Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

57

Chapter 4, How to Build a PC Water-Cooling System

board. Check this data against the lists of CPUs and

motherboards found on web sites such as http://www.

hardocp.com/ and the others listed at the end of this

chapter.

You can also check for overclocking compatibility by

restarting the PC into the BIOS screen. To do this, press

the F4 key just after the PC starts up. Look through the

various options for the one that lets you change the clock

speed. Most Pentium and AMD processors rated for

200MHz-plus installed in the motherboard and made in

the past four years can be overclocked. Search the forums

in the web sites listed at the end of this chapter for confir-

mation of your hardware.

Hardware Assembly Instructions

Follow these six steps to build your overclocked PC with

water-cooled processor.

1. Build the water block

The water block is a waterproof metal can connected to a water pump that is

attached to the CPU in your PC. Water is pumped through the water block,

which removes the excess heat from overclocking. You’ll then need to test

the water block for leaks and, finally, install it on top of the CPU and con-

nect the water piping.

This specific water block was designed with a few simple rules in mind:

the space inside of a PC is limited, so the system should easily fit; it should

cool an AMD or Pentium CPU; and it should be easy to secure the cooler

to the CPU.

In this step, you will construct a copper box that will be attached to the

CPU in your PC using cotton thread. This box will pull heat away from the

CPU and transfer it to the water that will flow through the box. You will

need a sheet of copper, a 75-watt soldering iron, the copper tubing, and

solder (see Exhibit A for more details on the parts you need).

Before you begin construction of the water block, look inside your PC and

locate the main processor. Look at the space around and above it. Make

sure that you have 1 to 2 centimeters of space around it for both the water

block and water tubing. You may need to modify the design presented here

to accommodate your specific motherboard and CPU if you do not have

this extra space. There are seven tasks you need to complete to build the

water block.

Figure 4-1: Processor operating speed

Hardware Assembly Instructions

ch04_cooler.indd 57

1/21/2002 12:26:13 PM

58

Part I: Basic Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

Task 1: Cut out the box parts from the metal sheet

Obtain a sheet of copper with the dimensions noted in the Bill of Materials.

You should be able to purchase the material from a local hobby shop or

online (http://www.onlinemetals.com/). Draw the design shown in Figure

4-2 onto the sheet.

Place the copper sheet into a bench vise and cut out the design using the

hacksaw. The photo in Figure 4-3 shows the metal sheet being held in place.

The best way to cut the pattern is to first cut out a rectangle of the overall

outline. You’ll cut out the corners in the next task.

Next, the copper has to be cut into shape. Begin by cutting the outline of the

box shown in Figure 4-4; then, cut out the shaded corner areas.

The cutting process will be easier if you hold the piece to be cut off with a

set of pliers while you use a saw to make the cut. See Figure 4-5.

Main block

Net diagram

9mm

27mm

Lid

46mm

Fold

3D image

Figure 4-2: Metal sheet cutting pattern

Figure 4-3: Secure the metal sheet

9mm

9mm 9mm

9mm

9mm

27mm

9mm

9mm

9mm46mm

Figure 4-4: Metal sheet cutting area

Hardware Assembly Instructions

ch04_cooler.indd 58

1/21/2002 12:26:20 PM