In a daring exploration of CPU cooling technology, renowned overclocking expert der8auer has delved into what is being hailed as the “most dangerous cooler ever made” in a recent YouTube video. The unconventional apparatus, identified as the Danamics LMX Liquid Metal CPU Cooler, has raised eyebrows in the tech community due to its unique composition.
Unlike conventional CPU coolers, the LMX model conceals a secret within its seemingly ordinary heatpipes. Liquid metal, a mixture of highly reactive alkali metals sodium and potassium, courses through its veins, setting it apart as a truly unconventional cooling solution.
The LMX cooler, believed to originate from around 2010, emerged as an ambitious attempt to address the perceived limitations of standard heatpipe technology. Danamix’s technical team began experimenting with the integration of liquid metal within CPU air coolers as early as 2008. However, the LMX model, depicted in images from the era, saw limited distribution in early 2010.
Der8auer’s meticulous analysis of the sodium-potassium alloy material revealed intriguing properties. While its heat capacity is only a quarter that of water, its thermal conductivity surpasses that of water by a factor of about 30. This characteristic, though impressive, raises questions about its practical applicability within a heatpipe system.
One notable feature of the Danamix LMX design is the necessity for a pump mechanism. Der8auer unveiled the top-mounted neodymium electromagnetic pump. Powered by robust cables delivering 30 amps, the cables themselves registered a temperature between 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, underscoring the unique challenges posed by this cooling solution.
In a bid to evaluate the practical utility of the technology, der8auer conducted a series of rigorous tests, comparing the Danamix LMX to a Noctua NH-U12A air cooler, both equipped with a 120mm fan. While gaming scenarios proved dynamic and challenging to quantify, Cinebench testing offered a clearer perspective.
Results consistently favored the Noctua, showcasing a temperature advantage of five to six degrees Celsius. Der8auer acknowledged the LMX’s respectable performance given its age and acknowledged the conventional heatpipe’s superiority over its alloy-filled counterpart.
Speculation surrounds whether the LMX’s underwhelming performance played a role in Danamix’s eventual demise, as the company faced liquidation in 2010. Today, the surviving LMX coolers are believed to be a mixture of prototypes and samples dispatched to reviewers and testers.
Der8auer concluded his investigation with a thought-provoking scenario: the potential catastrophe that could unfold if a shipment of LMX coolers were to be involved in a road traffic incident. Fortunately, this hypothetical situation never materialized, partly due to the LMX cooler’s limited production and distribution.
The Danamics LMX Liquid Metal CPU Cooler stands as a testament to the innovative spirit within the realm of CPU cooling technology, pushing boundaries and challenging conventional norms. While its “most dangerous” moniker may be a testament to its unconventional nature, it also highlights the importance of pushing technological boundaries in pursuit of cutting-edge solutions.
Journalist