14 DAY TRIAL // Most water cooling products we write about are water blocks and all-in-one models, since those are the ones that need changes and customizations most often. Sometimes, however, the bigger water cooling components need an update.
And sometimes a maker of water cooling products will release something altogether new, though the underlying principle is ultimately the same.
Koolance has just unveiled a new product, which would be called a water cooling reservoir if that were all that it was. However, it includes some traits that would normally belong to other parts of a computer.
The Koolance Compact Chiller EXC-450
This device is as large as it is because it has a 1-liter water reservoir inside. In addition to that, it possesses a pump and a radiator. Moreover, this device is completely portable, allowing you to install it on open-air benches.
The way it works isn't that different from how a refrigerator cools things within it. You just connect the device to the water blocks and leave it to work.
The coolant will constantly be cooled below room temperature, although the ambient temperature will affect its effectiveness.
At 25°C ambient, the Compact Chiller EXC-450 can move 1,535 BTU/hr, which allows it to cope with a heat output of 450W.
You can even set the liquid set-point (1 to 50°C), the external thermocouple set-point (1 to 149°C), and the liquid and ambient delta-T (-50 to 50°C).
This performance comes at a cost, of 250W of its own, but all active water cooling systems need energy, so that's not really such a disadvantage.
However, the module does require an external 24 VDC power source rather than using a SATA or MOLEX connector. Since it's portable, it's not made to be linked to a computer's PSU.
Availability
The Koolance Compact Chiller EXC-450 has a price of $1500 / €1,300 (well, technically €1,296, but exchange rates swing a little more every day) and should be up for sale through various retailers already. If you can't find it, you can also buy it straight from Koolance, through the official website.
