Phononic solid-state CPU Cooler Gives Big Cooling Performance in a Small Package

[btarunr]

Phononic, the company revolutionizing cooling and heating with SilverCore solid-state technology, introduces a new and innovative, high-performance solid-state CPU Cooler. The Phononic model HEX 1.0 is the first in a series of CPU coolers and is now available for pre-order via the company's Indiegogo campaign.

Unlike traditional heatsink/fan CPU coolers that continue to grow in size, the HEX 1.0 is built to meet today's high-performance computing needs in a much smaller form factor, which allows consumers to utilize enclosures ranging from mini-ITX to full size EATX towers. The Phononic CPU Cooler comes equipped with a dedicated control board that provides Variable Assist Cooling (VAC). Users can maximize thermal performance while minimizing the power and fan noise associated with increasing CPU load conditions. VAC combines a state-of-the-art Phononic heat pump with electronic control hardware and firmware that allows the CPU Cooler to respond to the changing load and ambient conditions.



Using highly reliable solid-state technology, the HEX 1.0 CPU Cooler meets or exceeds the thermal performance of closed-loop water coolers but without the concerns associated with water in the system.

"Our HEX 1.0 CPU Cooler packs more cooling performance for a given size than any other CPU cooler on the market," explained Ted Donnelly, director of Phononic's IT Cooling business. "With the addition of our Variable Assist Cooling (VAC), users can maximize the performance of their system, while at the same time managing the fan noise associated with higher load conditions."

The Phononic CPU Cooler technical specs include:

• Fan heatsink with integrated Phononic solid-state heat pump
• Integrated 80mm fan with fully enclosed blades
• Compatible with the latest high-performance Intel processors
• Tested to TDP levels greater than 175 W
• Dimensions: 4.3" x 3.5" x 3.5" (H x W x D)

"At the heart of every computer is a CPU whose performance is dictated by the chip design, the clock speed and processor cache. As users push the limits of their high-performance systems, they create thermal loads that require a reliable CPU cooling solution to deliver the necessary performance," said Michael Bruno, vice president and general manager of Phononic's Electronics Cooling business. "With the innovative use of our proprietary SilverCore solid-state technology, we're disrupting the high-performance CPU cooling market by offering a solution that will not only meet performance needs but provide an option for safer, smaller, more durable processor cooling."

The Phononic CPU Cooler is available for pre-order from Indiegogo with special perks for early adopters, including an opportunity to participate as an extension of the Phononic engineering development team, a chance to win a trip to Phononic's headquarters to participate in the final product launch, discounted prices and more. Check out all pre-order options on this page.

The Phononic CPU Cooler will be available for delivery in November 2015.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[natr0n]

"solid-state"
"Integrated 80mm fan with fully enclosed blades"

 

[Batou1986]

Using highly reliable solid-state technology, the HEX 1.0 CPU Cooler meets or exceeds the thermal performance of closed-loop water coolers

benchmarks or it didn't happen

 

[Xzibit]

I'm sure if you put a fan with that much static pressure on a regular heatsink it will do well.

Max Static Pressure: 9.955 mm H2O

Xigmatek Dark Knight Night Hawk with 4.1 H20

 

[bubbleawsome]

Hey TPU, will you guys please do a review on this once it releases?

 

[Retell]

Hmmm temperature comparison against OEM Liquid Cooler, does that mean Intel's standard thickness 120mm? Can't wait to hear that 4,500 RPM 80mm fan.

 

[Basard]

So, am I reading this right...? It's just a regular heatsink/fan with a solid state fan controller built in?

Oh, it's a peltier. I get it now.

 

[Furunomoe]

Indiegogo and Flexible Funding? Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[R-T-B]

Indiegogo and Flexible Funding? Thanks, but no thanks.

Perhaps I'm not understanding. Doesn't that just mean it was crowd funded?

 

[human_error]

Perhaps I'm not understanding. Doesn't that just mean it was crowd funded?

Means it isn't crowd funded yet as their indiegogo campaign hasn't finished at this time, and even if the funding does succeed there's no guarantee they can make the cooler or have it work as effectively as they are claiming.

 

[buggalugs]

I dont get this product. Firstly, there is already air coolers that are comparable with closed loop coolers, and even better than the cheaper closed loop coolers.

I dont understand why they need to do this, why not just have all the heatpipes active at all times. Its not saving on electricity......

 

[20mmrain]

I dont get this product. Firstly, there is already air coolers that are comparable with closed loop coolers, and even better than the cheaper closed loop coolers.

I dont understand why they need to do this, why not just have all the heatpipes active at all times. Its not saving on electricity......

Cheaper closed loop coolers yes, Cheaper custom loop coolers No.....I would love to see the thermal stats on this cooler. I highly doubt the performance that this company is claiming. There are currently heatsinks out there with this design. I have yet to test one with the performance they are claiming. And I perform thermal testing (among other tests) for a living.

 

[Aquinus]

Oh, it's a peltier. I get it now.

This. A tiny vapor/compression cycle would have been cool but I guess it would have been too bulky.

 

[buildzoid]

I think their running the peltier as a temperature step up. Normal heatsinks have finstacks that that get to say 40C this thing is probably gonna hit 60-90C on the secondary finstack which gives you excellent dissipation due to having a massive delta T between the finstack and the air going through it. The down side is that it will waste a ton of power and probably not work on any CPU that needs more than 200W of power.

 

[Fx]

I skeptically remain unconvinced.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

I think their running the peltier as a temperature step up. Normal heatsinks have finstacks that that get to say 40C this thing is probably gonna hit 60-90C on the secondary finstack which gives you excellent dissipation due to having a massive delta T between the finstack and the air going through it. The down side is that it will waste a ton of power and probably not work on any CPU that needs more than 200W of power.

It have been done before by the voltair cooler. It not that worth it in practice as the peltier is another heat source too. Even the voltair is about just slightly below giant heatsink like the d14. I am not sure what is different here for this heatsink here.

http://www.v3components.com/new/voltair.html

 

[buildzoid]

It have been done before by the voltair cooler. It not that worth it in practice as the peltier is another heat source too. Even the voltair is about just slightly below giant heatsink like the d14. I am not sure what is different here for this heatsink here.

http://www.v3components.com/new/voltair.html

These guys might be running some prototype heatpipes or semiconductors in the TEC that get them better efficiency. But still I'm very very skeptical. Also that 4.5K RPM fan being "quiet" is a total lie.

 

[5DVX0130]

Nothing revolutionary going on there. Just a lot of marketing mumbo jumbo, and another fail product at an overly inflated price.

From the vague info available it's a peltier/heatpipe hybrid cooler. Which has already been proven to be a failure in comparison to standard heatpipe design.
While the idea sounds nice, the practical implementation isn’t. To power hungry, still bound to fans, possible condensation, …

I still remember the Cooler Master V10 “monster” and how big of a fail that thing was.

On a more serious note ... do you get free earplugs with the cooler? Seeing as it's rated at 48.6 dB-A.

 

[Sasqui]

Am I missing something? They simply put a Peltier on the bottom of an air cooler.

And then wrote a TON of words about it.

Claiming 6W power draw? TEC's are in the high range of 15% efficiency, so I'm doubting the math there.

 

[5DVX0130]

Am I missing something? They simply put a Peltier on the bottom of an air cooler.

And then wrote a TON of words about it.

Claiming 6W power draw? TEC's are in the high range of 15% efficiency, so I'm doubting the math there.

No you aren't missing anything. Just your typical crowd funded project.

- Take an existing idea/design/product
- Repackage it
- Add a lot of fancy words
- ???
- $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

 

[ZoneDymo]

I skeptically remain unconvinced.

I optimistically remain unconvinced as well.

 

[SteveS45]

I still remember the Cooler Master V10 “monster” and how big of a fail that thing was.

On a more serious note ... do you get free earplugs with the cooler? Seeing as it's rated at 48.6 dB-A.

As monstrous as the V10 was, it's actually based on sound design, it's just that designs like that did not fit the PC or the market well. Prolimatech tried to do something similar with it's Genesis too, and it sold like crap too. The idea is that in dual tower heatsinks the heated air front the front stack lowers the efficiency of the 2nd stack. Having two stacks that do not feed into each other is good, just nobody has found a good looking and marketable solution yet.

As for the Phononic cooler... I'm also very very skeptical.

 

[micropage7]

the design like offer nothing new, and i dunno. from design it brings me into skeptical, too simple for that claim

 

[InhaleOblivion]

I have my doubts as well regarding the cooling effectiveness of this design. I guess I'm just use to traditional pull-push air coolers.

 

[Sasqui]

No you aren't missing anything. Just your typical crowd funded project.

- Take an existing idea/design/product
- Repackage it
- Add a lot of fancy words
- ???
- $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

It's just an AIR COOLER WITH A TEC (Peltier) Plate... Anyone could roll their own, and it will be more effective than an air cooler and probably an H2O cooler. But, with caveats:

• It'll draw some serious wattage to be effective (I'm estimating upwards of 100W)
• A failed TEC can cause significant damage... it acts as an insulator when it doesn't have power or fails.

Picture from the Indegogo page link: