Using a peltier on a water cooled system: In the tank or on the CPU?

[RaiderJ]

I'm thinking about adding a peltier to my water cooled setup, but wondering where I should put it. After reading some, it sounds like adding it to my CPU socket would require some waterproofing that I don't want to do.

Adding the peltier to my water tank seems like a better way to go, since the cool side could be submerged in the tank, thereby solving the condensation problem.

Has anyone done this? Any suggestions or comments on this kind of setup?

 

[BG4533]

Seems like it could be possible with a large peltier. I would beware of sticking the peltier into the water though, might cause some electrical problems. It might work to put is on a metal reservoir or something though.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You'll still have the condensation problem, but you'll have to cool a LOT more and there'll be more loss. Just go for the top of the CPU.

 

[EdipisReks]

putting the peltier in the tank seems like a bad idea. now, one thing you could do is put the reservoir in a mini-bar fridge.

 

[Mday]

neither. dont use peltier on a water cooled system.

 

[Ketchup]

Well, I sure wouldn't use a Peltier on an air cooled system! Seriously, I don't think Peltiers are as good a solution as they used to be. The reason being current CPU's put out a LOT of heat, so you need a good-sized Peltier or your temps will actually go up. Then you have the problem of your cooling keeping up with your Peltier, and you may need a water chiller or your water temps will probably never stop rising. I have seen a Peltier sandwiched between two heatsink/fain assemblies and placed in the water tank, with some pretty good results. Of course, I thought this seemed rather counter-productive since most people go with water in order to avoid those loud fans!

 

[beatle]

I don't see how putting the peltier in the water tank would accomplish anything. You're heating the water with the hot side of the pelt the same time you're cooling it with the cold side.

 

[CoBRaXT]

Originally posted by: beatle
I don't see how putting the peltier in the water tank would accomplish anything. You're heating the water with the hot side of the pelt the same time you're cooling it with the cold side.

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: CoBRaXT

Originally posted by: beatle
I don't see how putting the peltier in the water tank would accomplish anything. You're heating the water with the hot side of the pelt the same time you're cooling it with the cold side.

Obviously that's not what I wanted to do. I was thinking about using the COLD side on the tank to cool the circulating water, and then put a heatsink on the hot side. Sorry my initial post didn't make that obvious

 

[HardTech]

umm... heatsinks are designed to take heat away from the CPU. Where do you think the heat goes? It doesn't just disappear. It gets transferred to the heatsink, so that will get hot and will heat the water up as well..

why not just put heatsink on heatsink on heatsink on heatsink and then your computer will run sub-zero!

 

it is indeed possible to run a cpu sub zero using several peltiers stacked on one another. Would I recomend it? no plus that could lead to some really bad problems with the water boiling and water condesation plus you would need one big ass radiator.

 

[Lizardman]

This has been done before. Kyle at [_H_]ardocp uses a peltier on his water tank. He gets good results doing this.

 

[Technonut]

Originally posted by: Lizardman
This has been done before. Kyle at [_H_]ardocp uses a peltier on his water tank. He gets good results doing this.

Link

Link

I posted a picture here recently of a reservoir I made for one of my H20 rigs that eliminates the need for a radiator. The drawback for most water cooling systems is the fact that a radiator can only cool the water to room temperature ( at best ). By adding a thermoelectric ( TEC ) cooler to my reservoir, I have made a reservoir that keeps the water at a chilly 10c ? 15c at idle. This picture is to show you how big the actual completed unit actually is. It makes for a fantastic externally mounted water cooling system that can beat ANY standard water cooling temperatures out there. Take a look.

 

lol "cold energy"

but you would still need to insulate the cpu, or maybe more considering now the enitre system will be below room temperature. Right?

 

[IRJack]

Remember those "Blue Ice" packs? Get a two or three of them and toss one in your reservoir before you start gaming. Keep the others cold until you need to swap out the one from the reservoir. Maybe a little cheesy, but a lot cheaper than a TEC.

Really, though, I'd just stick with water cooling.