Thursday, August 11th 2011

AMD Contemplates Bundled Water-Cooling for Some FX-Series Processors

by
btarunr
 Discuss (100 Comments)
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

Related News

Add your own comment

100 Comments on AMD Contemplates Bundled Water-Cooling for Some FX-Series Processors

#76
twicksisted
Wile EI disagree. ;)



Yep. I bought the best to OC it. At the time, nothing else even came remotely close.


That said, what about those of use that already have high end cooling? I am only for this if it is just an option, and there's a cheaper retail package (with associated retail warranty) that leaves this out.
You build your own rigs and overclock so of course for you would not buy a chip to keep it stock... we are the whole market... a lot of OEM's use the fastest CPU equivalents in their high end rigs and these are generally non-overclockable systems. Theres also a lot of business users, designers, sound/video editors etc who wouldnt dream of building their own pc or overclocking it but need the fastest available for their work.
Posted on Reply
#77
Wile E
Power User
You said people buying cpus. That, to me, inferred those that build their own, and are just buying the cpu itself. I wasn't aware you were referring to OEMs stuffing them in their systems, and people buying the entire system.
Posted on Reply
#78
twicksisted
aaah yes, i did say that but did not mean "buy" the processor on its own and put it in a system... i meant people who buy choose a system with a processor type inside, be it the fastest intel extreme/or AMD equivalent arent always doing it to overclock.
Posted on Reply
#79
Wile E
Power User
Well, that statement make a bit more sense to me then. I don't exactly know the numbers to confirm or deny, but I understand the logic.
Posted on Reply
#80
[H]@RD5TUFF
The 100 dollar question I guess is will they all come this way or will there be a non OEM version that comes minus the water cooling, and if they all come with the water cooling what will the price premium be?
Posted on Reply
#81
cadaveca
My name is Dave
The way I figure it, the price premium won't be much higher than $15-$20 over cost of the CPU without any cooling.

Figure this:

H50 is like $45 local. Retailers, Corsair, and Asetek, all make money from the sale of this unit. Actual cost to produce is very little.

AMD cuts out Corsair in thsi situation, in the least. They cna still offer retailers the same cash from other CPU salkes, and nothing from the actual water kit, making this a very good option.

Of course, i do not think that the ONLY way to run these chips would be with the supplied cooler, and if it's true that they REQUIRE such cooling, I'm not gonna be very impressed.
Posted on Reply
#82
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaThe way I figure it, the price premium won't be much higher than $15-$20 over cost of the CPU without any cooling.

Figure this:

H50 is like $45 local. Retailers, Corsair, and Asetek, all make money from the sale of this unit. Actual cost to produce is very little.

AMD cuts out Corsair in thsi situation, in the least. They cna still offer retailers the same cash from other CPU salkes, and nothing from the actual water kit, making this a very good option.

Of course, i do not think that the ONLY way to run these chips would be with the supplied cooler, and if it's true that they REQUIRE such cooling, I'm not gonna be very impressed.
Nor would I as IMO it would be like the old P4's, that said I can't say I am in favor of adding more than $50 to the retail price.
Posted on Reply
#83
cadaveca
My name is Dave
I don't think it'll add $50. If it does, clearly AMD needs to hire me to fire some others.:laugh:

Still not quite impressed by thier marketing, but at least, it seems they are putting more effort as of late.
Posted on Reply
#84
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaI don't think it'll add $50. If it does, clearly AMD needs to hire me to fire some others.:laugh:

Still not quite impressed by thier marketing, but at least, it seems they are putting more effort as of late.
What marketing, wasn't this little more than AMD saying "were thinking about it"?
Posted on Reply
#85
cadaveca
My name is Dave
That's marketing touching base with the consumer to get reactions, and decide if it's really feasible without ruining reputation, to me. ;)
Posted on Reply
#86
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaThat's marketing touching base with the consumer to get reactions, and decide if it's really feasible without ruining reputation, to me. ;)
Meh, to me marketing would be a ad campaign to drum up some buzz.
Posted on Reply
#87
cadaveca
My name is Dave
That's what the whole "Return of FX" campaign is about.

[yt]M-kvLccaINM[/yt]
Posted on Reply
#88
erocker
*
I highly doubt we'll see these coolers bundled with any chip this year. Perhaps for the BD refresh or it will be a special bundle and priced accordingly.
Posted on Reply
#89
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaThat's what the whole "Return of FX" campaign is about.

[yt]M-kvLccaINM[/yt]
Never heard of it.
erockerI highly doubt we'll see these coolers bundled with any chip this year. Perhaps for the BD refresh or it will be a special bundle and priced accordingly.
THat's the opinion I was kinda coming to, it seems kinda late for them to say "OH HEY how about some closed loop coolers. . .. .".
Posted on Reply
#90
cadaveca
My name is Dave
[H]@RD5TUFFTHat's the opinion I was kinda coming to, it seems kinda late for them to say "OH HEY how about some closed loop coolers. . .. .".
How is it late? CPUs are not available to buy now, and aren't at stores, and would take very little time to package up and get out into the retail space.
Posted on Reply
#91
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaHow is it late? CPUs are not available to buy now, and aren't at stores, and would take very little time to package up and get out into the retail space.
Doubtful, they are set to release in about a month or so, and should they wish to avoid supply issues they are likely stockpiling before release.
Posted on Reply
#92
cadaveca
My name is Dave
A month or so? AMD said this? Did i miss it?

Anyway, I do think a month is enough time, as not every chip is an FX.

But also, erocker could be very right...time will tell, I suppose.
Posted on Reply
#93
[H]@RD5TUFF
cadavecaA month or so? AMD said this? Did i miss it?

Anyway, I do think a month is enough time, as not every chip is an FX.

But also, erocker could be very right...time will tell, I suppose.
Exactly, while fun speculation is just that. . .
Posted on Reply
#94
Halk
cadavecaand if it's true that they REQUIRE such cooling, I'm not gonna be very impressed.
Nor would the laws of physics!

Assuming these chips are the standard format - heatspreader over the CPU cores - then the already published TDP (which they have to stick to since the boards are already out) means that it's not going to be a big issue for cooling.
Posted on Reply
#95
cadaveca
My name is Dave
I do not agree. My 1100T CPU is rated for 125W, and pulls 155W. I can make it pull 300W @ 4 GHz. AMD rates their CPUs by what they deem "Average Comsumed Power", not MAXIMUM power, as Intel does. AMD does rate maximum as well, I'm sure, but that's not the numbers we as consumers see.
Posted on Reply
#96
pantherx12
cadavecaI do not agree. My 1100T CPU is rated for 125W, and pulls 155W.
What sort of conditions cause this to happen?

Would I explain why I have some stability issues even though temps are fine.

( cheap motherboard)
Posted on Reply
#97
cadaveca
My name is Dave
IntelBurnTest is a good one for excessive power consumption that near noone will ever see.:laugh:

AMD says this themselves in their whitepapers, so it's not like I'm just guessing about ACP/TDP, and what it means, unfortunately.
Posted on Reply
#98
Halk
My point was that we already have AMD chips at that TDP, so the new chips won't require watercooling.
Posted on Reply
#99
damric
H50 could not cool my Phenom II 955 at 4.1GHZ @100% for any appreciable duration as the small total amount of water in the loop became quickly saturated, even with maximum air flow to the radiator. My hexacore @4ghz lol'd at the H50.

However, I do think that these coolers will be fine for novice overclockers that won't push too far.

I'd take the bundled water cooler and stick it on my Athlon II HTPC.
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
May 4th, 2024 22:28 EDT change timezone

Latest GPU Drivers

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts