The Steam Video you have been waiting for….

The Problem: A Flawed Design [00:00:00]

• Valve's Steam Machine is criticized for a critical design flaw: the lack of user control over the fan curve, leading to thermal throttling.
• The speaker humorously suggests a class-action lawsuit for false advertising due to the "Steam" name not reflecting its cooling capabilities.

• "the steam machine has been a runaway success but that's in spite of a critical maybe even criminal mistake from valve"

The Solution: Steam Power [00:00:00]

• The team decides to literally "put the steam back in the Steam Machine" by integrating a working steam engine.
• This project is presented as both a silly endeavor and a practical solution to the thermal throttling issue.

• "we have taken it upon ourselves to write this terrible wrong and put the steam back in the steam machine literally"

The Steam Engine [00:00:00]

• A single-cylinder steam engine from AliExpress, rated for 0.015 horsepower and 3000 RPM, is acquired.
• The engine's output shaft will be modified to drive the Steam Machine's fan.

• "this particular one is a single cylinder design from rocking whale that is rated for up to 0.015 horsepower and 600 grams per centimeter of torque"

Pre-Modification Testing [00:00:00]

• Before modifications, baseline temperature tests are conducted under load.
• The stock Steam Machine reaches GPU temperatures of 85°C and CPU temperatures of 83°C, with the fan at 1200 RPM.

• "gpus at 85 degrees our cpu is at 83 and we're hitting 1200 rpm on the fan"

Disassembly and Fan Modification [00:00:00]

• The Steam Machine is disassembled using a precision screwdriver.
• A 3D-printed fan, created from a scan of the original and inspired by Noctua designs, is prepared.

• "this fan right here is 3d printed on our sls printer which means it's actually made of nylon which is some of the same material that the screwdriver like the og screwdriver was made of"

Integrating the Steam Engine [00:00:00]

• Gears and pulleys are used to connect the steam engine's output shaft to the computer fan.
• The team discusses various gear ratios, aiming for a setup that allows the engine to run economically while spinning the fan faster.

• "by using a combination of different gear sizes that we can attach either here on the steam engine or here on the fan hub we can actually create a number of different gear ratios"

Firing Up the Steam Engine [00:00:00]

• The steam engine requires special steam engine oil, which had to be ordered separately.
• Methyl hydrate is used as fuel for the alcohol burner to boil water and generate steam.

• "i had to order this from all the way down in the states to be used once for this project and then never again"

Testing the Steam-Cooled Steam Machine [00:00:00]

• The steam engine is started, and the fan begins to spin, initially in the wrong direction.
• After correcting the fan direction, idle temperatures show significant improvement: GPU at 37°C and CPU at 52°C.
• Under load, temperatures drop to 70°C on the GPU and 65°C on the CPU, a substantial improvement over stock.

• "oh my goodness this is the most posty thing that we have done in years"

Adjusting for Performance [00:00:00]

• The team experiments with different gear ratios to optimize fan speed and cooling.
• Higher gear ratios are tested, leading to further temperature reductions, with the GPU reaching 65°C and the CPU 50°C at one point.

• "we got the cpu under 50 for the first time all right okay boys it's about 49.50 it's bouncing back and forth but that was the coldest it had been yet"

Challenges and Observations [00:00:00]

• The steam engine's pressure fluctuates, affecting its ability to maintain consistent speed.
• The setup is significantly louder than the stock Steam Machine, and water management becomes a concern.

• "our temperatures are the lowest they've been though well lowest for starting this time 50 on the gpu 65 on the cpu"

Final Configuration and Results [00:00:00]

• With a higher gear ratio and the front cover reinstalled, temperatures stabilize around 80-84°C on the GPU and 66-77°C on the CPU.
• Removing the front cover slightly improves GPU temperatures to under 70°C while keeping the CPU around 80°C.

• "it's adding a little bit well a significant amount more air resistance"

Overheating and Shutdown [00:00:00]

• During a demanding test, the Steam Machine's overheating light turns red, indicating critical temperatures.
• The cooling system rapidly brings the GPU temperature down from 96°C to 81°C.

• "oh my god we're coming down so fast we're at 88 now 87 on the gpu 86 on the gpu 61 on the cpu 85 on the gpu 84"

Conclusion: An LTT Win? [00:00:00]

• Despite being louder, more expensive, and less sleek, the steam-cooled Steam Machine achieved lower temperatures.
• The project is deemed a success, albeit a complex and unconventional one.

• "sure it might not be as quiet it might not look as sleek it might cost way more but did we get slightly lower temperatures yes yes we did"

Sponsor Segment: UGREEN MagFlow Pro [00:00:00]

• The sponsor segment introduces the UGREEN MagFlow Pro, a liquid-cooled 25W power bank.
• Features include liquid cooling, Qi2 compatibility, and a 10,000 mAh capacity.

• "ugreen's magflow pro has me feeling like i'm wearing a leather jacket hair slicked back shades on"

The Evolution of Technology [00:00:00]

• The video concludes with a reflection on the evolution from the steam-powered Steam Machine to modern technology.
• The team decides to shut down the steam engine as it runs out of steam.

• "it's like the evolution of technology how this became this"