WaterCooled Mac Mini - Page 3

TheMTtakeover · Jun 25, 2012, 11:17 PM

I assume the OP has given up on the project seeing the lack of updates

VanCleef2012 · Jun 27, 2012, 01:00 PM

Actually the kits done, other than the water block. The block needs to be taken to be machined once I'm done designing it. Heres a rough design of the block cover.

I know a lot of people think water-cooling a mac mini is pointless, its kind of like fixing your honda civic..but tons of people love doing it. Maybe this can open up the window of water-cooling Macs and allow someone else to find a way to over clock the EFI system.

IMHO if I can squeeze a few more FPS out of Diablo 3 on my mac mini with water-cooling, you can bet your ass I'd do it in a flash. I'm sick of hearing the fans at 4k rpm while playing or watching movies. Along with seeing 90c while gaming, and its not even july-august summer yet.

TheMTtakeover · Jun 28, 2012, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanCleef2012

Actually the kits done, other than the water block. The block needs to be taken to be machined once I'm done designing it. Heres a rough design of the block cover. Image

I know a lot of people think water-cooling a mac mini is pointless, its kind of like fixing your honda civic..but tons of people love doing it. Maybe this can open up the window of water-cooling Macs and allow someone else to find a way to over clock the EFI system.

IMHO if I can squeeze a few more FPS out of Diablo 3 on my mac mini with water-cooling, you can bet your ass I'd do it in a flash. I'm sick of hearing the fans at 4k rpm while playing or watching movies. Along with seeing 90c while gaming, and its not even july-august summer yet.

Like I said before I will gladly purchase a kit, is there a way for me to stay up to date on your progress?

pqhf5kd · Jun 28, 2012, 03:57 AM

Depending on price/how easy it is to install, I'm quite interested.
Hopefully the only change you'll need to make for the 2012 Mini will be the water.

We might not see much of a gain performance wise, but I hate the way the fans spin up in my MB at night.

Are you including a fan to cool the rad? If so, I assume you'll chose a real quiet one.

Do you have a blog?

VanCleef2012 · Jun 28, 2012, 04:21 PM

I'm currently working on a blog, and should have one up soon. I have a very rough prototype running but need the water block to be finished to actually install the kit and get results. The goal is to be 100% silent while running much cooler but also maintaining an Apple brushed aluminum look. The design allows the Mac Mini to sit on top while utilizing the 3 locking pins to lock onto the kit. The prototype is much thicker/bigger(since its made out of a wood case) than what I'd actually like. But thats the whole point of a prototype, especially the 1st prototype.

Work still needs to be done but heres a picture of the prototype. Back panel needs to be installed, along with the 3 locking points on top cover. But really I just need the water block to be done to get results. Its currently 1.8'' tall, and thats not ok with me, with aluminum I can obviously get the results I desire.

pqhf5kd · Jun 29, 2012, 01:19 AM

Looks good
What's the current waiting time on the water block?

VanCleef2012 · Jun 30, 2012, 03:42 PM

Been working on water block revisions, think I have a final draft of the design. I'll attach it when my Photobucket works again. I'll be measuring and sending all the info to a buddy that will make it all into 3d CAD files, that I'll be able to send to the shop for machining. Also looking around for a casting shop that will allow me to upgrade the wooden case to an aluminum one. If anyones good with industrial design that can make me 3d mock up, please say so! I'd love to show the ideal product to everyone! Just PM me your e-mail and we can start.

analogkid · Jun 30, 2012, 04:28 PM

Very cool! In another month the Mini might sport a mobile Kepler... I'd like one of your coolers for the server model that I use in the recording studio.

Timobil · Aug 7, 2012, 06:10 PM

Hi VanCleef2012,

can you send me an e-mail with your contact.
Would like to have a kit and also to support you if i can.

Greetings Timo
timobil@gmail.com

CausticPuppy · Aug 7, 2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanCleef2012

I know this is my first post but it is not a troll or fake thread!

The word you're looking for is "spam."

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timobil

Hi VanCleef2012,

can you send me an e-mail with your contact.
Would like to have a kit and also to support you if i can.

Greetings Timo
timobil@gmail.com

And now you're registering alternate userid's to respond to your own post. Sneaky!

Ifti · Aug 8, 2012, 03:20 AM

^^^^
Good work there, detective

Outrigger · Aug 8, 2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CausticPuppy

The word you're looking for is "spam."

----------

And now you're registering alternate userid's to respond to your own post. Sneaky!

maybe he's from Nigeria?

paulrbeers · Aug 8, 2012, 09:35 AM

By the time he even gets a production model (IF he ever does), Apple will have changed the Mini design and it will no longer be compatible..... Even the previous version of the Mini, while the outer casing ran from 2005-2009, the layout of the motherboard changed 3 times (2005 with the G4 to the 2006-2008 with the first Intel chips to the 2009 w/ the Nvidia 9400). I haven't compared, but I'm guessing even the 2010 to the 2011 current "unibody" Mac Mini's probably aren't even the same due to the processor family change and the inclusion of Thunderbolt chip in the 2011's (I would go look, but frankly this thread doesn't really warrant it).

Chippy99 · Aug 9, 2012, 04:21 AM

Full marks for ingenuity and entrepreneurialism.

However, I think you are on to a loser. I cannot imagine there would be a big market for this - just my personal opinion and of course I may be wrong.

But there's also the technical aspects. I am sure you can successfully cool the cpu by doing this, but what about the hard disk(s) and other components on the logic board? These might get fried if the fan is not pulling air through the chassis.

Also, you can't overclock a Mini (through any method I know of). I would suggest 90%+ of existing water-cooling buyers are into overclocking and tweaking, which is not really possible on a Mini.

chas337 · Feb 4, 2013, 12:42 PM

still waiting with my noisy mini im guessing this is dead now ?

paulrbeers · Feb 4, 2013, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chas337

still waiting with my noisy mini im guessing this is dead now ?

It was never going to happen....

Jun 25, 2012, 11:17 PM	#51
TheMTtakeover macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2011	I assume the OP has given up on the project seeing the lack of updates __________________ Mac Mini 2011; Dell XPS L502x Nexus 7; iPhone 5 iPod Classic
	0

Aug 7, 2012, 06:10 PM	#59
Timobil macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012	E-Mail Hi VanCleef2012, can you send me an e-mail with your contact. Would like to have a kit and also to support you if i can. Greetings Timo timobil@gmail.com
	0

Aug 8, 2012, 03:20 AM	#61
Ifti macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: UK	^^^^ Good work there, detective __________________ See my YouTube Channel for reviews & tech tips! Mac Mini Server / 2.6GHz Quad i7 / 8GB RAM / Dual 1TB HDD MacBook Pro 13 / 2.9GHz Dual i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD AEBS / iPad2 / iPhone5 / Drobo 5D
	1

Aug 8, 2012, 09:35 AM	#63
paulrbeers macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2009	By the time he even gets a production model (IF he ever does), Apple will have changed the Mini design and it will no longer be compatible..... Even the previous version of the Mini, while the outer casing ran from 2005-2009, the layout of the motherboard changed 3 times (2005 with the G4 to the 2006-2008 with the first Intel chips to the 2009 w/ the Nvidia 9400). I haven't compared, but I'm guessing even the 2010 to the 2011 current "unibody" Mac Mini's probably aren't even the same due to the processor family change and the inclusion of Thunderbolt chip in the 2011's (I would go look, but frankly this thread doesn't really warrant it). __________________ MBP 8,2 15" 2.2Ghz w/ 120GB SSD + 500GB MBA 4,2 13" 1.7Ghz w/ 128GB SSD Mac Mini 6,2 2.3ghz w/ 240GB SSD + 1TB Mac Pro 1,1 w/ 8 cores @ 2.66 w/ 240GB SSD
	0

Feb 4, 2013, 12:42 PM	#65
chas337 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: UK	still waiting with my noisy mini im guessing this is dead now ? __________________ mac mini I7 2.7GHZ 8gb ram, G5 and the old IMac :')
	0

Jun 27, 2012, 01:00 PM	#52
VanCleef2012 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2012	Actually the kits done, other than the water block. The block needs to be taken to be machined once I'm done designing it. Heres a rough design of the block cover. I know a lot of people think water-cooling a mac mini is pointless, its kind of like fixing your honda civic..but tons of people love doing it. Maybe this can open up the window of water-cooling Macs and allow someone else to find a way to over clock the EFI system. IMHO if I can squeeze a few more FPS out of Diablo 3 on my mac mini with water-cooling, you can bet your ass I'd do it in a flash. I'm sick of hearing the fans at 4k rpm while playing or watching movies. Along with seeing 90c while gaming, and its not even july-august summer yet.
	0

Jun 28, 2012, 03:57 AM	#54
pqhf5kd macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2011	Depending on price/how easy it is to install, I'm quite interested. Hopefully the only change you'll need to make for the 2012 Mini will be the water. We might not see much of a gain performance wise, but I hate the way the fans spin up in my MB at night. Are you including a fan to cool the rad? If so, I assume you'll chose a real quiet one. Do you have a blog?
	0

Jun 28, 2012, 04:21 PM	#55
VanCleef2012 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2012	I'm currently working on a blog, and should have one up soon. I have a very rough prototype running but need the water block to be finished to actually install the kit and get results. The goal is to be 100% silent while running much cooler but also maintaining an Apple brushed aluminum look. The design allows the Mac Mini to sit on top while utilizing the 3 locking pins to lock onto the kit. The prototype is much thicker/bigger(since its made out of a wood case) than what I'd actually like. But thats the whole point of a prototype, especially the 1st prototype. Work still needs to be done but heres a picture of the prototype. Back panel needs to be installed, along with the 3 locking points on top cover. But really I just need the water block to be done to get results. Its currently 1.8'' tall, and thats not ok with me, with aluminum I can obviously get the results I desire.
	0

Jun 29, 2012, 01:19 AM	#56
pqhf5kd macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2011	Looks good What's the current waiting time on the water block?
	0

Jun 30, 2012, 03:42 PM	#57
VanCleef2012 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2012	Been working on water block revisions, think I have a final draft of the design. I'll attach it when my Photobucket works again. I'll be measuring and sending all the info to a buddy that will make it all into 3d CAD files, that I'll be able to send to the shop for machining. Also looking around for a casting shop that will allow me to upgrade the wooden case to an aluminum one. If anyones good with industrial design that can make me 3d mock up, please say so! I'd love to show the ideal product to everyone! Just PM me your e-mail and we can start.
	0

Jun 30, 2012, 04:28 PM	#58
analogkid macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Savannah	Very cool! In another month the Mini might sport a mobile Kepler... I'd like one of your coolers for the server model that I use in the recording studio.
	0

Aug 9, 2012, 04:21 AM	#64
Chippy99 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2012	Full marks for ingenuity and entrepreneurialism. However, I think you are on to a loser. I cannot imagine there would be a big market for this - just my personal opinion and of course I may be wrong. But there's also the technical aspects. I am sure you can successfully cool the cpu by doing this, but what about the hard disk(s) and other components on the logic board? These might get fried if the fan is not pulling air through the chassis. Also, you can't overclock a Mini (through any method I know of). I would suggest 90%+ of existing water-cooling buyers are into overclocking and tweaking, which is not really possible on a Mini.
	0

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