heat
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Heat from GeForce 9800 GX2 causing system crashes?
By now you've had a chance to sample the reviews on nVIDIA's new flagship GeForce 9800 X2 graphics card right? Good, so did you happen to see the comments from bit-tech about heat? During their testing, bit-tech encountered "a number of heat-related crashes, hard locks and instabilities" with their ASUS Striker II Formula motherboard. They claim with 100% certainty that all the issues were related to the installation of the GeForce 9800 GX2. Apparently, the heat generated by the card coupled with 9800 GX2's air-flow restricting footprint caused the motherboard to enter an automatic self-protect mode as board components exceeded 90 degrees Celsius (190-degrees Fahrenheit) -- the GPUs never exceeded a reasonable 85 degrees Celsius. A fan placed directly above the motherboard's south bridge (responsible for HDD controller, I/O, etc) fixed the problem. Consider yourselves warned.
ChiliPad keeps your mattress hot, cold
Sure, we've seen air conditioned beds before, and you may think one of those fancy electric blankets circa 1990 could handle the warming duties, but why not plunk down for one device that handles both extremes? Enter ChiliPad, which, contrary to its name, actually does provide cooling or warming benefits while you snooze. Reportedly, the mattress topper uses water rather than air to generate temperature adjustments, and the company even compares it to a water-cooled computer -- talk about understanding your market, eh? If Chili is to be believed, this thing can be set to cool things down to 65°F or warm 'em up to 100°F, and yes, it does come in single- and dual-zone versions. So, for those who just can't seem to get the thermostat set correctly, you can pick one of these up now for around $479 to $999, depending on size.[Via Gearlog]
40GB PS3s run cooler, quieter, use less energy
A report from German site Computer Base reveals that consumers giving up backward compatibility on their 40GB PS3s are at least getting something in return. The new systems utilize the new 65nm version of the Cell processor, reducing the power usage from 200 watts to 135 and further limiting the heat and noise the system gives off.With both the Xbox 360 and PS3 now having the cheaper, more efficient 65nm CPUs integrated into their designs, the race to 45nm can truly begin. After that? We're predicting microscopic quantum CPUs.[Via Engadget]
How to stop your PC going up in smoke
Finding out the hard way how combustible PCs are is a painful experience, especially when it's your extremely overclocked -- and extremely expensive -- gaming PC. Gearlog has a slightly bitter how to for avoiding the mistake of one of their unfortunate writers. We'd add our own personal little tip for preventing a PC fire: don't tempt fate and get a PC with a flamin' custom paint job.
Hello Kitty hand warmer keeps your paws toasty
Although you aren't likely to need a hand warmer when the temperatures in some areas of the country are creeping into triple-digits, it's never too early to start dreaming of winter. Moreover, it's always a good time to compliment your Hello Kitty foot warmers and heating blanket with a couple of matching hand warmers, and this here gizmo provides the last missing piece in the aforementioned triangle. Just plug it in, wait for it to charge, and pop in your pocket for "one to two hours" of the cutest heat known to mankind. No word just yet on price, but it looks like orders are being taken now for wholesalers who stay a few steps ahead of the, um, seasons.[Via TRFJ]
Treat your batteries right
Ars Technica has a short guide up to treating your iPhone, laptop, and iPod batteries right. Contrary to popular belief, it seems the best way to wear out a battery before its time isn't spending too many charge cycles-- it's heat. Charge cycles are equivalent to normal wear and tear on batteries-- it's better to charge your batteries up from partial charge rather than let them run all the way out, and then charge them fully. But heat is a much bigger factor, and considering that most laptops (or "notebooks," as Apple likes to say) run hot, batteries lose their capacity comparatively fast.The best way to store a battery, says Ars, is partially charged and in the fridge. In fact, one of their batteries still had a 95% charge after 2.5 years, just because most of that time was spent in about 40 degree temperatures at half charge.Of course, I buy batteries not to keep them in the fridge, but to use them, so I'd like to see (and have seen, don't get me wrong) progress in lifespan and capacity rather than a battery next to my Guinness in the fridge. But if squeezing every little bit of your battery counts, it sounds like you can't go wrong by being cool.
Temperature-monitoring case mod for the Wii
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/mods/Temperature_monitoring_case_mod_for_the_Wii'; Evolving from the designs of Team Xtender's past mods, the ii-Hot Rock case aims to do more than just light the Wii with colorful LEDs. The $62.95 shell comes equipped with a digital thermometer that displays the console's internal temperature, and the LEDs shift with that measurement. Every 5° change pushes their hue towards either a colder or warmer glow, luminescing a light blue at sub-28°C and glaring klaxon red when temperatures over 55°C are detected. If you're paranoid about overheating consoles, a mod like this would be perfect for quickly warning you to either shut your system off or execute an emergency saucer separation, putting distance between you and the rest of the starship before the Wii's warp core breaches. Let's all hope it never comes to that. Set a course past the post break, and check out a couple more photos of Team Xtender's ii-Hot Rock case.
Heated keyboard keeps fingers toasty whilst typing
Let's face it, peripheral manufacturers have been beating around this bush for far too long, and it's about time a company finally delivered a device that would actually motivate you to finish up that thesis over the cold winter break. Sure, the G-Gloves and heated mouse did their fair share of warming the hands, but the V8 Tools' WK001 keyboard manages to radiate heat where it matters most. The AC-powered gizmo sports a three-way toggle that keeps the heat off, on low, or on high if you're just begging for palm sweat. Of course, the company doesn't promise that it won't melt after extended usage on the highest setting, but it is purportedly "constructed with upgraded materials and components inside and out" to handle the temps. So while it's going to be a few months 'til Old Man Winter makes his return, $43.59 isn't much to guarantee your readiness for that impending cold snap.[Via Pocket-Lint]
Brando's Wii Crystal Cooler lights up your life
Although it's been unscientifically proven that Nintendo's Wii is the least likely of the three major consoles to actually need a heat suppressing adornment flanking its side, it's no surprise that accessory manufacturers are out to get the suckers anyway. For those of you who just can't keep your Wii cool enough, and weren't about to drop any dough on the repulsive China Shenzhen Firstsing variety, Brando's coming to the rescue. The company famous for its USB-powered, unnecessarily flashy gizmos has struck again with the Wii Crystal Cooler, which utilizes USB power to fan off your Wii, sports a nifty blue LED to give it that special touch of tacky, and also doubles as a stand. It can be yours today for just $19.
Panasonic's furry carpet warms you up, provides companionship
It pains us to see the furry fad still lingering around, but joining the totally hairy Philips display comes the patent-pending "no constraints carpet," which presumably aims to provide warmth and companionship to the lonely house dweller. Reportedly showcased at the Tokyo Fiber convention, Panasonic has developed a electrified faux fur that comes in white, brown, or black / white color schemes to "deliver warmth only to the areas you touch when you cuddle it." Oddly, there was no word on where the internal heating elements get their juice, but considering that the technology isn't quite ready for commercial release, we assume the firm is keeping wraps on the nitty gritty. The fun-lovin' fur should be available in short (five feet) and long (23 feet) iterations, and while we aren't entirely sure if your local home furnishings store will actually have rolls of this stuff to cover your flooring anytime soon, those still living in yesterday can certainly hope for the best.[Via PinkTentacle]
DIY solar heater constructed with aluminum cans
A solar-powered air conditioner doesn't do one much good during a Vermont winter, but rather than cranking on the heater (or huddling under the heated Hello Kitty mat) just to heat things up in a relatively small garage, a clever DIYer set out to concoct his own solar heater using scrap parts and a bit of free time. The solar wall was primarily built with black-painted soda cans, a wooden wall, plexiglass cover, and an inlet and outlet to channel the air around. The homegrown "solar furnace" captured the sunlight beaming onto the south side of the building, and as cool air found its way into the toasty cans and rose through drilled out portals, it managed to heat up a respectable 15-degrees Fahrenheit before escaping into the garage. The creator did note that his next attempt would sport a relocated inlet and be much larger in size, but if you're interested in putting a few in-the-way parts to good use next winter, be sure to hit the read link for a pictorial how-to.[Via HackNMod, thanks Joe]
Pelican's Air Flo Cooler chills out your PlayStation 3
Sony's PlayStation 3 certainly hasn't fallen victim to mass outages due to overheating like a competitor has, but there's nothing wrong with offering a product some cats are sure to nab out of sheer paranoia. Apparently, Pelican is aiming to launch a relatively dashing cooling device that hopefully won't encourage your machine to internally fry, and while the Air Flo Cooler does a commendable job in looking the part, this thing definitely elongates your already lengthy machine. Intelligently, Pelican has designed it to draw power from a dedicated AC adapter, and states that it can reduce your machine's operating temperature by some 15-degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, the built-in Auto Thermo Sensing Technology allows it to speed up and calm down the fans based on the amount of cooling that's currently necessary. Priced at $29.95, the Air Flo Cooler is slated to launch sometime "in the coming weeks," and will include a black and chrome accent plate to satisfy the uniformity freaks in the crowd as well. Click on through for a few more snapshots.[Via PS3Fanboy]
Toto's Z-series toilets recalled due to fire hazard
Sure, spontaneous combustion has occurred in a bevy of consumer electronics over the past year or so, but if there was one place even we thought you could count yourself safe, it'd be on the john. Apparently, this assumption is no longer valid for Toto toilet owners, as 180,000 of the company's Z-series units are now being recalled "after wiring problems caused three to catch fire over the past year." The electric bidet accessory is being shown the blame, as the faulty wiring not only torched a trio of units, but also caused smoke to come flowing out of 26 others. As expected, the firm will "repair the potentially fiery units manufactured between May 1996 and December 2001 for free," but we've no idea if Toto will be reimbursing the outhouse rentals for those sans a backup commode.
When good toys go bad V: RC planes going down in smoke
PSA: If you just so happen to be one of the incredibly unlucky 66,000 owners of either a Sky Squadron Model 4153 (pictured after the jump) or Sky Rangers Model 4161 radio-controlled aircraft, we'd highly recommend not making them part of your Sunday afternoon fling. Unfortunately, the overheating (and potentially explosive) Li-ion curse has reared its ugly fiery head once more, and this time two RC planes distributed by Estes-Cox through Radio Shack and Wal-Mart are being promptly recalled. There have already been nine reports of eruptive behavior, including one craft that actually caught fire and somehow inflicted "a minor burn injury" to the unsuspecting user, triggering the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to take action. So if you're not exactly interested in the possibility of getting toasted by your not-so-innocent toy plane, be sure and hit the read link to initiate that always fun RMA process.[Via Gearlog]
Apple TV is...hot!
I've personally noticed that Apple TV tends to run hot. So did Jason Tomczak of Digital Trends. He measured temperatures around 110 degrees Fahrenheit when first running his unit and found numerous posts at Apple's forums about its high temperature operation. So he decided to snap some thermal images, showing the Apple TV in use and posted them to the Web. He found that playing back content caused the unit to warm up about ten degrees. The pictures show Apple TV after boot up, after playing for 30 minutes, after sleeping for various intervals, and after the unit has been turned off.
Two-killowatt laser heats coffee, wows onlookers
Lasers have found their way into the hearts of modders everywhere, and while this latest case doesn't guide missiles or remove hair, it does make a mean cup of joe. All you'll need is a sturdy mug, coffee grinds (or a tea bag, whichever you prefer), a bit of water, and a spare two-kilowatt laser to get things a steamin'. Sure, there's most certainly a few alternatives to accomplish this same task with a lot less hassle, but there's just no substitute to making your office a round of java with a commercial-grade laser. Now, how about we give this a go with a 67-kilowatt version? Click on through for the vid.[Via Hack-A-Day]
Fujitsu's 2.5-inch MHW2040AC HDD doesn't sweat extreme temperatures
Continuing on the path of kicking out a large variety of hard drives over the course of a couple months, Fujitsu is at it once again, and this time its the MHW2040AC getting the spotlight. The RoHS-compliant HDD looks like your everyday hard disc drive upon initial inspection, but underneath its sly facade lies an ability to function in temperatures ranging from 30 below to 85-degrees (read: near face-melting heat) Celsius. As expected, the drive is being marketed as a rugged alternative for automotive / marine uses, where the internal storage is likely to face extreme temperatures from time to time. Additionally, it can reportedly withstand "operational shock of up to 300G" while requiring just 1.8-watts of power to read and write data. No word just yet on how much this temperature resisting beast will run you, nor if it'll ever arrive in sizes other than 40GB, but if you're planning a relocation to Moscow or Death Valley Phoenix, the pricetag isn't likely to matter.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Hands-on with Helio's hot hot Heat
This Heat showed up at our doorstep today (that'd be the phone, not the post-punk band), and we have to say, we're swooning. We're a little bummed the Heat doesn't have a memory card slot, but that excepted, this is by far our favorite Helio phone to date. It's strange that this is positioned as lower end than the Drift, but that's cool, you can save a little cash and get a nicer phone that's even a little smaller. Enjoy the eye candy in our hands-on gallery. Gallery: Hands-on with Helios' hot hot Heat
The Helio Heat
QWERTY fans need not apply -- your phone hasn't quite hit yet -- but folks in search of a slick-lookin' little slider on Helio have another solid choice. Just like its big sib, the Drift, the Heat comes to Helio courtesy of Samsung, but gains touch-sensitive controls and a lower price point. The new model serves up Bluetooth, 136MB of internal memory (though no external -- advantage Drift), 1.3 megapixel cam, Helio Music compatibility, and the full suite of GPS goodies including Google Maps and Helio's "Buddy Beacon" service atop a 2-inch QVGA display. Look for the Heat to go on sale today for $150 in your choice of Gold and the always-fashionable "Onyx" (alias "black"). Follow the break for a shot of the Heat doing its slide thing in both shades!
Novel Concepts' IsoSkin dissipates heat without the fan noise
Novel Concepts is probably just hopping on the "stop the overheating" bandwagon, but nevertheless, the firm's latest, um, novel idea is to eliminate those bulky, air-sucking PC fans by creating an ultrathin heat spreading material to coat toasty parts. Dubbed IsoSkin, the material comes in at just 500-microns thick, and the company insinuates that it could eventually be used to replace the "outer skin of portable electronics," further doing away with the need for internal heatsinks and fans. Notably, the sheets are purportedly able to "dissipate heat 20 times more effectively than copper," or transferring about 250-watts, while weighing in 60-percent lighter than the material it hopes to leapfrog. Utilizing planar capillary technology, the IsoSkins could reportedly be "manufactured for pennies per square centimeter," and considering that several microprocessor and electronics companies are already testing this stuff out, maybe the next wave of lappies won't require firefighter-grade pants to use safely.[Via ExtremeTech]
