226w Tec, 480w @ 15v Psu
 

Hi, new to this forum but certainly not new to the OC scene. I have a Swiftech MCW5002-PT 226 TEC unit (see below for rest of system components) that I am using to cool a CPU that puts out 130W (by my calculations) at full load. Here are my current stats:

TEC
Umax = 226W
Vmax = 15.2V
Imax= 24W

Powered by Meanwell SP-320-12 @ 13.8V

Temperatures:
Idle: 31C below ambient (2C)
Full load: 2C below ambient (31C)
Ambient: 33C

...you get the picture. I am looking at getting the new slim line design SP-480-15 by Meanwell. I want to run my 226W pelt at 15.2V (max). Assuming my watercooling setup can handle this (I am moving >2GPM with 4 x 130CFM fans in push/pull across a dual 120mm rad)? Will this get me max cooling?

Just so we are clear here. I am NOT looking to talk about efficiency. I don't care about my electric bill. Let's NOT discuss my watercooling loop's ability to remove heat. All I want to talk about is MAX PERFORMANCE. I am assuming that Vmax (and Imax) give Umax which is the MAX performance. Yes?

-Kris

_________________________________
Intel P4 3.4EE ES @ 4.0Ghz (250x16)
Abit IC7-MAX3
1GB (2x512MB) Corsair XMS3500C2 v1.1 @ DDR500, 2-2-2-5 (BH-5)
ATI X800 XT PE @ 600/585 on NEC MultiSync FP2141SB
SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
Dual 36GB SATA WD Raptors RAID 0 & Single WD 120GB SATA HDD
Custom Lian-Li PC-70
PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool 510 ATX-PFC

Cooling: Swiftech MCW5002-PT | Thermochill HE120.2 | 4 x Delta 120x38mm push/pull (>300CFM) | Blueline Velocity T1 pump | Meanwell SP-320-12 | Tygon-3603 1/2" ID tubing

How do you define MAX PERFORMANCE and how can you achieve it without the things you don't want to talk about?

Lowest temperatures. Like I said, assume that the watercooling side is 100% efficient and keeps the hotside at ambient + 10C (delta for heat transfer from water to ambient).

What I am really asking is whether or not 15.2V gives more cooling performance than 12V or 13.8V or...

Assuming no change in the hot-side temperature, you'll gain ~0.3°.

Assuming reality, I estimate a 2.5° warming.

Where did you come up with that? I am thinking of getting the 15VDC supply just because it has +/-10% adjustment which means 13.5-16.5V. I can run anywhere from 13.8 to 15.2V like I would like.

Sorry, I can't explain without violating the rules from the first post. :(

I just did a some current measuring:

At 12V the peltier draw just under 18A. At 13.8V it draw just under 20A. Not a large difference. Cooling power going from 12V to 13.8V allows me both 2C lower idle and full load temperatures. I am very currious what full power will do. On another note...I also have 4 fans that are rated for 12V on this power supply. 1A each. I am right at this PSU limit of 25A. Not good. In any case I need to move up to the 480W unit.

Any other comments?

Also, I know my cooling system can take this. How do I know? Changing my core voltage and speed (I have an ES) are the only things that influence load temperature. Down 0.1V...temps go down 6C....down 1.2Ghz....temps go down 12C....run at 2.4Ghz with L3 cache disabled....full load is down 15C...raise Vcore 0.1V...temps go up 5C. Anyway, if the radiator was dealing with thermal runnaway based on output of the TEC these temps would not vary like this. They would all just be too high.

You may see slightly colder temps (~1-2 C) going from 13.5V to 15V IF your water-cooling setup is able to handle the extra hot-side power/heat. I recently tested and reviewed this cooler (MCW5002-64T) and found that over 12V produced minimal drops in temps and I was using an Iwaki pump, (2) 6x6x2 shrouded heater cores in parallel and (4) 120mm Delta SHE fans at 8V... :)

Heat load curves vs Applied Voltage