How Liquid-cooled PCs Work

PC Liquid Cooling Liquid







When Water Just Isn't Cold Enough

If you want to cool your PC's parts even more than a liquid-cooling system will allow, you can use Peltier devices in place of standard water blocks. A Peltier device is a thermoelectric device. When you apply electricity to it, heat moves from one side to the other. In other words, one side of the Peltier device gets very cold while the other gets very hot. The cold side of the Peltier device can cool a microchip, while water from the liquid-cooling system draws the heat away from the hot side.

Some people prefer systems that use these devices because they cool a PC's components well below ambient temperature. However, they do require extra precautions. Since the cold side of a Peltier device is colder than the surrounding air, it's prone to accumulating condensation. Without ample protection against condensation, a Peltier system can lead to a short circuit.


Category: Hardware

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