Super Secret Project Revealed - 2 Boreas TEC Coolers on a Phenom II X6 1090T Linus Tech Tips
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Description
For fun more than anything else like I said. I'm also probably going to hook it up to an NDA Intel CPU in the near future as well.
The video documents a hands-on Frankenstein-inspired cooling build where Linus Tech Tips experiments with two Boreas TEC coolers to chill a Phenom II X6 1090T processor. The creator connects the Boreas TEC units to a custom water cooling loop, using a SwiftTech MCP350 pump and a SwiftTech Apple G block as the CPU block, and wires up an unusually large 1200 W power supply to power the two TEC modules. He highlights practical setup details such as wrapping power connections around the CPU socket and using a fan to keep ambient temperatures above the block to prevent condensation. The presenter shows a quick benchmark, noting the CPU is running around 4.2 GHz and that Prime95 stress testing is underway, while Core Temp logs reveal dramatic temperature behavior: idle readings drop toward 0 C and load temps stabilize around low twenties Celsius once the system settles, a striking contrast to typical air or water cooling results. Throughout the video, he discusses the novelty and risk of such a setup, acknowledges the experimental nature, and teases future overclocking attempts, including potential testing on an NDA Intel CPU and ongoing efforts to push higher clock speeds. The overall impression is one of curiosity and experimentation, emphasizing the potential of TEC cooling to achieve very low CPU temps, while also noting that the project is more driven by curiosity and fun than practical, everyday use, given power consumption and complexity. The video ends with hints of further overclocking updates and an invitation to watch how high the 1090T can be pushed in subsequent experiments.
Topics · technology · hardware · overclocking · cooling
Questions answered
- What is a Boreas TEC cooler and how does it cool the CPU?
- A Boreas TEC cooler uses a thermoelectric (Peltier) element to transfer heat from the CPU water block to the cooling loop, achieving lower temperatures than typical cooling. In the video two Boreas TEC units are integrated into a water cooling setup to chill the coolant before it circulates through the CPU block.
- Why are the CPU temperatures so low, with idle readings near 0 C and load around the low 20s C?
- The TECs actively pump heat away from the CPU through the water loop, producing very low coolant temperatures. When the system is idle, the temps drop toward ambient, and under load the TECs keep the CPU temperature in the low 20s C range, which is unusually cold for a high-speed Phenom II under heavy stress.
- What are the risks or downsides of this setup?
- The project uses a large, custom power setup and adapters, which can be hazardous and not recommended for home use. TEC cooling can introduce condensation risks, high power consumption, and mechanical complexity, making it impractical for everyday systems.