Cooling an 18-Core CPU with NO FANS!? - Case Made of Radiators

This video presents an ambitious experiment in passive cooling by building a PC case entirely out of radiators to cool an Intel Core i9 18-core processor without any fans. The host explains the genesis of the idea during a brainstorming session and walks through the design progression from a basic radiator frame to a fully engineered chassis with an internal bracket system manufactured with the help of a machine shop. The project uses EKWB components and an ASRock X299E ITX motherboard with a full cover power delivery block, enabling a dense array of 360 mm radiators plus a 3x120 mm radiator, arranged to maximize surface area while maintaining a compact footprint. Initial tests show the system idling at near ambient temperatures with the radiator’s pump handling cooling across all radiators, while a CPU load test reveals the configuration dissipating heat effectively under sustained heavy use. The video emphasizes that while the setup is not a value proposition, it demonstrates the feasibility of near-passive cooling for high-end CPUs and GPUs using a radiation-heavy, airless path. In conclusion, the hosts acknowledge the cost and complexity, noting the configuration would fetch close to twelve hundred dollars in cooling hardware but underscores the impressive convergence of performance, silence, and an industrial aesthetic. They also point to the broader takeaway that with enough radiator surface area, substantial cooling can be achieved without conventional fans, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of custom water cooling. Finally, the video plugs giveaways, merch, and a community forum, keeping the tone light and enthusiastic about the engineering challenge at hand.

Topics · technology · hardware · cooling · modding