Tiny wind engines cool computers

Tiny wind engines cool computers

news.bbc.co.uk

Minuscule wind engines could help to take computing power to the next level, scientists believe.
US researchers have developed a prototype device that creates a "breeze" made up of charged particles, or ions, to cool computer chips.

The "ionic wind", the scientists say, will help to manage the heat generated by increasingly powerful, yet ever-shrinking devices.

(visit the link for the full news article)


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[edit on 15-8-2007 by UM_Gazz]

We all use computers here. We all know they have been getting smaller, and faster. So this new way of cooling them is a really cool idea. Do now know how well it will work yet, but I do hope this will help solve the problems of over heating and make computers faster yet.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

When I read that it uses Ionic Wind, I got this picture on my head of the computer
floating away, since the Ionic wind effect is thought to be the what makes lifters levitate.


It's very cool when they can find a way to make computers work even better.

Does this mean computers will have even less moving parts now?

Iori
Thanks for posting
There will be fewer moveing parts as far as the fan goes. They might be able get rid of the cooling fan, but I don't see that happening just yet.
I am also not farmiler with your refrence to lifters.

Originally posted by RedGolem
I am also not farmiler with your refrence to lifters.

An Ion Lifter (I hate the term Ionocraft) is a small device that uses Ion wind to hover.

Wiki entry on it.

Iori,
thanks for the link. It was an interesting read. I looks like that same principle will be used to help with the cooling. If they can get around the high voltage requirement that is.