Mini Fridge PC Build - Does it work?

[Streetguru]

What if you like, did a custom loop and ran the radiators outside of the fridge? You'd need some flat tubing though.

[Ekpyrosis]

Let's troll some fridge resellers.

"Is this fridge EATX compatible?"

"How many 6.25'' has this fridge?"

[Guest]

I wanted to use a freezer actually.

 

I also had a plan for how to do it. @LinusTech

Same I really want to do this.

[Guest]

I'm curious about this video but with the LTT way of life (half assing everything) makes me think that this video won't answer all the questions I have. I'll have to wait to watch it I guess, but I'll update after. I've always wanted to build a pc inside a mini fridge. 

Exactly, Not saying Linus didn't put effort, because he did, I expected him to mod the minifridge to have an exhaust for the Radiator  and the motherboard to be mounted in the fridge. But I can see the fact Linus would like to re-use the minifridge, before he goes ripping it apart, I would also like to see a capacitor mod to make a "Ghetto Phase Change" instead of buying a Sub Zero Phase Change system"

[blu4]

@LinusTech, you forgot to overclock the compressor. Also, what about a walk-in freezer/fridge? The big ones used in shops. They have a LOT of cooling capacity and fans circulating the air. Just go to any shop, show them your badge and they willingly will let you use their freezer!

[Trayner]

Thats what i was thinking , using a big industrial fridge 
 

@LinusTech, you forgot to overclock the compressor. Also, what about a walk-in freezer/fridge? The big ones used in shops. They have a LOT of cooling capacity and fans circulating the air. Just go to any shop, show them your badge and they willingly will let you use their freezer!

[nanowatt]

LinusLiftingTips

[PudgyAstronaut]

Im guessing the fridge wont be plugged in... But still an interesting case

 

I bet it will be, that's how you get some chill temperatures...

[Chiobe]

The mini pc proved it worked, you just need a bigger fridge to keep up with a high end pc.

And also, I wonder if you get more benefit from a passive air cooled system...

[You_are_a_cunt]

LTT: Doing stupid stuff so you don't have to!

[Chucklenuts]

Has anyone thought of trying this in a commercial refrigerator or freezer to see if it can actually be done? I'm aware this is extremely inefficient way to cool a rig with the high power consumption of a commercial fridge/freezer such as this. I have an old Intel P4 based system (I've attached a picture of it. It's a Dell Optiplex 170L.) I could sacrifice for science to get some numbers before the condensation kills it. Thoughts?

[_Grid21]

I don't understand why Linus freaks out when something goes over 27 degrees Celsius? It's NOT a big deal and that isn't even that hot. My system gets up to 55 degrees Celsius which is 127 under load and I don't consider that a BIG deal. It kinda drives me nuts. I'd be freaking out if it got to 66 Degrees Celsius and above. Plus when you consider that it's summer time here in America, that temp is to be expected in a room that is 28 degrees Celsius. 

[nomnom123qwe]

Interesting idea.

 

First the water cooled macbook, now this!

link to water cooled  macbook please

[SirWendall]

What about putting it a freezer?

[thorpj]

link to water cooled  macbook please

Google

https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=linustechtips%20water%20cooled%20macbook

[T.Q.]

He kept teasing build a PC in a mini fridge in previous videos but all he did was put a test bench in the mini fridge

[jono20]

It doesn't matter whether it's put in a fridge or a freezer, the problem is that there is no airflow in or out once the door is closed. The unit is kept cool via conduction through the air inside which is a very, very ineffective way of cooling the space, but its sufficient given the low typical cooling load.

 

Air is the key ingredient in most insulating materials. Attempting this is like wrapping your PC in five layers of blankets and putting a fan next to it. It will never work unless you give it a more effective way by which to transfer heat from the system to the cooling system.

[LamboLaddy]

All my ad suggestions have been replaced with mini fridges on Amazon since I watched this.

[ShadowCaptain]

I don't understand why Linus freaks out when something goes over 27 degrees Celsius? It's NOT a big deal and that isn't even that hot. My system gets up to 55 degrees Celsius which is 127 under load and I don't consider that a BIG deal. It kinda drives me nuts. I'd be freaking out if it got to 66 Degrees Celsius and above. Plus when you consider that it's summer time here in America, that temp is to be expected in a room that is 28 degrees Celsius. 

 

I feel like you are missing the point, the temperature inside the fridge rose to 27 degrees, which was the ambient temperature already in the room, therefore the fridge was not actually cooling anything down

[ryanmmax]

Mini Fridge 2.0 Suggestion.

 

I have a $200 solution to putting a computer in a refrigerator.... BUILD a custom refrigerator!

 

Materials-

A sheet of 2in x 4ft x 8 ft ridged R-10 insulation ($34) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-150-2-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-R-10-Scored-Squared-Edge-Insulation-Sheathing-45W/100320352

A 5,000 BTU window AC unit  ($140) http://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Electronics-5-000-BTU-115-Volt-Window-Air-Conditioner-with-ENERGY-STAR-LW5015E/205588135

A roll of duct tape ($5)

 

Construction-

Use ridged insulation and duct tape to create a 2x2x2ft cube with a door(duct tape hinge)

Cut a 2ft x 1 ft hole in the back of the box for the AC unit

Cut small holes in the side of the box for cable pass through(keyboard mouse monitor)

Seal holes with tape

 

Summary-

5,000 BTU of cooling is ~1500 Watts, which means that it would have more then enough cooling capacity to cool a 1000W gaming rig.  The ridged foam would allow for easy modification, to add more pass through for additional equipment.  By creating a small cold room, the computer would still be the "hottest" thing in the room therefore condensation would not be an issue.  

 

Now for the downside...  window AC units are typically limited to 60F or 15C  so that would be the coldest the refrigerator would get. BUT that can be bypassed if your willing to do a little modification to the thermostat.  OR http://storeitcold.com/shop/  could lower the temp to 35F/2C for nearly freezing temp!!

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Sooooo idk if anyone mentioned this BUT I wanna see

 

Industrial mini fridge

 

PSU OUTSIDE of the fridge.... that for sure doesn't need to be in there

 

And maybe like an EVGA Hybrid with the rad running outside of the fridge or an AIO on the processor running outside the fridge

 

Obviously a fridge is mean to keep things cool not the keep things that are giving off heat cool, I think for obvious reasons the PSU doesn't need to be in there but then you need to decide do you want the CPU or the GPU cooled? I say lets see a video of a R9 295x2 or Fury X or any liquid cooled GPU with the rad mounted outside the fridge and see what happens.

 

or an alternate option would be a CPU with 2 after market air cooled GPU's in SLi in the case but the PSU and a RAD for cooling the CPU out side of the case. I wonder if CPU rad out side but mobo and CPU inside makes a diff with the mobo being cooled?

[Narcoleptic_Rage]

What about getting a water cooled system & only putting a set of external radiators & fans inside the fridge? Would that reduce the work load of the compressor since it would only be cooling the necessary parts instead of the entire machine & give extra space for airflow?

I've mostly lived in climates that get extremely hot where temperatures can get to the low 40's (Celsius/Centigrade) & the closer to central Australia you get the more extreme the temperatures go with variations roughly between -15°c to 50°c, depending on the seasons & weather conditions. On one particularly bad heat wave in central QLD I actually had plastic clips holding down the fans melt, the metal pins popped out onto the video card & completely fried everything in the system, even though it was not over-clocked or anything, however, I am starting to consider the idea of over-clocking since I purchased a GTX 1070 & encountered some bottlenecking issues with certain games yet I am wary of this due to the increasingly common heat waves that we have been encountering in recent years so I'm looking at the most effective methods of cooling that don't break the bank too much.

[Tech Inquisition]

4 minutes ago, Narcoleptic_Rage said:

What about getting a water cooled system & only putting a set of external radiators & fans inside the fridge? Would that reduce the work load of the compressor since it would only be cooling the necessary parts instead of the entire machine & give extra space for airflow?

I've mostly lived in climates that get extremely hot where temperatures can get to the low 40's (Celsius/Centigrade) & the closer to central Australia you get the more extreme the temperatures go with variations roughly between -15°c to 50°c, depending on the seasons & weather conditions. On one particularly bad heat wave in central QLD I actually had plastic clips holding down the fans melt, the metal pins popped out onto the video card & completely fried everything in the system, even though it was not over-clocked or anything, however, I am starting to consider the idea of over-clocking since I purchased a GTX 1070 & encountered some bottlenecking issues with certain games yet I am wary of this due to the increasingly common heat waves that we have been encountering in recent years so I'm looking at the most effective methods of cooling that don't break the bank too much.

Please don't necro post... rather start a new thread with a link to this one...