To take off the side panels of the casing you must undo 8 screws on each side. This gives you access to the system’s innards. There are no user-serviceable components there, so we strongly advise you not to touch anything unless you do know how to handle cooling equipment!

The system is dominated by the mighty compressor NF11F from Danfoss. Note that both ECT and Asetek chose Danfoss’ products as the foundation for their phase-change coolers. The compressor is powered from the electric mains (220V in our case and 110V in the American version), so the power supply is freed from that burden (this is a very big advantage because the VapoChill XE set forth very strict requirements about the computer’s power supply).

The compressor is supposed to work with the R134a gas which is indeed used in ECT’s Prometeia Mach 2 coolers. The more advanced “GT” version employs the more efficient R404a refrigerant. This means harder operating conditions for the compressor (it heats up more, for example), but the load still remains within the acceptable range, while the performance of the “tuned-up” cooler is much higher than of the standard version.

Curiously, the condenser employed in the Mach II GT is exactly the same as in the VapoChill XE – this is another point where the products from the competing companies meet! The condenser is made of copper, with aluminum ribs. The necessary air flow is created by the 120mm 85CFM fan from Sunon. Another such fan is installed on the rear panel of the unit to exhaust the air.