Interview with Hardcore Computer: The quest for a full immersion cooled desktop PC

Posted at: Tuesday 14th October 2008 by Mark Mackay

Thoughts of full-immersion PCs still fresh in our minds from this years Dream PC competition, a new, more accessible embodiment of the technology hits the market. Custom PC interviews CTO of Hardcore Computer to find out more.

CPC: [laughs] I think that’s a bit before my time.

Chad: Oh yeah, you remember the old Atari 400?

CPC: No, my first Atari was the 2600 if I remember correctly.

Chad: When I was in 5th grade I got a paper round just like to buy my first computer. Back when there was Sinclair. So, as long as I can remember I’ve been a technology freak.

CPC: So how long ago was it that you created your first prototype of the Hardcore Computer?

Chad: Over three and half years ago now. There was a whole series of prototypes. I built the prototype in, how long was that now? Back about the same time we filed the patents which you can check online [The original patents were filed in May 2006 and can be found here and here]

We initially used Cooper FR4 as the coolant. I built it into a prototype and we still have couple of them up and running like more than two and half years later. It works pretty well but it’s highly viscous and so very difficult to pump. There are also some other things that aren’t too pleasant about it.

So, we took a step back and did some more research and came across another company, another individual chemist that worked with us. And we have since developed our own custom dielectric fluid which has a high flash point but has very good thermal transfer capabilities. It has about between 10 to 12 times the heat transfer capability of air and it’s highly pumpable.

CPC: When you said the high flash point, what does that mean?

Chad: Lot of these hydrocarbon based dielectrics are very flammable and need agency approval, in our case we’ve already passed our certification for ETL [Edison Testing Laboratories certification] and CE [Conformité Européenne or European Conformity certification]. It has to be above 140°C flash point but in our case we’re in the 170°C plus range so for our application it’s excellent. It’s clear, odourless and from what I understand tasteless although I haven’t tried it myself.