Getting excess heat off the CPU is a constant problem in PC system design.

Lava lamps use excess heat from the light bulb to create an entertaining display via the wonders of convection.

Lets put 'em together.

Cut a hole in the front of the case where you mount a little lava lamp, whose bottom is firmly attached to the CPU heat sink. Since we no longer have the light bulb, light it with some LEDs, possibly driven by other activity in the computer for a wilder display.
-- krelnik, Oct 16 2002

How a Lava Lamp works http://www.howstuff....com/question36.htm
[krelnik, Oct 16 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

sheepman's link http://metku.net/index.html
please use the link button. [yamahito, Oct 16 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

OverclockCam http://www.halfbake...m/idea/OverclockCam
Possibly combined with Rods Tiger's idea? [st3f, Oct 16 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Lava Lamp Random Number Generator http://www.sciencen...010512/mathtrek.asp
And it can be used for something purposeful as well, along with the overclock cam . . . . [bristolz, Oct 16 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

AOpen tube-amp motherboard http://club.aopen.c...tube/en/default.htm
Link to what [thcgenius] mentioned [krelnik, Oct 18 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Regular Lava Lamp inside case http://www.hitechmo...page40/page40.shtml
This guy just put a regular lava lamp inside his case. Scroll about halfway down the page, or search for "lava". [krelnik, Oct 21 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Giant 60' Lava Lamp http://www.giantlavalamp.com/
[krelnik, Oct 05 2004]

Heat Pipes http://www.sti.nasa...spinoff1996/64.html
NASA Spin-Off Technology [FloridaManatee, Oct 05 2004]

are you a genius by chance? this is the best idea i've heard. I suggest sum kind of working prototype (for other similiar ideas check out ; <admin - link moved to link area> )
-- sheepman, Oct 16 2002


Nice. Add a cool light source - how about LEDs ? - that changes colour dependant on system activity.

Needs some motherboard redesign for tower systems but should be practicable.

Croissant.
-- 8th of 7, Oct 16 2002


Overclock for crazy lava action! Krelnik, this is grade A stuff, man..
-- Mr Burns, Oct 16 2002


Croissan-tastic.

Considering that there are overclockers out there that are nuts enough to add a liquid nitrogen cooler to their CPU, this would be well within reach. (And much more practical)
-- gastronaut, Oct 16 2002


[mrouse] why is your idea not as good, por favor?
-- blissmiss, Oct 16 2002


because something might spill, and your $150 hot plate makes pretty sparks :) hahaha

Of course, if they could completely seal it, and add a coffeemaker to the front, that would be my dream machine.
-- mrouse, Oct 16 2002


Since the Lava Lamp is an icon of the 1960's, I was trying to think of other items from that era that could be turned in to complementary case mods or accessories. Any ideas?
-- krelnik, Oct 18 2002


//icon of the 1960's, //.. AOpen now makes a mainboard with a vacuum tube for the sound chip amplifier. I'd *have* to find a way to make it visible from the outside...
-- Mr Burns, Oct 18 2002


Since the Lava Lamp is an icon of the 1960's, I was trying to think of other items from that era that could be turned in to complementary case mods or accessories. Any ideas?

[[Note: thcgenius annotated here about AOpen's motherboards that contain a tube amp, but its since been deleted. See link]] (WTAGIPBAN)
-- krelnik, Oct 18 2002


Nice work thcgenius... I know I'm a little late (consequential of being newby) but what about this for a special edition system? Funky flower-painted case, all the trimmings, lava-lamp, visible vacuum-tube, and a diesel power supply.
-- Damn, Dec 14 2002


Funny you mention making use of radiated heat from the CPU... I was making pizza the other day, and found myself using the computer as a heat source for proofing the dough mixture. Have a croissant!
-- X2Entendre, Dec 14 2002


Well I'm off topic on my own idea, but the heck with it: I just had to post a link to the nut who wants to build a giant 60 foot high lava lamp in the middle of his town to promote tourism. (See link).
-- krelnik, Jan 15 2003


Aye carumba! I WANT one. Croissant.

Very retro. Reminds me of the old valve amps.

As it's not easy to raise the CPU from the motherboard, I suggest a NASA heat pipe (see link) to port the heat the to the lavalamp.
-- FloridaManatee, Jan 15 2003



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