{
  "id": 9779049,
  "title": "Noctua explores 2,000W micro-channel air cooling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/noctua-explores-2-000w-micro-channel-air-cooling",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-25T14:42:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Hardware",
    "slug": "tom-s-hardware",
    "url": "https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/air-cooling/noctua-explores-2-000w-micro-channel-air-cooling-partners-with-forced-physics-to-develop-vacuum-pump-level-airflow-for-desktop-pcs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Noctua has entered into a partnership with Forced Physics DCT to investigate the potential of using the JouleForce micro-channel array-based cooling technology in desktop PCs and workstations. This new cooling method aims to offer a quieter alternative to traditional air and liquid cooling solutions. The long-term collaboration between the two companies does not hinge on any specific product or release date.\n\nJouleForce employs micro-channels to enhance heat transfer, surpassing the capabilities of modern CPU coolers. Its design prevents the formation of boundary layers along cooling surfaces, enabling efficient heat extraction along the entire length of each channel. This allows JouleForce to remove significant amounts of heat using air alone, without the need for a liquid cooling loop.\n\nHowever, integrating JouleForce into desktop PCs presents a major hurdle, as the technology currently requires excessive pressure levels. These pressure levels make it difficult for conventional PC fans to push air through the arrays, necessitating the use of industrial blowers, high-speed centrifugal fans, or vacuum pumps in its present form.\n\nNoctua's expertise in developing high-performing PC fans could play a crucial role in addressing this challenge. The partnership will focus on finding ways to reduce the pressure required by the micro-channel arrays or generate the necessary static pressure without causing excessive noise in desktop systems.\n\nRoland Mossig, CEO of Noctua, expressed the company's enthusiasm in tackling this demanding and long-term engineering task. For the time being, Noctua and Forced Physics are still in the early stages of research and plan to share updates as the project reaches significant milestones. A successful resolution to the airflow and acoustic challenges could potentially make JouleForce available for desktop PC use, providing Noctua with a competitive advantage in the market.",
  "summary": "Noctua and Forced Physics are exploring whether densely packed micro-channels can provide extreme cooling performance without the noise associated with high-pressure airflow",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}