New thermaltake concept

[juneau]

Thermaltake's second backroom-surprise on its sprawling stand was a concept that landed late yesterday. The company was unsure whether to even show it at CeBIT 2008 but we're glad that it did.



It's a refrigerated system that's still very much at the concept stage. But Thermaltake hopes to use its research to push niche solutions out into the mass market.

A simple condenser - with fan - is mounted where the chassis' rear fan would normally go. This connects to an expansion valve from where cooled liquid passes up to the CPU plate. The liquid moves on into a reduced-sized compressor before returning to the condenser to start the process again.



With copper running throughout the system, though, different configurations will be needed to suit differing motherboard layouts. And that appears to cause big problems for Thermaltake's plan to take this system into the mass market.

The company's trying to figure out how to get around that problem but, right now, even slight variations between motherboard layouts could undermine the whole idea.



Even so, we admire Thermaltake for its efforts to date - it's good to see this sort of stuff being attempted.

[drunken_chef]

two questions: noise and condensation

[mapes]

two questions: noise and condensation

Yep bet it sounds like an old refrigerator when it kicks on

[-IRC-MIKE]

I doubt it. As small as it is, I highly doubt it. I have worked with some small refrigeration compressors.... I mean SMALL.. (about twice the size of this one) that you can't even hear .. only feel the vibration. Those rubber motor mounts eliminate any vibration noises. Another thing, that rear fan is right on the comdemsor coil and with the fan running through it, the compressor will likely kick on very few times in any given period of time. Your refrigerator doesn't even have a fan on it, but it is very large. Your refrigeration compressor doesn't come on that often either.

The only drawback I see to this is that you'll have to call an appliance or A/C repairman to work on it if you have a leak. And 2. Condensation could be a factor which, like your refrigerator, doesn't leave a pool on the floor but then your refrigerator's coil is larger, again. I'm curious to see what kind of condensation would build up, if any. If there is a Freon leak that points at your system board, .... well... Ice = Melts = .. do the math.

On the other hand, depending on the flow of the freon there could be some anti-reverse flow connectors put into place. Kinda like those connectors that have a ball bearing in the end and the water/air/gas flow can only travel one direction.

With all those factors.... does your system REALLY get that hot?

It'd be nice to put a little air conditioner vent in the front, however, or an air conditioner vent pointing inside the machine to cool the whole system.... once again, depending on the atmosphere in which your machine is kept, condensation can be UGLY.

[Apache Warrior]

My shop is in my store and I use an air compressor that is powered by a refrigerator compressor. You can hardly hear it run.
Apache

[WalkinTarget]

Yep, nothing like adding some condensation to the inside of your case where it will nicely accessorize with your PC hardware !!

[-IRC-MIKE]

Yep, nothing like adding some condensation to the inside of your case where it will nicely accessorize with your PC hardware !!

It adds CHARACTER!

It will CUSTOMIZE the components for sure.

I always thought that was a bad idea to begin with... not to mention OVERKILL. It is a nice concept, though, but for starters I think the compressor should be located OUTSIDE the machine, which will not eliminate condensation on the pipes, and is where there will likely be the most. It is not often a problem or else you'd have a puddle on the floor under your fridge, but still.. if something goes wrong...EVER...you're looking at ice buildup and spraying R12 on your video or motherboard.... which I am sure will not be covered under the warranty. You can, however, get away with sending the part back without telling them what caused it. In general, I think there is too much that could go wrong with it, but to be honest, the same things could go wrong with a liquid-cooled system, too.

I bet it costs as much as a refrigerator... which I have seen new cheap ones for 199.00

[Devilguns]

I like this Idea better:



At least with this system you can pull hardware a lot easier. If they had a cooling system like this for $200 to $300 and it really worked. I'd be all over it.

[juneau]

Remeber, this is a concept design.