Liquid Metal CPU Heatsink Beats Water Cooling

unassimilatible writes "Bios Magazine is reporting that the world's first commercially available liquid-metal based CPU cooler is about to ship. Danamics, a Danish company, claims that its LM-10 outperforms standard air-cooled heatsinks and most watercooled systems with a mere 1W power draw. 'The liquid metal is a key component in Danamics cooling systems. Liquid metal has two major advantages when cooling high power density heat sources: Firstly it has superior thermo physical properties that decrease temperature — and temperature non-uniformity — on die and across chips. Secondly, the electrical properties of the liquid metal enables efficient, reliable and ultra compact electromagnetic pumping without the use of moving parts, shafts, seals, etc.' Awesome technology, if it actually works and is affordable. The submitter requests that the moderators terminate all T-1000 jokes."

Comments

Toxicity?

[i_ate_god]

And just how good for the environment is this liquid metal? Or for your health?

Re:Toxicity?

[strelitsa]

There was a nice discussion about this in Firehose before this made it to the Big Page. A couple of the candidates for the liquid metal that might be used in this thing are environmentally neutral (bismuth, tin, etc.).

Re:Toxicity?

[Sangui5]

From my Firehose post:

It's mostly likely using Field's metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field%27s_metal), Rose's metal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_metal), Galinstan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galinstan), or one of the other low-melting point low toxicity alloys, NOT mercury.

Re:Toxicity?

[MdotCpDeltaT]

I think the liquid metal is their server.

Re:Toxicity?

[jlarocco]

For the lazy:

Field's metal
Rose metal
Galinstan

Re:Toxicity?

[Sangui5]

Galistan is liquid to -19 degrees C....

Re:Toxicity?

[mrmeval]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_metal_embrittlement

Hope they figured this out or mitigate it somehow.

Banned in California?

[kaos07]

I can see the Governator imposing a ban on the import of this product...

Re:Banned in California?

[Anonymous Coward]

I can see the Governator imposing a ban on the import of this product...

Warning:
This product contains chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer and/or the rise of cyborg assassins bent on enslaving mankind.

Sodium cooling

[bmo]

" Awesome technology, if it actually works and is affordable."

It works. It's worked for decades under the sea cooling nuclear reactors and in piston aircraft engines.

http://www.enginehistory.org/air-cooled_cylinders_3.htm

" During his early years at McCook Field the ever-ingenious Sam Heron had observed the characteristics of various sodium compounds which are normally used in heat-treating operations. These materials are solid at room temperature and become liquid at engine operating temperatures. He observed that since these compounds wet the surface of steel alloys readily and transfer heat very well, their use should be effective in extending the life of exhaust valves. The ancestor of our present-day sodium-cooled valves had arrived, thanks to Mr. Heron, and almost ninety years later we are still enjoying the benefits of his ingenuity though even today such valves are not completely fault free."

Also, it's not terribly expensive. Just don't go hacking into the reservoir or any of the tubes with a saw, mmmkay?

--
BMO

We, Denmark

[ZarathustraDK]

We give you funny cartoons and heatsinks.

You give us Bush, Microsoft and Michael Jackson.

Bad deal, Denmark thinks.

Re:No T-1000 jokes, huh, submitter?

[realmolo]

Yeah, I know. I forgot to put in the breaks. I do that a lot. I'm used to EVERY OTHER FORUM SOFTWARE IN THE WORLD, where the breaks are inserted for you.

Re:Schmoo Schmoo

[maglor_83]

Yeah alright how about her?
Interestingly wikipedia claims she was born aged 55, which explains a lot.