NASA Develops Extreme Heat-Resistant Chips

[Jimmy 2004]

For most people's computers, the microchips inside them are likely to fail after just a few hours, if not a few minutes, of use at high temperatures, leading to some quite extreme cooling solutions. However, scientists at NASA have managed to remove the need for complex cooling methods by designing a chip that can survive 1,700 hours of continuous operation at 500 degrees Celsius. Given that the average CPU would be considered to be running hot if it hit 60 degrees, this is quite an impressive achievement, which could pave the way for harsh-environment electronics. For example, it would allow computer-components to be located nearer to combustion chambers on space shuttles and rockets which could lead to more streamlined designs. More locally, these chips could potentially be used in environments such as oil and gas drilling, or even near to automotive engines, where relatively high temperatures are experienced.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[effmaster]

For most people’s computers, the microchips inside them are likely to fail after just a few hours, if not a few minutes, of use at high temperatures, leading to some quite extreme cooling solutions. However, scientists at NASA have managed to remove the need for complex cooling methods by designing a chip that can survive 1,700 hours of continuous operation at 500 degrees Celsius. Given that the average CPU would be considered to be running hot if it hit 60 degrees, this is quite an impressive achievement, which could pave the way for harsh-environment electronics. For example, it would allow computer-components to be located nearer to combustion chambers on space shuttles and rockets which could lead to more streamlined designs. More locally, these chips could potentially be used in environments such as oil and gas drilling, or even near to automotive engines, where relatively high temperatures are experienced.

Source: DailyTech

Or maybe we could actually use these to overclock our computers without so much cooling

 

[WarEagleAU]

very nice invention. Now, if they could make them last forever, no elaborate cooling schemes would be needed. Just case fans! FTW!

 

[effmaster]

But then again come to think of it when i was working for NASA on the Arsenal for my summer internship (which just ended a few weeks ago btw) it was easy to see that everything they do takes time and that it can get pretty expensive lol.
So i wouldnt be surprised if this is never widely used unfortunately

 

[kwchang007]

This would be great for an HTPC.