Asetek VapoChil review

GlitterKill · 16-May-03, 08:55 AM

Continuing his reign of hardware review terror, BigAKita has the infamous Asetek VapoChill on his test bench this time. Take a look at what BigAkita thought of the Cadillac of PC cooling.

Check out the review here.

hawklen · 16-May-03, 11:08 AM

BA, do you get to keep the case, or do you have to return it?

GlitterKill · 16-May-03, 11:37 AM

Reviewers usually keep the items they review...

BigAkita · 16-May-03, 12:54 PM

Dood, I'm going to mod a VapoChill....

PeteyBoy23 · 16-May-03, 01:29 PM

How loud are these?

I was trying to find out, because I was considering purchasing one. Not now, but in a later iteration of the product. The cheap case design turned me off. I love my Antec, and I'm sure there are better cases out there, but I don't want to get a crappy one, just so I can have this type of cooler.

Thanks for the review, cool stuff indeed!

BigAkita · 16-May-03, 02:07 PM

If you run it stock it is very quiet, you can barely hear the compresser or condensor fan. I wasn't happy with the fact that there was no air movement at all in the motherboard area so I added a 120mm intake and managed to squeeze an 80mm exhaust in there. I also added a 120mm exhaust to the top part. Keeping the fans at about 75% it is still pretty quiet.

You can buy the cooling components without the case. The premium components are 458 Euro and the standard are 384 Euro.

PeteyBoy23 · 16-May-03, 02:48 PM

Maybe it's just my mind thinking that it's going to sound like a refrigerator that got me thinking this.

Any ideas how difficult it would be to setup one of these systems in a standard case? I'd hate to have to hack away at it, but hey... if I must, I must!

Personally, I would also put multiple fans in there, as obviously other components are going to generate heat.

Do any of these type of coolers have additional connections for video cards? I'd bet it'd be pretty sweet to have your vid card at 5c

I'm trying to decide if I want to get the cooler first...

OR

Get a new case, CPU, RAM, and hookup a serial ata raid 0 system. I'm bordering on just buying scsi, and getting two of those seagate 15k rpm drives, and a nice scsi raid controller.

Decisions decisions!

Sorry to semi-derail the thread...

AntiM · 16-May-03, 02:59 PM

I saw an article where someone put one in a Lian-Li full tower. So it can be done with a little ingenuity and work. The Promethia units will work with any case. The case sits on top of the unit and you cut a hole in the bottom of the case to run the cooling block through.

Good article B.A., nice to see a review point out the downsides to the unit. Nylon mobo spacers....ew.

Get an nforce2 and water cool the other heatsources and you'd be extremely dangerous. Have fun man.

BigAkita · 16-May-03, 03:48 PM

Thanks for the comments AntiM. The other reviews I read on this case were all glowing and happy. The reviewer was so blown away by the cooling power they overlooked the stuff that wasn't stellar.

I figure if anybody is going to shell out six bills for a case like this, they deserve to read the downside also. The cooling is excellent but the internal design leaves much to be desired.

It will soon feel the wrath of my dremel.

hawklen · 16-May-03, 03:52 PM

You are one lucky bastard BA

I forgot to put that I liked the review too

BigAkita · 16-May-03, 05:16 PM

Here's some of the stuff I have planned:

Move the Power supply up top with the cooling unit.
Put a clear acrylic cover on the PSU.
Cut windows into both sides of the cooling unit cover (possibly top too?)
Coat the compresser and other cooling elements with a UV reactive paint.
Lay two high powered 10 inch CC's on each side.
Cut a 120mm blowhole into the front bottom metal.
Put a window into the lower motherboard panel (still trying to come up with a design).
Use the area where the PSU was to mount a 120mm exhaust fan.

I still haven't really come up with anything for the faceplate yet. Suggestions for other mods are quite welcome.

Lokie · 16-May-03, 06:41 PM

BA you get to keep that case!!! Dam I want to do a review of one!!!

Digital-World · 16-May-03, 07:40 PM

Wow feels good to post again.!!
Great review BA
I have a tiny suggestion though. Utilize a Barton 2500 and an EPOX EP-8RDA for the reloaded. Your stick of ram is smoking with this combo anything short of 220 on the fsb would shock me. If you cant get review items I will get these things for you at COST. IM me for details!!
DW

BigAkita · 16-May-03, 08:01 PM

Nice to hear from you DW. I just may be getting hold of you shortly for a replacement mobo. I want to keep the 2100 in the system for now.

Of course you could always donate a new board so I can do Reloaded.

me_john85 · 16-May-03, 08:32 PM

another good review BA!!!

i agree, its good to hear all the positive sides of the case but i think its a necessity to hear what is wrong with it and expecially if your going to shell out $600+ for it

cant wait for "reloaded"

scapegoat · 16-May-03, 09:05 PM

Good review BA

I cant wait to see what you will do with that system!

putwig · 16-May-03, 11:42 PM

BA - I am pretty sure a man with your skill could fit the phase change gear, and water cooling for GPU and northy, in the YY server cube.

I say you gut the pig and use its cold cold heart in a rig you designed!

BigAkita · 17-May-03, 12:26 AM

No, the cooling would not fit into my YY case. I could get it to fit, but would have to cut down on the number of hard drives and accessories I normally install. That isn't an option.

I'm thinking of putting the YY up for sale so I can get a mobo to do Reloaded. Yes, I have enough money to purchase one outright, but Mrs. Akita handles the checkbook and the replacement CPU to finish the review is about all that the boss Akita would take.

What the hell, I have no attachment to the YY anyway, I have two large A-Open towers that have been begging to be modded.

EDIT: I just started thinking about this. I know the twin case thing has been done before, but I could put the Vapo cooling components in one case along WITH watercooling. Then the other case would be normal equipment only.

Let me think about this a little bit.

ZENNZZO · 17-May-03, 12:45 AM

Hey BA,
You weren't kiddin when you said I'd be impressed. Bummer about the 2100 thrashing. I've read that they're a little hard to mount to the CPU. Gotta love cryo-cooling though. Well I guess we just took it up another notch. I can only imagine where your modding skills are going to take this one,Ultra Major league bro.
Great review and thank you for the non-bias opinion.a true Pro.

flounder405 · 17-May-03, 12:47 AM

front bezel design ...man get rid of the front and fill that sucker in and put some 120s in there sand everything smooth and then get a piece of plexi or something and frost it with the design showing in clear.backlight it with a uv light and call it done........send it to me and ill do it

(the front that is)

16-May-03, 08:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
GlitterKill Pimp-of-all-Pimps Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 5,715	Asetek VapoChil review Continuing his reign of hardware review terror, BigAKita has the infamous Asetek VapoChill on his test bench this time. Take a look at what BigAkita thought of the Cadillac of PC cooling. Check out the review here. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "The innocent shall suffer... BIG TIME!" -- Ignignokt "Noone can defeat the quad laser..." -- Ignignokt

16-May-03, 11:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
hawklen PCApex's Mouthy Stepchild Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Interia's Bed Posts: 3,623	BA, do you get to keep the case, or do you have to return it? __________________ The two of us. All used and beaten up Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose

16-May-03, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
GlitterKill Pimp-of-all-Pimps Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 5,715	Reviewers usually keep the items they review... __________________ "The innocent shall suffer... BIG TIME!" -- Ignignokt "Noone can defeat the quad laser..." -- Ignignokt

16-May-03, 12:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	Dood, I'm going to mod a VapoChill.... __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

16-May-03, 02:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	If you run it stock it is very quiet, you can barely hear the compresser or condensor fan. I wasn't happy with the fact that there was no air movement at all in the motherboard area so I added a 120mm intake and managed to squeeze an 80mm exhaust in there. I also added a 120mm exhaust to the top part. Keeping the fans at about 75% it is still pretty quiet. You can buy the cooling components without the case. The premium components are 458 Euro and the standard are 384 Euro. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

16-May-03, 01:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
PeteyBoy23 Apex Techie Lite Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 23	How loud are these? I was trying to find out, because I was considering purchasing one. Not now, but in a later iteration of the product. The cheap case design turned me off. I love my Antec, and I'm sure there are better cases out there, but I don't want to get a crappy one, just so I can have this type of cooler. Thanks for the review, cool stuff indeed!

16-May-03, 02:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
PeteyBoy23 Apex Techie Lite Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 23	Maybe it's just my mind thinking that it's going to sound like a refrigerator that got me thinking this. Any ideas how difficult it would be to setup one of these systems in a standard case? I'd hate to have to hack away at it, but hey... if I must, I must! Personally, I would also put multiple fans in there, as obviously other components are going to generate heat. Do any of these type of coolers have additional connections for video cards? I'd bet it'd be pretty sweet to have your vid card at 5c I'm trying to decide if I want to get the cooler first... OR Get a new case, CPU, RAM, and hookup a serial ata raid 0 system. I'm bordering on just buying scsi, and getting two of those seagate 15k rpm drives, and a nice scsi raid controller. Decisions decisions! Sorry to semi-derail the thread...

16-May-03, 02:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
AntiM Aqua Pimp Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: P-"hoe"-nix Posts: 3,952	I saw an article where someone put one in a Lian-Li full tower. So it can be done with a little ingenuity and work. The Promethia units will work with any case. The case sits on top of the unit and you cut a hole in the bottom of the case to run the cooling block through. Good article B.A., nice to see a review point out the downsides to the unit. Nylon mobo spacers....ew. Get an nforce2 and water cool the other heatsources and you'd be extremely dangerous. Have fun man. __________________

16-May-03, 03:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	Thanks for the comments AntiM. The other reviews I read on this case were all glowing and happy. The reviewer was so blown away by the cooling power they overlooked the stuff that wasn't stellar. I figure if anybody is going to shell out six bills for a case like this, they deserve to read the downside also. The cooling is excellent but the internal design leaves much to be desired. It will soon feel the wrath of my dremel. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

16-May-03, 03:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
hawklen PCApex's Mouthy Stepchild Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Interia's Bed Posts: 3,623	You are one lucky bastard BA I forgot to put that I liked the review too __________________ The two of us. All used and beaten up Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose

16-May-03, 05:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	Here's some of the stuff I have planned: Move the Power supply up top with the cooling unit. Put a clear acrylic cover on the PSU. Cut windows into both sides of the cooling unit cover (possibly top too?) Coat the compresser and other cooling elements with a UV reactive paint. Lay two high powered 10 inch CC's on each side. Cut a 120mm blowhole into the front bottom metal. Put a window into the lower motherboard panel (still trying to come up with a design). Use the area where the PSU was to mount a 120mm exhaust fan. I still haven't really come up with anything for the faceplate yet. Suggestions for other mods are quite welcome. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

16-May-03, 06:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
Lokie Custom What? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Eau Claire,WI Posts: 6,824	BA you get to keep that case!!! Dam I want to do a review of one!!!

16-May-03, 07:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
Digital-World Old Skool Pimp Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naked in a bean bag eating cheetos! Posts: 2,669	Wow feels good to post again.!! Great review BA I have a tiny suggestion though. Utilize a Barton 2500 and an EPOX EP-8RDA for the reloaded. Your stick of ram is smoking with this combo anything short of 220 on the fsb would shock me. If you cant get review items I will get these things for you at COST. IM me for details!! DW __________________

16-May-03, 08:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	Nice to hear from you DW. I just may be getting hold of you shortly for a replacement mobo. I want to keep the 2100 in the system for now. Of course you could always donate a new board so I can do Reloaded. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot." Last edited by BigAkita; 16-May-03 at 08:37 PM.

16-May-03, 08:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
me_john85 Camp Pen-Hoe-tan's Hoe Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 2,375	another good review BA!!! i agree, its good to hear all the positive sides of the case but i think its a necessity to hear what is wrong with it and expecially if your going to shell out $600+ for it cant wait for "reloaded" __________________

16-May-03, 09:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
scapegoat Apex Tech God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,520	Good review BA I cant wait to see what you will do with that system!

16-May-03, 11:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
putwig Dr. Hydro Pimp Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,198	BA - I am pretty sure a man with your skill could fit the phase change gear, and water cooling for GPU and northy, in the YY server cube. I say you gut the pig and use its cold cold heart in a rig you designed! __________________

17-May-03, 12:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nirvana Posts: 14,317	No, the cooling would not fit into my YY case. I could get it to fit, but would have to cut down on the number of hard drives and accessories I normally install. That isn't an option. I'm thinking of putting the YY up for sale so I can get a mobo to do Reloaded. Yes, I have enough money to purchase one outright, but Mrs. Akita handles the checkbook and the replacement CPU to finish the review is about all that the boss Akita would take. What the hell, I have no attachment to the YY anyway, I have two large A-Open towers that have been begging to be modded. EDIT: I just started thinking about this. I know the twin case thing has been done before, but I could put the Vapo cooling components in one case along WITH watercooling. Then the other case would be normal equipment only. Let me think about this a little bit. __________________ "I'll stop being an A-Hole if you will stop being an Idiot."

17-May-03, 12:45 AM	#19 (permalink)
ZENNZZO Direct Cool Hoe Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 0	Hey BA, You weren't kiddin when you said I'd be impressed. Bummer about the 2100 thrashing. I've read that they're a little hard to mount to the CPU. Gotta love cryo-cooling though. Well I guess we just took it up another notch. I can only imagine where your modding skills are going to take this one,Ultra Major league bro. Great review and thank you for the non-bias opinion.a true Pro.

17-May-03, 12:47 AM	#20 (permalink)
flounder405 The Mack Daddy Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: the black hole aka tulsa okiehoma...i must escape again somehow Posts: 1,774	front bezel design ...man get rid of the front and fill that sucker in and put some 120s in there sand everything smooth and then get a piece of plexi or something and frost it with the design showing in clear.backlight it with a uv light and call it done........send it to me and ill do it (the front that is) __________________ Holla!. flounder405 fo' sheezy. Filet-Hizzle cuz this is how we do it. Thanks PJ , Snoop and Gizoogle fer that one "Bowmp chick a bowmp bowmp oo-wa oo-wa a wawa," followed by the occasional "wocka wocka wocka wocka"