The main selling point of watercooling thermal solutions has long been greater heat capacity and reduced noise levels through centralized heat management. Coolant is propelled by a pump though tubing from waterblock to heat exchanger and back again. Heat is absorbed by the coolant as it passes through the CPU waterblock, and in some cases a northbridge and VGA waterblock too, before it is removed from the system by what is typically a large low speed fan and matching heat exchanger. The heat exchanger, or radiator, is generally located just outside of the computer chassis so the hot air coming off of it exits the case. In a configuration like this, noise is reduced, heat is transferred out of the system quickly, and thermal efficiencies are greatly increased across the board.

The downside of watercooling systems is complexity, fluid leakage, the need for drastic case modifications, coolant integrity over the long term (evaporation, bacteria growth, corrosion), and cost. These challenges have worked to keep watercooling in the realm of enthusiasts for a long time, but all-in-one kits are working to address this.

Of the self-contained watercooling solutions which are sold for computers today, there are two varieties. The first uses short lengths of tubing so a radiator may be located at the rear of the PC, permitting hot air to be ejected from the system almost immediately. The second is the compact self contained water cooling system where the pump, reservoir and heat exchanger all mount directly onto the CPU. In this situation, the coolant is used to improve the overall efficiency of the heatsink; sort of like a heatpipe. The Sunon Waturbo is a prime example of that approach, and in this review Frostytech will be testing out the Xigmatek AIO-S80DP self contained watercooling heatsink. The AIO-S80DP is both a new approach to watercooling, and the first salvo from an entirely new heatsink manufacturer.

The Xigmatek AIO-S80DP heatsink is compatible with AMD Athlon64 processors in socket 754/939/940/AM2 and Intel Pentium 4/D, Core 2 Duo/Quad processors on socket 478/775. It should be available through most online retailers for about $70 USD by Q2'07.