Cooling Solutions

[Satanic Atheist]

Hi everyone,

I've just invested in a Core 2 Quad processor and realised that it actually runs bloody hot compared to a Core 2 Duo!

Normally my server lives in a cupboard on a shelf and directly underneath it is the house's hot water tank. OK, so not ideal, but the Core 2 Duo has run for nearly 9 months in there with the door left ajar.

I've now just picked up a CoolIT Eliminator and hopefully will fit it tomorrow (it's tested, and it's bloody cold on the waterblock! I nearly had ice burns off it with no processor attached) and was just wondering if anyone has any experience of using one (MUST avoid condensation at all costs - this systems runs unmonitored for months on end).

Also, since it's a chiller rather than a water cooler, I was wondering if it would now (finally!) be OK to simply close the cupboard door and let it run. The Freezone is recommended for a Core 2 Quad, but the Eliminator should be able to handle it (I hope!) hence I'm asking for any experience from anyone here.

I don't overclock my systems because I need the reliability and cooling is usually a problem around here - especially since this machine is unattended most of the year and operated remotely.

Thanks to anyone who replies with help.

James

[Satanic Atheist]

OK, I took the plunge on this one. I know this isn't specifically Linux based, but it is on a Linux server that must stay up 24/7, so hopefully this thread won't get killed to death by the Mods...

If only for the sake of my Linux server that lives in appalling confinement...

And the benefit of the Internet community at large...

I ran the CoolIT Eliminator on "high" with no load (i.e. no case and no processor) for 3 hours and tested the temperature. It was cold.

Bloody freezing in fact. Thank God I was still able to take my hand off...

There was also a worrying amount of condensation on the peltiers. Enough to drip off, actually. Now, without load (and since this is a server, it's not overclocked) that's worrying. Especially considering I go away for months at a time and this machine is completely unmonitored during that time...

Thankfully, though, the heating from the processor helped enormously (Strangely enough, this is true - the unit needs heat to stop condensation from forming!).

Before I installed the CoolIT Eliminator, the processor cores ran at up to 47C each. Some were low(!?!) at 40C, but nothing less than that. And that was idle on a Core 2 Quad Q6600!

After I installed the Eliminator, I've now fired up the machine and the cores are running at, the absolute most, 18C. This computer is currently in my living room in a Lian Li case with good air-flow but I doubt this has much influence except for the other components like the hard drives that are a good 6-7C cooler than they were in my cupboard. The fans are barely running!

I've attached a screenshot that I grabbed for the benefit of the Internet.

Overall, I recommend this bit of kit. Like I said, I'm not overclocking, but for the sake of a bit more reliability in less-than-hospitable environments, this thing works. I need a server that can stay up for 4+ months at a time with absolutely no maintenance or monitoring whatsoever. It's for this reason that I use Linux on it - it CAN maintain itself. I don't want expensive Microsoft crap that falls over - I want reliability. And this kit works!!!

For all of those out there Googling to find out if the CoolIT Eliminator is suitable for a Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, then it is. It's keeping my system chilled and hopefully fault free for a long time!

I hope this has helped at least one person.

James

[folkert]

if your processor is running at 18c, and your room-temperature is more, than you might still get condensation in the long run.

I would consider using just a fan on your processor, and try to lower the temperature in the room (by either using an other room, position the computer lower in the room, isolate something or create an airflow trough the boilerroom (low in, high out)

by the way, an peltier will generate extra heat in your room, so if no airflow it will actually make it harder for itself over time.

[Satanic Atheist]

Hi, thanks for replying.

Condensation has been a serious concern of mine, especially as this machine runs in a cupboard with little ventilation for months on end with no attention (except over the network and Internet).

I ran the unit with no load (i.e. no processor connected) on "high" for a few hours and there was definite condensation on both the waterblock and the peltiers. Enough to potentially drip onto circuitry below.

Then, I left it off overnight and started it up the following day on medium for a few hours, again with no processor attached and I couldn't detect any serious problem of condensation. Yes, the peltiers were cool/cold to the touch, but there was no noticeable condensation on the unit. Not even the waterblock.

Before I fitted the unit to the processor, lmsensors reported the processor cores to be running (under air cooling and idle) at 40-47C. After fitting the unit, the cores ran idle at 13-20C. Using cpuburn to run them up to 100% on all cores, the temperature rose noticably! High 40s on medium and high 20s on high setting.

I won't be stressing this machine at all, I just need the power on occasion, so this machine shouldn't overheat at all.

As for the peltiers, on medium, the 120mm fan removes a huge amount of air that even on high, doesn't actually feel noticeably warm. It's more than adequate for cooling them. I appreciate that they are inefficient coolers (at least, compared to a refrigerator) but I only really want to keep the processor cool in some difficult conditions, and it works.

Setting the unit on low has very little effect on the system. Yes, it works as a cooler, but pretty much no better than a small water-cooling system. It is better than air-cooling (and more problem-prone) but keeping the processor cooler and keeping it's like expectancy up are ideal. Even now, as I type this, the waterblock is at 23.3C...

From all the reviews I read, the unit has a "Thermal Control Unit" that won't actually chill the fluid too cold to cause condensation (I can hear the fan changing speeds constantly to regulate the temperature of the peltiers). The average is a few degrees below ambient temperature to avoid condensation but enough to cool the processor more than air-cooling. At least with the processor generating heat, the unit should not lower the temperature enough to cause condensation. This has now been running for 3 days and I haven't noticed any yet... (fingers crossed)...

And, for the record, the average temperature of my living room is 21-24C so this thing is definitely having an effect. And a good one at that! My Linux server should stay up now through the (inevitable) heatwave that we'll all (allegedly) have to suffer!

James

[folkert]

the unit has a "Thermal Control Unit" that won't actually chill the fluid too cold to cause condensation
That sounds good

heatwave
I had to remove ice from my car-window 2 hours ago

[Satanic Atheist]

The "Thermal Control Module" is a quite fancy term for an onboard PCB that has a switch for the high/medium/low setting on it and it regulates the power going through the TECs from that info. It also (presumably, but I can't see it) has a thermal sensor on it to prevent it cooling too much and causing condensation. Sounds reasonable in itself, but all the reviews I read about it were identical in wording about it's anti-condensation system...

I haven't had to scrape ice off my car this year - probably doesn't mean a lot since I don't own a car (who can afford it in the UK?) but it's been bloody cold. Thankfully, having a baby in the house means I have an excuse to keep the heating up and the Scottish winter out! Still, not ideal for running powerful computers, so I'm grateful for the chilling capacity of the CoolIT!

James