Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sandia's Laptop Heatpipes Closer To Market

Posted by timothy on from the add-a-switch-for-cold-days dept.

mckennabluedot.com writes "Laptops aren't truly portable until you can stand to sit with one on your lap for more than 30 minutes. Sandia National Labs has developed small copper 'wicks' to transport methanol--and waste heat--from one area of a computer to another, where it can be dispersed more efficiently, comfortably and compactly than with heat sinks. The technology is being licensed to an undisclosed startup." So this stuff (mentioned here previously) might soon make it to a lap near you.

5 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. iBook by silvakow · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't mean to sound like "that guy", but my iBook really does not have any problems with heat. I can set it on my lap for a good long while and barely notice any heat. This is one of the reasons that apple has not moved up to the G4 yet, so my computer is quite slow, but at least I never think twice about setting it on my lap for a game of mid-class Starcraft.

    --
    In the long run, we're all dead.
  2. Re:Computers shouldn't heat up. by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The best part of using heat pipes is that you can seal the box better and vent the heat where you choose. Heat pipes are increadibly conductive (up to approx 3000x the conductivity of copper). Fans are a problem because the draw dust etc into the laptop. This can form an insulating layer which prevents good heat transfer.

    I agree with your sentiments that laptops should not heat up. Basically this is mainly an x86 problem. With more efficient code and using cooler chips (ARM, MIPS,...) you have a far better chance of making a cool device (as well as having your battery last longer).

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  3. Re:non-waste heat? by neptuneb1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The supercomputer lab I worked at for a while actually used the "waste" heat to heat the building in the winter. Sure, it was just vented during the summer, but for eight months of the year (MN has long winters) they don't have to pay for heating!

    --
    No.
  4. Heatpipes rock by Trogre · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The heatpipe attached to my Athlon cpu works pretty well. The temperature drop after replacing my AMD fan/heatsink combo was between 5 and 10 degrees C.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  5. More info here by bugnuts · · Score: 3, Interesting
    more info

    They have thought of redirecting the heat for "hand warmers" but one of the things heat pipes really buys you is lack of moving parts and fan requirements... in other words, you can use it for silent or even a waterproof computer.