[BlazeR]

Single 190w TEC chiller system to install inline before the GPU block. Lets see if it works...

Just unboxed the stuff and trying to figure out how to not use the thermo-glue:







Using an Enermax 420w 18a PSU to power the TEC.

Update
The budget heatsink doesn't have good wicking in its pipes; because the copper block doesn't burn my fingers when I hold it upright. So now, I got to fab some sort of mount for it.

I just ordered a "400w" TEC 50mmx50mm, because it sounds like more fun.

So laying under my desk holding it upright, it was pumping out a little heat and the copper block on the hot side was pretty warm. The cold side block felt cool to the touch and even colder during an idle test. I may need to play BF3 for 2 hours straight without it on and repeat the test with the TEC powered up.

The only results I have so far is 1C drop in 5 minutes at idle.

Update
I stepped it up and got a water-cooler for this bigger TEC. I also went to Home Depot and bought a strip of 2"x1/8" aluminum and used some 800 grit to wet sand any high spots to fab the heat-spreader (water-block on hot-side is circular). The hot-side is cooled by an Antec 625 water-cooler. Had to get a new PSU, 18amp not enough juice.

Here is the prototype water-cooled 50mm x 50mm 400W TEC chiller installed all powered by a high-amp 750w Kingwin.


Data so far: GPU normalized at idle, 71F and the hoses are very cool to the touch. Of course, the CPU is slightly higher since it gets the warmer coolant from the GPU.

For a short-duration gaming test results (Before minus After):
GPU = -18F difference with TEC running test after 20 min
CPU = -16F difference with TEC running test after 20 min

As is, I am confident it would work alone to chill a single processor water-cooling system (either 1 CPU block or 1 GPU block or <200w); I will prove this with a Prime95 test, so it pretty much only sucks heat from the CPU alone. For now, I still need to see if this single one can really chill both GPU+CPU "perpetually".

Cold Block + Fittings $25
400w TEC $35
1/8" Aluminum $2
Antec 625 $75
750w PSU $70
Total Investment: $207

More to come...I am getting a IR temp gauge to do some more testing, maybe a video if I clean my office

5/3/12 Update

Tested it again playing BF3 for a few hours...half way through I flipped the switch on... 47C to 40C and held for ~1.5 hours

 

[Nocturin]

subbed.

x2

Looking forward to see what you do and the tempts that come out of it!

edit:why not use modify the mount that the cooler came with to sandwich the two together instead of gluing them together?

 

[BlazeR]

Yeah, I used a spare water block mount I had for an intel and it worked perfect using the heatsink's own hardware (I just clocked it over to expose the mounting holes, since this water block has built in arms). Used the spring loaded setup and thermal grease.

Problem:
The budget heatsink doesn't have good wicking in its pipes; because the copper block doesn't burn my fingers when I hold it upright. So now, I got to fab some sort of mount for it.

I just ordered a "400w" TEC 50mmx50mm, because it sounds like more fun.

So laying under my desk holding it upright, it was pumping out a little heat and the copper block on the hot side was pretty warm. The cold side block felt cool to the touch and even colder during an idle test. I may need to play BF3 for 2 hours straight without it on and repeat the test with the TEC powered up.

The only results I have so far is 1C drop in 5 minutes at idle.

Its all a prototype:

 

[windfire]

When the Tuniq Tower 120 is turned upside down, the working fluid has to flow back to the hot end against the pull of the gravity (vs being assisted by the pull of gravity when it sits upright). This effect reduces more or less about 30% of its power. This reduction further reduces the already no-so-high capacity of the heatsink.



Tuniq Tower has three 6mm heatpipes with a total working capacity of about 90-100W. So, it becomes 67-70W after the reduction.

So, be careful when a more powerful TEC is used. Or else, the heatpipes might get dried up and burst.

 

[foxrena]

Good experiment ! This reminds me of something I made before (http://www.overclock.net/t/1069107/1-tec-chilled-water-cooling/0_100). I used the same 400W Ebay TEC. Alone it will keep the CPU cool at idle (not when stressed). You may want to add a radiator in the loop to dissipate the extra heat when CPU is stressed and water becomes warm. As Windfire mentioned, the Tuniq 120 is more effective when it is placed upright. Make sure to use high speed fan though.

Edit: Have you turn off the radiator fan when you had 1C drop in 5 minutes at idle?

 

[BlazeR]

Updates coming!!

Had to buy a 40 amp power supply and I did something I probably shouldn't have

I bought a little Antec 620 water cooler.

Initial test:

I turned off the PC and let the TEC module cool down the chiller block. At idle, it held the CPU and GPU at 75F for about 30-40 minutes and it began to creep up after that.

40mm TEC installed. That water cooler barely gets warm, so hopefully the 50mm TEC will like it.


The 50mm hangs over this water block so that is the current hold up here, I need to find a 50mm x 50mm copper plate heat spreader to fully cover that TEC.

 

[Nocturin]

woot keep it up!

 

[chmodlabs]

Looks great! But for better overall performance I would recommend using a larger water block, simply put the more surface area you have the more heat you can transfer out of the cooling loop.

 

[BlazeR]

Added updates to original post. TTT

 

[ivanlabrie]

Man, I have that exact same caze! Where are you from?
Back on topic...I think the best way to chill stuff is either chilling the res by using some antifreeze water mix, or putting the cold plate over the cpu itself and water cool the hot side.

Nice work, I love tecs!

 

[BlazeR]

I am from Michigan, I think I ordered the case from Newegg around 2005...it cost about $25 (I remember

)

 

[ivanlabrie]

We must have gotten it from the same Chinese guy What are the odds? Such a cheap no name case xD

 

[BlazeR]

Tested it again playing BF3 for a few hours...half way through I flipped the switch on... 47C to 40C and held for ~1.5 hours

=)

 

[BlazeR]

Here's an image of TEC chiller installed with water cooler for the TEC only.