MSI Takes Motherboard Watercooling A Step Further

MSI’s new HydroGen X48-based motherboards don’t bother with fans, heatpipes, or fins of any sort – instead, according to photos obtained by Bit-Tech, MSI has developed a cooling solution that appeals specifically to watercooling enthusiasts, featuring a copper tube that channels the cooling water from one heat-producing component to the next.

The MSI waterblock doesn’t include barbs – just threaded holes, which means enthusiasts will be able to match tubing sizes throughout their liquid-cooled rig. The question remains to be answered, however, about whether the exclusively watercooled solution will catch on – given the limited market penetration of liquid cooling systems, even in the enthusiast market.

MSI claims up to 20 percent more power efficiency and up to six times longer life because of the continually reduced component temperature. We expect this also means there should be some better potential overclocking too – providing the BIOS (and new X48 chipset) is up to it.

Source: Bit-Tech