CoolIT Freezone

Author:  Tyler Curry Date:  2007.07.05 Topic:  Cooling Provider:  CoolIT Systems Manufacturer:  CoolIT Systems

Packaging & Contents

As you can see, the CoolIT Freezone is very well packaged.  In a thick styrofoam, you'll be sure this cooler will stay in perfect condition during shipping. 

Included in the package is the following... 

-Chiller Module

-Fluid Heat Exchanger (CPU block)

-Chiller Module Screws

-AMD Retention Bars

-Intel 478 Retention Bars

-12cm Fan Adapter Kit

-Tightening Tool

-Intel 775 Retention Bars

-Thumb Screws

-Motherboard Standoffs

-Gigabyte Motherboard Standoffs

-Thermal Control Module (PC board)

-Detailed Installation Guide (with pics)

Overall, the Freezone unit looks to be complicated however that couldn't be more wrong.  The Freezone comes fully assembled, with water and all.  And to make things better it is completely maintenance free.  This sounds very impressive, and would be great for the newbie user seeing as you don't have to deal with changing the water, checking for leaks, or any of the other annoyances usually accompanied with your average water cooling setup.

The fan included with the Freezone is your standard 92mm fan.  It would have been nice to see a 120mm fan or an option to install one for added cooling and/or lower fan noise.  Though on the bright side the 92mm fan isn't all that bad with a max 37 dBA.  The Freezone also uses a quit 15 dBA (or less) 12VDC, 6-TECS, and two laminar flow FHEs.

The waterblock included with the Freezone measures in at 42 x 42 x 17 mm and is monolithic copper.  The block even comes pre-pasted with thermal paste, this thing truly is plug and cool. 

Also included is a thermal control module, which basically functions as a thermostat for the Freezone cooler.  You can adjust the fan rotation speed via a very small dial with a small "tool". 

Design Considerations:

Here is some additional information as per the CoolIT website...

Liquid Chilling Provides Extreme Thermal Performance
The Freezone cooling system is a compact and robust CPU cooler. Its liquid loop directly cools the CPU, while the exhaust fan removes additional heat from inside a computer chassis. The Freezone CPU Cooler is far more effective than other cooling solutions of similar size, as is equipped with six high-efficiency TECs (thermoelectric coolers). These TECs provide a considerable boost to the cooling performance of the liquid loop.

Patented FHE Design Promotes Heat Transfer
The Freezone CPU Cooler is equipped with a CPU FHE (Fluid Heat Exchanger, or cold plate) that is monolithic (a solid piece of) copper. This FHE is designed to absorb high thermal flux from an area with high thermal density (i.e., it is very effective at removing a lot of heat from a very small surface).

Integrated Design
The Freezone CPU Cooler patented chiller module has an integrated reservoir, which consists of a high flow DC pump and expansion chamber. Combining the Chiller and the Pump into a single module is a space-saving design that allows for ease of installation.

Regulated Temperature Control
Because of the extreme cooling capacity the Freezone product provides, there is a TCM (Thermal Control Module) built into the system to protect against over-cooling and condensation. The TCM regulates the amount of power that is applied to the TECs and exhaust fan. The TCM will automatically vary system level output to adjust for changes in both ambient temperature and CPU load. This complies with Energy Star standards.

Adjustable User Settings
The factory TCM setting will automatically adjust the system to run silently during low load operations and boost cooling power under heavy loads and/or adverse environmental conditions. Since the TCM regulates the TECs as cooling boosters, it is far more effective than simple fan speed regulation. If the user desires, the TCM can be manually adjusted to suit the preferences of an individual user. For example, if the user intends to enhance the performance of a CPU, the TCM can be adjusted to reduce the coolant temperature and thus reduce the operating temperature of a CPU; if the user requires continuous silent operation, the TCM can be safely adjusted to reduce power output to the TECs and exhaust fan.

Maintenance-Free Operation
The Freezone CPU Cooler requires less maintenance than air or water-cooling systems. The liquid system itself is factory-sealed and a closed loop constructed with vapor resistant materials and fitted with gas resistant plumbing. This way, the Freezone CPU Cooler never requires refilling, for the entire life of the system. The chiller module itself has a heatsink that promotes laminar air-flow through the fins. Laminar flow ensures that dust, dirt and particulates simply pass through the fin array, while promoting maximum thermal transfer. The only maintenance the Freezone CPU Cooler system requires is the occasional dusting of the exhaust fan. This can be accomplished in a few seconds using compressed air, or gas.

Environmentally Friendly Coolant
The coolant in the liquid loop is composed of Low-Tox PPG (polypropylene glycol) and distilled water. This mixture is environmentally friendly, promotes enhanced cooling and reliability, and it is recyclable. Unlike water cooling systems, the Freezone CPU Cooler only contains about 125 CCs (half a cup) of coolant. The coolant temperature is tightly regulated by the TCM in real time. That means the Freezone CPU Cooler does not require a large reserve of coolant to act as a temporary heat dump for low duration operations at high loading. In fact, the Freezone CPU Cooler's duty cycle is designed for 100% operation under continuous maximum loading.