X-bit labs

Extreme Cooling Technologies Prometeia Mach II GT Review

Category: Coolers

by Kirill "ALT-F13" Balalin

[ 12/02/2005 | 03:57 PM ]

The use of phase-change cooling systems for the PC means an absolutely new level of performance at overclocking, absolutely unattainable with the traditional cooling methods. Today we would like to introduce a solution like that from Extreme Cooling Technologies. Read our detailed review for more exciting details!

Table of contents:

• The Legend Returns
  
• Package and Accessories
  
• Closer Look
  
• Assembly Tips
  
• Test Session
  
• Conclusion
  

In the summer of 2004 the overclocking community was grieved to hear the news of the Danish company nVENTIV (earlier known as Chip-Con), one of the two leading manufacturers of phase-change PC cooling systems, having gone bankrupt. Their Mach II had been a hit on the extreme cooling market, and its tuned-up version Mach II GT was the most powerful CPU cooler ever to be in serial production.

Alas, despite all the advantages of Mach II series systems their production was eventually found unprofitable and nVENTIV had to leave the market. There were rumors that some Japanese firm bought all of the company assets and that nVENTIV would soon return, but these were mere rumors indeed. Asetek (the owner of the VapoChill trademark) stayed as the only manufacturer of Freon coolers for the PC.

So you can imagine the extent of my joy when this year I received an e-mail from Klavs Steenhof, the ex-PR manager at nVENTIV, who informed me of their coming back to business again! The assets of the bankrupt nVENTIV were bought out by their long-time partner Elcold, a Danish manufacturer of refrigerating equipment, and the new owner reestablished the RND team and started up a new company under the name of Extreme Cooling Technologies (ECT). I would say that the name speaks for itself!