Introduction

The new VapoChill Micro Ultra Low Noise HSF uses vapor chamber technology instead of traditional heat pipes to cool the CPU and comes fitted with a low-speed, ultra low-noise fan.

Asetek has just introduced a new series of vapor chamber CPU coolers.  Instead of using traditional heat pipes the VapoChill Micro uses what Asetek calls vapor chamber technology to transfer heat out of the copper base into a large array of aluminum fins.   The ultra low noise model comes with a specially designed 92mm fan.  VapoChill Micro coolers are available for use on the latest Prescott LGA775, Pentium 4, and AMD K8 processors.

 

Asetek VapoChill Micro Ultra Low Noise Heatsink Fan - Cases and Cooling 23

(Source: Asetek)

 

Key Features (Ultra Low Noise version):

  • Ultra low noise with fan speed controller
  • Vapor chamber technology capable of removing up to 150W
  • Easy and flexible installation
  • Secondary airflow to help cool the motherboard
  • High reliability
  • Low weight

 

The VapoChill Micro series of CPU coolers is available in three different models.  The basic difference is the fan and whether or not it comes bundled with a fan speed controller.

 

Asetek VapoChill Micro Ultra Low Noise Heatsink Fan - Cases and Cooling 24

(Source: Asetek)

 

  • VapoChill Micro High-End Cooler
  • VapoChill Micro Extreme Performance Cooler (with fan speed control)
  • VapoChill Micro Ultra Low Noise Cooler (with fan speed control)

Heat Pipe Technology

 

The VapoChill Micro uses a vapor chamber (boiler), which is connected to three tubes to transport heat from the heatsink base up to the large surface area provided by the aluminum fins.  It works on the same principals as traditional heat pipes, which exploit the benefits of phase change cooling.  A heat pipe is a highly efficient conductor of heat.  A properly constructed heat pipe has a very low thermal resistance, which is roughly independent of its length (unlike ordinary metal rods whose thermal resistance increases with length).  Heat pipes are commonly used to transport heat from one location to another.

 

Heat pipes work on the principle of evaporation and condensation.  A working fluid (the VapoChill Micro uses R134a) evaporates inside the vapor chamber absorbing heat in the process.  Once formed, the Freon gas diffuses from an area of high vapor pressure to the other end of the attached tubes where the vapor pressure is lower.

 

The vaporized fluid then condenses back to liquid (cold-end) and the heat is dissipated into the air from the metal cooling fins.  The working fluid returns to the hot end via gravity and/or capillary action.  The key to a heat pipe’s (vapor chamber’s) high efficiency is the latent heat of vaporization. 

 

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