Air-cooled Porsche of computers

[Nader]

Recently got into VR (virtual reality gaming with an Oculus Rift. Requires a strong computer, so I built one. It's a mini-ITX build, so it's smaller. The heat sink for the CPU reminds me of the cylinder head on an air-cooled flat Porsche. I added an extra fan to it for push+pull effect.

Yes, I got a little carried away with the fans. They are Noctua, designed in Austria. I don't mind the tan/brown color scheme, reminds me of my German Shepherds (see my avatar, RIP). Including the 1080ti graphics card (two fans) and 850W power supply (one fan), there are 10 fans in this little box. But I don't mind the noise, I'm a BIG FAN of air-cooling. Ha ha.

[JackDidley]

Wre you gaming or mining bitcoin ?? Thats some serious cooing going on.

[island911]

Nice. Might I suggest Delta FFB series fans. With a stator row they are more 911 like, and perform very well.

[pavulon]

put it on a cookie sheet. the inevitable seeped oil will mess up your desk

[MBAtarga]

Interesting corollary to Moores' law. CPU's get faster and smaller, fan cooling requirements grow exponentially!

[John Rogers]

What sort of display are you using, something like the 200 inch monitor that the operating room had when they did my quad bypass surgery 4+ years ago. It was made my Sony I think and had like 8 simultaneous inputs for different screen segments or could be switch to one huge image like my heart internals when needed. The computer guy that was in there had a pretty neat job I thought.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Holy crap! Don't most gaming PCs go to a liquid cooling system at around this level of performance?

[Nader]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Interesting corollary to Moores' law. CPU's get faster and smaller, fan cooling requirements grow exponentially!

Doesn't need THIS much cooling, I just got a little nutty.

Originally Posted by John Rogers

What sort of display are you using, something like the 200 inch monitor that the operating room had when they did my quad bypass surgery 4+ years ago. It was made my Sony I think and had like 8 simultaneous inputs for different screen segments or could be switch to one huge image like my heart internals when needed. The computer guy that was in there had a pretty neat job I thought.

Just a cheap 24" curved display. I do all my gaming through the Oculus headset, so no need for a big monitor. If you've never experienced it, VR is truly amazing!

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Holy crap! Don't most gaming PCs go to a liquid cooling system at around this level of performance?

Liquid cooling vs. big air is debatable. My computer case, despite the small size, has room for big air without obstructing access to parts on the motherboard. I can't hear the fan noise with the headset on, and I don't have to worry about a water system's leaks or pump failure. Lastly, no crusty Porsche enthusiast worth his salt would choose water cooling over air cooling.

[John Rogers]

Hummm, I have lived in VR since my first trip to Vietnam in 1969 or so!

[wildthing]

How are the fins attached to the actual chip? Can't see from the pic.

[Nader]

Originally Posted by wildthing

How are the fins attached to the actual chip? Can't see from the pic.

Attach a threaded bracket to the motherboard, and this screws into it under spring tension against the chip, through a thin layer of heat-transfer grease. 5 copper "heat pipes" conduct heat up into the fins. I like this design because it doesn't block access to the memory chips and other parts.

[Nader]

Ah, found a couple more pics of the installation. Can see the very nice chip, and adjacent heat sink mounting brackets (the curved pieces):

[john70t]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Interesting corollary to Moores' law. CPU's get faster and smaller, fan cooling requirements grow exponentially!

Someday:
Instead of heat-emiting electric motherboards/cards/chips/etc.
The input will become a multiple sources of networked genXX LED light bulbs of immense frequency pulsing signals through a complex matrix array of fiber optic.
No internal fan or extra open empty channels required because no heat is produced.
(did I get that right?)

Those are some beautiful pics Nader.

[ADDvanced]

I used to be into computers. The constant tinkering and futzing with settings became a chore.

I picked up a $150 PS4 from CL, and dropped $300 on a PSVR bundle.

I've used occulus... and vive.... and I hate to say this, but I think the PSVR is better right now. The headset is undeniably more comfortable, and has a much better image quality. There is less screen door effect; the optics are just BETTER. The color/image quality is better. The games are better, and generally more polished. The AIM controller, a standardized lightgun with control sticks = spectacular. Lately I've been playing firewall zero hour and holy crap, it's just absolutely amazing.

Considering that PCVR (vive or occulus) costs 3-4x what a PSVR system costs, I just don't see it as worth it. It does have superior tracking, and superior graphics, but everything else is just inferior.

[Nader]

Popping the hood and seeing the big fan is another reminder of my car, which resides just behind that red wall.

[Nader]

See? Practically the same:

[Nader]

Stupid crooked Carrera script. That's the handiwork of Queen City autobody when they installed the wing about 15 years ago. Some day I'll fix that.

[pavulon]

What’s that red car?

[cstreit]

Thats a pretty nifty compact rig!

I went the other way for my VR setup. BIG box, lots of air movement. Thought about liquid cooling for fun but its not needed...

[HardDrive]

Have you installed the airbox blow off valve yet?