possible "water" cooling solution?

[XaosIII]

Hmmm.... i was thinking.

Water, in a water cooled system has to be cleaned every 6 to 12 months. Obviously, this makes it much higher maintenance than standard air cool, but provides significant cooling. How does one go about cleaning the copper water blocks? A bit of scrubbing of course! But what solution?

while you could probably buy a brass cleaner, i found out that some salt and vinegar work well for cleaning copper. So i was wondering.... why not replace the water with vinegar(and maybe salt)? I researched online the effects of copper on vinegar. While it can be used to clean, exposed for too long would turn it green (i.e. statue of liberty) because of the Acetic acid in Vinegar. NY's, Acid rain turn the statue of liberty green (eewww). But that odd part is, Copper Acetate (green copper) actualy PROTECTS from further erosion, unlike rust, which peels off exposing more new copper to potential rust.

One cheap science lab is to take a napkin with a penny inside, fold it, and dip it in vinegar, and then leave it for a day. The next day, it should turn green, however, in a water cooling system, its not exposed to air ever. So as my own little experiment i put a copper shim ( a lil copper plate if you didnt know) inside a ziplock bag filled with vingar. Unfortunately, its got a tiny whole so theres a few tiny bubbles. I then placed it inside a platic case and placed it on my monitor (after all, water blocks do cool off a hot processor) for a more "practical" situation.

Also, i figured, vinegar wont have th problem of bacterial build-up. Afterall, it preserves just about any food because it kills any bacteria that comes in contact with it.

Could this be a viable alternative?

 

[XaosIII]

opinions would be nice

 

[Syborg1211]

Vinegar smells like butt....

 

[whovous]

I don't have an opinion, but the featured mod in the latest Maximum PC is by a guy who uses automotive antifreeze in his water cooled system, since it has a higher boiling point. Seems like it might avoid cleaning problems, too.

 

[BeauJangles]

most people just use a product like Redline's Water Whetter. It kills bateria and buildup as well as improving water's ability to absorb heat. Much easier and less smelly than vinegar.

 

[Amorphus]

no, actually, water wetter smells worse, methinks. but the problem with his solution is that you'd have to have mostly vinegar for it to work.

and whats the thermal conductivity of copper acetate? also, most of the gunk inside waterblocks is more residue buildup than corrosion... and the fact that many people put some antifreeze in there to protect against corrosion. antifreeze lowers the cooling pwoer, also (in response to that guy who used 100% antifreeze)

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: whovous
I don't have an opinion, but the featured mod in the latest Maximum PC is by a guy who uses automotive antifreeze in his water cooled system, since it has a higher boiling point. Seems like it might avoid cleaning problems, too.

i thought he used windshield wiper fluid, not antifreeze.

 

[whovous]

Mea culpa, it was wiper fluid.

Of course, he also used Latin containment spells...

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Amorphus
no, actually, water wetter smells worse, methinks. but the problem with his solution is that you'd have to have mostly vinegar for it to work.

and whats the thermal conductivity of copper acetate? also, most of the gunk inside waterblocks is more residue buildup than corrosion... and the fact that many people put some antifreeze in there to protect against corrosion. antifreeze lowers the cooling pwoer, also (in response to that guy who used 100% antifreeze)

Water whetter doesn't smell at all! (or if it does, not bad enough that i remember).

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: Amorphus
no, actually, water wetter smells worse, methinks. but the problem with his solution is that you'd have to have mostly vinegar for it to work.

and whats the thermal conductivity of copper acetate? also, most of the gunk inside waterblocks is more residue buildup than corrosion... and the fact that many people put some antifreeze in there to protect against corrosion. antifreeze lowers the cooling pwoer, also (in response to that guy who used 100% antifreeze)

Water whetter doesn't smell at all! (or if it does, not bad enough that i remember).

yeah, it smells a little funky. i just got some on my hands yesterday. but vinegar smells worse, imo.

 

[digitalix]

Would isopropyl alcohol be bad to use?

 

[digitalix]

i mean, it evaporates easily, but inside a closed system, won't be a problem, right? kills the bacteria and what not...

 

[Hazer]

A good whetter keeps the system clean and provides better thermal exchange. The vinegar idea is unique, but not as effective. The build-up would cause thermal exchange problems. Not enough to radically effect the system, but since the whetter is the most viable solution (and costs $10 for about 5 uses) there's really no need for an alternative.

 

[GAZZA]

There has been plenty of debates over what is the best method Overclockers Forum
Distilled water and a bit of water wetter seems best by all accounts...