Specifications, Availability and Pricing

Specifications

• AC Input: 110V

• Compressor: ZEL GQY70AD

• Refrigerant: R507

• Max Stable Load: 120W

• Idle, 0W: -45 to -55 C

• Dimensions (DxWxH): 18.0in x 8.2in x 10.1 in

• Weight: 26 kg/ 50.6 lbs

Features

• Refrigerant Cooling Unit

• Evaporation compartment temperature and internal temperature monitor and operation timer

• Automatic computer boot up if evaporator compartment temperature reaches -30C

• Automatic computer shut down if evaporator compartment reaches 70C

• Automatic system shut down computer if compressor reaches 100C

• Alarm beeps if evaporation compartment temperature reaches 60C

• Extended heat pad activity after system shut down to prevent condensation on the back side of the motherboard

Not listed in OCZ's official documentation is the fact that the Cryo-Z was designed in part by chilli1, a HVAC/R engineer who has become known in the computer enthusiast industry for making one-off and small scale production phase change components. The Cryo-Z uses an evaporator designed by chilli1 and it is considered by many to be superior to the evaporators used by other companies.

As of now, OCZ Technology has not stated an official date for when the Cryo-Z will be released to the public or at what cost. We learned that the unit will be made available on PC Power's website for America only; this after each unit has been tested by hand. The compressor for the Cryo-Z will only operate at 110 Volts so Europe and Asian markets will not have the opportunity to purchase the first units. It remains to be seen whether or not the Cryo-Z will be replaced by a second model, but from everything I have gathered the Cryo-Z has gone through a limited production run, and when these units sell out they will be gone forever.

The cost of the Cryo-Z has yet to be disclosed officially by OCZ, but we were originally quoted between 299 and 399 back in January of 2006. If OCZ can hold this price point, the Cryo-Z will be the lowest cost production phase change cooler ever released to computer enthusiasts; competing products generally start out around 699 and the costs can climb as high as 899.