I Can’t Believe They Threw This Away - Uniflair InRow Server Cooler
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With its 10,000 Pa suction power, 4000 times per minute vibration mopping, and 100% corner coverage rate Flexi-arm design, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra makes house cleaning easy and efficient! Grab yours and unlock a Triple Gift Pack valued at up to $1000 from Apr 22 to Apr 28 at bit.ly A local datacenter reached out to offer us a bunch of APC datacenter cooling towers that they were just going to throw away. Naturally, we said yes, and the first thing we thought to do with them was cool a $10,000 Threadripper. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:59 What it is 3:02 Plugging it in 6:54 Making Modifications 10:06 Turning it On 11:58 What it's Cooling 14:01 Benchmarking it 15:45 Kicking up the 4d3d3d3 18:41 Outro
The video opens with Linus and the team discovering a decommissioned UniFlair InRow ACRC 100 server cooler that a local data center was about to throw away. They explain the concept behind chilled water modular air conditioning units, including how they typically recirculate cooled air through server racks rather than direct liquid cooling of individual servers. The crew begins by identifying the unit’s components, noting the half rack configuration and its age, while pointing out indicators of nonstandard plumbing and potential condensation due to the ultra-cold coolant. They discuss the variety of cooling strategies that could be used to achieve very cold water, from traditional refrigeration to evaporative methods, and acknowledge the challenges of adapting a data center cooler for a single high power CPU like a Threadripper. The team then dives into a hands-on modification phase, investigating power supplies, control panels, and valve actuation while dealing with unfamiliar connectors and safety considerations. As the build progresses, they attempt to restore the unit, braze copper pipes, and wire up the pumps, narrating the trial-and-error process with humor and a focus on practical problem solving. They demonstrate initial circulating tests, monitor coolant flow, and progressively move toward a functional loop, all while evaluating noise, flow rates, and the system’s thermal performance. The climax shows the cooler in action with a high-end Threadripper system, including benchmarking against Prime95 and Furmark to gauge both CPU and coolant temperatures. The video closes with reflections on the cooling potential of large fans and the feasibility of using such units for more aggressive, all-in-one liquid cooling setups, followed by a sponsor plug and a nod to related house projects. Overall, the host emphasizes hands-on experimentation, the value of DIY engineering, and the humor that comes with tackling unconventional hardware in a home lab scenario.
Topics · technology · science and engineering · hardware hacking · data center cooling · PC building
Questions answered
- What was the UniFlair InRow cooling unit originally designed to do?
- It is a chilled water modular air conditioning unit intended to cool the air in the data center by circulating cold water through a radiator and blowing cooled air back into the racks.
- What challenges did the team face when adapting the unit for a high power CPU like Threadripper?
- They had to deal with nonstandard fittings, potential condensation, the need to braid and seal copper pipes, and ensuring the pump and valves properly moved coolant through the system while maintaining safe operation.