Everyone so far has given me excellent advice and inputs. I really appreciate it. Phaestus, I really like your parallel radiator idea. I’m assuming you are advising a parallel connection to reduce the flow resistance…correct?
And yes, it sounds like ½” tubing throughout is the way to go as well. However the excerpt below tends to make me think otherwise.
Could I get some more inputs and general consensus on this waterblock/peltier combination as to its effectiveness? I read an article in the latest issue of PC Modder (Spring 2004) that lead me to believe I could drop the idle CPU temps another 20C, down to the low single digit Celsius range. If that were in fact true, then I would tend to think the waterblock/peltier combo would allow considerable more O/C headroom? I just would like some more feedback on this. After all, it would require considerable more investment for the extra Meanwell PSU and MCW5000-PT if the dividends weren’t going to be that great. Here’s an excerpt from the “Cool It/The Deep Freeze” section of the latest issue of PC Modder:
“Combining water and a jolt of electricity worked wonders. We used a Swiftech waterblock with a peltier plate (i.e. MCW5000-PT) to accomplish this feat. To keep the water flowing smoothly, we actually used a pump with less power (150 gallons per hour) and smaller-diameter hoses. We were happy to see that we attained our lowest CPU temperature yet, and it was a doozy, a whole 20C cooler than with our high-volume watercooling system. The side of the heatsink suffered more than with other systems; this location recorded its highest temperature in all of our tests, but that was just more reassurance that the heat-pumping action of our peltier was working fine. What’s more, we didn’t have to worry about heat runoff from the heatsink because our four fans (talking about case fans here) were hard at work and kept case temperatures as stable as ever. Our 3Dmark test elevated temperatures significantly. The CPU reading rose from 2C to 15C, and the chipset heatsink rose a couple of degrees, too. The side of our CPU heatsink stayed steady, and saw no cause for concern. Overclockers could have a heyday with such a peltier/water combo.”
If this is actually true, then it sounds like I will want to go with the quieter pump and 3/8” ID hoses. Also, would two radiators still benefit me if I’m only pumping 150GPH through 3/8” tubing? In the above test, they only used a single Asetek WaterChill radiator and 120mm fan.
Inputs please?