Phononic is working on a CPU cooler that could revolutionise PC temperature regulation, one that uses refrigeration technology. The HEX 1.0 looks like a game-changer for high-end PC cooling, with its creator Phononic specialising in refrigeration.
Specifically, Phononic is a key player in thermoelectric technology, which produces a cooling effect to metal when and electric charge is passed through it. It is this technology that the company is implementing in its HEX 1.0 cooling unit. Powered by a single SATA cable, the HEX 1.0 thermoelectric heat pump uses thermal sensors to dynamically regulate CPU temperature, with its power consumption ranging between 0w and 60w.
For the cooling power it packs, the unit is comparably small, measuring 4.3×3.5×3.5 inches – the thermoelectric technology allows for the cooling capacity you might get from a much larger cooling unit – with a dual-ball bearing, 80mm fan mounted within. The fan only produces 67.02CFM bur, combined with the thermoelectric panels, Phononic claims that its cooling unit can surpass a closed-loop water cooling system that uses a 120mm fan.
The HEX 1.0 is very much pitched as an early foray into thermoelectric cooling for PCs, with Phononic promising further innovation in future. The company is already working on a number of new CPU coolers, and is looking into using its technology to cool GPUs, too.
The HEX 1.0 CPU cooling unit is expected to retail for under $100, with its launch anticipated before the end of this year.
Thank you Tom’s Hardware for providing us with this information.
This seems much more practical than water cooling. I wonder why nobody did it until now.
Ultra put out a cooler that worked on the same principle several years back. http://techgage.com/article/ultra_chilltec_cpu_cooler/
The problem with peltier devices such as this, is that they deteriorate over time, meaning that depending on daily usage, you might have a dud in a few months down the line. Hope the warranty is good though. Oh, and by the way, it’s not the first time this type of device has been used ib computers. P1 200 MMX processors used to come with one as well…..you know, back in the day…..