It is neither something new nor is it something that is going to revolutionize the industry as such, but the truth is that after the presentation and staging of the EK-QuantumX Delta TEC forums and websites are revolutionized by the fact that two greats have come together to offer the best of a peltier cell with a water block and also without complications for the user. Are they safe and recommended for our CPU, or are they a scam instead?
Before we start to explain what are the drawbacks of ECT and what should be the precautions in the vast majority of cases, first we will summarize what it is and how a peltier cell can help us lower the temperature of a CPU.
Waterblock and peltier have hardly ever gotten along
History has shown us that all the really interesting attempts to bring these two components to fruition have failed, so far. And it is that although there have been several attempts to market such an elitist product as this in a single pack, the reality is that it has been in all cases an announced failure.
Why? Well, due to two factors: the first was the isolation system that these blocks must have, while the second was the need to have a special power supply so that any peltier could work without burning our source. Normally , 24 volt and DC Meanwells were used for this, but since these blocks did not succeed, the idea quickly went to hell.
Now, EK is back with Intel to give it a try with their EK-QuantumX Delta TEC, a block that uses a continuous flow cooling motor designed with Intel Cryo Cooling technology, so we have a thermoelectric cooler on one side, a common block on the other and a system that continuously monitors and adjusts temperatures dynamically.
Condensation is the main problem, as the source of energy
Saving the fact that we have a MeanWell DC 24V source in the PC or that we assume that we can burn ours regardless of the amount of watts and amps available, condensation is the second problem to be dealt with. So far there have been attempts of all kinds, but the best by far is the latter from EK and Intel.
Why? Well, because it ends with a stroke of the pen with the problems of energy and condensation without needing a special source or perfect insulation. How? adjusting the temperature of the block and water to the room. If we never drop below room temperature inside the box we will never have condensation and therefore it will always be a safe system.
This allows the block to have the TEC integrated inside and the controller outside never generate water by condensation, so the system is always optimal for the best result. The only downside is that by not falling below room temperature, you cannot get extreme temperatures, where in winter they will be better, but in summer they will be worse.
Therefore, it is a more designed system for those who want to tighten their CPU to the limit and not so much for those who want to gain loudness or somewhat lower temperatures, since the higher the heat generated the TEC must work more and thus cool the water so that it is always above ambient, although this time for a greater margin due to the increase in TDP.