Modder Transforms Kitchen Ice Maker into RTX 3060 Cooler with Beer Fridge Thermostat

A YouTube creator from TrashBench unveiled an unconventional method for cooling an NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card using a kitchen ice maker. The project drew inspiration from another modder, MrYeester, who previously applied a similar technique to cool a CPU. This time, the challenge was greater: adapting the system for a GPU with significantly higher heat output.

To bring the idea to life, the creator removed the stock cooler from the graphics card and installed a custom frame to secure the water-cooling tubes. A submersible pump was placed inside the ice maker, and the loop was filled with water. Initial tests revealed that without the ice maker running, the GPU temperature in benchmarks reached 44°C and continued to rise. Once the system was activated, temperatures dropped by over 10 degrees, but the compressor operated intermittently due to the factory thermostat.

The issue was resolved decisively: the thermostat was replaced with one from a beer fridge, ensuring continuous compressor operation. Additionally, the evaporative coils were submerged in water using a plastic container, enhancing heat exchange efficiency. As a result, the GPU temperature in Cyberpunk 2077 stabilized at 22–23°C, while the chip’s hot spot dropped to 34°C—down from 75°C before the modification.

The project required considerable effort, including addressing leaks, reworking electrical components, and optimizing the cooling loop. Despite the impressive results, the creators emphasize that the experiment is unsafe and not intended for widespread replication. Nonetheless, it demonstrates the potential of unconventional solutions for extreme hardware cooling.