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Vapor-phase Processor Cooling

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the over-the-top-approaches dept.

Econolinecrush writes "If even exotic water-cooling isn't enough for your processor cooling needs, there's always vapor-phase cooling. The Tech Report has an interesting review of Asetek's latest Vapochill system, an admittedly pricey cooling option, but one that manages to fight off condensation while keeping even high-end processors running at sub-zero temperatures. A little extreme? Sure, but it's undeniably cool nonetheless." I haven't seen a cooling system this intense since my organic chemistry labs.

12 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. The thing you people miss... by unterderbrucke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...is that processors actually have a limit to how much they can be cooled. To be cooling it below zero is a ridiculous waste of power, money, and will only shorten the lifespan of your CPU.

    1. Re:The thing you people miss... by neostorm · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but who doesn't want to have the coolest processor around?

    2. Re:The thing you people miss... by LBArrettAnderson · · Score: 5, Informative

      partly true, partly false. Cooling a CPU increases its lifespan (as if they'll die before they're 1/1000 the speed of newer cheaper processors). All you have to do is cool AROUND the threads. They can get as hot as they want, and as long as they don't melt the silicon (around) or other stuff, it should be perfectly fine. If I could have a processor cooled to 20 K, i'd do it.

    3. Re:The thing you people miss... by The+Clockwork+Troll · · Score: 5, Informative
      Actually both typically increase when overclocking.

      The poster probably meant that you can run a higher Vcore without as much concern for the increased temperature that results (from the increased current).

      For those who don't know, you typically run a higher Vcore when overclocking a system in order to improve stability (i.e. in order to ensure that CPU signals can still ramp up/ramp down to valid voltages quickly enough at the faster clock rate).

      For those who know more than I, please feel free to correct me or elaborate where I've oversimplified.

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  2. VapoChill? by ralphart · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Just the thing for running the latest vaporware release!

  3. here's a thought... by intermodal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    underclock. even out of the factory, CPUs are basically overclocked for all intensive purposes. I know thats not what you all want to hear. But every advance that the chipmakers make that should be able to reduce the heat coming off a processor ends up getting put into running it faster instead. I grant its good for the MHz race, but the MHz race in the long run isn't really that good of an idea.

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  4. Fridge? by cybermace5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I'm not mistaken, vapor-phase cooling is just an ordinary refrigeration cycle.

    Geeks, of course, always go for the term that would sound coolest on the bridge of the Enterprise.

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  5. Kind of on-topic (cooling systems) by questionlp · · Score: 5, Informative
    The [H] has some pictures and links to a company that is providing low-profile waterblocks and watercooling solutions for rackmount servers, even a look at a watercooled dual Opteron server. I'm not sure if I would be all that comfortable with using such a solution in a production environment or if that will help reduce the noise produced by those servers (10K and 15K RPM hard drives and blowers to keep those things cool aren't exactly... quiet).

    Interesting nonetheless.

  6. Too cool for comfort by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    Too cold is not good. Sub-zero is not good. Cooling should keep the CPU near the ideal transistor "junction temperature" for which it was designed (ok, equivalent "Tj" in the case of CMOS). Operate at the wrong temperature and you get clock skew, conductivity weirdness, capacitance changes etc. which were not planned for in the chip's design.

    Cool yes, but not too cold. Keep the chip in spec for stability and long life. Colder is not necessarily always better.

  7. Re:What about electro-migration? by shamilton · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As long as you keep your voltage below about 2V, you should be okay. Some have taken it up as high as 2.2V or so and not had problems, but I wouldn't condone that on any expensive chip.

    However, what's the point of worrying about fried hardware? Those of us who overclock our systems to such degrees replace hardware every 6 months at least.

    --
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  8. Unfinished business by cybermace5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    PICARD: Data, what is our damage status?

    DATA: All shield, weapons, and propulsion systems are offline. We are being drawn into the nearby star Jhi-Quwo IIV. Hull temperature is reaching maximum tolerances. I estimate destructive hull breach and core detonation in 23 minutes...22:59...22:58...

    PICARD: Geordi! Is there anything we can do?

    GEORDI: Well, Captain, there is one possibility...but there may be risks.

    PICARD: We're in a risky situation now! What is it?

    GEORDI: I've run some analysis and we may be able to slingshot around the star and get to a safe distance -- if we can survive that long. Currently we will be unable to withstand the heliosphere of that star. But there is a chance...

    PICARD: Yes?

    GEORDI: One of the crew members has a vapor-phase cooling system installed on their workstation. If we can utilize a tachyon pulse modulator in combination with the vapor-phase cooler and route it through the warp core and to the shield arrays, we just might have a chance...

    PICARD: Make it so! Who has this vapor-phase cooling system?

    GEORDI: Well, sir, uh, *cough*worf*cough*

    PICARD: What? Worf?

    WORF: Grrrr...(string of Klingon insults and scowling) 0v3rc1o|<3rz r00l!!11!

    PICARD: *head in hands* I guess this is it. Send a message to Starfleet, and tell Dr. Crusher to meet me in my ready room.

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  9. I'd rather see... by Lurgen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Personally, I'd prefer to see a whole lot more work going into silent computers. Processors and video cards are at the point right now where overclocking only yields benchmark improvements - bumping that chip up 15MHz only gives you a few points in 3DMark, or UT2k3.

    For actual use though, it doesn't make any difference. 150fps, instead of 130. Or 0.5 seconds faster load times. Does anybody really care any more?

    I'd be a lot more interested in spending money reducing the noise output of my machine. Give me passively cooled power supplies (instead of these 3 fan monsters). Cases designed purely for better noise reduction (Antec Sonata is heading in the right direction).

    Having a frozen CPU running 20% faster than it was meant to might win you a few brownie points at a LAN party, but does it actually make any difference? I doubt it.

    *shrug* each to their own. I'll be impressed when I see a 3GHz P4 or Athlon running without any noticable noise.