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Danamics Dishes Up World's First Liquid Metal-Based CPU Cooler
Posted 07/19/08 at 09:12:56 PM | by Paul Lilly
Relative newcomer Danamic looks to jump into the increasingly crowded CPU cooler market with a heatsink of its own, but this isn't like any other cooler you've seen before. Rather than rely on air, water, or phase-change cooling, Dynamic's new LM10 heatsink uses liquid metal, and according to the company, it's the world's first commercially available CPU cooler to do so.
That might be true, but liquid metal isn't an entirely new concept when it comes to cooling processors. Coollaboratory used to market the metalic goo as a thermal paste (Liquid Pro) and now sells a thermal pad it calls Liquid MetalPad aimed at both PC and console owners. Danamic's solution differs in that it's not a paste, but a fully-fledged heatsink solution. A multi-string electromagnetic pump sits atop the LM10 and pushes the liquid metal through a series of heatpipes without using any moving parts. Judging by the available pictures, the LM10 doesn't come with a fan, which would explain why the company can claim a power draw of less than 1W.
No word yet on pricing or availability, which means there aren't any hands-on reviews in the wild either. Have expectations for this new cooler? Post them below.
Image Credit: Danamics
Comments Print Email Liquid cooled with no spilage
Submitted by mjjordan001 on Mon, 2008-07-28 08:44
I like the concept alot. The fact that there there wouldn't be a problem with accidental leakage and no pumps to go out and less power consumption. I think its an awesome idea. I would like to see it tested. I am curious to see how it would fit in certain cases though and if the electromagnetic pumps would interfere with the electronics. I think they are on the right track
Interesting concept
Submitted by Talcum X on Mon, 2008-07-21 07:05
I would like to see a liquid cooler filled with vegtable oil. Takes a lot of heat, doesnt evaporate, and doesnt conduct electricity. I think it would be the perfect coolent. But if this works without a fan and all the stuff that goes with liquid cooling...all the better.
As long as the electromegnet is shielded, there wont be any harm to the system. Being high on the cooler keeps it prety far from any components who would have a problem with it.
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Submitted by Cache on Sun, 2008-07-20 05:31
I just want to see if this offers any real advantages over current air coolers on the market. Safety? Come on, how many of us have cracked open a heat pipe so far? A magnet in your case? Again, it's a small magnet and has no real effect on the dynamics of your system.
If it offers no hard numbers supporting it over any other kind of air cooler, then it's just a novelty.
Liquid Metal
Submitted by jwalch.hawk on Sat, 2008-07-19 23:34
Uh, dude... While I'm duly impressed that you found a periodic table and discovered that mercury is the only metallic element that exists as a liquid at room temperature, have you heard of these other things in the universe called alloys?
If Danamic is using a similar compound to the one used by Coollaboratory, the primary component is likely gallium. According the materials safety sheet for the Liquid Pro goo, it is an "Alloy of the metal components gallium, indium, rhodium, silver, zinc and stannous" where a lot of those are used more or less as thickening agents to make it paste rather than a runney mess. Elemental gallium has a melting point just slightly above room temperature (by just slightly I mean that it can melt in your hand much like an M&M). When its surroundings heat up (as computers like to do), wala... You have a liquid metal that doesn't kill people.
The stuff isn't that dangerous as far as chemicals go.
I'm pretty sure it is nowhere even close to legal to sell something with the volume of mercury this would have if that were what it used. They have laws about materials safety and all.
Dude, M&Ms melt in your
Submitted by codepath on Mon, 2008-07-21 10:52
Dude,
M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hands.
Submitted by dentaku on Sun, 2008-07-20 12:19
I know it's kind of dumb (and quite geeky) to reply to a post to correct grammar but I thought I might help people understand that WALA isn't a word.
It's actually VOILA. It's a french word that's made up of the words Voi and La meaning "See There".
Submitted by jwalch.hawk on Sun, 2008-07-20 14:01
Lol, I didn't know that "voila" was legitimately a word... My intention was never really to be using a real word.
Guess you learn something new every day.
Submitted by jwalch.hawk on Sat, 2008-07-19 23:35
**double post?**
Submitted by sallystudios on Sat, 2008-07-19 21:54
This will probably be released about the same time as Terminator: Salvation
Submitted by devin3627 on Sat, 2008-07-19 21:00
Liquid Metal (Mercury) is one of the most toxic substances to mankind. It absorbs into your skin if you touch it. What if it gets out?!
Submitted by fledgling on Sat, 2008-07-19 20:24
I did read that right, didn't I? So not only will I be putting an magnet into my pc but it's powerful enough to move liquid metal at a decent rate?
It sounds like a interesting idea but I wonder how much more heat liquid metal can remove compared to normal solid metal... Also I'm having a hard time dealing with the electromagnet part.... and the no fan part, maybe one can be added?
a fluid application of any
Submitted by sirphunkee on Sun, 2008-07-20 01:10
a fluid application of any material (i.e. liquid metal) will always have superior heat transfer capacity to a static application (i.e. cooling fins etc)...and in this case, enough so that a fan isn't necessarily needed.
Submitted by fledgling on Sun, 2008-07-20 12:28
That's true, it prob wouldn't need a fan to suffenciently cool a cpu but I'd like a fan option for better cooling regardless.
Submitted by Digital-Storm on Sat, 2008-07-19 19:55
Looks sleek. I wouldn't buy one.
Have you seen this boy?
Submitted by Justin.Kerr on Sat, 2008-07-19 19:20
Looks tall, not sure that would fit in my case.
As for liquid metal, not so sure about that either.
What if it morph's out my case and tries to wipe out the human race?
Movies don't lie do they?
Submitted by linuxcrazy on Sat, 2008-07-19 19:59
Or what happens if it gets a hole? Instant 1.5x1.5 Ft doorstop.
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