VapoChill XE II
Introduction & Specifications
Over the years, we've evaluated multiple versions of Asetek's famed Vapochill vapor phase-change cooling system. In fact, our first experience with a Vapochill dates all the way back to June of 2000. The first Vapochill we evaluated hardly resembles today's more refined models, however. Gone is the standard beige case, replaced with a custom enclosure that's available in multiple colors, and with windowed side panels. Modern Vapochills still use compressors, of course, but the units have been upgraded and the refrigerant used is far more efficient.
The latest iteration of Asetek's Vapochill that we'll be taking a look at here, the Vapochill XE II, is a conglomeration of the features offered by the standalone Vapochill Lightspeed [AC] and the complete Vapochill XE kit. Like the Lightspeed, the Vapochill XE II no longer uses a DC powered compressor, so it doesn't require a massive power supply be installed in the system. It also uses the same R507 refrigerant, and has the same large copper evaporator found on the Lightspeed. The XE II isn't a standalone unit though; it's compressor assembly is installed in the custom enclosure introduced a couple of years back. Take a look...
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Visual _•_Big with plenty of room for upgrading and expansion _•_Case cover coated with black or white powder paint (granular surface) |
General Equipment
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Before we take you on a virtual tour of the Vapochill XE II, we have a diagram courtesy of Asetek, that illustrates where the XE II falls on the Vapochill performance ladder. The Vapochill XE II offers 180W of cooling performance at a temperature of about -18'C. That makes the XE II a bit more powerful than the Vapochill XE, but not quite as powerful as the Lightspeed. Regardless, with cold plate temperatures that can reach as low as -44'C (0W), the XE II is plenty powerful to bring even the hottest CPU's temperature down into sub-zero territory, even while being heavily overclocked.
