Water/Peltier cooling and Condensation...

[Dumbass BP6'er]

I'm having dual condensation problems. I'm looking for some input on how to cut out the water droplet problem.

The Story:
I made myself two solid copper waterblocks and used conductive epoxy to stick on some cheap ~50-60 watt peltiers to get some extra MHz out of my old BP6 system. I padded the inside of the socket with foam and sealed the top my my CPU with silicone, which I thought would be enough to combat condensation. I got from 2 x 400 MHz to 2 x 564 MHz @ 94 MHz FSB stable in Win2K because of the near zero cpu temps.

A few days after strapping on my waterblocks, my system stops booting. No visible water, so why? Little droplets - not under the CPUs, but under/on the PINS! The 370 pins were covered in water, and the individual socket holes were filled with water! (The cold temps reached the pins, and caused condensation on them.) The bottom of the CPU was dry, but the condensation on the pins almost ruined my system. I cleaned the sockets out with pure isopropyl alcohol, and after 2 days drying time, and a big sigh of relief, I'm running 2 x 400 MHz again.

I'd like to run watercooled again - but how do I get rid of the condensation? Any constructive input would be appreciated.

jon anderson

[LimeyGreg]

Go get some silicone grease from your local auto store (the type they use for "tune-up"), and force it into the pin holes of the socket. Then using a small brush, coat pins of cpu and bottom of cpu. That should keep out that nasty moisture laden air and prevent condensation on the pins. You should also put some conformal silicone rtv on the back of the cpu socket - it's very thin and can be brushed on, it's made by Dow Corning.

[ken257]

The stuff you want is called dielectric grease, used for tuneups to give moisture resistance to spark plug wires and ignition parts. The best way to apply it is to put a little on your finger and work it into the holes of the socket, keep at it untill the holes will not take any more grease.

Also cover the back of the socket area on the mobo with silicon make sure the pins have a good coating over them and are completly covered.

[Dumbass BP6'er]

Won't the grease affect the connection between the CPU pins and the socket? The last thing I want is grease with any kind of resistance between the pins of my CPU and the contacts in the socket.

Has this been successfully attempted?

jon anderson

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

Actualy I am surprised they did not suggest it when you got your pelts..It's the only way to go, and the "ZIF" socket makes a connection by forcing a connector against the pins, once you close the latch, and will not be affected by the grease, so no harm will come to your system :-)