nVidia NV30 vs. Matrox Parhelia

[Wombat]

I've been following those. Can't really say I think that we will switch all that soon. The only prototypes I know of run on methane. Even if they make it reasonably safe and easy to recharge the cell, there are still some major hurdles. Batteries are much easier to recharge: you can find a wall socket anywhere.

I think batteries will hang around for a long time, just because fuel is more travel restrictive. I can't really see the airlines letting anyone bring on a pressurized canister of explosives on the planes any time soon.

[GNEP]

but the great thing about fuel cells is that they are producing electricity, and so if there is a wall socket or a airline seat power socket around, you use that.

otherwise, use methane, hydrogen or whatever the fuel cell runs off - generally a much higher energy density stored up per kilo than a chemical battery.

But I still think that we will see the things in cars before we see them in computers, and I don't see them in cars yet (outside of research labs)

gnep

[Dr Mordrid]

The Univ. of Pennsylvania announced in Nature magazine back in 2000 that they have developed a portable fuel cell that runs on butane, which is available at any tobaccanist.

The U of P cells can run directly on hydrocarbon compounds without the need to reduce them to hydrogen first. One version runs on conventional diesel fuel as sold at thousands of gas stations worldwide.

Other fuel cells are in development that use methanol directly, which you can get at any paint store. These are targeted precisely at laptops and other portable devices. To quote one manufacturer (SmartFuelCell GMBH);

"On one single fuel cartridge containing 125 ml of methanol, a laptop can be operated for a full working day. The cartridge can be exchanged in a few seconds even during operation."

Evaluation production started in January and they expect to ramp up for commercial production next year if all goes well.

If fuel cells work out, and it's increasing looking like they will in one form or another, the conversion to using biomass, natural gas and other renewable fules instead of petroleum could well begin in short order.

This may also let us tell our middle eastern "friends" to go p*** up a rope.

Dr. Mordrid

[Wombat]

The SmartFuelCell guys have a couple of things to work against:

1) A 120mL canister will cost $3-$5, IF they get the volume up to drop the price that low.

2) The 25W prototype: 120x160x170mm (5"x6.5"x7") and 2.8kg (5lb). Yeah, sure. Maybe for a field-deployed office, but not for a lug-around laptop.

3) They've said nothing about the cost or longevity of the unit itself. Where does the water go? How long before I have to have it serviced because of carbon build-up?

Combine the above problems together, and a battery-powered laptop with extra batteries (if needed) is likely to be cheaper/more portable/more convenient.

[Cobos]

Not to mention that many fuel-cells especially those that refine hydrogen within the cell have problems with pollutants in the fuel destroying the cell. So as Wombat says I beleive there will still be time before fuel-cell driven laptops are the standard, they are coming. Hey I work with fuel cell technology in my master thesis, so I have to beleive in a future in the idea

Cobos

[JF_Aidan_Pryde]

NV30 and Parhelia to fuel cell pollutants... talk about off topic.

[Novdid]

Originally posted by Dr Mordrid
This may also let us tell our middle eastern "friends" to go p*** up a rope.

I'm afraid oil is used in a lot of other areas that are very important except fuel. Plastics, rubber and even quite a few medicines amongst other things.

[Dr Mordrid]

Plastics can now be grown as part of several plants foliage, thanks to genetic engineering by Monsanto and Cargill/Dow, at competitive prices to petrochemically based products.

As for other oil based products...ever hear of canola, soy, corn, olive or other veggie based oils? Some like canola (aka: rapeseed) and soy grow like weeds and are also excellent sources of plastics.

When I was a kid we grew over 300 acres of soy a year. Just plant it in April or May, pray for rain and havest in October or November.

Most all of these can be used as substitutes for petrochemicals, and if our arabian friends decide to go on a bender they will also be economically, and psychologically, viable.

Dr. Mordrid

[DirtFarmer]

Off Topic

Yup, we love to grow Canola up here on the Canadian Prairies. I've been hearing about the possibility of industrial varieties for years and years. Bio-Fuels, Bio-Polymers. Pay me $300US/Tonne and Cargill/Dow/Monsanto/ADM can have all the Canola they want. You probably don't want to estimate the price you'd be paying at the pumps tho.

Add a little of this plastic to the Parhelia and it would be the most environmently friendly of Graphics Adapters. By the time this actually happens it will be around Parhelia XV. That is if there ever will be a Parhelia... we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves

[Captain Marvel]

hey doc what's the Matrox G400 + (classified)
?????

[Captain Marvel]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Dr Mordrid
....What (classified) means is between me and the holder of one of my *other* NDA's .....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
disregard!

[Dr Mordrid]

Actually I wish I could share what it is, but the NDA is a real ball-buster on this one and it has nothing to do with MGA or Parhelia.

Sorry.

Dr. Mordrid

[az]

Could you share when the NDA ends?
An estimate on when that'll be?

g'night for tonight, murc - I'm going to bed (5:30 am here)

AZ

[BryceMan]

Notice how carefully Mordrid says "MGA" and not "Matrox."

[Peter Aragon]

Hmmm, smells like the RT3000, compatible with Perhelia