BMW M4 Car Radiator Replaces Regular AIO; Massive 600mm Radiator Boosts Threadripper PRO 9995WX to 4.9GHz on All Cores

The remarkable Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX is capable of consuming more than 1000W when overclocked manually, necessitating a superior cooling solution beyond conventional All-In-One (AIO) systems. In light of this, a Tech YouTuber came up with an unconventional yet ingenious idea to enhance the CPU’s performance.

Innovative Cooling: Geekerwan Upgrades AIO with a Car Radiator and Toyota Highlander Fans

As the demand for powerful computer hardware escalates—especially with high core-count processors like the Threadripper PRO series often boasting nearly 100 cores—the necessity for enhanced cooling mechanisms becomes clear. Strikingly, though these CPUs can reach impressive clock speeds, sustaining them long-term presents challenges. Embracing creativity, Geekerwan decided to replace the standard AIO with a robust car radiator, making for an exhilarating experiment.

A large computer cooling radiator on a dark table. — BMW M4’s 600mm radiator offers exceptional cooling performance.

Car radiators significantly outsize typical AIO radiators, which are generally limited to dimensions of 360mm or 420mm. Moreover, car radiators come equipped with pumps that manage higher liquid flow rates, increasing cooling efficiency. For his experiment, Geekerwan utilized his BMW M4’s radiator, renowned for its superior performance. He installed an expansive 600x350mm radiator on the Threadripper PRO 9995WX, boasting around five times the surface area of a standard 360mm unit.

S55 engine cooling system with a detailed view of the radiator. — M4’s cooling system achieves a flow rate of 1200 L/H, one of the best in the market.

This massive radiator’s pump can reach a flow rate of approximately 1200 liters per hour—nearly ten times that of high-end 360mm AIO counterparts. However, to cool such a large radiator effectively, appropriately sized fans are essential. Geekerwan opted for 300mm fans from a Toyota Highlander, each consuming 100W and providing substantial airflow required for optimal cooling. This combination yielded impressive results: the 96 cores of the processor were pushed to a remarkable 4.9 GHz, achieving 187, 153 points in Cinebench R23.

Cinebench R23 benchmarking display showcasing Threadripper performance. — Threadripper PRO 9995WX nearly reaches 5 GHz on all cores.

Despite these successes, Geekerwan’s setup remains behind the world record set using a liquid nitrogen cooling system. That record established an impressive all-core clock of 5.8 GHz—900 MHz faster than what was accomplished with the BMW radiator. It appears that while the automotive radiator offers extensive surface area and powerful pumping capabilities, it still doesn’t rival the efficacy of liquid nitrogen cooling methods.

Upon further review, it was discovered that Geekerwan’s assembly caused a significant surge in power consumption, with the 9995WX drawing over 2000W—double what the liquid nitrogen setup required. This automotive AIO configuration struggled to effectively dissipate the rapid heat generation. While this experiment showcases an innovative approach to cooling, it’s clear that for high-core CPUs like the Threadripper processors, liquid nitrogen remains the superior choice for achieving optimal cooling and performance, even if it’s not a feasible option for every user.