Thermaltake merges chassis and fridge technology.

Azza · 5 Mar 2008 at 18:30

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.

Jokester · 5 Mar 2008 at 18:34

Why not use braided hose like a regular phase unit?

Azza · 5 Mar 2008 at 18:35

Jokester said:
Why not use braided hose like a regular phase unit?

They prolly think this is a new thing and that they are the first to do it.

schumi84 · 5 Mar 2008 at 18:36

Very interesting idea, surprised no other manufacturer has tried it in the past (as being integrated into a case).

Will be nice to see how they overcome the problem with the setup of it.

tom_e · 5 Mar 2008 at 18:56

schumi84 said:
Very interesting idea, surprised no other manufacturer has tried it in the past (as being integrated into a case).

Will be nice to see how they overcome the problem with the setup of it.

vapo's could be bought as a case? or do you mean they are the first to try without sticking a huge compartment on the top or bottom of the case?

pastymuncher · 5 Mar 2008 at 19:13

Very interesting. Only thing is, we all know how poor TT's water cooling efforts are. Let's just hope these things don't break down or leak refridgerant. Next thing we will be having is a beer cooling compartment built into the case.

Grumpy · 5 Mar 2008 at 19:38

pastymuncher said:
Next thing we will be having is a beer cooling compartment built into the case.

And that's a bad idea?

platinum87 · 5 Mar 2008 at 19:49

Grumpy said:
And that's a bad idea?

good idea

.... although not much drinking goes on around the PC, (not because of spill's just because..)

helmutcheese · 5 Mar 2008 at 19:58

To be fair, their WC is easy fit by any n00b kits, it aint aiming to be high end.

GingerNinja1989 · 5 Mar 2008 at 20:24

Mmmm... beer in a case....

***F1ZZY*** · 6 Mar 2008 at 00:45

Phase for noobs has to be a bad idea.

How many watts can that thing dissipate? It's tiny..!!

schumi84 · 6 Mar 2008 at 08:32

blitz2163 said:
vapo's could be bought as a case? or do you mean they are the first to try without sticking a huge compartment on the top or bottom of the case?

Basically yeah, as from what i remembered the old Vapochill did what you're saying and was an extra bit to add on to the base of the case.

If they did implement something like this then it would have to be sturdy to make sure that the tubing couldnt be easily dislodged.

Bito · 6 Mar 2008 at 14:09

Would also have to make sure that condensation is taken care of if temps reach below ambient.

weescott · 6 Mar 2008 at 17:17

That'll be a 1/2 cc compressor with the capacity to cool my farts!

/Shudder

helmutcheese · 6 Mar 2008 at 17:21

Brain Fart ?