Unless it's the cost that is preventing from most manufacturers using these plates with their CPU coolers (closed-loop or HSF) what are other reasons that we don't ever get to see this tech getting utilised alot? When I watched the video that I have posted below it reminds me the good ol days of using peltiers with air coolers or closed loops. I'm pretty sure FrozenCPU still sells these, though I haven't had a look yet.
The video link didn't post properly. It's just a big blank spot. Put the link in so we can see it.
Anyway, I think it is because of condensation. I think that standard air units are best for most people because they transfer heat based on temperature differences. They won't get colder than the ambient temperature. Peltiers extract heat to create surfaces much colder than ambient resulting in condensation.
I used to want to make one.. but the gain isnt worth the effort. Condensation is a problem that is not that easily remedied. I wouldn't want to slather my motherboard with a protective gel or etc. Regular air coolers require little to no maintenance or risk, and you can still get excellent overclocks with them. The overclocking limit for many people is usually the chip rather than the temperature.
Swiftech used to make a waterblock with a Peltier embedded in it. Aside from being an incredibly outdated waterblock, before jet impingement blocks were really used, it was present during the toddler years of consumer WC.
It has a pretty huge advantage over phase changing and water chilling, though, in terms of noise. Condensers are loud, and unless you get a huge one and run below rated spec, you aren't going to get the silence of a pure WC rig, and since Peltiers add 0 db of noise, you can get a healthy drop in temps at only the cost of the power draw.
So if condensation is a real issue with peltiers would placing a moisture absorbing agent (like a pack of Silica Gel) near it reduces the chance of having a major condensation?
Yes, that would work, but I wouldn't want to slather my motherboard with vasoline or some other non-conductive gel. Sure, your stuff wouldn't get wet, but its so messy for an everyday use... This is what they do with liquid nitrogen tests and etc.
One closed loop system I saw a while back had peltier plates on the water block with sensors to turn the plates on and off so their wouldn't be any condensation. It would just cool the water that was cooling the processor. The problem is that this is more expensive and uses a lot more energy than other coolers, and really doesnt work as well as a noctua NH-D14 or a h100. Maybe an updated model would fix that.