Liquid Cooling ThermostatPost Date: 2017-06-02 |
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jaypeetee44
Groupie Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 184 |
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Topic: Liquid Cooling Thermostat Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 3:24am |
Hello Fellow Enthusiasts,
I've often wondered if liquid cooling for computers uses a thermostat or something with the same function.. For those who don't know; in an automobile a thermostat throttles coolant flow long enough for the radiator to dissipate the heat. Without a thermostat, the coolant flow is constant through the radiator an it cannot dissipate the heat; causing the engine to overheat. So is a thermostat needed on a computer liquid cooling system? Is the flow controlled by a radiator exit orifice smaller than the entrance orifice? How is the coolant flow controlled? I ,obviously, have never owned a computer with liquid cooling and wonder how it works. Any input would be helpful |
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hoserator
DS Veteran We don't need no stinking "Avatars" ! Joined: 08 Oct 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7942 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 3:39am |
In an automobile the thermostat is used to restrict flow of coolant to bring the engine temp up to a desired level and keep it there.
In a pc the coolant is to keep temp down since being elec it is instant on and with loads it only goes up. You want it down for longevity. That being said, some other members will probably really give you a technical explanation. I have seen flow meters but no flow restrictors/thermostats but . Edited by hoserator - 02 Jun 2017 at 3:40am |
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jaypeetee44
Groupie Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 184 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 5:27am |
hoserator,
Yes, I realize the auto thermostat brings operating temps up or down to the temp rating on the thermostat depending on ambient temps. It makes sense that the computer cooling system only needs to bring temps down but I am confused about what "with loads it only goes up"? Does "it" mean the RPM, power draw, pump pressure or do you mean temp goes up with load and the coolant flow is constant without any adjustments? If the latter is the case, then too much load (overheating of components} can only be cured by installing a larger capacity radiator, faster fans, or refrigerating the coolant? Are the radiator fans on these units controllable or do they run full speed always? Just wondering.....thanks for your replies |
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bprat22
DS ELITE DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!) Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20391 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 5:34am |
No thermostat and no variable pump. The speed of the cooling fans determines the CPU temperatures as the heated water passes through the radiator and the air flow through the fins dissipates the heat.
The Bios or other software can be set to increase the fans as the CPU temp climbs. Or just left at a constant speed for the heaviest load. Edited by bprat22 - 02 Jun 2017 at 5:40am |
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DS Veteran Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1674 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 10:17am |
In a computer water cooling loop, you want the coolant always flowing in the system, otherwise the components will quickly overheat and either throttle down or turn off completely. Unlike cars, you do not need the computer to warm-up to an operational temperature, so there is not a need to turn the loop off at any point. Measuring coolant temperature is just a means to handle overall system temperatures.
There are both plugs and pass-through thermal resistors (standard 10K Ohm @ 25°C) for measuring coolant temperature. While it isn't necessary to measure coolant temperature, it is an alternative method that can keep fan speed more consistent, as the coolant temperature in the machine will fluctuate less than the components. You'll want to keep the coolant temperature low enough to have substantial difference in temperature between it and the components you're cooling, but the coolant temperature going into the water pump will probably be the limiting factor at 60°C maximum. Certain boards, like Asus' ROG boards may have two-pin headers for the 10K Ohm sensors, but you can also go with a stand-alone system, like DS' fan control board, Lamptron controller, or Aquacomputer Aquaero. I just got the Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 LT for my build the other day to measure the coolant temperature at all the points in the loop, as well as ambient air temperature (one method to control loop temperature in a consistent way is to keep the delta T between the coolant and ambient air at a target amount). |
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Alex
Admin Group Digital Storm Supervisor Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16312 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 10:44am |
Just to clarify, our systems are designed to not require our customers to feel that they need to monitor or worry about these technical things.
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jaypeetee44
Groupie Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 184 |
Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2017 at 2:35pm |
Many thanks to bprat22, hoserator, Alex, and especially "No Name" for the informative replies.
Now I think I have a pretty good idea how the liquid cooling works. |
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IntelCore i9 11900K 3.5 GHz Asus Prime 2590-P/MSI-A Pro 32GB DDR4 3200 MHz 1000W Semi-Modular 80+Gold 2xSSD M.2 1 TB Firecuda NVM X GeForce RTX 3070 8GB VR Ready H20 Cooling for Processor |
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