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Shooting for a maximum overclock with that shiny
new CPU you just purchased, or looking to get the most out of that worn
processor you have had for some time now, but hit a dead end? Is that P4 which
supposedly runs cooler than AMD solutions keeping you from reaching your
overclocking goals? It could very well be time for you to consider entering
into the next level of cooling; better yet, the next level of extreme cooling.
Today, the overclocking enthusiast has many choices as far as cooling their
processors is concerned. For the most part, massive heat sinks and loud
fans have assisted in cooling power hungry CPUs in an efficient manner. A
sufficient number of us have entered the water-cooling arena to the point
where water-cooling is not relegated to the ultra-geek (or the totally insane)
any more. Many companies now offer turnkey solutions that are appropriate for
the novice and even the experienced user looking to achieve overclocking
Nirvana. Still, very few of us proceed beyond this point.
Many of us have heard about TECs (Thermoelectric Coolers), also known as "Peltiers"
or "Pelts". To put it in simple terms, TECs are solid state "heat pumps". When
a DC current is applied to the TEC, the "Peltier Effect" is induced. The
result is a device which has a hot side and a cold side. The TEC is then
"sandwiched" between a cold plate and the body of a water block. The cold
plate is mounted on the processor using some type of thermal interface
material, e.g. Arctic Silver. The resultant heat from the processor and the
TEC needs to be removed by way of an optimized (hopefully) water cooling
circuit which typically consists of a pump, water block, and a heat
exchanger/fan combination.
While most enthusiasts know about TECs, they have stayed away from them,
primarily due to anecdotal accounts of the complexity and relative
ineffectiveness of working with these devices; and to a certain extent these
accounts have been true. Into the picture steps Swiftech, long regarded as the
premiere company in the manufacturing and marketing of high quality and
innovative cooling solutions, tailored for the overclocking enthusiast.
Swiftech has produced another top notch offering with the release of the
478-UHT water block. As the name implies, this water block is made for
the Intel P4 line of processors. It features 1/2" fittings, a massive 1/2"
copper cold plate, a 226 Watt TEC, and all the insulation prevention that is
needed to effectively
cool even the most power hungry CPU.
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