Diabatix, a software company that specializes in generative AI for thermal management, joined forces with OEM 3D Systems to develop a liquid nitrogen (LN2) heatsink for SkatterBencher and ElmorLabs. While 3D Systems brought its expertise in Additive Manufacturing, Diabatix’ ColdStream platform was pivotal in this development.
ElmorLabs Ltd is a design firm specializing in products for PC overclocking and DIY enthusiasts whereas SkatterBencher provides readers with in-depth knowledge of CPUs, GPUs, APUs, and SoCs through meticulously documented experiments and comprehensive guides.
Through this collaboration, the companies defined a new benchmark for thermal management.
Designed for extreme CPU cooling
Extreme CPU cooling using liquid nitrogen is becoming the standard for computer overclocking as it allows for extremely low temperatures that are required to enable the desired extreme clock speeds, Diabatix explains.
At the design level, the team combined two-phase boiling physics with algorithms that allow ColdStream to generate a structure that maximizes heat transfer to the extreme – all of this while meeting AM production requirements.
At the manufacturing level, the team relied on 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing technology, and certified oxygen-free copper for superior thermal conductivity of 390 W/mK. One challenge in this fabrication was to maintain the purity of the copper powder as any oxygen in the copper matrix has a detrimental effect on its thermal conductivity.
According to Diabatix, first tests show revealed a thermal resistance as low as 0.011K/W. That is 1.1°C of temperature difference between the heatsink base and the liquid nitrogen per 100W of CPU power, positioning it as one of the most powerful heatsinks in the world – as per the words of Diabatix.
The current design is only the starting point of the collaboration. While preparing the supply chain for the commercialization of the product, we are already preparing additional variants. At the top of the target list is to go beyond the 2000W mark in physical tests, the company concludes.
The full performance report of the test campaign is available here.
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