View Full Version : Is this Utra cooler chill TEC any good?
picard
05-25-2007, 09:53 AM
Is this Ultra Chill TEC cooler suitable for TEC? What do you guys think?
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2353734&Sku=ULT33186
p8ntslinger676
05-25-2007, 05:05 PM
no, dont waste your money.
picard
05-25-2007, 05:18 PM
no, dont waste your money.
it was reviewed on 3Dgameman as decent system.
serialk11r
05-25-2007, 05:26 PM
it was reviewed on 3Dgameman as decent system.
The review might have said that it got good temps and was good but there's a lot more to it than just that.
it was reviewed on 3Dgameman as decent system.
I'm going to lay it to you straight, as smart as 3dgameman is, I can guarantee you he doesn't know how a tec actually works, otherwise he wouldn't have reviewed it as good.
For one thing, if the tec isn't more powerful than the cpu, then you're actually just adding heat for the most part with higher loads. Since it has a 30w tec, when the cpu loads it can't handle it and adds an extra 30w of heat for the hsf to cool. Plus tec's have horrible efficiency, so while it may have 30w of cooling capicity, it actually draws more around 60w, so power consumption goes up too.
TECs really are of no use except for the 437w one with a watercooler, and so far only one company makes a block that fits the 437w tec and that company went down 2 years ago. So you then have to make your own block, not to mention you'll NEED an auxiliary psu for the tec, preferably the 600w meanwell or better yet an auxiliary psu that has a 24v rail which cost a fair amount.
And also you'll need more cooling power to cool that hot tec, which will only cool the cpu down as far as the excess cooling power the tec has from the cpu's heat load, so for that extra 10-20c drop for a very expensive tec loop, you could have built an awesome watercooler with a sweet case or even made a cheap phase change if you have the know how.
I'm not try to be mean, but I don't want people to waste their money on products that are of no use to them and cost a lot:up:
I think I gave you the general gist of it, anything else anyone want to add?
p8ntslinger676
05-25-2007, 07:23 PM
or even made a cheap phase change if you have the know how.
I would trust that just as much as that Ultra pos, that seems like a bad idea too, just stick with water if you are on that kind of a budget.
hecktic
05-25-2007, 09:12 PM
I'm going to lay it to you straight, as smart as 3dgameman is, I can guarantee you he doesn't know how a tec actually works, otherwise he wouldn't have reviewed it as good.
For one thing, if the tec isn't more powerful than the cpu, then you're actually just adding heat for the most part with higher loads. Since it has a 30w tec, when the cpu loads it can't handle it and adds an extra 30w of heat for the hsf to cool. Plus tec's have horrible efficiency, so while it may have 30w of cooling capicity, it actually draws more around 60w, so power consumption goes up too.
TECs really are of no use except for the 437w one with a watercooler, and so far only one company makes a block that fits the 437w tec and that company went down 2 years ago. So you then have to make your own block, not to mention you'll NEED an auxiliary psu for the tec, preferably the 600w meanwell or better yet an auxiliary psu that has a 24v rail which cost a fair amount.
And also you'll need more cooling power to cool that hot tec, which will only cool the cpu down as far as the excess cooling power the tec has from the cpu's heat load, so for that extra 10-20c drop for a very expensive tec loop, you could have built an awesome watercooler with a sweet case or even made a cheap phase change if you have the know how.
I'm not try to be mean, but I don't want people to waste their money on products that are of no use to them and cost a lot:up:
I think I gave you the general gist of it, anything else anyone want to add?
On that note, someone here on XS should make a custom water block to handle that kind of TEC, 437w
I would agree phase is only for people with the experience, though it can be done if you can scavenge the parts. I've seen actually fairly good ones for under $100, the most important parts really are just the evap and compressor, as car radiators can easily be scavenged and what not
But for it being reliable, custom phases kill watercoolers in every aspect if you plan to just do one or two things (though it gets complicated when add extra evaps) with the exception of the condensation issue. Budget really is the determining factor, for $150 a fairly good water kit can be made
On that note, someone here on XS should make a custom water block to handle that kind of TEC, 437w
My guess is someone probably has, but I primarily spend my time on tomshardware since I have a pretty big name there (under a different alias though, decided to stick with my actual name this time [well, it's actually Ali H., but that's besides the point:up: ]) so I can't say who's done it
p8ntslinger676
05-25-2007, 09:22 PM
i could make a 62mm water block pretty easy :D, i just dont think people would buy it :P
picard
05-26-2007, 06:31 AM
I'm going to lay it to you straight, as smart as 3dgameman is, I can guarantee you he doesn't know how a tec actually works, otherwise he wouldn't have reviewed it as good.
For one thing, if the tec isn't more powerful than the cpu, then you're actually just adding heat for the most part with higher loads. Since it has a 30w tec, when the cpu loads it can't handle it and adds an extra 30w of heat for the hsf to cool. Plus tec's have horrible efficiency, so while it may have 30w of cooling capicity, it actually draws more around 60w, so power consumption goes up too.
TECs really are of no use except for the 437w one with a watercooler, and so far only one company makes a block that fits the 437w tec and that company went down 2 years ago. So you then have to make your own block, not to mention you'll NEED an auxiliary psu for the tec, preferably the 600w meanwell or better yet an auxiliary psu that has a 24v rail which cost a fair amount.
And also you'll need more cooling power to cool that hot tec, which will only cool the cpu down as far as the excess cooling power the tec has from the cpu's heat load, so for that extra 10-20c drop for a very expensive tec loop, you could have built an awesome watercooler with a sweet case or even made a cheap phase change if you have the know how.
I'm not try to be mean, but I don't want people to waste their money on products that are of no use to them and cost a lot:up:
I think I gave you the general gist of it, anything else anyone want to add?
thanks for the tips. I can get a separate TEC swifnet which has separate PSU.
thanks for the tips. I can get a separate TEC swifnet which has separate PSU.
Ehh, swiftech's block is fairly good, but depending on what cpu you have and how high you clock it, the tec may prove to be too weak, I've seen the performance jump from a stock e6600 to a 3.8ghz e6600, the person couldn't push it above 3.8ghz with the tec, and at idle was getting -10c and at load 45c, meaning the tec was too weak, and the loop without the tec proved better.
For reasons I already stated, I suggest not going tec unless you can get a hold of a 600w meanwell psu, a custom 62.5mm block (you'll want it slightly bigger than the tec), and the random stuff needed for a dual psu system
picard
05-26-2007, 08:27 AM
Ehh, swiftech's block is fairly good, but depending on what cpu you have and how high you clock it, the tec may prove to be too weak, I've seen the performance jump from a stock e6600 to a 3.8ghz e6600, the person couldn't push it above 3.8ghz with the tec, and at idle was getting -10c and at load 45c, meaning the tec was too weak, and the loop without the tec proved better.
For reasons I already stated, I suggest not going tec unless you can get a hold of a 600w meanwell psu, a custom 62.5mm block (you'll want it slightly bigger than the tec), and the random stuff needed for a dual psu system
oh. I can get 1000w PSU. What do you mean by a custom 62.5mm?
You need a psu with a 24v rail, that's why people use auxiliary psus
And I mean a custom cpu block that is 62.5mm*62.5mm. The only company that made them went out of business
Oklahoma Wolf
05-26-2007, 12:35 PM
What do you guys think?
Expensive, though quite good for what it's designed to be. Not a substitute for a good water setup, but they work very well. My X2 3800+ was up to 2700 with one before I ever saw it hit over 50 degrees.
The 60W TEC on it supplements a traditional heatpipe air cooler - it's not strong enough to cool the CPU on its own, nor is it meant to. The TEC has its own heatsink (the one furthest away from the fan).
As for being a POS... mine held up for 7 months before I broke it by being a klutz two days ago.
Although, if I were looking at buying one today I'd probably go for water. Mine tended to fluctuate fan speeds a little too often - got annoying after a while.
dicecca112
05-26-2007, 12:39 PM
read my review here http://www.legitreviews.com/article/491/1/
Like I say in the review, its good for those not willing to go to watercooling, but other than that an intro watercooler systems can easily beat it
the big water 745 isn't a bad one for the price, and oxide usually has it one sale cheaper than the ultra tec cooler anyways:)
picard
05-26-2007, 02:22 PM
read my review here http://www.legitreviews.com/article/491/1/
Like I say in the review, its good for those not willing to go to watercooling, but other than that an intro watercooler systems can easily beat it
Water cooling seems involve the risky part of water leakage. I like TEC for its compactness, no mess, no water hoses. There are better TEC out there made by swiftnet. I can get it.
picard
05-26-2007, 02:25 PM
Can you guys recommend me 3 high quality TEC cooling system? I am wiling to spend from 150-350bucks if it is necessary. I am willing to sell my dog, my high tech mountain bike to get the money. You just give me the links to those web sites. :up:
p8ntslinger676
05-26-2007, 06:32 PM
none that are air are very good quality, for the best results you will have to go with a water cooled tec otherwise it is not worth the money. there is no need to worry about leakage with a water cooling loop if you do it right.
I agree that you can't get a good air tec cooler. And the coolit freezone isn't powerful enough for ocing, just stock, and not even powerful cpus at that. Here's some links, but for $350, a good one will be hard to do
http://www.thermochill.com/pa1203.php
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2411/exp-04/437W_Qmax_Peltier.html?tl=g30c105s187
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/3198/psu-123/Mean_Well_600W_24V_Single_Output_Switching_Auxilia ry_Power_Supply_SE-600-24.html?tl=g30c105s190
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2128/ex-pmp-27/Swiftech_MCP655_12v_Water_Pump_w_38_Conversion_Kit _317_GPH.html?tl=g30c107s155
use a basic resevoir, and you're set except for the cpu block since you need one big enough to house the block, and you'll have to bridge the two psus by tricking them into thinking they're one
Or you could try a chiller, though those also have their problems
The coolit freezone is a fairly good chiller, but it uses too small tubing, a crappy pump, and a crappy block, so while it may have an okay radiator, it's not good for heavy use, nor can the radiator handle heavy loads because when the load consumes more watts than the tecs do, then the tecs just add heat instead of removing it
picard
05-27-2007, 07:55 PM
ok. I can expand budget to $400.00. Can I get a really good cooler?
How about this Vigor Moonsoon TEC? Is it good??
http://www.vigorgaming.com/components/cmp_monsoonii_intel.html
serialk11r
05-27-2007, 08:57 PM
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141134
Read my friend read.
If you want TEC do it properly. If you're gonna waste all that electricity you might as well do it properly and get some decent temps. You should have a watercooling loop with a very good pump and radiator (possibly multiple) and a proper block/coldplate/TEC, and of course PSU.
The Nemesis
05-28-2007, 10:48 AM
Is this Ultra Chill TEC cooler suitable for TEC? What do you guys think?
I bought(borrowed) that junk from Fry's. I even tried it on an open test bed with cool airflow. It was no better than the Corsair Nautilus or the Tuniq Tower. Its nice looking, installs fairly easy, but for the $$ you can get much better cooling for less. TEC's use quite a bit of electricity on a dual core overclocked system. If this is for a pc you use daily & often for long periods of time, you really should consider water cooling. U must be, u posted this in the liquid cooling forum instead of the TEC cooling forum.:)
picard
05-28-2007, 04:03 PM
I bought(borrowed) that junk from Fry's. I even tried it on an open test bed with cool airflow. It was no better than the Corsair Nautilus or the Tuniq Tower. Its nice looking, installs fairly easy, but for the $$ you can get much better cooling for less. TEC's use quite a bit of electricity on a dual core overclocked system. If this is for a pc you use daily & often for long periods of time, you really should consider water cooling. U must be, u posted this in the liquid cooling forum instead of the TEC cooling forum.:)
I want to explore all possible cooling options before buying one. This is serious investment into a PC besides the CPU and a graphic card.
I already told you what needs to be done.
I've seen a few of the tec guru's threads here on tec cooling (check the tec stickies) and you'll find out that what I said about a powerful pump, radiator, block that covers the entire tec, and psu with a 24v rail is all necessary to get a tec system that's properly functioning. But tec's suck up so much energy you're better off spending more money on better cooling than tec or better hardware and save money down the road
serialk11r
05-28-2007, 05:16 PM
Hardcore PC? Try phase on CPU and water on video...
Or how about ln2 on the cpu and phase on the gfx:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
You actually can phase a gfx on the same phase change as the cpu, but it's complicated. For $400, you can build a very nice single stage phase, but you need to find a way to house it, and unless if you have the v2000b by lian li, that gest kinda difficult to do while making it look good
[XC] gomeler
05-28-2007, 09:35 PM
For $400 I could slap together a cheap single-stage *sigh* I wouldn't touch TECs with a 20 foot gold pole and you'd need that pole to pay for the powerbill. Inefficient is an understatement for TECs, either go water or go phase (chiller or SS).
picard
05-29-2007, 03:44 PM
I already told you what needs to be done.
I've seen a few of the tec guru's threads here on tec cooling (check the tec stickies) and you'll find out that what I said about a powerful pump, radiator, block that covers the entire tec, and psu with a 24v rail is all necessary to get a tec system that's properly functioning. But tec's suck up so much energy you're better off spending more money on better cooling than tec or better hardware and save money down the road
ok Thanks Ali. I will get watercooling instead of Tech.
tec:up: Thermo-Eletric Cooling
But as someone already mentioned you can get someone here to build you a cheap ass phase with some used parts for a low amount and that will get you the temps you want constantly, that's what I recommend, once you get 100posts check the classfields too:D