Completely Silent Computer

Re:Completely Silent Computer by magicalhippo on Wednesday May 16, 2018 @10:30PM (#17088251)

Have you looked at the current requirements for CPUs and GPUs? We're talking 100A or more. Even if the input was 3.3V, which it isn't, a linear regulator down to 1.1V would have to dissipate 220W or more. You'll need a bigger heatsink for the linear regulator than for the CPU...

And designing a 250W-capable linear regulator is not as simple as just hooking up a LM7805.

So with a modern CPU and GPU, your talking ~400W of power to the actual components, and nearly 500W wasted in the linear regulators. This of course also means you have to get a 1000W PSU as a bare minimum.

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Re:Completely Silent Computer by hatsunearu on Saturday May 26, 2018 @11:27PM (#17165305)

Here's the problem: not only do you have to dissipate 200W+ for your pass element, you need to drive it ultra fast with an extremely fast analog circuit that can withstand the massive magnetic fields (which pretty much means you need a PCB).

Yeah and good luck driving a 200W linear element (if it even exists, lol) with a few op amps--the driver which should deliver a few amps into the gate/base of the pass element, which in and of itself is a pretty difficult challenge.

[ Parent | on HN ]