The startup Phononic presented an unusual processor cooler Hex 2.0 at the Hot Chips 2024 conference. Although similar to a conventional air cooler, the Hex 2.0 is a thermoelectric cooling system. It is based on the Peltier element. The cooler can operate in both passive and active modes – when additional cooling is required, the fan turns on.
Image source: Phononic
The new product looks like a two-section tower cooler with a 92 mm fan in the middle. The Hex 2.0 is a relatively compact cooler – its dimensions are 125 x 112 x 95 mm and its weight is 810 grams. Despite this, in terms of efficiency, this cooling system can compete with a liquid cooling system with a 240 mm radiator, not to mention conventional air coolers. Phononic, in support of its words, cited the results of internal Hex 2.0 tests for cooling the AMD Ryzen 9950X processor.
Since this is a thermoelectric cooling system, it requires additional power to operate effectively. In this case, to cool the 170 W AMD Ryzen 9950X (230 W in Turbo mode), the Hex 2.0 cooler consumes about 35 W of energy. For this purpose, the cooling system is equipped with a six-pin power connector, like video cards.
The essence of thermoelectric cooling technology is the use of the temperature difference between two sides of the cooling plate, one of which is heated and the other is cooled under the influence of electric current. At light loads, only one section of the cooler radiator works. For intense loads, the second one is connected.
The Hex 2.0 also includes a 92mm fan with speeds ranging from 1000 to 2650 RPM that produces airflow of up to 44 CFM and a noise level of up to 33 dBA.
The company has not yet announced the potential cost of the Hex 2.0 cooler. It is also unknown when it will go on sale.