Swaying CPU Fans 166
Vindi submitted a New Scientist story about a CPU fan that flaps in the breeze. 2cm metal or polyester
fan blades, and use less power then a traditional rotary fan. They move less
air then the traditional fan, but for laptops, using 99% less power
can't hurt. Update Hey its a duplicate from saturday! Guess I shouldn't
post while planning my trek to see LotR tomorrow. Go ahead, flame on.
fire (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:fire (Score:2)
True....very true.
Unless of course, you're an AMD owner (while I am an AMD supporter, this kinda worries me).
I'm sure we all remember article [tomshardware.com]. Take a look [tomshardware.com] at the results.
Re:fire (Score:1)
Re:fire (Score:1)
Karma whores: (Score:3, Offtopic)
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/12/13/201
Re:Karma whores: (Score:1, Funny)
No - I think they got that one about right. :)
Duplicate article. (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:Duplicate article. (Score:1)
(cue modding-down)
Re:Duplicate article. (Score:1)
Re:Duplicate article. (Score:1)
- Ha ha, I'll repost this story so everyone will complain about it and nobody will pay attention to my then
Re:Duplicate article. (Score:2, Funny)
Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:5, Informative)
Some people point to the VIA C3-800, but if you have real computing needs, steer clear. It runs comparable to a Celeron 400, which is almost, but not quite adequate for general computing. Instead, check out the old reliable suppliers. The shift to
Right now, you can take the Intel Tualatin pIII 1.13GHz (28W), cut the bus speed to around 100MHz, cut the voltage down to about 1.1v and be right in the target range. Of course you won't know exactly w/o experimentation on your cpu, but it *should* be doable. If you're worried about losing efficiency to bus speed, remember that you can compensate by running it on one of the PIII DDR chipsets that are now available (upping effective bus speeds to 200MHz) or waiting until February, when Intel says they'll release a similar part themselves. Additionally, the 512k (vs 256k) cache on the pIII-s will offset lower bus speeds. Just check out the specs of the PIII-M LV models at developer.intel.com and ask how they got to those low wattage numbers with the same core. Since the last fanless G4 was 400MHz and claimed (in its wildest fantasies) to be a supercomputer twice as fast as a pIII, a fanless 800MHz pIII is not insignificant.
Even better, surprise, is AMD. The current mobile palomino runs at 1.1GHz, 1.1v, 25w. This is clearly just an underclock of the current 1.75v desktop XPs. But what it tells you is that the AMD architecture is very open to undervoltage at lower clock speeds.
Now if you consider AMD's forthcoming die shrink, things really look good. Zdnet.de reported (unsourced) that the Athlon 1.73GHz processor would drop from about 75W to 45W after the changeover. Depending on how far you could drop the voltage, you could be looking at a 1-1.2GHz part running at about 10W! Fanless! Now imagine (a beo..no) 2 of these in a well ventilated case, with an MPX board -- 2GHz of dead silent AMD power! Wooo!
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:2)
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:2)
I've been looking for a good Internet Appliance [yafla.com] and a CPU that runs at a low enough temperature to require just a passive heatsink (no fan) is something I'm really looking for. Any suggestions?
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:2)
I've been looking for something similar.
Basically: ethernet in, audio/video out (Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and progresive scan component video would be nice), from a streamed MPEG2 source.
The problem is the "oomph" required to do MPEG2 decoding -- this usually dictates a CPU with enough horsepower to need active cooling. However, if you look at the RealMagic Netstream 2000 by Sigma Designs [sigmadesigns.com], you'll find a PCI MP@ML MPEG2 TS and ES decoder card that does not require active cooling and works with a lowly P133.
One can imagine a settop box based on this combination that would fit the bill. It gets better... there is such a beast, and it runs on Linux: The VIP30306n [gctglobal.com]. This little puppy uses the Sigma Designs em8400 MPEG2 chip... the same one as in the RealMagic Netstream2000.
The downside is price: the Netstream2000 runs around US$220, and I'd expect that the GCT Allwell box would be US$500 or so.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
It comes with mobo, and power supply, on board ether, s3 savage4 agp (even tv out), audio (only 2 channel), usb, firewire, plus one pci slot. I personally put a wintv card in it so I can use it as a tv, and a dvd drive to play dvd, but you could easily put in a dolby 5.1 card instead of the wintv card.
I put a 1 ghz celery in it, but as it stands it's rather noisy, casefan + cpu fan + psu fan + hd. But if you get a via c3 [google.com] it should be able to run without a cpu fan.
It also should be possible to also hack out the small, noisy case fan that it has now and put in larger, and quieter case fan. Dremmel tool is probably required for this one, or a very nimble hand with tin snips.
Another thing you might to do quiet it up a bit is search for silent drives, I think seagate either makes or is going to make a quiet ide drive. There's also sleaves you can get for ide drives to quiet them, but that might require your only 5.25 bay, which means you'd then need a usb or firewire dvd drive.
Mine's more of a do it yourselfer but it has pretty much standard hardware, and should have enough horsepower to do pretty much anything that you'd want to do with it, sans FPS games, because of the slow 3d video. 2d is fine though.
sv24=$250 via c3~$70? hd=$100-150, dvd drive=$60? You pretty much have a machine after that, and any thing else is optional.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:2)
As for disk drives, I think we had a diskless client set top box in mind, with content streamed from a server elsewhere.
The GCT Allwell VIP3030n is really nice, though the processor may be a bit underpowered for rendering comples web pages as it uses an NS Geode. Still, for a/v streaming, it's probably fine.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
The psu fan is still pretty darn noisy though, with the size of the psu, there's no way that's going to be easily replaced.
The big thing about the via c3 is that supposedly the 866's and 933's are out, but I can't find them anywhere for sale. They have a slow fpu (runs at half clock), but that doesn't seem to hurt real world applications that that much suprisingly enough. I'll probably have to try one of those down the road.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
I love the form factor of that unit (at the very least it's a lot easier to put in a hidden location where the sound will naturally be dampened somewhat), and I didn't even know about the VIA C3 before so that is a fantastic bit of knowledge for refining the search (the C3 does seem to be key to a reasonable performance IA type system). I don't need DVD or floppy drive performance though, apart from during installation, as I want media to come over the home network.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
It's a definite improvement over the Aluminum tornado that I had in the box before, it even runs 6 deg C cooler now.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
bob
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:1)
How about an iMac?
No fan in any of the slot-loading models, all the media playback you can want, etc. Yes, the cheapest new model is $799, but none of the "slot-load" iMacs have a fan, and can be found fairly inexpensively on eBay.
And if the thought of running the MacOS bothers you, you can run Darwin and X Windows, and still use the Firewire and Airport connections. Just pretend it's BSD but in a differently colored box.
Re:Why not just make cooler running chips? (Score:2)
Well I most certainly have nothing against Macs, or the MacOS: Again I'm looking for something as a Internet Appliance and if it performs the desired task then I'm very happy indeed. However the iMac doesn't fit my needs because of the CRT screen (which greatly increases power consumption, heat generation, and of course makes it much bulkier). Also the MacOS isn't an instant on type system. Otherwise I think the Apple products are fantastic.
I suggest (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I suggest (Score:1)
With any luck... (Score:1, Troll)
Piezoelectric fans are already available! (Score:4, Interesting)
* Input Voltage: 115VAC, 60 Hz
* Capacitance: 15 nF
* Power Consumption: 30 mW
* Volume Flow Rate: 2 CFM, (0.9 l/s)
* Peak Air Velocity: 400 FPM, (2.0 m/s)
* Weight: 2.8 grams
* Mounting: #2-56 clr. holes, 2 places
* Temperature Range: -20 C to 70 C
* EMI/RFI: None
However, they're not cheap. Pricing starts at $149. Additionally there is a Piezoelectric Resonant Blade Element [piezo.com]. Interesting stuff. Hopefully mass production of piezoelectric fans will lower their price to the average customer range.
Palm-O-Lectric fans are a possibility (Score:1)
Re:Piezoelectric fans are already available! (Score:1)
Dejas vous (Score:1, Redundant)
The ultimate fan would... (Score:2, Interesting)
...somehow use the heat from the CPU to power the fan. As the CPU got hotter, the fan would move faster.
I have no idea how this could be done, but there must be a way.
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:2)
You could do something like this simply by adding a fan to the top (it would work like those Christmas candle things at craft fairs, the rising hot air would turn the fan), but I doubt this would generate enough air flow to make it worthwhile.
My guess would be that if there was a simple way to turn this heat into enough electricity to power a fan to cool off the heat (which would in turn shut the fan off by reducing the voltage), someone would have done it. Either that, or I should go apply for a patent.
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
Unfortunately, it would have to have some sort of capacitor to smooth out the power source, or it would only work in spurts - if it worked too well the CPU would become cool for a short time, cutting off power to the "dynamic heatsink". Unless this device were very quiet, I imagine the clicking noise from turning itself on and off (or merely revving up and down) would get annoying. Not to mention probably wearing out the part.
The other difficulty is, of course, in designing something that converts heat into a usable form of energy with temperature differences less than, say, what you need for a steam turbine. No present solution to this problem seems to be particularly cheap.
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
Unfortunately, the current generated would be very small (no, I have no figures/equations to back this up) It may seem as though the heat difference would be large, as we've all seen the THG video, however bear in mind the purpose would be to keep the chip at ~30C. So that's only a ~10C difference in temperature - not really going to be enough energy there to power a fan, and the efficiency of the process would be so low that it's hardly a super-efficient heat-sink either.
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:2)
-sam
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
Not True (Score:1)
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
But what about the personal injury claims?
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
An entire computer's heat? Not possible, thanks to thermodynamics - you're talking perpetual motion here. And, since heat has so much more entropy than electricity, you probably can't even come close, even theoretically.
And don't forget the light output from the laptop's LCD, or the other EM output from the various motherboard components. The only way to "recoup" some of that power would be to harness the kinetic energy wasted on moving the keyboard keys track ball.
Easier by far to keep coming up with ways to (a) use less power and/or (b) store more power.
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:2)
Of course, heat makes air move directly. Design your heat-sink and case to take advantage of that, and you shouldn't need a fan unless the cooling requirements are outrageous. Problems are:
--The user can't lay the case on it's side or otherwise change the orientation from what the designer intended.
--The case, mobo, and heat-sink have to be designed together, and the user can't add anything inside the case, as it might change the airflow.
--Most CPU's cooling requirements _are_ outrageous if run at full rated speed.
So I wouldn't want a box designed for natural convection only. But for the user that finds adding a USB peripheral challenging, doesn't need 1GHz, and doesn't want that fan humming, maybe it would work.
No "maybe" about it-- it's been done (Score:2)
It's been done, by apple (who else?). Since the introduction of the models that had slot-loading CD drives in October 1999, iMacs have been fanless, cooled totally by convection currents. Not surprisingly, the iMac was designed for the novice user who doesn't need 1GHz and won't ever be dinking around in the thing's innards, so convection cooling was the way to go.
The G4 Cube was also cooled in this manner, but that model was directed at studio managers and CEO types who likewise wouldn't need expandability.
~Philly
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
start moving until its at a coupla hundred Farenheit.
-Greg
Re:The ultimate fan would... (Score:1)
New Topic (Score:1)
I would be blown away if the fan would work better for less power
A beowulf cluster of these (Score:1)
So we would call them Flaptops ? (Score:1)
This is NOT the same story as last time (Score:1, Funny)
This story is about a cpu cooling fan with little waving thingees that move UP AND DOWN.
It's obviously a completely different technology!
who's fault? (Score:2, Insightful)
Aw, screw it. In the spirit of the season, I'll just wish them both a Merry CowboyNealmas!
Slashdot search index (Score:3, Insightful)
This means that searches for things like "IBM" or "cpu" or "CSS", etc end up with no results. This makes it much more difficult to find things like duplicate stories about AMD CPU. etc
this likely needs to be fixed so that when an editor searches for a dupe he does not get trapped.
Re:Slashdot search index - fencepost error (Score:2)
This means that searches for things like "IBM" or "cpu" or "CSS", etc end up with no results.
No, it would mean 'is' and 'it' aren't indexed. Since the page actually says less than 4, your second statement is true though - which is wierd considering the number of TLAs in
Re:Slashdot search index - fencepost error (Score:2)
Slash AI? (Score:1, Offtopic)
lets see three or less characters, or three or less days ago.
must be a bug in the SlashDot AI they are trying to develop in secret. Something OSDN is developing to see if they can dispense with human story selection, moderation, etc.
think about it. Can YOU tell the differance?
Peizo fans are at least 15 years old (Score:5, Interesting)
It's kind of hard to tell exactly what this article is describing, but it sounds like exactly the same thing at half the size.
Re:Peizo fans are at least 15 years old (Score:2)
I don't know if there is any real advantage to this as compared to regular motor-driven fans. It takes a certain amount of power to move a certain amount of air, and AFAIK electric motors are pretty efficient. I don't know the efficiency of piezo devices, but I don't see how it can get much more than electric motors -- if a piezo fan takes 0.01 times the power, it's probably moving 0.01 times as much air, and that's not going to keep your 2GHz CPU cool. But if you actually want that tiny of a fan, I expect piezo will scale down easier than motors.
Also, most small fan failures are due to the bearing going out. Piezo devices don't have to have bearings -- you can just bend the wings to flap them instead. If you can find material that will bend back and forth forever without failing, peizo might be more reliable. But that's a big "if".
Don't Worry CmdrTaco (Score:1, Offtopic)
I do have a question. Why not just remove the article after you find out that it's a duplicate? Judging by the... er... quality of comments, is it really worth it to keep the article up?
Answer: what is piezoelectric? (Score:4, Informative)
They're used in inkjet printers - they're in ink some cartridge when an electric field is applied to them and they change shape, forcing the ink out of the I also hear the they used them in the ipod for some sort of playlist control mechanism.
Re:Answer: what is piezoelectric? (Score:1)
The only place the iPod would have a piezoelectric element would be for its speaker. The iPod makes audible clicks when you navigate its GUI. Just one of the many small details that makes the iPod supercool.
Moderation (Score:1, Offtopic)
This is not meant as a Troll, just constructive criticism.
Re:Moderation (Score:1)
Time to revise the overclockers manual (Score:1)
Imagine...
Washington Post: Dec 13, 2018. Details are now emerging about the accident that irradiated much of Germany on Tuesday. Nothing is as yet confirmed, however, initial reports indicate that a heatsink was somehow removed from an AMD processor (PR rating 10,000,000). A bizzare terrorist group with the initials THG may have been involved. Containment was lost, and critical mass was reached almost immediately. AMD representatives have issued a statement in the wake of the carnage: "Obviously, they were using an improperly designed motherboard."
No Noise (Score:1)
That will save me a headacke or two - my DELL Inspiron desktop-replacement starts an aeroplane everytime it does something harder than running an editor.
"BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"
A Breeze? (Score:1)
So, um, how much breeze is needed? And if there's a breeze, why do you need a fan?...
Re:A Breeze? (Score:1)
But if they were really talking about the fan then I'd have to get one of those and sit it next to my perpetual motion machine and cold fusion reactor.
-nuclearsnake
Flame On! (Score:1, Offtopic)
Flame #1: Why is Overrated/Underrated not M2'd? The conspiracy theory here is that since editors moderated with unlimited points [slashdot.org], its a way for editors to moderate things they don't like (censorware, anything said badly about them) down without feeling the wrath of M2!
Flame #2: Is the AC privacy on slashdot really safe [slashdot.org] after upgrading to Slash2.2??
Flame #3: Do you really think that people with a lot of comments need to get out more [slashdot.org] even though they are indirectly lining your wallet?
Let the flame war begin!
And remember moderators, this is on topic, cause Taco said to "Flame On!" (at least gimmie a point for attempt at humor)
Slashdotted again? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:It's a sad, sordid tale (Score:1)
Bummer (Score:1)
"Flame on" eh? (Score:1)
Re:"Flame on" eh? (Score:1)
No, don't flame, please (Score:1)
Please don't flame. This story is about CPU fans.
... And we all know that you shouldn't flame the fans.
You people dont read slashdot anymore, do you? (Score:1)
I'm a CPU fan (Score:1)
Go CPU! (woof woof woof!)
Flame On (Score:1)
What do you mean LOTR Tommorrow?! Someone with your power should be able to convince their local theaters to show it a day early!
At least some of us were able to do it here in the Twin Cities.
;-P
Flame on, huh? (Score:2)
Perhaps you shouldn't check spelling and capitalization while planning your treks. Do your planning BEFORE you spellcheck.