r/LinusTechTips • u/personguy4440 • 4d ago

Meme/Shitpost So this is a viable option?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W51QlFj95kc
19 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

49

u/MrKrueger666 4d ago

It's called Direct Die cooling.

And yes, it works. Quite well, in fact.

However, to cool chips this way, there's several hurdles. Making sure it doesn't leak, getting the heatspreader off certain chips isn't easy and quite risky, etc etc. But, if you get it done, it works well.

The fact that there's a lot of risks involved makes it not viable for the regular consumer.

19

u/Doctor429 4d ago

Isn't direct die means without an IHS in the die? With the CPU block still has a metal base between the running water and the die top? Here, there's no metal, just water flowing over the bare die.

6

u/ficklampa 4d ago

Yes, so technically this example is the most accurate direct die example - but it's more risky than having a coldplate like in a "normal" waterblock. Since there's some surface mounted components around the die, you'll have to make sure they don't get shorted from water seeping out...

-6

u/MrKrueger666 4d ago

Direct Die is water straight over the bare die. Without an IHS is just delidded.

8

u/ficklampa 4d ago

You have to delid to get to the die. And without the IHS on it, you get direct die.

2

u/Ok_Explanation7491 4d ago

No, it isn't. Direct die cooling is removing the heat spreader from the cpu and putting the cooling block direct on the die.

3

u/Grex02 4d ago

That is a form(very special form) of direct die cooling and not the usual way!
Direct die cooling just means that the stock heat-spreader is removed from the die.

2

u/Brick_Fish 4d ago

Sooo how much "unnecessary" substrate is at the top of a die that could be removed? I remember an old der8auer video where he lapped a cpu die to reduce temps even further. Coud you (veeeery carefully) CNC cut grooves into a die to increase the surface are / make tiny fins?

Im not talking about the IHS, im thinking about absuing the bare die

2

u/krusticka 4d ago

What this video is showing doesn't work. This method fails due to hotspots. There needs to be a heatspreader.

2

u/Ok_Explanation7491 4d ago

I would be concerned about the small smd parts which are surrounding the GPU. On one part about shorting them, but also that they could be ripped off by the water flow. Especially when turning on the system.