MSI Working on ‘Powerless’ CPU Cooler

[Jimmy 2004]

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

[niko084]

Thats kinda cool, now put some serious gearing in that thing to make that piston really spin that fan!

[a111087]

1 fan will not save much energy...

[dsdsdk]

isnt it cooling the NB?

[Thermopylae_480]

The fan speed doesn't matter as much. The heat energy is converted into kinetic energy. This means even by moving the fan slowly the processor is keeping cool.

[cl4w]

1 fan will not save much energy...

Thats right, but i think its a very good idea, now im dreaming from a rig only cooled by such fans. :P

[tigger]

I think its pretty cool,makes having a window in yer case worthwhile to see it in action.

[niko084]

Originally Posted by Thermopylae_480

The fan speed doesn't matter as much. The heat energy is converted into kinetic energy. This means even by moving the fan slowly the processor is keeping cool.

Well yes that aids, I just thought it would be cool to get the fan going pretty good on top of that.

[King Wookie]

I really do hope this thing works.
It would be nice to see some of the heat put to a purpose, as up to now all we ever did was simply try to remove the heat.

Then again, I'm a sucker for anything oddball.

[happita]

That thing is just constantly going to be starting up, then slowing down, starting up, slowing down, etc...
TBH, I don't think this thing will be all too helpful for CPU temps.

[ktr]

Originally Posted by tigger69

I think its pretty cool,makes having a window in yer case worthwhile to see it in action.

exactly, I would buy that board just for the mechanics, and the fancy cooling in action.

I wonder if its noisy...

[JoJoe]

Sounds awesome. Would love to see all that heat energy put to use.

[regan1985]

if its more effective to cool a cpu that way then its a good idea,if it just saves evergy its pointless

[Darknova]

The problem comes when the temps get too high, the air inside the piston will stay hot, so will actually hinder the fans movement. It won't stop entirely, but the rpm will drop.

[theonetruewill]

Originally Posted by dsdsdk

isnt it cooling the NB?

You are correct.

And what's there to cool the surrounding of the piston?
Ok, more fan's perhaps.. But what happens if the "thing" that is holding the piston in place starts to get hot from friction, then what??

[a111087]

Originally Posted by TechnicalFreak

But what happens if the "thing" that is holding the piston in place starts to get hot from friction, then what??

the heat is transfered into energy
I think we have to wait and see on this one

[jydie]

Way to go MSI!! That is awesome. Kind of funny to think that I would actually be looking forward to trying out a new CPU heatsink... but if this makes it to mainstream, I will be ordering one for sure.

[Mistral]

Guess that gives the phrase "temperature controlled fan" a whole new meaning...

[warup89]

I've seen this technology before, quiet old news actually, but new on PCs anyways. as far as sound, i think this would make a "tumping" noise, hopefully not as strong as the old model i've seen.

[twicksisted]

thats ridiculous.... you know this whole "save the planet" get a wind turbine thing is just another way of getting you to buy into something else and create another market.

Wind turbines... need lead acid batteries... so you tell me whats got less of an environmental impact... using a bit of power from the socket on the wall or constantly buying lead acid batteries and dumping them in the skip when they finished.

also... im not sure that im sold on the idea of "low power equivalents" of CPU's and GFX cards... if something is to be powerfull and exude power, it needs power coming in...

I think that for everyday users who want to check emails and stuff then getting a clow power celeron is great... so is riding a bicycle to work if you dont already have enough stress in your working day to accomodate it.

Me personally.... I like powerfull things and im not bothered about how many watts my gfx card uses becuase I diddnt buy it to marvel about its efficiency... same goes for the rest of my rig.

I guess its like drag racers versus the totoya prius :P
Its what you bought it for and what you want it to do

[Dangle]

I agree. This global warming scare tactic has people spending ridiculous amounts of money on garbage thinking they'll save the planet - while retailers are lining their pockets, and laughing all the way to the bank. WTG ALgore!

You'll need a really shitty CPU to be able to use this fan and not melt. I don't know if Crysis will run with on a celeron.

[whitwolftwm]

well it looks like its currently being applied towards the North Bridge in this pic

[panchoman]

what msi really needs to do is the thermal energy to generate power for the system.. one day i'd like to see self sufficent engines that can power themselves from the heat they produce and that all that is needed is a battery to kick start the system..

[twicksisted]

youre right it is... personally i dont have any active cooling on mine and im good all the way to 3.8ghz on my Q6600 gaming .... so perhaps for future technologies it will be a good thing... components do generate heat and heat can be used to generate power of sorts

perhaps in future it will be neccessary to breathe into a gas mask becuase our atmosphere is completely buggered by the amount of pollution that weve exhausted into it... but right now its not neccessary and pointless