topic Re: RA-204 leaking water??? in PCs & Accessories

RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:15:46 GMT

Here's an interesting one....
I have only just taken delivery of an RA-204. Somewhere in the sales blurb I read about some sort of liquid cooling which reduces the ambient noise of the power supply/processor fans.
The PC has been left on for the past three or four days, but last night, knowing I was going to be out all day today, I switched it off.
My wife called me in a panic this afternoon because there was water all over the floor and it appeared to be coming from the PC.
When I got home I checked the PC inside and out and could find no trace of a leak or indeed any water anywhere within the PC, yet there had been a large pubble on the floor which was also direcly under the PC.
Given the radical design of the PC is it possible that this liquid has leaked from the cooling system? or another thought is that the PC has condensed the water from the surrounding air rather like a cars air-con. This may be possible as I had the side of the PC up tight to the side of the desk possibly restricting air flow.
So, anyone had anything similar? Can anyone shed any light on this at all?
By the way, the PC is working fine.
G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

robpaxton — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:29:06 GMT

If you think that there has been coolant leakage then you should phone Vaio-Link tomorrow morning to arrange to have the computer looked at. Better to be safe than sorry - it's an expensive thing to take risks with.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:35:59 GMT

I will call them for sure. But I can't understand where all the water has come from. Wierd?
G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:36:25 GMT

I've often thought about this - can it leak? Looks like the answer's yes...

Was the case wet?

As Rob said call VAIO-Link and have it seen to, also check that there are no leaking pipes around the area, it might well be a central heating issue rather than the PC.

Worrying isn't it?

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:16:11 GMT

Nothing is wet in the PC, although the processor is hidden under the PSU, so I can't be sure.
Its not my central heating for sure. Although I did think this myself when my wife called me and told me.
The more I think about it the more I think that the proximity to the desk stiffled the air flow and maybe caused condensation. That said, its still a mystery and I can't wait to explain myself to the techy people tomorrow.
Thanks.
G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:46:39 GMT

I have left plenty of space for my RA104 to breathe, it's very important.

Seems a bit strange if the PC wasn't wet at all.
I am really hoping this is some wierd coincidence that has nothing to do with the PC.
(Not that it's good either way for you, sorry)

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:50:26 GMT

Mine's now sitting on the desk. I'm looking hard for drips!
Fingers crossed I don't see any.
Thanks.
G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:52:16 GMT

Good luck

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 11:15:36 GMT

No more water today! There's probably none left to leak.
Or, according to Vaio-Link, "We don't make any water cooled computers, as the price runs to £1000's". I clarified myself and re-phrased the statement to use the word "liquid" instead of water. Same response.
When I read the tech spec to them I was met with astonishement and "we don't know anything about that".

Just for everyone's info this is an extract from the Sony sales literature:

"The new Sony VAIO RA204 is the ultimate in cutting edge design and superior performance. Its industrial black design houses two unique technological innovations - an advanced liquid cooling system and enhanced acoustic technologies. Its unique liquid-flow heat pipe draws heat away from the processor to cool it down more efficiently."

My Vaio's running fine at the moment. No sign of water/condensation. No warning beeps, no adverse signs at all.

Maybe santa dropped in and had a pee on it while I was out! If so what has he got aginst Sony?

G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

robpaxton — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 11:21:27 GMT

You haven't got a dog have you?

Nice to hear that Sony Support are fully up to date on their machine specifications. Did you tell them the price did run into 1000's?

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 12:26:11 GMT

I guess the 'liquid' coling is a really new feature. Nevertheless I'd have expected Sony support to have known about it.
I took the case off to have a good look. The processor is housed under the psu which is easily and quickly removed ( a really nice design) and low and behold there is the processor. No fans at all just a massive heat sink and some pipes leading to one of the remote fan units. These clearly duct some sort of liquid and do a remarkable job as the heat sink was hardly even warm to the touch.
All in all a nice design, even more so now that I know that Sony don't make liquid cooled PC's

Finally,

I do have dogs, they were out with me at the time.
There were no radiators or pipes anywhere near the PC.
The roof hadn't sprung a leak.
The only cup/glass nearby was full of tea and had not been spilled.
I did not imagine it.
I have not been abducted by Aliens (to my knowledge)

MY PC LEAKED - HONEST!

G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:02:34 GMT

I recon your wife is playing a nasty trick on you LOL

God Sony Support SUCKS, they have had this infrastructure since JULY! IDIOTS!

Worries me really, we pay 1000's and we get this sort of nonsense.

I really am wondering where this water (liquid :smileytongue:) came from?

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

madxbri — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 23:24:42 GMT

it could be the gost's of sony past
u know this time of year and all that

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

ognils — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:04:46 GMT

Update:
Sony techies have just called me back to let me know that there is absolutely, categorically no way that my Vaio can be leaking!!

So, I'm gonna break it!!! It can go back under the desk in the same conditions as before and it can cook!

When it leaks, because unless its out of coolant, then I'll take photo's and then we'll see what they have to say.

Sony, not doing itself proud.

All things being equal I think the product is great, but techies that don't know about the product they are supporting p*** me off.

If, by any chance anyone from Sony reads this, then just remember where you heard the leaking story first, beacuse there will be more of them. Probably mine in a few days....

G.

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:37:15 GMT

I just hope they're right
They're not cheap, and they're really good media machines!

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

feederfan — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 11:16:51 GMT

If it had have leaked i think the motherboard would have fried by now anyway! they are very intolerant of water! I dont dare try water cooling on my desktop, ive already destroyed a GFX card and a Motherboard without the aid of water....

Re: RA-204 leaking water???

kee-lo_ — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:32:03 GMT

If it had have leaked i think the motherboard would have fried by now anyway!

Good point FF.

ive already destroyed a GFX card and a Motherboard without the aid of water....

I did have a motherboard die, no idea why, a piece fell off it - then again the cooler was dying, might explain it!