Water cooling and Peltiers

[Jeddy]

Hi guys, I am looking at this from a pretty much speculative point of view.

I want to spec up a water cooling loop with an 80w Peltier in the reservoir (http://store.over-clock.com/80w_peltier.html)

However, i am concerned as how I would go about ensuring that the water in the loop does not become ice cold/condensation prone.

I understand that only one side of a peltier is useful to cool? the other side gets hot does it not?

How much cooling does a peltier's hot side need? I was thinking of having it in the reservoir with a 60mm/80mm fan/heatsink combo ontop of it, will this be enough?

Also, I want to WC my processor (ideally with "chilled" water) and I am wondering if buying an xspc kit, then when i add other stuff to it buying a second 120mm rad? (looking to Watercool my q6600 and probs a 9600gt/8800gt when i make my mind up) I am getting a new case soon, and I dont think i can fit a 240mm rad in any of the cases i am looking at, so 2x 120mm rads are my only options.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[llwyd]

Umm I'm not sure how feasible that would be mate. The hot side of the peltier needs to be cooled well for it to function efficiently. Common practice is for the TEC block to be applied directly to the CPU and then a typical cpu cooling soltion (eg, watercooling loop) is applied to the hot side of the peltier cooler.

What youre proposing will make it very hard to cool the peltier block properly. All I can think of is a heatsink on either side of it. One dipped in the water and one outside the res with a fan on it

 

[Jeddy]

hmm, okeys, so I take it that chilled water cooling is harder that I first anticipated.

I will stick with my initial normal water plans for now then.

I am choosing between a thermaltake bigwater 635 (the one with a single 120mm rad) or an xspc kit from WCUK. I will most probably be restricted to a single 120mm rad (maybe two at a push) but I am worried about it being able to cool a q6600 and an 8800gt/9600gt, I shall link to the cases i am considering upgrading to:

(I lan on a weekly basis, so full towers and heavy cases are out of the question)

http://www.xcase.co.uk/p/400533/silverstone-kl-02-black-no-psu-sata-hotswap---with-window.html

http://www.xcase.co.uk/p/386568/cm690-dominator-black-case-no-psu.html

I prefer the silverstone case due to the window and also the layout of the drive bays.

The coolermaster case is nice also, but I am not sure how easy watercooling is to fit into it.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[llwyd]

If you have to go with a kit get an XSPC or Swiftech one, but personally I would custom build it. If youre not willing to cut holes for a tripple rad I would forget the idea of cooling both CPU AND GPU, and focus on just CPU. There are air coolers that will allow you to get your GPU up to nice clock

 

[Pat123]

you can easy get a 360 rad on the back of that CM690.. Someone posted their rig up somewhere ill have a look for the link.. Ide go custom, but if you have to buy a kit definately the XSPC, and it would only cool the CPU not the GPU aswell

 

[rrjwilson]

Do not get the mini things like the BigWater it won't cool anything properly. Look at the reviews section about them or this months CustomPC. Go custom or buy a proper kit.

As for the reservoir thing it is what i have suggested in my thread. I'm gonna use a minifridge peltier hooked up to the molex connector. Its not powerful at all so won't freeze the water (or shouldn't) but should help temperatures. I have asked questions but no-one has given any answers technical or otherwise so I'm hoping for some TEC technobabble.

I intend to use some plating for the TEC and a CPU cooler for the hotside. As the TEC is very low power this will be more than adequate. For your 80W one you will need a cooler to cool a CPU that gives out 80W or less. Obviously it will be hard size wise the higher the rating the peltier is. The water will freeze if the reservoir is too small or the loop is too small. They are like £15 for 10 on eBay so you may be able get them and try it first without much worry given the small price.

 

[Jeddy]

re

Cool beans, you wouldn't happen to have the power of the peltier you are using would you rrjwilson?

As for the Water Loop, I am not willing to go external, I dont want my Rad getting bashed off the case in transport. The CM690 should be the best option as far as i can see.

You guys seem to reccomend a triple rad, I unfortunately cannot fit one, however i may be able to work a dual rad (stealth GT) and a single rad (again stealth gt) into the cm690. Would this give "comparative" results?

Thanks.

 

[equk]

I thought most people didn't see TEC's as being viable anymore? especially for overclocking a quadcore CPU.

 

[ali_james]

I have a 690 myself and its a decent case, heres NickS's thread with a rad fitted into the roof:

Clicky

 

[rrjwilson]

Swiftech TEC CPU cooler

It costs bugger all more than normal block and cools WAY better. I am trying to get one but not having luck ATM. Thats why I wanna use my knackered fridge one to chill the water a bit.