Asetek Vapochill LS

Mike D. 24 Jan, 2006 at 1:00am ET Article published in Tech

The Technology

High end air-coolers and even water cooling systems can help to remove the large amounts of heat that a CPU produces, but it is impossible for them to reduce the temperature lower than the ‘ambient’ or room temperature.

Enthusiasts and overclockers have been trying all sorts of gadgets to obtain below-ambient CPU temperatures. High powered peltiers or ‘TECs’ were frequently used in the past, but complicated installation and electrical inefficiencies made it an unrewarding endeavor. Even with these beastly TECs, it was difficult to maintain a CPU temperature below 0°C.

Phase-change technology is a decades-old, tried and tested way to freeze or cool just about anything. It is the same technology used in refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning systems, and even the office water cooler. Asetek has squeezed a complete phase change cooling system, including the compressor, heat exchanger, and all of the other necessary components, into a compact package suitable for the PC market. There is plenty of information on phase-change online, so I won’t bore you with the details.

Imagine the cooling power of a household freezer directed at a single point the size of a large coin. There is no doubt that this will be interesting to see in action.

Specifications

Asetek’s complete specifications for the Vapochill LS can be found at Asetek’s website.

To summarize some key specifications (taken from Asetek.com):

Cooling Performance: 200W @ -33°C / 0W @ -50°C
CPU Kit (Option 1): AMD S754/939/940 & Intel S478
CPU Kit (Option 2):Intel Socket T (LGA 775)
Dimensions: 210x210x490mm / 8,3×8,3×19,3 inches
Weight:15Kg
Case Support (Direct match): Lian-Li PC-60, PC-61, PC-65, PC-7, PC-12, PC-37, PC-82, PC-601, PC-0700,PC-0716a, PC-0716s, PC-6077, PC-6085A.

Core Features:

Extremely efficient compressor based AC cooling unit 115/230V
State-of-the-art microchip based ChillControl – the brain of the VapoChill system which controls temperature, noise, sensors, fans and safety of the entire PC
LCD display
Stand-alone case in aluminium
CPU-kit that supports AMD K8 and Intel P4 in one kit

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Comments

19 Jan 2006 ~ 2:10am Sledgehammer70 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.
19 Jan 2006 ~ 9:56am Medlock Excellent review, Lemonlime!
19 Jan 2006 ~ 12:23pm paroxym Lemonlime: You are

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

:bigggrin:
19 Jan 2006 ~ 12:38pm primesuspect wow paroxym, thanks for catching that. I'm editing it right now
19 Jan 2006 ~ 12:40pm Shorty

primesuspect wrote:

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!
19 Jan 2006 ~ 12:51pm primesuspect Done
19 Jan 2006 ~ 1:23pm lemonlime

paroxym wrote:

As 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 wrote:

Done

Thanks for fixing that prime
19 Jan 2006 ~ 1:37pm Winga 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. :bigggrin:
19 Jan 2006 ~ 1:38pm lemonlime

Sledgehammer70 wrote:

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! ... 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 wrote:

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.

Thanks very much for the kind comments Winga

TheGr81 wrote:

Excellent review, Lemonlime!

Thanks dude
19 Jan 2006 ~ 7:00pm TheSmJ Pretty cool!

Now how about some pics/specs on that planted tank in the backround...?
19 Jan 2006 ~ 7:32pm Linc An excellent read

I sure flubbed catching that Asetek spelling though, huh?
19 Jan 2006 ~ 9:54pm profdlp Quite a lot of information and a very nice read. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable article. Well done!
19 Jan 2006 ~ 10:05pm lemonlime

TheSmJ wrote:

Pretty 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 wrote:

I 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 wrote:

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

Thanks for the comments prof
20 Jan 2006 ~ 4:00am paroxym

This is the Chuck Norris of CPU coolers..

Asetek Vapochills aren't hung like horses, horses are hung like Asetek Vapochills.
2 Sep 2006 ~ 10:42am lemonlime 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
2 Sep 2006 ~ 11:06am profdlp Quite impressive service.
2 Sep 2006 ~ 11:44am Nightwolf Nice article LL.
7 Dec 2013 ~ 1:48am Jim Jarmon Have you ever tried this with a dual socket 940 system? I've got a monster that likes to run hot!!