OCZ Displays Carbon Nanotube Cooler

[Capper]

The first heatsink to make use of directional carbon nanotubes, the OCZ Hydrojet, was on display at Computex 2007. Carbon nanotubes, an allotrope of carbon, are widely regarded as the next major thermal interface material because of their superior thermal conduction properties.

The contact base of the OCZ Hydrojet is made completely of carbon-nanotubes, which OCZ claims are five times more efficient than copper. Carbon nanotubes have been looked upon as a strong alternative to traditional copper based heatsinks. They are ideal for application in heat transfer products because of their impressive heat-conduction properties. Carbon nanotube based interfaces have been shown to conduct more heat than conventional thermal interface materials at the same temperatures. In addition, they have shown to be ballistic conductors at room temperature, which means electrons can flow through CNTs without collisions.

Carbon nanotubes are small wire-like structures made out of a sheet of graphene. The sheet of graphene used to construct CNTs is roughly one-atom thick, and is rolled up into a cylinder. The diameter of the cylinder ranges in the nanometers.

Unlike most other thermal materials, carbon nanotubes are able to move heat in one direction. On the other hand, copper, which is looked upon as one of the more superior thermal materials, moves heat radially. In the case of CNTs, heat is moved along the alignment of the nanotubes.

DailyTech - OCZ Displays Carbon Nanotube Cooler

[Tyreal]

FPS Justin showed me this a few days ago. On first glance at the photos I thought to myself... just another tower cooler. But as I read the description and actually looked at the pictures with more than half a brain-cell I realized this thing has alot of potential. I had heard about carbon nano-tubes in the news paper as well as our favourite edu-tainment channel, Discovery channel, and have become very interested in them.

I think the cooler itself still has some work on it and I'd like to see how this performs when it hits the shelves. I've never been a fan of self-contained liquid cooling units....

[Elysium]

Looks to be great. What's the cost of that?

[Jokerswild]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Looks to be great. What's the cost of that?

More than a nano dollar.

[PC_destroyer]

Originally Posted by Jokerswild

More than a nano dollar.

Make that 130 billion nano dollars

[Capper]

yep, and it'll probably debut right after that sub-$300 phase change cooler OCZ was showing off at CES 2006

[Lead Head]

On another forum, an OCZ rep said that they were experimenting with a variety of materials, nanotubes, directional graphite, etc... Nanotubes cost something like $100 per gram.

Anyways, still looks to be a monster, no matter what they use

[Capper]

showcases create buzz, and a lot of times you'll see unique and interesting products shown off at Computex and CES, but what makes it to market is another story altogether

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Capper

yep, and it'll probably debut right after that sub-$300 phase change cooler OCZ was showing off at CES 2006

HAHAHA, ain't that the truth!

[Capper]

Not trying to bask OCZ, as they are one of the very best companies on the market. I'm just trying to point out most of this stuff is done to draw attention to a companies R&D and will never be mass produced.

I hate to say it, but extreme cooling went the way of the dinosaurs with the Prescotts.....there really just isn't a market (well, maybe that .0001%) for $300+ extreme cooling solutions. For what this thing would cost, you could almost buy a single stage phase change cooler or a top of the line water cooling kit.