Micro-Star International (MSI) introduced a new concept of chip cooler at CeBIT 2008.

MSI’s Air Power Cooler was design having the ECO concept in mind and uses the chip’s very own generated heat to power the cooler, which in turn, cools down the heat sink. Supporting the process is a tiny Stirling Engine which transforms the thermal output of the chipset into the kinetic energy necessary to power that same chipset’s fan.

The “Air Power Cooler” transfers the chipset heat into air momentum, when the air becomes hot, the air will expand then push the fan to rotate and in doing so cooling the heatsink immediately. After the air moves from the bottom to top of the piston, the air will become heavy to push the up piston down. The better air piston design can transfer over 70% heat power and transfer to air power, that’s great efficiency transfer from Stirling engine theory. In a comparison with solar power the transfer rate is only around 20~30% requiring more surface and as a result cost.

You also won’t need a cooler tunning device to control the speed of you fan, as the Air Power Cooler regulates its speed depending on the chip’s heat.