Asetek VapoChill LightSpeed [AC]

A First Look at the VapoChill:

The VapoChill arrived at my door in a large Asetek box strapped to a wooden cargo palette. Inside, the unit was packed very securely with Styrofoam blocks. The box contained the VapoChill, several accessory bags, and a case cutout template.

Two manuals were included: one that covers quick-installation of the VapoChill, and another that covers in detail the installation of the CPU kit for sockets 478/754/940. The new VapoChill CPU mounting system uses a special "clamshell" device that easily mounts onto any compatible socket without needing different parts for different sockets. Inside the CPU kit bag were also neoprene insulation pads, clamshell insulation inserts, thermal compound w/ compound spreader, metal socket backing plate, and mounting legs with hardware.

The VapoChill can be monitored and controlled through your operating system by utilizing Asetek's Chill Control board and Vapochill Control Panel software. The Chill Control board connects to the computer through a USB header on the motherboard and allows you to control and monitor the Vapochill, four additional temperature sensors (one temperature sensor is already built into the evaporator head, so one of the 5 sensor connectors on the board cannot be used) and four fans.

In order to actively protect from condensation forming around the evaporator head, Asetek provides heating elements for the clamshell and back of the CPU socket. These are also connected to the Chill Control board and controlled through the VapoChill Control Panel software.

The VapoChill itself is a simple box shape about the length and width of an average mid-tower computer case. It is designed specifically to mate perfectly with the Lian Li cases listed in the manufacturer's specifications (I will be using the Opus Technologies MT-200 I recently reviewed). It has a brushed aluminum finish with a multitude of holes drilled around the frontal areas for ventilation around the condenser coil. The Vapochill logo is stamped on the front panel right below the blue LCD display screen.  Protruding from the left rear of the top of the VapoChill are the evaporator head and two cables that connect to the Chill Control board. Also on top of the unit are the thumbscrews for mounting a computer case onto the Vapochill.