The Asus ROG Poseidon cooler is a hybrid cooling solution that supports both air and water cooling, designed to provide exceptional thermal performance for high-end graphics cards. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricate details of the Poseidon cooler, exploring the materials used, the cooling mechanisms, and the overall performance capabilities.
Cooling System Design
The Asus ROG Poseidon cooler features a unique design that combines the benefits of both air and water cooling. At the heart of the system is a copper sink that serves as the water cooling block, with outlets on both the front and back to facilitate the connection of hoses.
The water cooling aspect of the Poseidon cooler utilizes a hollow heat pipe that contains a working fluid. This fluid undergoes a phase change, evaporating and condensing to transfer heat from the hot to the cold point. This process is distinct from a traditional heat exchanger, which transfers heat between a solid object and a fluid, or between two or more fluids.
Aluminum Backplate
The aluminum backplate of the Asus ROG Poseidon cooler is primarily an aesthetic feature and does not contribute directly to the cooling performance. Its primary function is to provide a sleek and cohesive appearance to the overall design.
Increased Surface Area
The Asus ROG Poseidon cooler boasts a 40% increase in surface area compared to previous two-slot designs. This expanded surface area allows for more efficient heat dissipation, which is crucial for handling the thermal demands of high-end graphics cards.
Heat Pipe Design
The heat pipes used in the Poseidon cooler have a narrow inside radius, which may potentially limit the flow rate depending on the specific cooler being used. This design choice is intended to optimize the heat transfer capabilities of the system.
Vapor Chamber and Heat Pipes
The thermal solution of the Asus ROG Poseidon cooler utilizes a vapor chamber with a built-in water channel. Additionally, two supplementary heat pipes help transfer the thermal energy to the array of aluminum fins, further enhancing the cooling performance.
Cooling Performance
In terms of cooling performance, the Asus ROG Poseidon cooler has demonstrated its ability to handle even the most demanding AMD graphics cards when overclocked and utilizing the water cooling capabilities. The simplified cooling loop design, with water entering at one end, flowing around the copper heatsink, and then exiting, ensures efficient heat dissipation without compromising the water-cooled variant’s performance compared to the air-cooled variant.
Power Circuitry Improvements
The Asus ROG Poseidon cooler also features improvements to the power circuitry on the graphics card, which helps eliminate the audible whine that can sometimes occur with high-end GPUs.
Conclusion
In summary, the Asus ROG Poseidon cooler is a hybrid cooling solution that combines the strengths of both air and water cooling. While the aluminum backplate is primarily an aesthetic feature, the overall design, including the copper sink, vapor chamber, and heat pipes, contributes to the cooler’s exceptional thermal performance. The Poseidon cooler’s ability to handle overclocked AMD graphics cards and its power circuitry improvements make it a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a versatile and high-performing cooling solution.
References:
– Asus ROG Poseidon GTX 1080 Ti Platinum Review
– Asus Poseidon GTX 780 Review: Hybrid Air/Water Cooling Takes Down the R9 295X2
– What is Inside the ROG Poseidon Graphics Cards?