The Device That Will Keep Your Mini-Laptop From Melting

As computers get smaller, keeping them cool has become a major problem—until now.

By Rebecca Day
Sep 1, 2009 5:00 AMNov 12, 2019 4:07 AM
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Thin is in, whether you’re talking TVs, cell phones, or laptops. In fact, thin electronics are downright hot, literally. The trend in electronics toward miniaturization squeezes more chips into ever smaller devices, leading to intense heat buildup. Toasty notebook PCs create more problems than just scorched thighs. Excessive heat can cause slowdowns and lockups in demanding applications like videos and games. Over the long term, overheating shortens the life of processors and chip sets in notebooks and other downsized electronics. So the race is on to create more compact and efficient ways to cool off sensitive components.

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