Originally Published EMDM May/June 2002
COMPUTER HARDWARE
Fanless PC offers quiet operation and improved reliability
The SID FutureClient from Signum Data electronics GmbH (Gerlingen, Germany) is the first fanless computer for Intel Pentium 4 processors with a clock speed of 2.2 GHz. The computer, which was exhibited at the MEDTEC show in Stuttgart, emits low levels of noise and achieves high reliability by eliminating the need for fan components.
The FutureClient system is contained in an elegant, compact aluminium housing without active cooling. Cooling fins are integrated into the housing, discharging heat from the cpu and the hard disk. The walls of the casing are up to 14 mm thick and ensure a maximum loading capacity of the chassis up to 70 kg.
"We just supplied one of these to Bill Gates," says Signum Data marketing manager Christopher Bass, noting the advantages of the liquid-cooled cpu . "You don't want to use a fan, because it's noisy, and it eventually fails, causing damage to other components," he says, adding that fans also circulate dust and other contaminants.
With no ventilation slits, no rotating components, and no air exchange between ambient and internal air, the FutureClient has potential applications in both clinical and production environments.
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
