W1zzard
Apr 20, 2005, 11:59 AM
[Page=Introduction & Freezer Series]
Introduction
First of all we would like to thank Mips-Computer (http://www.mips-computer.de) for supplying us with the reviewed cooler.
Next, we want to give you an overview of the Freezer Series.
Freezer Series for Athlon 64 (SLI) Boards
MSI K8N Neo4/Diamond (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/neo4kuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/msi_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/msi_big.jpg)
Asus A8N (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/a8nkuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/asus_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/asus_big.jpg)
DFI Lanparty nF4 (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfikuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfi_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfi_big.jpg)
The Freezer coolers are made from Copper and Brass. The Brass has a clear coat finish, for a nicer visual appearance.
They are the only available coolers which fit on an SLI system with 2x6800 Ultra/GT (with Innovatek NV40 or Alphacool NeXxos NVXP-2), or 2x6600 non-GT/GT (with flat cooler). On non-SLI systems the cooler should fit with any video card (except with VGA Silencer etc.).
Now you ask, why? The nForce4's stock cooler has to run rather fast to keep the chipset cool. This produces a relatively loud and annoying fan noise. Watercooling helps reduce this noise, because instead of that small loud fan you can use a slow-turning 120mm fan.
This also gives a temperature advantage, which increases the lifespan of the nForce4 chipset, more on this later.
Mips-Computer is the distributor of the cooler and told us that the cooler is manufactured by another german company. This cooperation has already led to a few other coolers and more will follow.
[Page=Package, Construction & Installation]
DFI Lanparty Freezer
Let's start playing with the DFI Lanparty Freezer.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th>Base size:</th>
<td>Base: 50 x 40mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Dimensions:</th>
<td>without fittings: 50 x 40 x 14mm (L x W x H)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Weight:</th>
<td>~155g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Base plate:</th>
<td>Pure Copper 5mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Top plate:</th>
<td>Brass 5mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Threading:</th>
<td>G 1/4</td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/liefreumfang.jpg
DFI Lanparty Freezer
Two O-Rings
Two washers
Two screws with fitting nuts
We could not find any instructions or thermal paste in the package.
Construction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/offen1_small.jpg
The cooler has four channels to make sure cooling performance is there, while not restricting flow too much. The channels have been cut by a CNC mill, you can still see some score marks, but no chips or similar.
Surface
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/plane_big.jpg
The coolers surface is very flat and smooth to make sure heat transfer is good.
Installation
Installation is rather easy:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_01.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_03.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_04.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_05.jpg
After removing the stock cooler, the die of the NF4 chipset has to be cleaned and a thin layer of thermal paste put on it.
Next you put the on the cooler (make sure you put it on parallel to the chipset), then screw it down with the included screws and nuts.
On the motherboard back side, do not forget to put the washers between board and screw, otherwise a short circuit could be possible.
Do not screw down the screws too hard, there is no stop, you could crush the die and break your board.
Two brass gaskets with built-in o-rings have to go between cooler and fitting to make sure everything is watertight.
[Page=Performance & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/graph.gif
This results in about 7°C temperature difference between water and chipset, at around 25-40W heat load.
Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
You can buy DFI Lanparty Freezer for expensive $50, only in germany, from MIPS computer. This makes it one of the most expensive chipset cooler on the market.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Unique SLI-compatible cooler
Solid cooling performance
Good build quality
Reduces noise
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
High price
Availability
Package is not complete
Only for a certain motherboard
</td></tr>
<tr><th>7.9</th>
<td>The DFI Lanparty Freezer is a solid and pretty chipset cooler. The only cooler which fits on a fully set up SLI-system. But being unique has its price and the package could be more complete as well.</td></tr></table>
Introduction
First of all we would like to thank Mips-Computer (http://www.mips-computer.de) for supplying us with the reviewed cooler.
Next, we want to give you an overview of the Freezer Series.
Freezer Series for Athlon 64 (SLI) Boards
MSI K8N Neo4/Diamond (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/neo4kuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/msi_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/msi_big.jpg)
Asus A8N (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/a8nkuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/asus_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/asus_big.jpg)
DFI Lanparty nF4 (SLI)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfikuhler_big.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfi_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/dfi_big.jpg)
The Freezer coolers are made from Copper and Brass. The Brass has a clear coat finish, for a nicer visual appearance.
They are the only available coolers which fit on an SLI system with 2x6800 Ultra/GT (with Innovatek NV40 or Alphacool NeXxos NVXP-2), or 2x6600 non-GT/GT (with flat cooler). On non-SLI systems the cooler should fit with any video card (except with VGA Silencer etc.).
Now you ask, why? The nForce4's stock cooler has to run rather fast to keep the chipset cool. This produces a relatively loud and annoying fan noise. Watercooling helps reduce this noise, because instead of that small loud fan you can use a slow-turning 120mm fan.
This also gives a temperature advantage, which increases the lifespan of the nForce4 chipset, more on this later.
Mips-Computer is the distributor of the cooler and told us that the cooler is manufactured by another german company. This cooperation has already led to a few other coolers and more will follow.
[Page=Package, Construction & Installation]
DFI Lanparty Freezer
Let's start playing with the DFI Lanparty Freezer.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<th>Base size:</th>
<td>Base: 50 x 40mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Dimensions:</th>
<td>without fittings: 50 x 40 x 14mm (L x W x H)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Weight:</th>
<td>~155g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Base plate:</th>
<td>Pure Copper 5mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Top plate:</th>
<td>Brass 5mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Threading:</th>
<td>G 1/4</td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/liefreumfang.jpg
DFI Lanparty Freezer
Two O-Rings
Two washers
Two screws with fitting nuts
We could not find any instructions or thermal paste in the package.
Construction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/offen1_small.jpg
The cooler has four channels to make sure cooling performance is there, while not restricting flow too much. The channels have been cut by a CNC mill, you can still see some score marks, but no chips or similar.
Surface
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/plane_big.jpg
The coolers surface is very flat and smooth to make sure heat transfer is good.
Installation
Installation is rather easy:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_01.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_03.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_04.jpg http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/freezer_einbau_05.jpg
After removing the stock cooler, the die of the NF4 chipset has to be cleaned and a thin layer of thermal paste put on it.
Next you put the on the cooler (make sure you put it on parallel to the chipset), then screw it down with the included screws and nuts.
On the motherboard back side, do not forget to put the washers between board and screw, otherwise a short circuit could be possible.
Do not screw down the screws too hard, there is no stop, you could crush the die and break your board.
Two brass gaskets with built-in o-rings have to go between cooler and fitting to make sure everything is watertight.
[Page=Performance & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Mips/DFIFreezer/images/graph.gif
This results in about 7°C temperature difference between water and chipset, at around 25-40W heat load.
Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
You can buy DFI Lanparty Freezer for expensive $50, only in germany, from MIPS computer. This makes it one of the most expensive chipset cooler on the market.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Unique SLI-compatible cooler
Solid cooling performance
Good build quality
Reduces noise
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
High price
Availability
Package is not complete
Only for a certain motherboard
</td></tr>
<tr><th>7.9</th>
<td>The DFI Lanparty Freezer is a solid and pretty chipset cooler. The only cooler which fits on a fully set up SLI-system. But being unique has its price and the package could be more complete as well.</td></tr></table>