Thermal-Electric Coolers

[d3sl91]

Thermal-Electric CPU Coolers - where did they go? Why didn't they become a "thing"? 

 

I had a MACS Cooler I used in about 3 computers i had over the years. It kept all of my OC'd SKT775 CPU's quite cool, and even less than ambient in some situations (idle, of course):

 

 

 

    

 

 

[alpenwasser]

Thermal-Electric CPU Coolers - where did they go? Why didn't they become a "thing"?

My primary guess would be that it's just not very efficient

because they consume quite a bit of electricity themselves,

thus not making it worth it under most normal circumstances.

[Guest D1G1T4L1Z3R]

what's that ?

 

for something who knows many things about cooling, I have never heard of this before, does this looks like coolers for servers ?

[d3sl91]

My primary guess would be that it's just not very efficient

because they consume quite a bit of electricity themselves,

thus not making it worth it under most normal circumstances.

 

Ahh, this is true. I found a review of the unit, and, it says it will use up to 50W... sheesh.

 

 

what's that ?

 

for something who knows many things about cooling, I have never heard of this before, does this looks like coolers for servers ?

 

Thermal electric cooler, uses a Peltier element to transfer head from the cpu to the heatpipes. So, cpu>element>heatpipes>fins> Instead of a normal fan cooler that "lacks" the element.

Or..just look at this review: http://www.legitreviews.com/monsoon-ii-active-tec-cpu-cooling-system-review_407

[Dayone]

50W seems a lot for a cooler but compared to most modern CPU's and GPU's that isn't an unreasonable amount of power, especially if the cooling is as good as you say. 

[alpenwasser]

50W seems a lot for a cooler but compared to most modern CPU's and GPU's that isn't an unreasonable amount of power, especially if the cooling is as good as you say.

At some point I looked into using TEC for my current build (two CPUs, 130W

each), and after doing the calculations I came to the conclusion that the

TEC cooling would use >400 W or so (I'm not abolutely sure about the numbers

anymore since it's been a few years, but if I recall correctly, I allotted 200 W

per CPU when heavily overclocked and then gave a bit more for that to each

TEC element).

So yeah, since my rig is supposed to run 24/7, I ended up going with a

normal W/C loop, no way in helll I'm going to have that high of a power

bill.

[DIV1D3]

At some point I looked into using TEC for my current build (two CPUs, 130W

each), and after doing the calculations I came to the conclusion that the

TEC cooling would use >400 W or so (I'm not abolutely sure about the numbers

anymore since it's been a few years, but if I recall correctly, I allotted 200 W

per CPU when heavily overclocked and then gave a bit more for that to each

TEC element).

So yeah, since my rig is supposed to run 24/7, I ended up going with a

normal W/C loop, no way in helll I'm going to have that high of a power

bill.

WOW, 400W for 2 CPUs and coolers?! Geezuz.

[alpenwasser]

WOW, 400W for 2 CPUs and coolers?! Geezuz.

400W for the CPUs plus 400 W for the TECs (it's just an estimation I used to be

in the safe zone, actual numbers would hopefully have been lower, but I'm not sure

by how much, might still easily have been 600W total).

[DIV1D3]

400W for the CPUs plus 400 W for the TECs (it's just an estimation I used to be

in the safe zone, actual numbers would hopefully have been lower, but I'm not sure

by how much, might still easily have been 600W total).

Yeh that's what I said , 300-600 watts is so high for 2 CPUs and coolers. 

[alpenwasser]

Yeh that's what I said , 300-600 watts is so high for 2 CPUs and coolers. 

Ah, I misunderstood, sorry. And yeah, it's totally ridiculous.

[Dragonzeanse]

Here's why.

 

Thermoelectric/Peltier coolers are too good at their job.

[d3sl91]

Here's why.

 

Thermoelectric/Peltier coolers are too good at their job.

 

TEC in combination with watercooling? NICE.

[onionring]

BTW TECs can transport a certain amount of heat but when they hit their max power transfer, they turn into an insulator(bad conductor) cooking your cpu while your heatsink doesnt get all the heat it could naturally.

also when you got below ambient temp, you get condensation, which is awsome..ly bad for electronics.

they consume loads of power(about as much as what they cool) making your heatsink work twice as much. and if you undersize them (to limit power draw, they turn into an isolant.)

so that s why no one uses them.

[tkell]

I used a (MCX 4000T) TEC cooler with air back in the day of P4. It was a 2.4 Ghz run at 4 Ghz. It was 1 Fahrenheit idle and 40 at load. Ran two power supply 500 watt each, one only for the TEC. Dielectric grease under and around the socket. I used two molex connectors just to keep from burning up the wire. I also used a 90-120 fan adapter for a 190 cfm delta.