Modder builds liquid cooling system for Steam Machine reducing CPU and GPU temps by up to 30C

A modder has gone the extra mile and built a full custom liquid-cooled setup for the Steam Machine for fun. Techmagnet posted his work on the PCBuild subreddit, where he showed how he built the waterblock from start to finish, including drilling holes into the Steam Machine's chassis to accommodate a radiator and reservoir.

The process involved disassembling the Steam Machine and measuring the console's PCB that holds the CPU and GPU. The modder then built a custom waterblock designed to cool both the CPU and GPU and worked with the stock mounting holes on the PCB. The Steam Machine's CPU and GPU are both located on the same side of the system's PCB, making it easy to create a single waterblock capable of cooling both chips.

The block was created using a CNC machine using copper featuring two fin-stacks, with each one responsible for cooling either the CPU or GPU. The top of the waterblock was mated to a custom acrylic block featuring two ports.

The modder next modified the Steam Machine chassis to accommodate an entire custom loop; this involved removing the console's internal heatsink and drilling holes in the chassis to accommodate a thick 120mm radiator and a pump on the exterior of the console. The radiator was installed behind the rear exhaust fan outside of the chassis, and was paired with an extra Noctua fan giving the setup a push-pull configuration. Tubing for the waterblock was routed from the waterblock through two holes punched through the top of the chassis, with one going to the radiator and the other going to the pump. The pump is also mounted externally on the right of the console.

The significantly upgraded cooling system was reportedly able to reduce CPU and GPU temperatures by "20-30 degrees", showing that a liquid-cooled configuration with just one 120mm radiator is a significant upgrade from the Steam Machine's stock air cooler. The only issue that Techmagnet reports needs to be fixed is cooling for the VRM cooling system. The modder reports that the VRMs are operating at their maximum temperature, and added that adding additional cooling to the VRMs will be challenging due to the small size of the Steam Machine's MOSFETs. Valve has also disabled any overclocking support on the Steam Machine, making it impossible to take advantage of the extra cooling headroom the liquid cooling system offers.

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Question #1

What materials and manufacturing method were used to make the waterblock and its top ports?

The waterblock was machined from copper using a CNC machine and features two fin-stacks. Its top ports were part of a custom acrylic block mated to the copper waterblock.

Answered

Question #2

How was the 120mm radiator and pump mounted to the Steam Machine chassis and where are they located externally?

The modder removed the internal heatsink and drilled holes in the chassis so a thick 120mm radiator and a pump could be mounted outside the console. The radiator is installed behind the rear exhaust fan outside the chassis and paired with an extra Noctua fan in a push-pull configuration. Tubing is routed through two holes punched in the top of the chassis, and the pump is mounted externally on the right side of the console.

Answered

Question #3

What fan configuration did the modder use on the radiator and where was the extra fan installed?

The radiator was set up in a push-pull configuration, paired with an extra Noctua fan. The radiator (and that extra fan) were installed behind the rear exhaust fan outside of the chassis.

Answered

Question #4

What VRM cooling issue remained after the liquid cooling mod and why is it difficult to fix?

The modder reported the VRMs were still running at their maximum temperature after the liquid cooling mod. Adding cooling for them is difficult because the Steam Machine’s MOSFETs are very small, making it hard to add additional VRM cooling hardware, and Valve has also disabled overclocking so the extra cooling headroom cannot be used.

Answered

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Despite its shortcomings, this is the first water-cooled Steam Machine that we have seen so far, and is one of the most striking mods for the Steam Machine that anyone has made.