OCZ Technology Starts to Ship Phase Change Cooler

From X-bit Labs: OCZ Technology Group, a leading supplier of advanced computer components, this week began to ship its Cryo-Z phase change cooling solution. The cooling system allows overclockers to reach sub-zero temperatures in order to help overclockers to increase clock-speeds of their central processing units to maximum possible speed.

OCZ Technology's Cryo-Z is an advanced cooling solution for the extreme overclockers using phase-change technology to achieve sub-zero – from -40C to -55C – temperatures at the CPU. The Cryo-Z was developed with optimal user-friendliness in mind, including the insulation of the cooled parts as a necessary precaution against condensation, something that has kept Freon phase change coolers out of the consumer market. To reduce any exposure of cold surfaces to the ambient case air, every chilled surface of the Cryo-Z has been carefully insulated. In addition, a heating element is provided to be attached to the back of the motherboard, in order to prevent condensation behind the motherboard.

The Cryo-Z Freon-based cooler is rather bulky and heavy: 46cm x 21cm x 25.6cm (18” x 8.2” x 10.1”), 26 kilograms. Furthermore, it requires customized computer case so that to attach the nozzle to the CPU. In addition, Cryo-Z and the system itself should be interconnected. Before the system can be powered up, the Cryo-Z needs to pre-cool the head. Once the temperature at the CPU reaches -30C, the control logic allows power-up of the computer. If for some reason the temperature at the nozzle increases above 70 centigrade, the Cryo-Z will initiate the shutdown sequence of the computer to avoid damage from overheating. In order to achieve these capabilities, the connection between the power button of the system and the motherboard needs to be routed through the Cryo-Z.

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