Adequate to Extreme PC Cooling Methods - Lifesaving Tips
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The first tip can be summarized in one word: Insulation. You definitely need to take care of condensation. Sub-zero cooling means changing the phases of the substance, as we discussed in the first section. Condensation is when the gas turns into liquid. Also, the underlying process here is that when this kind of gas comes in contact with a cold surface, it condenses -- it forms tiny drops.
What are the odds that one of these tiny liquid particles gets in contact with something that it shouldn't? The evaporator or CPU block is mounted right on the CPU; this is where the phase change happens, so it is an area that is very close to your processor. You need to prevent condensation. You cannot afford after shelling out hundreds of bucks for a phase change unit to kill (short out) your whole system!
Keep in mind that this is not a modding article. Consider everything that you read here as a tip -- some friendly advice for the sake of your system throughout your endeavors. Before taking any action, I urge you to research and read articles and/or guides specifically written for your needs. My purpose is to make you aware of the possible worst scenarios and how to prevent them.
You can prevent condensation with insulation. There are numerous ways to insulate the area near your CPU socket. Some people advice using foams. If you opt for foam sprays then you need to spray it all over your CPU socket and the motherboard area near it. This solution works well but it is a pain when you want to get rid of the insulation. Anyway, pay attention to where you spray your protective coverage. Don't overdo it, but cover all of the delicate areas where condensation could do harm.
Other insulation materials can prevent condensation too, but their installation must be perfect. Your insulation material must have dimensions that fit exactly near the CPU socket. When it doesn't fit ergonomically, it might degrade your cooling performance because it either gets in the way of your CPU block or poorly prevents condensation and, thus, allows shorting your setup.
Therefore, if you choose this solution and you think that you have done a great job with the insulation, then I urge you to double check before booting. Then, if you are still 100% sure, go ahead and run it for a couple seconds. Then shut down. Disassemble everything and search for any sort of tiny liquid droplets near the CPU. If you find even one, then grab a hair drier as soon as possible. Rethink and redo your insulation.
The next solution is the preferred one but it requires quite a bit of patience. You're going to need the following equipment and materials: isopropyl alcohol, nail polish, duct insulation (adhesive foil and foam), acetone, shop towels, and a screwdriver.
First, you clean the area near your socket with isopropyl alcohol. You must work with a perfectly clean surface. Apply nail polish to all surface mount holes around your socket (top and bottom). This will result in a seal that prevents air from reaching your socket.
After this, remove the foil from your duct insulation, and install a shape that perfectly fits your setup. It must cover your entire socket area (the top and bottom of your motherboard). Stretch it out before fixation. This results in a tighter condition. Obviously, you need to cut a hole in the insulation layer that's going to be on top of the motherboard. Remember, the CPU block gets mounted directly onto the CPU.
It is helpful to cut a similar shape out of those shop towels and install a layer of them, too, on top of the insulation. If things go badly, they can prevent a disaster!
Next you need the upper top layer of insulation. I'd recommend neoprene material. Neoprene gasket pads are probably one of the best insulation materials. Cut out the same shape as you did before and hook it up.
A few other variations or additions include the use of rubber silicone adhesives to prevent air reaching your CPU socket. Additional dielectric greases can be used too. These will prevent condensation on the applied region. It's designed specifically for electronic components.
The bottom line is that if you are going for extreme cooling then do not -- I repeat, do not! -- underestimate condensation. Prevent it! Do a lot of research, please. Read more guides and articles. The purpose of this section was to make you familiar with and aware of this problem.
Just for the sake of it, I am going to attach a picture of an excellent insulation setup. This setup has been run for a couple of hours on several days without problems.
(Photo courtesy of Brian Y.)
In the above picture the black material on the top is neoprene, below that in light blue is toweling, and the first layer is the duct insulation; it's grayish in color.
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