Ultra Products has been turning out some well put together and functional computer products for a little while now. From a line of computer cases to some nice looking power supplies with an outstanding lifetime warranty, Ultra is definitely serious about pushing into the market place as a major player. Recently, Ultra announced their entry into the high end cooling arena with the introduction of their Ultra ChillTEC CPU Cooler.

Typically, when you think of high end cooling, you see watercooling at the top of the list. Watercooling systems have gotten very good and some even come pre-filled and ready to go while higher end systems allow full customization from the waterblocks to tubing size to radiator size. There are even some systems like the CoolIT Freezone systems that use Thermo-Electric Cooling pads like the ChillTEC to superchill the water so that even better performance can be realized.

Ultra has decided to take somewhat of a different approach. They've taken the proven performance of air cooling and have combined it with the subzero capabilities of a Thermo-Electric Cooler (TEC) to create the Ultra ChillTEC CPU cooler.

Specification

• Socket Types: Intel Socket 775, AMD Socket AM2 / 754 / 939 / 940
• Cooler Dimensions: 128 x 104 x 147
• Thermoelectric Chip: 40 x 40 / 12V DC
• Total Power Dissipation: 0% Load = 5 W / 50% Load = 28 W / 100% Load = 50 W
• Heatsink Material: 4 Heat Pipes, Aluminum Fins, Copper Base
• Heatsink Dimensions: 90 x 90 x 160 mm
• Fan Dimensions: 92 x 92 x 25 mm
• Fan Voltage Rating: 12V DC
• Fan Speed and Noise Levels: Low 2000rpm / 20 dB(A), Medium 2400 rpm / 24 dB(A), High 2800 rpm / 28 dB(A)
• Thermal Resistance: 0.12-0.15(ºC/W)
• Weight: 985g (With Fan)
• Temperature Monitor Range: 0ºF~99ºF / 32ºF ~ 210.2ºF
• TEC Temperature Response Time to Control Unit: < 1 Second
• Controller Dimensions: 150 x 147 x 43 mm
• Controller Weight: 508 g

How It Works...

A Thermo-Electric Cooler (also known as a Pelletier Cooler) is essentially a pad that gets very hot on one side and very cool on the other when an electrical current is passed through it. The pad is sandwhiched between two copper plates with the cooling side down. The hot side faces up and gets cooled off by the heatsink and fan via a set of copper heatpipes.

The other set of heatpipes on the cooler are attached to the bottom plate which gives the cooler some fail safe benefits but is also part of the design. Because the TEC has the capacity to chill to subzero temperatures, condensation is a concern. That is why traditional heatsink and fan do the job till the cooler reaches a pre-determined load and kicks in like a turbo boost. At the same time, just in case the TEC were to die for some reason or cut out, the air cooling can continue to work albeit at a lower performance level.

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