Water Cooling can be noisier and require more fans... rads require up to 3 fans these days and most people have 2 rads and then you have pumps as well.
However just watercooling the CPU with a good single closed off unit with 1 fan should reduce noise/fans.
ATgamer992, what you are talking about is a TEC or thermoelectric cooler, sometimes called a heat pump or peltier cooler because they use said peltier effect. Two things you may want to consider if you go ahead with your plan is that first of all peltier TEC's operate at between sub ambient and sub zero temperatures on the "cold" side and as such cause condensation in enclosed spaces and secondly you can buy TEC's that are far better suited to your needs on ebay which are the correct size for fitting between a processor and heat sink (the correct way to use a TEC inside a PC if you really must) which can then be properly sealed to prevent condensation damage.
Could you solve the problem with air circulation? Im not planning to have the PC full sealed, or to even attach the TEC to the CPU, just to have it in the case...
Did come up with one idea to put the TEC in a air tunnel, which would blast the cool air in to the PC after it has cooled down in some kina of chamber, or maybe just to have the TEC in the tunnel and have a fan at each side to puch the air though. Sure that would solve the condensation.
Im also not sure conensation is that big of a problem, air where I live is actually quite dry an not very humide at all. Also when the minifridge is running it is dry inside...
I will have ago with the idea on a old computer and a old case and see what is what... Wil make a new thread for that though, any more help would be greatly helpful though
Well, i'll try to answer your questions in order but first an important fact to consider is that peltier coolers are nto coolers in the traditional sense. They do not cool an item but in a sense act as a pump transfering heat from a hot surface and "pushing" it into a an item with a colder surface. It's somewhat analogous to a power shower which uses a water pump to increase the pressure and flow of water.
Air circulation would theoreticaly reduce the condensation issue to some extent but all cases have areas of dead air. These are mainly behind the mother board, around the drives and than there are things like expansion slots etc to consider.
By sealing i am refering to sealing the peltier when fitted between a heatsink and processor, not the case.
Placing the peltier directly inside the case will cause a lot of condensation even in arid conditions, there is moisture in all air, even in the dryest places in the world. just check the water trap on any air conditioner.
Peltiers need to interface directly with another material in order to "pump" heat so you would need to fit a heat sink not just on the hot side to get rid of the heat but also on the cold side to absorb heat from the environment.This is the reason that they are normaly only fitted directly between two components such as a processor and heatsink.
You would also have to fit the peltier in such a way as to ensure that the hot side is isolated from the interior of the case or air flow entering the case.
The reason you do not see condensation inside the minifridge is because the air is static and not being constantly replaced while the door is closed so only a very small amount of moisture will be present at any time. There will be condensation there, just not enough to be noticeable.
Here's some great resources for you to have a look at:
Don't get me wrong i like the idea myself. You just need to consider all the pro's and con's in addition to doing a little research into the subject. When used correctly peltiers are wonderfull things but all too often it goes horribly wrong.
I always wanted to get water cooling but I always just ended up getting more fans.
In the summer months when I was at university my computer would simply shut down without warning because it was so hot. I just left it for few hours which probably wasn't the smartest thing.
There's sealed water cooling systems that weight as little as 2oz.
Peltier coolers are far too inefficient for my tastes. And a PC has more heat-creating capability than a mini fridge could possibly cool. Plug in a mini fridge and turn on a PC at the same time. 2 minutes later the PC will be pushing out warm air, and that's with constant circulation. The mini fridge will not have any changes.
TokenOfTime fans should be fine but the ambient temperature does play a HUGE part - the direction of the fans also makes a difference - different push/pull configurations can increase or decrease the temperatures by a few degrees.
But if the ambient temperature is that high you'll need to invest in either cooling the whole environment or another way to cool your PC.
infin1ty_13 I'm not sure about Intel but the AMD stock fans are actually ranked really high when it comes to CPU fans/heatsinks (which honestly surprised me) - I'm guessing Intel have improved theirs also.
The only reason I changed my GPU cooler is the fan was making a nasty high pitched noise which annoyed me and I went for a passive cooler as I already have more than enough fans in my computer and it hides the circuitry of the GPU.
Actually does anyone know why they don't make graphics cards up the other way? It's always bugged me that the fans and pics/covers face downward showing off the "ugly side" of the Graphics Card.
I just have the side of the case off. Sure, it sounds as if there is a jet engine in my room as soon as I start playing something rendering in 3D, but I've never had heat problems by doing this.
Even still heat rises so surely having the processor and fan on top of the card is better?
I was thinking it might be an old configuration from the original desktop computers where you had the monitor on top of the case to save space (see pic below) but not too sure. If I'm right they should update them LOL
Partly correct there Kryss. When the ATX form factor was designed graphics cards produced so little heat it was never a consideration in the specifications so today we are stuck with what is now an inefficient throwback from twenty years ago. What i find even more astounding is that more recent form factors and proposals have retained the same graphics card spec because motherboard manufacturers would be reluctant to addopt them if it made their products compatible with fewer products and because of the cost of retooling.
I use a 2" fan on my CPU, 2x 3" on the front and back of the case, and a shrunk down box fan with a mutilated Kirby vacuum bag mounted in the side. I can keep drinks cold inside of it.
This MacBook Pro I been using supposedly allows the CPU to hit 83C during Minecraft.
So to answer the question of how I cool my computer... I could either say I don't... or I apply direct thigh thermal-transfer to the bottom of the system.
My new desktop has 2 fans in the case with really gay blue LEDs (not personal choice, the case was too good value to refuse). It also has a monstrous fan on the CPU (none of that Intel stock fan rubbish).
The case has a window/mesh which I feed ice cubes through, and my desktop wallpaper is a picture of some penguins.
And then of course there's that air vent.
Edited by: _Rubicon_
at September 08, 2011, 06:29am
newer gfx card indeed do blow their air out of the back... my gtx 560 does... right on them hard drives >.< my own fault tho i was very cheap on the case
Helios was talking about GFX cards with air channelled out the back like this:
Not like your card which doesn't channel air at all... it just has upside down fans (like all crappy cards) which is why I have a fanless cooler which channels the heat to above the card (makes more sense).
One day someone's going to make a graphics card up the right way
Kryss
@ ice cubes.
