NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips - Gizmodo Comments

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

bu11etman — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:29:01 EDT

Do I hear overclocking? :D

bu11etman

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

earthsandwich — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:43:13 EDT

Sorry to dampen the enthusiasm, but this isn't really "news"... People have been producing and using silicon-carbide ICs for various harsh-environment applications for years. This article is popping up because A) NASA likes to trumpet whenever they do something cool, and B) NASA needs these things for environments like space, which is full of extreme temperatures and lots and lots of noise. Silicon carbide has a really really wide band gap, so it can handle high heat and a ton of background noise.

Nice to see NASA get some positive press though. Thank goodness they didn't use the wrong units again...

earthsandwich

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

redx666 — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:19:09 EDT

Gizmodo has the wrong idea here, this type of tech won't replace heatsinks or watercooling, the article just says the chips can handle extremely high temperatures. The heat chips create still need to be transferred into the air. There's nothing like using a computer that doubles as your furnace, convergence devices are the future! (not)

redx666

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

jamesuschrist — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:24:14 EDT

Screw frying an egg with your processor's heat, that's so P4-era.

Your new computer comes with ductwork to fit the ventilation system of your home, replacing that old, dusty furnace.

jamesuschrist

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Terranova — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:29:52 EDT

on the bright side - if you end up roasting in hell as a result of carnal lust, at least you'll still be able to surf porn down there.

Terranova

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

rfayed — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:34:23 EDT

these + macbook pros = yes?

rfayed

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Skeptical_Geezer — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:07:47 EDT

DAMN! This means that the bitch next to me in hell will STILL be yelling into her cellphone!
There is NO escape!

Skeptical_Geezer

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

FЯeeMan — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:38:05 EDT

I was wondering why NASA was worried about having their Pringles burn up.

FЯeeMan

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

SomeoneUKno — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:20:12 EDT

Its all fun and games until you realize that your mobo isn't that heat-resistant and you watch your processor melt through the socket.

SomeoneUKno

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Shockage — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:08:05 EDT

anyone know how fast a core 2 would be at that temp? :D

Shockage

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

icelight — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:04:25 EDT

To heck with laptop heat causing infertility and low sperm count. The next generation of Dell options will include "Medium Rare" and "Well Done" under "Thigh Choices".

icelight

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Jason — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:21:31 EDT

Great, but Apollo Diamond is working on N-doped and P-Doped diamond substrates.

Both have been made, now the trick is to make lots fast and cheap.

Diamond is the substrate of the future kids; and NASA is an anachronism.

Jason

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy! — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:05:16 EDT

Computers would still need adequate cooling, since the whole damn thing won't be made of this superfantastic material. Laptops will still need fans, because you don't want to have a genitalia roasting slab on-the-go.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

novacthall — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:57:30 EDT

@mfaerber: Gizmodo has ads?
@Luka_Veliki: There is no such thing as a "degree Kelvin". Only Kelvin. And if you're going to use an absolute scale, you don't need to leave Imperial units. Just convert to degrees Rankine.

novacthall

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

pupaboy — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:30:20 EDT

Quick! Contact Microsoft! The X-Box 360 could use something like.

pupaboy

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

maier_m — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:24:31 EDT

@strider_mt2k: I know exactly how this will benefit the rest of us! Soon you'll be able to overclock your PC and fire your clay pottery at the same time...

maier_m

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

xenobread — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:11:22 EDT

Cheap or packging? Probably both...interested to read more.

And yes, we'll have flaming electronics, which are cool.

...how about a super hot fryer?

xenobread

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

TJ — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:55:01 EDT

Porsche uses silicon carbide for the clutch plates on the Carrera GT as well as for the ceramic brakes and if there's anything Porsche is known for its their brakes. I'm suprised NASA hasn't been able to get these chips hotter considering the rotors and calipers on the GT coming off a track glow red and still work brilliantly.

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

Luka_Veliki — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:43:36 EDT

Fahrenheit sux. Just give us kelvin-s degrees next time.

932 Fahrenheit = 773.15 kelvin

Luka_Veliki

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

SuppleMonkey — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:43:13 EDT

@OtterKing: Dang, Otterking -- beat me to the punch!

SuppleMonkey

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

strider_mt2k — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:27:52 EDT

Space tech trickles down in ways you don't even realize.

strider_mt2k

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

OtterKing — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:25:10 EDT

If the T1000 had been equipped with these bad boys, we'd all be slaves to skynet right now.

OtterKing

NASA Develops Inferno-Proof Chips

mfaerber — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:14:07 EDT

Gah, I hope Ricoh is paying you all a boat-load of money for those damn adds...

mfaerber