Friday, February 29th 2008

MSI Working on ‘Powerless’ CPU Cooler

MSI has taken a step to try and reduce computer power consumption slightly by building a processor fan that is powered using only heat given off by the CPU. As the processor heats up, it causes air inside a piston to expand. That forces out the piston rod, which in turn causes the fan to spin and blow air over the heatsink, as shown in the first image below. This then helps to cool the air inside the piston, causing it to contract again, pulling the piston rod back in and cooling the CPU without needing any extra electricity. The technology is by no means a modern idea - it uses a mechanism invented in 1816 by Scottish engineer Robert Stirling - but it's never before been used on a large scale for computing purposes. MSI's fan is capable of converting 70% of the heat energy given off by the CPU into kinetic energy, and the company plans to demo the cooler at next week's CeBIT show in Hanover. However, there is no news of when this fan will become available for purchase, or what prices will be like.
Source: Reg Hardware
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54 Comments on MSI Working on ‘Powerless’ CPU Cooler

#51
beyond_amusia
Now we just need a way to use our PCs for heating our homes. :)
Posted on Reply
#52
hat
Enthusiast
We already do^^
it's called PRESCOTT :roll:
Posted on Reply
#53
HAL7000
Energy efficient Coolers, it will cost MSI more $$$$ in energy developing, manufacturing and bringing the coolers into market then what little energy they will claim to save. What a joke.
Posted on Reply
#54
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
HAL7000Energy efficient Coolers, it will cost MSI more $$$$ in energy developing, manufacturing and bringing the coolers into market then what little energy they will claim to save. What a joke.
if every MSI mobo from now on comes with one of these, the cost will multiply over years.

Your logic is... really flawed.

'This energy saving device costs more engery to design/produce than it saves!'
how many of them? over how long? compared to what alternatives? If they make 50,000 mobos with this and they run for 10 years, i'm sure it would save a lot of power over that time.

Still iot might not save as much as it cost to make them,.... but it will be less than if they spent the same engery cost making new fan powered devices. there IS a saving, minor or not.
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