Noctua shows prototypes of a Thermosiphon cooler

Traditional all-in-one (AIO) water cooling systems use a pump to pump the coolant in a closed circuit. The prototype of the Thermosiphon cooler that Noctua is showing at Computex takes a different approach. Instead of a pump, it utilises the thermosiphon effect. The liquid is moved by thermally induced density differences.

In the case of the prototype, the CPU heats the liquid, causing it to vaporise. Due to the lower density, the vapour rises towards the condenser. As with AIO, this is also a radiator. This is cooled by fans, which causes the vapour inside to cool down and condense into its liquid state. Gravity causes the liquid to flow downwards to the evaporator, the CPU. There, the cycle begins again.

The principle is therefore similar to that of heatpipes, which Noctua uses in its air coolers. The thermosiphon effect absorbs a lot of heat before evaporation, making it suitable for cooling processors. As Techpowerup writes, Noctua has collaborated with Calyos, an expert in two-phase cooling technologies.

The aim of the prototype is to dissipate as much heat as an AIO. The advantage of thermosiphon coolers is that they generate less noise and vibrations. This is because there is no pump. The system is also fail-safe, as the effect drives the liquid instead of a pump. One disadvantage, however, is that the radiator has to be mounted at the top of the housing as the vapour rises.

The cooler is still at an early stage of development. It is therefore not yet clear whether it will ever make it into series production. The Austrian cooling specialist is therefore not providing any information on price and availability.