Water temps with TEC system?

[noskill]

Guys,

I'm going to build Swiftech TEC-based WC system: MCW5000-PT and MCW50-T. Also I'm planning to put MCW20 on my northbridge, so I'm wondering what will be average temps of coolant (water + HydrX) in this setup?

And I'm going to use RAD676 with 2 120mm fans on it.

[sandman]

Well, they won't be too low that's for sure.

I'd talk to mdzcpa about this, he was running a very similar setup for a while.

I'd ditch the MCW20 for the MCX159 though.

[NitroRat]

it will be very very warm my tec for the cpu alone was warming the water alot and a whole lot at load. You will need 2 120's capable of 120cfm or better to keep temps down if they are the fans that came with the rad they are about 55 cfm and won't do too good. You could buy an auto heatercore and mod it yourself to fit your hoses. What pump do you have?

[noskill]

I thought about using two 120mm Mechantronics fans:

http://www.mechatronics.com/pdfs/G1238_Specs.pdf

The pump is MCP600.

[NitroRat]

the 118 cfm and higher should do pretty good. Just so you know I was using the 676 rad it would do fine but under load it just couldn't keep up and temps increased to ambient or more. Changing to an automotive heater core and two larger 120's dropped load about 12c and idle went down 10c. And I am using the mcp 300 pump...

[mdzcpa]

That's pretty much my exact set up I used to have. My system was a Swiftech Quiet Power case converted for TEC duty.

You can get all the system specs in an article I wrote here:Swiftech Quiet Power Thermo Electric Cooling Upgrade (http://liquidninjas.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=20&title=Swiftech%20Quiet%20Power%20Thermo%20Electric %20Cooling%20Upgrade)

The QP was basically Swiftech's older H202-B kit (installed in a case). That was a system which consisted of 3/8" OD lines, a eheim 1048 pump, 3/8" OD fill and bleed kit, 676 rad with low cfm 120s, MCW462-U, and MCW40.

To convert for TEC use, I simply added 90cfm Sunnon fans (plus relays, PSU, etc, etc). I went with the MCW642-UT 226w, and MCW40+T 80w (mcw50+t later on). I eventually ran the fans through a rheobus to adjust the noise and temps.

Overall the system worked great. Yes, the water temps got pretty warm (cannot remeber exact temps), but performance was still good. Two factors contirbuted to this. First, although the 676 rad is not the best on the market, it is actually a pretty good rad. As water temps rise into 32c range, that rad becomes very effective (as most rads to get more efficient the greater the delta between ambient and water temps). Second, warmer/cooler water within a handful of degrees doesn't have much effect on TEC cooling. Sure, you can gain a few degrees with cooler water, but you usually don't see major increases in cooling with TECs as long as your going with ambient cooling. Going with a chiller is where you see big gains.

Check out the article for exact performance improvments. Here's something a bit more current when I OC'd my 3ghz P4 to 4ghz last may:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mdzcpa/images/forumpics/IC7G/4009small.JPG

Temps weren't totally steller, but they were very good. Considering that P4 was at 4ghz with 1.7v, 11c idle and 20c load was not bad at all. I was always under ambient. Under lesser voltage (1.65), the CPU idled under 0 and loaded at about 5c

It all boils down to what you want. For max performance only, get a bigger rad. For good performance and easier installation (for a 2 x 120 rad) the 676 is a good choice. Don't go with any single fan solution though.

[Slickthellama]

Everyone is really going to get on my case for saying this, but I really wouldnt recommend using any direct die cooling when also using TECs on the same loop. As a general rule I do not recommend using TECs with direct die because teh TECs will heat up the water and thus will not cool the chipset well. I would recommend not watercooling the chipset unless you plan to TEC cool that too. But practically you should just get a decent air cooler. Dont hate me :sofa:

[noskill]

mdzcpa, thanks a lot!

2 Slickthellama: yeah, I thought about MCX159, seems like it's pretty cool as for air heatsink.

[mdzcpa]

Originally posted by Slickthellama
Everyone is really going to get on my case for saying this, but I really wouldnt recommend using any direct die cooling when also using TECs on the same loop.

Anybody who got on your case about this would be dead wrong. You NEVER run non TEC blocks on a loop with TECs....period. The Swiftech HSF would be a much better choice for the NB.

[noskill]

So, guys, I've read about MCX159 -- it seems to be pretty good. Should I settle with it instead of MCW20?

[Slickthellama]

Originally posted by noskill
mdzcpa, thanks a lot!

2 Slickthellama: yeah, I thought about MCX159, seems like it's pretty cool as for air heatsink.

you should be happy with that. Ive heard good things.

[noskill]

Great then...

[mdzcpa]

Originally posted by Slickthellama
you should be happy with that. Ive heard good things.


Ditto, it's a fine choice! The water will be too warm for the mcx20 to be effective. The mcx159 will perform better.

[noskill]

So I'll take it.

[mdzcpa]

Keep us posted on how it works out:)

[noskill]

Keep us posted on how it works out


I sure will! ;)