Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Apple's new liquid cooling system

Thursday, June 17, 2004
read it here http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=508

Diagrams detail Apple's new liquid cooling system

Last week Apple Computer, Inc. introduced its most powerful Power Mac model to date, which sports two 2.5GHz G5 processors and a nifty liquid cooling system (LCS). Curiosity surrounding the new LCS is running high as Apple officials have recently reiterated warnings that other G5 products from the company remain a long-shot due to G5 heat issues.

Aiding some of the curiosity, sources have recently provided AppleInsider with side and rear-view diagrams of the new Apple LCS, which detail some of its many components.

Liquid Cooling System Side View

(IMG:http://images.appleinsider.com/images/g5lcs1small.gif)

Descriptions

1# G5 processor at point of contact to the heatsink.
2# G5 processor card from IBM
3# Heatsink (also referred to as a 'waterblock')
4# Cooling fluid output from the radiator to the pump
5# Liquid cooling system pump
6# Pump power cable (usually connected to the main logic board, but repositioned in the above diagram)
7# Cooling fluid radiator input from the G5 processor
8# Radiant grille
9# Airflow direction

Liquid Cooling System Rear View

(IMG:http://images.appleinsider.com/images/g5lcs2small.gif)

Descriptions

1# Liquid cooling system pump
2# G5 processors
3# Radiator output
4# Radiator
5# Pump power cable
6# Radiator input

In a recently published self-training course on the new line of Power Mac G5 computers, Apple confirms that all models feature IBM's 970FX PowerPC G5 processor.

"Power Mac G5 (June 2004) models use the PowerPC 970FX processor. Previous Power Mac G5 models used the PowerPC 970. Compared to the 970, the 970FX has a smaller die, higher speeds, and has been optimized more for higher performance."

The dual 2.5 GHz Power Mac G5 model, which is the only model to utilize the liquid cooling system, will begin shipping from Apple in July.

Very interesting... I was looking at that and wondering what coolant they're using. Methinks they'd be unlikley to be using water as a coolant as it'd require too much maintenance wouldn't it? Aren't they more likely to be using liquid sapphire or something?

My bet would be they will use plain old water maybe mixed with an anti rust chemical. As long as there is an air tight seal on the system water will be maintainance free.

Either way water or not, this is very cool, I wonder how long it will be before we see AMD or Intel Chips with an oem water cooler.


Jobefx

I saw that Best Buy just recently got in a Sony PC that comes with a liquid cooling system. I don't remember what the specs for it are tho.

this is pretty cool, but very sad.

A 2.5ghz chip runs too hot, so that means that all there other chips run too dang hot as well, or hot enough to cause issues.

Apple really is trying are'nt they, I always thought that water cooling was for high performance overclocked chips, like a 3.4 ghz P4 running at 4ghz or a Athlon 1700 running at 3+ ghz. :D

exactly. If you're running at speeds within the normal bounds of the processor, you dont need watercooling. Sounds to me like they are either trying to squeeze too much out of a chip, or they are trying to make more money by putting something absolutely worthless in their computers and charging a ton of money for it, hoping the novelty will catch on. I'd bet on the latter.

Id generally think theyre pushing the chips and go to the former.