AMD's Phenom X4 9350e
Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix on the OLPC XO
The $600 US stimulus check PC

Asetek Vapochill LS

by Mike D. published Jan 24, 2006

Filed under: overclocking, cooling

Asetek Vapochill LS

Just about any hardcore overclocker or computer enthusiast can tell you that keeping your CPU cool is important. The cooler you are able to keep your CPU, the higher the overclock you can obtain. There is a generally accepted rule that for every 10C decrease in temperature, a CPU should be able to increase its operating frequency by about 3%. Of course this math does not always work out terribly well, but simply put: "The colder the better".

Image courtesey of Asetek

Today we're going to take a look at one of the most powerful CPU coolers available on the market: Asetek's Vapochill LS.

Asetek has been in the phase-change game since 1998, and have released numerous different revisions based on their first production unit, now dubbed 'Vapochill Classic'. The Vapochill LS is without a doubt their best performing unit to date, designed to chill even the hottest of PC processors on the market including AMD's FX line, all flavors of dual cores, and the infamous Intel 'Prescott' chips.

Index

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Next »

About the author

Mike D.

Mike D. is a lead hardware reviewer for Icrontic. Mike was recently married, and lives in Canada.

17 Comments

Register to comment (quick and free)

  1. Sledgehammer70 said Jan 19, 2006 2:10am (ET)

    This is awesome info! I don't think I have seen a better write -up for this product. Great images, nice detail I give you 150% on this one!

    Also I have been looking into the LS for a few days now. I was thinking fo Watercooling for about $400 but I was liek why not go all the way for an extra $400 I mean if youare getting 3.3Ghz on a Opt. what do you think the FX-57 would score? It is all in the aire, but something I am looking into.

  2. TheGr81 said Jan 19, 2006 9:56am (ET)

    Excellent review, Lemonlime!

  3. paroxym said Jan 19, 2006 12:23pm (ET)

    Lemonlime: You are

    As leet as you are though you might want to spell Asetek correctly

  4. primesuspect said Jan 19, 2006 12:38pm (ET)

    wow paroxym, thanks for catching that. I'm editing it right now

  5. Shorty said Jan 19, 2006 12:40pm (ET)

    primesuspect said wow paroxym, thanks for catching that. I'm editing it right now

    He sent me an email asking me to do that, Im just about to edit but if you are.. Il wait!

  6. primesuspect said Jan 19, 2006 12:51pm (ET)

    Done

  7. lemonlime said Jan 19, 2006 1:23pm (ET)

    paroxym saidAs leet as you are though you might want to spell Asetek correctly


    Pfft, the truly hardcore do not waste their time spelling things correctly. I've got benchmarks to run my friend..

    primesuspect saidDone


    Thanks for fixing that prime

  8. Winga said Jan 19, 2006 1:37pm (ET)

    Lemonlime - I, like many others followed your trials and tribulations in the forums when you were putting together your now infamous build. All I can say is "Hats off" buddy

    Not only did you do a superb job of it, but you left a documented legacy for us all to share. And of course make us all green with envy.

  9. lemonlime said Jan 19, 2006 1:38pm (ET)

    Sledgehammer70 saidThis is awesome info! I don't think I have seen a better write -up for this product. Great images, nice detail I give you 150% on this one! ... I mean if youare getting 3.3Ghz on a Opt. what do you think the FX-57 would score?


    Thanks for the comments Sledge!

    My Opteron isn't even a terribly strong stepping stepping either . AMD really puts some love into their flagship FX series chips. 3.3-3.4GHz should be no problem if you are willing to crank up the vcore a bit. I think the best CABNE stepping FX chips can do about 3.5. It's rare to see anything higher than that though without a more extreme cooling solution (definitely not anything 24/7 like the LS). Some of them have the cold bug, so I would look up your chip's production week just to be sure.

    Winga saidLemonlime - I, like many others followed your trials and tribulations in the forums when you were putting together your now infamous build. All I can say is "Hats off" buddy

    Not only did you do a superb job of it, but you left a documented legacy for us all to share. And of course make us all green with envy.


    Thanks very much for the kind comments Winga

    TheGr81 said Excellent review, Lemonlime!


    Thanks dude

  10. TheSmJ said Jan 19, 2006 7:00pm (ET)

    Pretty cool!

    Now how about some pics/specs on that planted tank in the backround...?

  11. Keebler said Jan 19, 2006 7:32pm (ET)

    An excellent read

    I sure flubbed catching that Asetek spelling though, huh?

  12. profdlp said Jan 19, 2006 9:54pm (ET)

    Quite a lot of information and a very nice read. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable article. Well done!

  13. lemonlime said Jan 19, 2006 10:05pm (ET)

    TheSmJ saidPretty cool!

    Now how about some pics/specs on that planted tank in the backround...?


    It's a watercooled 55g long I thought you might notice the tank The anubias in the front there were pretty yellow in that picture. Cleaned them up since then. The DIY co2 I'm using now has made a huge difference.

    General Keebler saidI sure flubbed catching that Asetek spelling though, huh?


    This is the Chuck Norris of CPU coolers.. I think the vapo was so powerful that it automatically removed every third vowel from the article the last time I saved it. At least thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it

    profdlp saidQuite a lot of information and a very nice read. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable article. Well done!


    Thanks for the comments prof

  14. paroxym said Jan 20, 2006 4:00am (ET)

    This is the Chuck Norris of CPU coolers..


    Asetek Vapochills aren't hung like horses, horses are hung like Asetek Vapochills.

  15. lemonlime said Sep 2, 2006 10:42am (ET)

    Time for an 8 month update!

    The 'LS' is still going very strong. Evaporator temp has not swayed at all, and is now cooling my slightly hotter (and cold bug free) 4200+ X2 chip at 3.1GHz without breaking a sweat.

    I have had one encounter with Asetek technical support that I would like to share.

    A couple of months ago, I had an issue where the unit would not fire up every try. I'd hold the power button in as perscribed, and the LCD on the front of the unit would simply go black without starting the compressor. I'd have to unplug the unit and keep trying to get it to successfully start up. Once it did start, it ran like a champ though. I went to support.asetek.com and opened a new ticket. Someone replied very quickly, and offered to replace the chill control board. I explained that the unit was working, and that I'd be without a computer if I had to send the defective one back before receiving a replacement. They had no isses sending the replacement prior to receiving the defective one. This is a rare thing this day and age Not only did they send the new one first, it arrived within 3 days from Europe. I swapped the card for the new one, and now everything is 'good as new'.

    Other than that card replacement, I pull out some dust bunnies from the heat exchanger every month, but that is about it

  16. profdlp said Sep 2, 2006 11:06am (ET)

    Quite impressive service.

  17. Nightwolf said Sep 2, 2006 11:44am (ET)

    Nice article LL.

Register to comment (quick and free)