WORLDTECHNoctua unveils NT-CP1 carbon-nanotube thermal pad for AMD CPUs
Austrian firm Noctua has released the NT-CP1, a thermal pad that it presents as bringing space-grade cooling technology to AMD processors, according to Club386. The product is positioned as an easier alternative to thermal paste.
Carbon nanotubes set the design apart
The NT-CP1 uses carbon nanotubes, which distinguish it from many other thermal pads. That expertise comes from Carbice, the partner Noctua is working with on the product.
Club386 notes that the same kind of technology appears in satellites, where it offers strong thermal conductivity and low resistance to keep temperatures under control. Noctua is applying it to a far more down-to-earth job: cooling AMD CPUs.
Simpler to apply, claimed to last longer
Noctua offers the pad as a substitute for conventional thermal interfaces, claiming it is simpler to fit and considerably more durable. For users who want to cool a processor without thermal paste, it is pitched as a practical choice.
According to Noctua, the carbon nanotubes combined with a phase-change polymer coating let the NT-CP1 gain cooling performance over time instead of losing it.
Target market is AMD hardware
The NT-CP1 is aimed at AMD products. AMD is a semiconductor company headquartered in Sunnyvale whose range includes computer hardware, the market the new pad is meant to serve.
Open questions
- How large the NT-CP1's cooling gain is in independent testing has not been reported?
- Whether the claimed longevity holds up in long-term everyday use is not yet confirmed?