Peltiers... are they worth it?

[Black Hawk]

I'm curious about peltiers... I've heard they can fry your chip, so are they worth getting? Thanks

[muddocktor]

I'm running a 120 watt pelt on my new P3 rig and it runs rock solid @ 180 fsb, 1710 mhz. My temps run around -5 to -2 C loaded. To do a pelt system will cost a bundle of money to do it right. You need a dedicated psu, and not an ATX psu, for powering your typical high powered pelt used on today's systems. You will also have to go with watercooling to get rid of the heat from both the pelt and cpu. Before you decide to use a pelt, do a lot of research on the subject. Also, you can go with something like a dangerden maze 2-2 waterblock and add the pelt later to the system. That way, you can have first hand experience with watercooling before jumping off to active cooling.

[ken257]

Pelts can be a big help in overclocking but are not for the faint of heart. As for frying your chip any overclocking/modding can do that if you are not carefull. Plets in themselves are fine it has to do with the care taken during the setup to prevent condensation that is important to keep things from going up in smoke. Before messing with pelts I highly recomend some experiance with ambient temp water cooling. Pelts really need to be water cooled and it is a lot to just jump into it all at one time. Learn and take it slow to prevent mistakes. If you are worried about fying your chip it may not be a good idea to try this. I recomend for people that need there machine for school/work and don't have funds to buy replacement parts that you stick good air cooling and a mild OC. Only do this stuff if you are willing to take a risk, mistakes do happen! and are ok with the fact that if you mess up it will cost you some dough.

[muddocktor]

I agree whole-heartedly with what ken257 is telling you. I went ahead and went the whole way the first time, but I researched watercooling and pelts for almost a year before I decided to do it. My system came out real well, but it wasn't a rig that I had to depend on to be running right away. I aslo have several other computers that I can depend on and this was a project to expand my knowledge. If something would have fried, I wouldn't be hurt by not having access to a workable rig.

[Colin]

Seems like the key points have been made. Some links on pelts to help you learn.

Applying Peltiers (http://www.heatsink-guide.com/applying-peltiers/)

Peltiers in Practice (http://www.dansdata.com/peltprac.htm)

Picking a Pelt (http://www.dansdata.com/pelt.htm)

Kryotherm Pelt
Software (http://www.kryotherm.spb.ru/index.htm)