Thermoelectric coolers have long been used by radical-fringe overclockers in an effort to minimize CPU temperatures at moderate cost. In a process known as the "Peltier Effect", thermoelectric coolers move heat from one surface to another so well that they're used in portable refrigerators.

The traditional method behind this is to wedge a thin, flat thermoelectric cooling module between either a standard CPU cooler or a water block. But high risks have kept this technology from reaching the retail CPU component market until recently, when engineers finally managed to solve these issues affordably.

But what are the risks, and how has one vendor in particular -- Ultra Products -- addressed these? As we take a closer look at the technology and performance, we'll be able to determine whether the company's new ChillTec TEC ("Thermo Electric Cooling") CPU cooler provides top value to mainstream overclockers.