Chill Chips May Take Heat Off Computers

Tiny cooling system could eliminate bulkier fans, enable new leaps
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:49 PM CDT
Chill Chips May Take Heat Off Computers
It's unlikely that your run-of-the-mill laptop will have a refrigeration system in a year or two," one scientist said. "I'd say in two years you'll see it in high-end laptops."   (AP Photo)

Researchers have developed a tiny refrigeration system to keep computers cool, an invention that will do away with the clunky fan currently used—and potentially lead to much smaller and faster devices, Computerworld reports. The team at Purdue University expects the technology to be ready for installation within 2 years.

"Keeping the heat down is crucially important in chips," said an analyst. "Doing a better job of cooling chips—better than fans and heat sinks that also take up more space—will allow for smaller units and higher performance." (More computers stories.)

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