5870+peltier=what? (asking advice lol)

[aussie-revhead]

Guys, has anyone tried a peltier on a 5870? Would it be a good idea? If you think it would be then what water block would suit it best? I have a 50x50 peltier here that I never got around to using, is there a common wattage rating for this size? Or does it vary? Would a single 120 rad cope with the heat dispersion in a dedicated loop?

Any help/input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

wattage of a 50mm can vary from about 50w to 350w, and if your card is overclocked it may give out up to about 250w so atleast a 350w or above would be necessary for good temps over water

[aussie-revhead]

OK so will a 350w 50x50 do the job? How do you know what a peltier is rated at when they are all unmarked and look the same? I guess the bigger the better but is a 350+w peltier larger than the available space to fit it in? How big is the bolt hole pattern on an ATI vid card?

[zipdogso]

Unfortunately Tricheese isnt so correct he is quoting Qmax wattage generally when you run a TEC you get considerably less cooling especially at the generally accepted input of 12v (75% power.)

I don't honestly think you will get a TEC powerful enough in a usable size.

The most powerful TEC from Customthermoelectric in 50 mm size for use at 12v is 245w Qmax at 12v you will get 100-120w cooling...not really enough ?
There are more powerful ones but they require more voltage.

Trying to cool GPU's is really difficult basically because most TECs big enough (wattage.) to cool cards are physically bigger than the GPU requiring you to use a cold and a hot plate with the TEC on top of that and then the cooling for the TECs hotside, it's quite bulky.....you can forget multiple cards...no room generally.

regarding bolt holes the coldplate will have to be getting on for 1.5cm or more bigger than the TEC, when your using a 50mm TEC that's at least a 6.5cm square copper plate Is there sufficient clear area? Then you can bolt the coldplate to the card BUT the bolt heads must not sit underneath the TEC, even countersunk ones !

These are the main points at which most people give up. i am not saying you cant do it.....just dont expect an easy ride.....

I have a 50x50 peltier here that I never got around to using, is there a common wattage rating for this size?

No it is just the size that's common there must some marks on....a 5 digit number perhaps ?
If there is nothing it has been cleaned off or was part of a special commercial order.

[TJ TRICHEESE]

my point was a tec running at 350w would be fine.

[zipdogso]

You cant run what they dont make !!!! No 50mm TEC has a normal running Q of 350w they are quite a bit less.
And only a fool runs a TEC at 100% power...sorry a fool with big pockets ...

[TJ TRICHEESE]

You cant run what they dont make !!!!
And only a fool runs a TEC at 100% power...sorry a fool with big pockets ...

or someone who doesn't pay for the electricity

[zipdogso]

or someone who doesn't pay for the electricity

Oh yes i forgot....little boys like you...

[Duh]

Oh yes i forgot....little boys like you...

was that necessary ?

[aussie-revhead]

Man surely a pelt isnt going to cost alot to run just for benching, no more than guys gaming with phase on (or even cascade) ...

[zipdogso]

A TEC used at full power can have a COP as low as 0.6.
COP is the cooling wattage divided by the input power wattage.

A well tuned Phase generally is the order of COP 2 or higher...so yes it will tend to use more power.

Is there any markings on your TEC even faint ones ?

It is ALMOST without a doubt (96% certain.) a 127 couple unit so it probably should be OK to power it at 12v But you will have no idea of its current rating and consequently it's Qmax. Sticking an ammeter on it will tell you nothing....just it's current draw at that time. To know it's powerat various points you will need to know it's max current draw and in finding that out by testing you will surely blow it.

[aussie-revhead]

It has no markings at all, iirc it never had any.

[zipdogso]

It has no markings at all, iirc it never had any.

there is not much you can do then...Assuming it is a sealed unit if you can see through the seal you could count the couples to check the voltage (127 couple are always 15.4v max at 27ºC hotside.) but beyond that your stuffed. As I already mentioned you need somehow to find the max current, that's the only way you can determine the Qmax.

[aussie-revhead]

OK new idea, I sold up all my higher end gear but I still want to try a peltier so what about just using the regular Swiftech MCW60-T on a series 1 5770 ? I know its not a big deal gpu but the lower the heat output of the gpu the better chance I have of getting some good cooling happening.

[vengance_01]

Now a 5770 can be done. Still not sure if its even worth it. Maybe look at doing chilled water with regular blocks?

[aussie-revhead]

Nah it takes far too much external hardware to do properly, at worst I might try a mcw60-T on a 5770 and see what happes, neither is dear and I have spare wc gear to cool it. The cpu is optional, but I thought if Im going tec then I may as well do boh cpu and gpu, though cpu will cost alot more to do effectively.