I was at Borders today looking at some random computer magazine while I was waiting for someone. I saw an add for something that I suddenly seem to be seeing all over the place lately, an oil cooled gaming computer.

I had heard of supercomputers and other custom application type things being submersed in mineral oil for cooling. Obviously, being submerged in a liquid tends to keep things cooled very well. Apparently a practical way of using this technique on a smaller scale has been found, and there are now at least a few places to buy ready built oil cooled computers for high-end gaming.

My computers always get hot, so I have always wanted to try this. The idea also interests me because at first it sounds so stupid. Wouldn't getting the computer all wet short it out and ruin it? The cool thing about mineral oil (no pun intended), is that it does not conduct electricity like at all. This means there it is not necessary to have tubes or other ways of trying to get the liquid close to the hot components without actually touching them, you just let it touch everything (so for those of you who were wondering about the picture, yes that is basically a computer in a fish tank of oil instead of a case).

This is something I definitely want to see in person, and I am seriously considering it for the next computer I build. Sorry but I am totally spacing on the name of the magazine I saw this in or anything that the add said, but here's a video to make it up to you.