
Also, I found a 20cm USB extender, so now my temporary case's fan is powered by the Pi's onboard USB, and so turns on and off with the board. Very useful. I've broken so many of these by not using cases, that I'm not taking any risks!
I still can't find a case I want to buy, so I'm going to 3D print one with a large (and therefore quiet) USB/GPIO powered cooling fan in a square chassis with screw holes. Maybe one on each end, blowing in the same direction like a wind tunnel! SD, USB and power extender cables will be fitted into the caseing's walls, as well as a GPIO breakout cable, and maybe fibre optic cables going from the "activity lights" baked into the walls.
Has anyone seen this before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BQAMTRY5SI
On first viewing, I thought it was a "Destroy your stuff for lolz" trolling video, like the "charge your phone with a microwave" one, but I've looked into it, and who'd have thought? Mineral oil liquid cooling that directly submerges electronic devices in liquid is a real thing!
I'm going to try this on one of my Pi Zeros. Getting better-than-fan cooling for almost free, and that is completely silent, seems like a great idea! Linus Tech Tips did a 3 part video of a mineral oil called computer build, and as he was pouring the liquid into the case, all over the motherboard and other components (except for fans which need to remain outside of the oil) I couldn't believe what I was seeing!
This could have excellent applications for SBCs, since they have no mechanical parts... Maybe that's another case I'll considering making, also with all the connections (SD reader, USB, GPIO etc) extended and incorporated into the case chassis walls, so you never have to deal with touching the oil... You could technically even introduce active refrigeration, as long as you were careful to prevent water condensation and drops falling to the bottom of the oil... They could be made extremely cheaply! Just food for thought.