Idea I will be trying out...need suggestions..
 

I was basically thingking about some more efficient cooling but am still very new at this thing but looking around my garage I saw some things I could use and ideas popped into my head. here it goes.

How effective wuld it be to use a TEC on the CPU, and using water to transfer the heat away to the rad. The rad would be cooled with an air conditioning unit blowing cold air through the fins, which would have cooler water going to the TEC.

Would this improve performance at all, or would I be wasting my time?

If that doesn't work, I was thinking of having my rad outside of the case built on a platform. This platform would be sealed on 3 sides with a large opening built for 3 80mm fans to blow ambient air into the platform. Then on top of the rad will be 2 120mm fans with shrouds sucking the air out of the platform. Does this make sense?

Currently, my rad is inside at the top of the case, but I think I am sucking hot air resident in the system through the rad making this very inefficient.

Any ideas/comments?

The first proposition is a typical pelt setup. You just have to clamp the pelt to the block, using a cold plate (aka spacer) because the clamping pressure is greater than what the CPU can handle. So then you clamp the whole assembly on the CPU.

As for venting, if you go with a pelt, you'll need it. I wouldn't worry so much about the air temp, but concentrate on the airflow: it's far more critical than people think. You can add a side vent, to allow fresher air to come in, or go nuts and run a duct from the bottom front of your case, but like I said, the airflow is more important.

Ok so let's try this.

Block and cold plate clamped down tight with TEC in the middle. That clamped to the CPU. Water going to the rad for cooling. Air will be supplied by fans blowing through and sucking through the rad for good airflow should do the trick correct?

Bad. Bust up the AC unit and dunk the coils into your water. That'll give you better efficiency. Better yet, get a good dehumidifier and tear it up. You may not even need the pelt with that setup ....

Airspirit's right.

First, do the #rotor mod to a dehumidifier, and once you've mastered that, you can add a pelt.

That's my plan anyways. ;)

Dehumidifier rotor mod? Pls enlighten.

Thanks.

You'll have to search through his website, but it's all detailed there:
http://3rotor.homelinux.com/index.html

Interesting read, but seems pretty expensive. TEC will get the job done much easier, and less costly IMHO.