Foxconn's Extreme Overclocking setup is actually rather extreme

We've seen some overclockers go to pretty great lengths to keep those chips cool while they crank up the GHz, but Foxconn's demonstration at the company's CeBIT booth is really a sight to behold. They appear to be using copious amounts of liquid nitrogen, along with other black magicks, to boost a Core 2 Extreme processor almost past the 6GHz mark. We're a little short on specifics, but this setup was certainly hot, and by hot we mean cold.

Gallery: Foxconn's Extreme Overclocking setup is actually rather extreme

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[webon @ Mar 5th 2008 6:26AM]

how cool literally

[sean @ Mar 5th 2008 7:26PM]

2 more GHz and it'll run crisis on its lowest level!

[Nick Carchidi @ Mar 5th 2008 6:33AM]

That is so sweet! Now I have a sudden urge to go purchase some Liquid Nitrogen to try it out on my ATI HD Graphics card.

[Jagannath A @ Mar 5th 2008 6:53AM]

you would have to sell yourself for that.. and then it is pretty pointless in buying it

[KarlW @ Mar 5th 2008 9:51AM]

yea, this thing would cost you the Earth. If not to buy, then to keep running.

If you don't mind selling your kids for medical experiments, then go for it.

[mwaybob @ Mar 5th 2008 6:39AM]

I'll have to get down to tesco for my cold...

[rahul @ Mar 5th 2008 6:39AM]

6Ghz?? OMFG!!!

[Ignatius @ Mar 5th 2008 7:00AM]

Lawl, there's processors out there not available for consumer use that run at much higher frequencies. Besides, this is completely insane. No one has a barrel of extremely dangerous liquid nitrogen sitting around.

... and if you do, and you're cooling your PC with it, you're freaking crazy.

[andres @ Mar 5th 2008 5:35PM]

@ignatius
as long as its in a proper tank and you dont touch or breath it, liquid nitrogen is fine

[cirian1975 @ Mar 5th 2008 6:46AM]

But can it play Crysis at max settings?

[ed. @ Mar 5th 2008 6:49AM]

and theyre gonna need a pretty big blender...

[Kurian @ Mar 5th 2008 7:06AM]

No. Not a chance.

[John @ Mar 5th 2008 7:57AM]

And who's thinking our robotic overlords will probably be using a setup like this?

[KarlW @ Mar 5th 2008 9:46AM]

No, but I hear Vista runs smoothly

[thethirdmoose @ Mar 5th 2008 7:54PM]

This setup Dooms us all.

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 5th 2008 6:49AM]

how many video editing apps can it run at once, while they are all playing back fully edited films???

[cirian1975 @ Mar 5th 2008 7:36AM]

could I play Doom on it ???

[johnnychipface @ Mar 5th 2008 7:48AM]

I doubt it very much; you seem to be having a little trouble at being funny so I doubt very much you'd actually have the grey matter to play games.

[Kyle @ Mar 5th 2008 7:50AM]

Yes...but can it love?

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Mar 5th 2008 8:16AM]

since we are all astronauts and have access to liquid nitrogen... i will stat playing GOW2... what happens if all that explodes!!!!!! OWWIEEEEEE

[macona @ Mar 5th 2008 3:21PM]

Actually anyone can rent one of those Dewars in the pictures. They will deliver too. And its not that horribly expensive. I know, we sell it.

[x3qt0r @ Mar 5th 2008 8:45AM]

Can the consoles be overclocked like this?

[Mr. Vage @ Mar 5th 2008 9:20AM]

Already done...4 years ago.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2003/12/30/5_ghz_project/

[naz @ Mar 5th 2008 9:29AM]

(1) That was 5Ghz, not 6Ghz like this computer.
(2) If you are implying that Toms Hardware is the only people to try LN2 cooling, you are very wrong (there have been many others who have beaten TH's speed - here are a couple hitting over 7Ghz: http://www.xbitlabs.com/web/display/20051302091459.html
(3) This is a Core 2 Extreme, which has WAY better performance than a P4. So 6Ghz here would be like a 10Ghz P4.

[yngv @ Mar 5th 2008 10:15AM]

not true, it froze

[elliot @ Mar 5th 2008 11:28AM]

lol its running xp, fools

[Ken @ Mar 5th 2008 9:54AM]

LOL amatures!!

Seriously, if you are going to cryo-cool, you're going to want to use a vacuum chamber. It'd at least help with the obvious condensation.

[macona @ Mar 5th 2008 3:20PM]

Then watch the rest of the convection cooled components go up in smoke. Better option would be to put the MoBo in a box and use the nitrogen to purge the chamber of any air.

[Ken @ Mar 5th 2008 3:24PM]

If you put the system on a cold finger, you'd probably have to supply thermal braids to any components that generate a certain amount of heat. That's granted. The rest of the system would be brought down in temperature anyways. I'd be more concerned about differences in coefficent of thermal expansion between mating components.

[teasphere @ Mar 5th 2008 10:03AM]

What motherboard are they using? I know all the Liquid Nitro is cool and all but some actual technical details would be nice.

[silicon @ Mar 5th 2008 3:12PM]

i'd assume a foxconn motherboard since they do make them :P

[teasphere @ Mar 5th 2008 3:17PM]

Yes, thanks Sherlock... I was trying to figure out if it was their current X38 board or something new.

[yngv @ Mar 5th 2008 10:20AM]

crud... supposed to be tied to comment on Vista running smoothly. -1000 points...

[OneLove @ Mar 5th 2008 10:18AM]

FYI, I come to engadget for specifics. :)

[John Sullivan @ Mar 5th 2008 10:32AM]

Any project on a trade show floor that depends on duct tape (okay, maybe it's gaffers' tape... can't tell) to stay together is okay by me!

[silverblackvoid @ Mar 5th 2008 11:44AM]

liquid nitrogen...aah the sweet memories of watching T2 when i was a little kid.

[sejad @ Mar 5th 2008 9:57PM]

Man this stuff is interesting, but the question is what can they accomplish with a 6gh or a 7.7ghz system besides playing Crysis at Max specs.....lol computers just keep reminding me of Terminator and that new series that just came out lol I love it! sooner or later these things will have their own minds.