Could this be what we are all looking for??

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:26 am

Edit: please skip to post #4, I think it might be a (much?) better idea.

Hi all.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/spec ... NOV-LAPMAT

Novatech laptop cooling mat draws heat away from the underside of the laptop and absorbs it into the crystals in the mat.

The granules or crystals will slowly absorb any heat and will change thier molecular appearance, forming a viscous gel, this will continually absorb heat and allow any item in contact to dispurse the heat away from the laptop without disrupting any of the natural flow of air through the laptops cooling vents.

The mat will automatically reform as the temperature falls below 25 degrees, allowing it to be used time and time again.

The questions are:
- Could this be resized to fit in the 5.5" bay?
- Could it work for long periods of time (only ">5 hours" is quoted by the manufacturer)?
- Could we actually found out what the "granules or crystals" are and make our own HD mats/pouch?

FartingBob · Post by **FartingBob** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:56 am

I believe this only works well when its actually in contact with the hot part of the laptop or PC, rather than just passively sucking the heat out of a case. I wouldnt fancy clamping it to my CPU thats for sure.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:08 am

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

I was initially thinking of using/making a smaller version as a hard-drive mat (the HD would rest on it in the 5.5" bay for example).
It would hopefully absorb heat and dampen vibration.

To push the idea even further, what about a sleeve/pouch for the hard-drive?
It could even be more efficient in terms of cooling/noise reduction.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:19 am

Ok, what about a Thermal Gel Sheet to wrap the hard-drive with?

PDF data sheet

How surprising to find this product is from a company specialised in noise/vibration cancelling for PCs.

http://www.gelmec.co.uk/

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:38 am

Aleksi wrote:posted in May 2005
Hi,

I managed to get hold of some GelMec silicone sheet. I cut some small pieces out of it and placed four of them between the HDD and the Sonata HDD cage/bay. I then secured it with some elastic band, that pushes the HDD to the silicone pieces.

It seems to be working similarly to suspension with my Western Digital (AAM enabled), the HDD vibrates, but I cannot feel any vibration transmitting to the Sonata's HDD bay.

The gel sheet could be even better.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:11 pm

I just emailed Gelmec to ask them where I can get their Gel Sheet.

One 400x400mm sheet is almost enough to double-wrap two hard-drives.
I'd like to have an idea of their cost and availability though.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:18 pm

Some more Gelmec products info:
http://www.emcsolutionsltd.com/pdf/vibr ... mounts.pdf

P.S: I do not have any affiliation with Gelmec.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 12:34 pm

Another idea:
Making a mold of a 3.5" hard-drive with a silicon gel and placing it in a 5.5" enclosure.

potsy · Post by **potsy** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:13 pm

I like your thinking... but are you reinventing boxes like the scythe quiet drive? link to scythe It may be foam rather than silicone gel, but essentially the scythe encases your drive in heat absorbing/vibration damping material and puts it in a box. Would gel be that much better?
Potsy
PS thanks for the links - I have been on a search for vibration mounts for a turntable: potsy's turntable Some of those gelmec mounts might just do the trick!

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:57 pm

potsy wrote:I like your thinking... but are you reinventing boxes like the scythe quiet drive? link to scythe

I guess I am, LOL.

potsy wrote:Would gel be that much better?

I have no idea.

Wrapping a drive in one of these gel sheets would be an easy and hopefully cheap way of finding out.

I was hoping some SPCR experts would jump in (not in the gel).

potsy wrote:PS thanks for the links - I have been on a search for vibration mounts for a turntable: potsy's turntable Some of those gelmec mounts might just do the trick!

You're welcome.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:05 pm

If the gel sheet idea was to work I could see one advantage over the Scythe and similar casings.
A double-wrapped drive should take less space in the 5.5" bay.
It would then be possible to stack two or three drives in the bay without restricting the intake air flow as much as using 2~3 casings would.

You would even have the option to place the drive(s) at the bottom of the case, either on top of each other or next to each other.

It could also prove to be cheaper and easier to install/remove.

Make that three advantages.

We just need to get our hands on one of these sheets (preferably the "4000").

potsy · Post by **potsy** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:21 pm

You're right, flexibility might be good. You might even be able to keep your drives in a standard 3.5" bay (like in the antec fusion case) but wrapped up. I'm interested to hear what the prices are - my research for vibration damping material showed that the good stuff costs a lot (like $160 for 500x500mmx25mm sorbothane sheet, $95 for 12mm and $65 for 3mm thick).

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:24 pm

potsy wrote:... my research for vibration damping material showed that the good stuff costs a lot (like $160 for 500x500mmx20mm sorbothane sheet).

WOW!!!

I do hope these gel sheets are more affordable.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:14 pm

potsy, how big a sorbothane sheet do you?

6x6 inch (150x150mm) and .125 inch (3.2mm) sheet on eBay for $19.99US.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Sat May 03, 2008 4:48 am

I've received a reply to the email I sent Gel-Mec.

I'll hopefully be able let you know about pricing and availability soon.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Tue May 06, 2008 4:07 am

Latest email from Gel-Mec: they'd be happy to sell me a couple of sheets.

I'm waiting for a quote for the "COH-4000", the one with the best thermal conductivity, in either 2mm or 3mm thickness.

Let's hope the price is reasonable.

ddlooping · Post by **ddlooping** » Tue May 06, 2008 5:16 am

Bad news I'm affraid.

Part Number: COH-4000-T2.0
Order Quantity: 2 sheets (400x400x2mm)
Price: Â£132.00 per sheet
Delivery: approx 3-4 weeks from receipt of order

Part Number: COH-4000-T3.0
Order Quantity: 2 sheets (400x400x3mm)
Price: Â£191.00 per sheet
Delivery: approx 3-4 weeks from receipt of order

Anyone for whom money is no object willing to experiment? LOL