Thursday, August 11th 2011
AMD Contemplates Bundled Water-Cooling for Some FX-Series Processors
The certified fan-heatsink that comes with the CPU is perhaps the first thing enthusiasts get rid of, from their machines. The bundled heatsinks are almost never built in a way that allows you to squeeze the most out of your CPU. It looks like AMD is deciding whether to change this notion with some of its top-tier 8-core "Bulldozer" FX-series processors. The company reportedly plans to bundle self-contained liquid-based coolers with their processors.
Over the last couple of years, consumers have taken a liking for $100 self-contained CPU water coolers, kits that include the block with a motor, pre-fitted tubing to the radiator, which latches onto the common 120 mm rear fan hole of most cases. Bundling water coolers indicate two things: firstly, that the top-end FX-series chips will be hot, secondly, AMD is trying to woo enthusiasts. AMD could have asked its cooler OEMs to come up with a heavy tower-type fan-heatsink, but it chose water-cooling instead. So the move to pack water-cooling could either work for AMD's image (wooing enthusiasts), or against it (to convey that FX chips are so hot that nothing short of water-cooling is fit for them). Pictured below is a popular self-contained water-cooler by Corsair.
Source:
X-bit Labs
Over the last couple of years, consumers have taken a liking for $100 self-contained CPU water coolers, kits that include the block with a motor, pre-fitted tubing to the radiator, which latches onto the common 120 mm rear fan hole of most cases. Bundling water coolers indicate two things: firstly, that the top-end FX-series chips will be hot, secondly, AMD is trying to woo enthusiasts. AMD could have asked its cooler OEMs to come up with a heavy tower-type fan-heatsink, but it chose water-cooling instead. So the move to pack water-cooling could either work for AMD's image (wooing enthusiasts), or against it (to convey that FX chips are so hot that nothing short of water-cooling is fit for them). Pictured below is a popular self-contained water-cooler by Corsair.
100 Comments on AMD Contemplates Bundled Water-Cooling for Some FX-Series Processors
Were you expecting the stock cooler to work on that?
Also remember AMD's current stock cooler is really bad compared to intel's
They should manufacture the flagship models with the closed loop water cooling kits and have a second SKU without it for those that don't want to spend extra just for the cooler.
As mentioned on another website this is probably going to be one of those crappy low-cost systems that are already on the market with 1500-2000 rpm fan. They're just trying to hop on the "liquid cooling" gimmick bandwagon ...
Why not bundle new CPUs with high quality air cooler with identical, yet lower rpm fan instead ? Sub-1300 rpm should be doable so less noise at the same cost.
I can see this happening if they are going to sell TWKR models for $1000
Turbo Core 2.0 works to 125 TDP
so if you turn off Turbo Core you will never hit the 125W TDP
Anyway, I have mixed feelings about an LCS being included instead of a fan. Not all cases have 120mm fan grilles (mATX build anyone?) and if the thing blows up or leaks, it will be taking out hardware most likely. Anyone remember the Tom's Hardware videos of heatsinks being removed from PIII (370) and Athlon (462) systems while playing the game? The Pentiums always downclocked and saved themselves, while the AMD processors went until they caught on fire and died. I even lost one core of a skt. 939 Athlon X2 due to an improperly installed heatsink, so I hope AMD has some better protective measures nowadays. Then someone might come along and say "My 8310P doesn't need a HSF since it didn't come with one" but who knows. Even if you give someone a HSF, it's not guaranteed that they'll use it, as in the case of some guy buying an i7 975X and using it a week before his new system died, wondering what that burning smell was, and that he maybe should have used the included fan. :shadedshu
What’s interesting is that can AMD even consider this as a cost vs. market value, if their cost is say 30% higher than a current H-P cooler cost them to include. How cheap are Water-cooler to produce?
Me I say stop adding coolers, just make sure it positively will shut-down at a controlled temperature, like they already do. Before damage and say no warranty if you really fry it. No different than it is right now if you’re an idiot and run it without or insufficient cooling how does AMD deal with that. Leave responsibility on user to choose the right cooler for their particular application and just have a list of authorized coolers. We’re all big boys; I rather have the option and not pay more for something I don’t intend to use.
Closed loop water coolers tends to be much safer then custom water cooling so i wouldn't worry much about something going wrong, then again we really haven't seen AMD's closed loop cooler(assuming they actually go through with it), so it's hard to tell. But from the perspective of seeing Corsairs closed loop water coolers, i wouldn't worry, they're strong.
i'm guessing corsair or asetek
Bad idea in my opinion... :laugh:
Personally I don't like it because those water coolers aren't as good as high end air, or as quiet or as cheap.