summer unless you have a spot that is cool.

[teeps]

 Awesome!  Did you compensate for the air venting back into the room?  I miss seeing those temps...

[capridrifter]

No I just let it run around in the case then out the back, Come to think of it I should have sealed it off completely and made an exit for the warmed up air to go back outside. This next time I'm going to try and use a Peltier in combination with my new copper Zalman heatsink for sub zero temps...with sub zero temps you must grease up and protect against condensation....lots of stuff on Google about it:)

[teeps]

 Wild, I hope you can put an instructable up for that project.  I would love to see it come together.

[capridrifter]

I will have to replace my camera since an instructable is no good with out lots of awesome picture's!

[LetsExplodeSomething]

i love this man. wat part of Wisconsin are u from?

[jethrow815]

any issues with condensation?

[teeps]

I haven't had this set up in over a year, I never lost any components or anything due to condensation, but it must be kept in mind if you are considering a similar set-up.

[Grey_Wolfe]

could set up an air filter to prevent moisture transfer. Though if humidities an issue in your area (whoever is using it), then it will need to be replaced/cleaned often.

[teeps]

I hadn't thought about a filter. Could you use something similar to what filters a dehumidifier ?? Great idea!

[Grey_Wolfe]

Probably something more inline with an oil filter (like for a car or small combustion motor) would be better. But you could try it, worst case, it won't filter too good, but at least it's easier to clean.

[Robert.Springer]

Condensation only forms when air is cooled, as the amount of water vapour in air decreases as it cools, this means that no condensation can form on the computer. This is why a dehumidifier in summer makes a room seen cooler and a humidifier is used in winter

[LetsExplodeSomething]

true but it fotms humidity and if it builds up to much like our 90% humidity summers, probably not good for the computer! Yikes!

[TheMadScientist]

woo, wisconsin = awesome. and, if anyone wants to visit, rember, the weather report means nothing here. our weather is as unpredictable as... well, I won't say anything.

[tjmortenson]

everyone knows Minnesota is better than wisconsin :P

[LetsExplodeSomething]

No everyone knows that Wisconsin is better than Minnesota

[2ndamendmentarmory]

ive lived in wisconsin all of my life and have never left once all i can say is this state only has a few perks like lots of beer, harley-davidson(all other brands suck), and no helmet laws. other than that wisconsin SUCKS

[LetsExplodeSomething]

screw u man!

[sctirvn687]

What about the cheese?

[2ndamendmentarmory]

but on that note madison, milwaukee, and columbus(wisconsin not ohio) are the worst cities in the state

[teeps]

Perhaps you are simply not recognizing many other perks because you haven't traveled to places without them.

[LetsExplodeSomething]

Like Minoqua or Hatward!

[lukeyj15]

Melbourne, Australia

[Grey_Wolfe]

Too bad more jobs aren't like weather reporting. hat other job can you be wrong 90% of the time, and not get fired? lol

[Hunter4000695]

what happens when it rains or snows.

[Fenwick]

hehe, my friend did something similar to this, using a cardboard box, an old radiator fan, some dryer hose, and insulation. It works almost too well, his CPU gets down to 5 degrees celcius when he cranks it.

[TFS Jake]

That's hard to believe.

[Grey_Wolfe]

Time for him to overclock to warm it up. ;-P

[m85476585]

Why not just use the computer to take some load off the heating system instead of throwing the heat away? Just vent the computer into the room and turn down the heat (if it's central air, install a damper; if it's radiant, turn down the radiator(s)). I realize you will still have to keep the CPU from overheating, but unless you are doing a lot of overclocking, it shouldn't take freezing cold air, and besides, it won't work in the summer. You could even heat your whole house with computers (although electricity is probably more expensive than whatever fossil fuel you are most likely using, and computers are a lot more expensive than furnaces). Just run folding@home constantly and your house will stay toasty warm while helping science!

[allandnnn]

i've actually seen something like this ran with a air conditioner but like its said be wary of condensation

[sam3352]

setup like a water cooler but instead of water connect it too holes in the wall and pump cold air through? if you dont wanna use water or you could try making one, not a big risk with air so it doesnt matter if it doesnt work, unlike a homemade water cooler, where you could drown your pc lol

[tomc3uk]

Another way to do it, without the risk of condensation, would be to have a kind of heat exchange with water, copper pipes and a small pump. Like water cooling, but with a heat exchanger out in the cold.

[teeps]

That would be a hefty project indeed, not sure how to go about it either, maybe you'd like to make your own instructable for it!

[Mr. Rig It]

"Cool" idea.

[teeps]

masterful pun sir

[calikoala]

it would not be a big issue as shortly after powering on the system, it will only allow as much air into the case as is being exhausted.

[phoenix124]

Hey. totally creative!!!!! lol living in Wisconsin i know the shrinkingly cold weather we get but the thought never occured to me: crap load of subzero air + computer hot enough to fry an egg on.... brillient!
lol u definatly belong in my group: http://www.instructables.com/group/modthis/
i'de say hang tight... but evidently the weather has taken care of that...
lol happy modding

[AgentDanny]

Damprid, i think its calcuim chloride, would work or that silica gel. i would be careful about punk kids walking by and shooting crap in the intake. maybe make a louver or something.

[legendaryfrog]

im guessing that this can be pretty effective. although id suggest placing aspen around the hole, to collect moisture. you could also route the cold air through PCV or water-drainy-hose. as for the security, i suggest 2 sealed copper bars filled with antifreeze, it'll do wonders for the cooling (trust me). When experimenting with geothermal cooling i noticed that by leaving 8 of these 4 inch copper capsules in my 5 gallon water tank it lowered temps by 7 celcius!

[teeps]

1. Could you please clarify what this aspen is? You mean those packets that come in pill bottles that are hard to spell? 2. I understand the sealed copper bars but what are you suggesting I do with them exactly? Thanks! (and good suggestion on the PVC!)

[legendaryfrog]

oh hey aspen is some fabric. ask for it at home depot. and you make little pills with the copper and fill em with car fluid stuff. they store cold.

[ColumbusGEEK]

If somebody were to want to break in wouldnt this be a ideal location to do such deeds? Don;t you have a death draft comming out of the PSU back? What about moisture? I would think you would get all sorts of moisture in the case now.

[teeps]

I have thought about robbery, I will probably find a bar to stick into the window in its current position, the window is also about 6-7 feet off the ground so that is a slight deterrent (I hope) Your point is definitely valid though, I am going to write down all my serial numbers pretty soon for insurance purposes! Living in a larger city definitely doesn't help my confidence on this issue, it was better last year when I was on the 10th floor. I am attaching two pictures of what it looks like on the outside but basically to get through the window you would have to slice the screen and then try and push the barrier board through whilst not knocking over the computer which would be crazy difficult. Yeah the air coming out of the back is really cold but it definitely gets a tad warmer from the case and I don't mind it for now, if it gets too much later I might have to figure out how to route it somehow. And moisture isn't that much of a problem after about a week or two from now as our winters are crazy dry and I would be more nervous about having it running in my room which will have a humidifier going at night to prevent my lips from breaking off while I sleep.

[rotor]

You're piping cold, dry air into a warmer, moister room. You have (or will have) a condensation issue you need to deal with. This is why you don't see people simply building their computers inside refrigerators.

[teeps]

Ah I see, would venting the air back outside ala the post below this one solve this? Any other suggestions? This didn't seem to negatively effect it last winter, must have just gotten lucky?

[rotor]

If you've gone through an entire winter like this with no ill effects maybe you're safe - maybe there's something about your setup that prevents it. I'd be backing up regularly though. PCs are surprisingly durable, but all it takes is a single short between the wrong pins and your motherboard fries.

[xfusion]

Hmm... you know what would be a good idea. Get some of that flexible hose (insulated) used for dryers to vent outside, that way you don't need the computer right next to the window. Not only this, but you'll eliminate another air leak between the case and the duct.

[teeps]

The only reason I like this setup over your suggestion is that I am only using this fan in the computer case so it doesn't get a lot of interference which would be introduced if I used accordion ducting. That stuff would be feasible but I would definitely have to push the air harder through it as I understand it. Feel free to clarify/suggest!

[teeps]

hmm although this would probably work for getting the air back outside like your original suggestion just fine!

[irwinner]

may i ask why you felt the need to cool your computer with "the testicle-shrinking chill of a brisk Wisconsin winter"?

[teeps]

Because it is FREE! and my computer is HOT!

[FrenchCrawler]

Nice idea, but isn't it kind of hard to reach the front panel of your computer (I know you said to make sure there's enough room, but it looks to be a pain. Especially if you wanted to upgrade)? Looks to be from what I can see in the photo...
I'm thinking that it may be easier to attach an insulation tube to the fan and the other end out the window so that everything is easy to get to and take apart.
Much like (minus the soldering part :P ): http://www.instructables.com/id/ED1NP2U80WEP287NEL/

[teeps]

That is a really cool set-up you have there but I am not sure what you are suggesting I do. I also am not sure what type of upgrade would be a problem with this? It is unfortunate that everything in the PC has to face the direction of the window so yeah I do have to haul it up onto my desk to get inside but I only have to do that so often. And it might not look like it but there is plenty of room in front of the machine to access the cd-rom and power switches which is all I ever use on the front panel.

[The Moog]

just duct the air coming out of the back of pc striaght out throught another vent in you board. Draft solved

[teeps]

Yeah I thought of that, just a pain in the rear cutting holes in that board with the jigsaw without a proper bench and clamps and what not, thanks for the suggestion though. Also it would have to be almost a 90 degree bend with such little room behind the computer, do you think that would effect overall efficiency since it is already leaving the computer?