ChillTech Thermo Electric CPU Cooler

[dmw16]

I found THIS cooler and I was wondering if anyone has used it? I have considered water cooling, but I tried cooling once on a budget and it was a disaster, so if I did water cooling I'd want to do it right (seems like that costs $300-$500). This seemed like another alternative to water cooling, but more powerful than a regular air cooler.

Any thoughts?

 

[aigomorla]

its junk.

A TRUE can race it at low overclocks, and beat it at higher overclocks.

That cooler is very limited on the amount of heat the TEC absorbs, so its only effective if your looking for a crappy overclock.

 

[Mango1970]

Yah either go with some serious professional WC (check his link above ) or stick to a TRUE, heck even a Tunic does very well for very little cost. It still blows my mind how Air Cooling still works as well as it does considering various limitations. I swear each week I see a review for some new cooling method and at the end of the day it still makes no sense to go to anything other than a TRUE.. unless you want to get a bit more involved with quality H20. I also tried a cheapo H20 solution and it was a disaster which got me off the whole thing -- considering how FREAKING easy it is to install a TRUE (other heatsinks I have used require me to yell and scream and curse quite a bit and I am always waiting for the lightning bolt to hit). Again, if you are not going for some record and your are not insane going for suicide runs, decent air cooling is all you need.

 

[scruffypup]

It makes a lot of sense to go for something other than a TRUE,.. many tower HSF combos are very close to the performance of a TRUE for half the price,... also the money saved,.. create or buying a duct for the HSF, or adding another case fan, will overall outperform the TRUE for same or less money still,...

That being said,.. I would still go along with the crowd and say pass on this,... some reviews show it being very loud,... which is one of my main points anymore,...

http://www.overclockersclub.co...iews/ultra_chill/7.htm

xbit states this
"On the other hand, if you are not bothered by the noise from the cooler fans, and do not have a closed system case but rather an open platform, something like what we have in our labs, then the thermo-electric cooler we discussed today may become a pretty good choice for your overclocking needs."
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...ultra-chill-tec_8.html

A comparison of some temps to watercooling and aircooling
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/491/5/

The thing can cool,... peltiers can, if $$$ and noise are not an issue, be one of the best cooling ways if designed right,... however, I take $$$ and noise very seriously which is why I like air cooling,... and will take a xigmatek S1283 with ducting over a TRUE anyday and only spend 1/2 the $$$ while getting the same performance,... hey that means on that second computer I can also get another setup while the other person only has one!!!

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: scruffypupA comparison of some temps to watercooling and aircooling
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/491/5/

CPU Multiplier: 8x
CPU voltage: 1.2000V
FSB: 1066MHz
Memory Voltage: 1.80V
Final CPU Frequency: 2.13GHz


Sorry to me that is the ultimate definition of crap overclock.

*scratching my head* Thats stock for ya. on a dualcore as well. This is the only ground the TEC coolers can compete with air and water. The ONLY GROUND.

Nothing i said was wrong.

That TEC cooler is crap. And Nothing besides Phase will beat medium tier water. NOTHING.

Air cant even get close to medium tier water. The coolit boreas even will amount to just MATCHING a low/medium tier water.


If you dont believe me, look at the threads on this section. Count how many people are going for migrations onto water. :T

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

TECs built into an HSF only heightens the inefficiencies of air cooling. Sure it has the potential to cool a surface below ambient, but it also creates more heat than the equivalent cooling it can affect. TEC in a WC system however... you could cool your temperature moderator, and the additional heat created is 'off-site' from the cpu-block, and easily exhausted immediately.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
TECs built into an HSF only heightens the inefficiencies of air cooling. Sure it has the potential to cool a surface below ambient, but it also creates more heat than the equivalent cooling it can affect. TEC in a WC system however... you could cool your temperature moderator, and the additional heat created is 'off-site' from the cpu-block, and easily exhausted immediately.

I think you're talking about chilled-water. Sidewinder -- maybe other resellers -- has a unit that puts two TECs in the water-cooling loop. And I agree this is about the best way to "get something" out of TEC -- other than plugging your water-loop into an office water-cooler (it's been done), or building an evaporative cooling tower outside the computer (also been done.)

The down side is the increased power consumption with the first two of those options. I THINK the TECs may utilize an extra power supply -- another Sidewinder offering. At least that's what I recall . . .

 

[RealRedRaider]

Pre-Made TEC kits = garbage