Fast Learning Noob Needs PELTIER & WATER COOLING Advice

[ltww]

My friend showed me a pic of a modded case a few weeks back and after seeing that its got me hooked on modding my own.

I've been doing LOADS of research on Peltiers and Water Cooling, cus I wanna clock a 950 duron to as high as it can go!

I've been looking round for where to buy Peltiers in the UK and was wondering if you guys knew any good sites for buying a Peltier and any sites for water cooling too ...I'm really getting into this!

Couple more SMALL questions:

* Do AMD Durons have to be unlocked to clock 'em?
* Will a AMD recommended 300 Watt PSU be ok for a 154 Watt Peltier?
* I've been looking at water cooling radiators, but I was wondering if its possible to mount these inside cases?
* What Wattage Peltier is good enougth for clocking a 950 Druron?

I'm bursting with questions, but if I make this to long no one will read this.

I will be extemly glad for ANY help! :D :D :D

[ButcherUK]

For UK watercooling supplies try www.tekheads.co.uk - they sell 220W peltiers. If you want something a little smaller I'm not aware of anywhere that sells them for less than insane pricing.

Duron - dunno, I'm a tbird guy. ;)
300W PSU - No, almost certainly not - a 156W TEC needs 154W of power at 12V, that's too much for a 300W PSU that's also supply the comp. You'll need to get a dedicated supply for a TEC that powerful. www.wsplc.com - check their power supplies section. Any of those with enough current rating is fine for a TEC (16A for a 156W TEC).
Yes you can mount rads in cases - go for a heater core style radiator.
TEC sizing - nothing less than a 120W, a 156W is ideal.

Any more Qs just ask :)

[ltww]

Originally posted by ButcherUK
For UK watercooling supplies try www.tekheads.co.uk - they sell 220W peltiers. If you want something a little smaller I'm not aware of anywhere that sells them for less than insane pricing.

Duron - dunno, I'm a tbird guy. ;)
300W PSU - No, almost certainly not - a 156W TEC needs 154W of power at 12V, that's too much for a 300W PSU that's also supply the comp. You'll need to get a dedicated supply for a TEC that powerful. www.wsplc.com - check their power supplies section. Any of those with enough current rating is fine for a TEC (16A for a 156W TEC).
Yes you can mount rads in cases - go for a heater core style radiator.
TEC sizing - nothing less than a 120W, a 156W is ideal.

Any more Qs just ask :)


Yeah I have one more vital question.

I was thinking of buying a 220Watt pelt from Tekheads, seeing as that seems the only decent pelt i can find in the UK ...for now. But I want to know how to power the Pelt. I was going to buy a 300 Watt ATX PSU just for the pelt, is this a good way of doing it?

So heres a few pelt related Qs:

* Does a 220 Watt pelt require a 220+ PSU?
* If I can connect it to a ATX case PSU, do I just connect the wires to one of the PSUs black and red?
* Are there any kind of PSUs that are just right for 220W pelts?
* Can a PSU be too powerful for a pelt?

[muddocktor]

I'm also a newb to pelt/watercooling; presently building up my first system but I'll answer a few of your questions that I've learned by doing research.

1. The wattage of the psu isn't nearly as important as the amp rating on the 12v rail. It needs to have a 12v rail amp rating at least as high as the amp draw of the pelt you are planning to use, preferably higher for safety margin.
2. I guess that should be right; put a meter on it to check for sure. One thing to remember with a computer psu; you will need to put at least a 1 amp load on the 5v rail to get the psu to put out correctly on the 12v rail.
3. I'm using a dedicated 24v psu from peaktopeakpower.com to power my 24.6v pelt but that doesn't do you any good because you live on the other side of the pond.:D I'm sure that you should be able to get some kind of psu to use over there from somewhere.
4.The only thing I would worry about is the voltage and amperage rating of the psu; bigger is better because the psu won't have to work as hard. The pelt will only draw a certain amount of amperage and a psu that can supply more than that is just extra insurance.

Be sure to post your results when you decide to do this; I'm planning to post my results when I have mine up and running too.

[ButcherUK]

Originally posted by ltww

Yeah I have one more vital question.

I was thinking of buying a 220Watt pelt from Tekheads, seeing as that seems the only decent pelt i can find in the UK ...for now. But I want to know how to power the Pelt. I was going to buy a 300 Watt ATX PSU just for the pelt, is this a good way of doing it?

I'm planning to got to a 220W pelt fairly soon (should order this week in fact). No, the 300W ATX supply will not be suitable - most of the power is on the 5V and 3.3V lines not the 12V.


So heres a few pelt related Qs:

* Does a 220 Watt pelt require a 220+ PSU?

Yes, a 220W pelt requires 23.8A at 15V, or less amps proportional (roughly) to voltage. That's about 360W at full power.


* If I can connect it to a ATX case PSU, do I just connect the wires to one of the PSUs black and red?

Yellow and black if you go down that route - red is the 5V line.


* Are there any kind of PSUs that are just right for 220W pelts?

Yes, www.wsplc.com/products.html has a large range of 13.8V power supplies that are ideally suited to pelts. Currently there is a 3-15V, 40A switch mode supply on special offer, £100. Or the Watson W-25SM is another good choice, £70 for that.


* Can a PSU be too powerful for a pelt?

You can have too much voltage but not too much overall power rating. However if you use like a 1500W supply you will waste more power than something rated correctly due to ineffiencies.