Patent ID: 7164580

Claim:
A computer system, comprising: a first component and a second component; a motherboard coupled to the first component and the second component, wherein the motherboard enables communication between the first component and the second component; a plenum having a first orifice directly over the first component and a second orifice directly over the second component, wherein the plenum distributes air to cool the first component and the second component, wherein the predominant flow of air is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the motherboard and directed onto the surface of the first and second components; a first sensor to detect a temperature of the first component; a second sensor to detect a temperature of the second component; and an air source, coupled to the plenum and the sensor, to pressurize the plenum with air, wherein the air source increases the plenum air pressure if the first component has a temperature above a first cooling requirement or if the second component has a temperature above a second cooling requirement, and wherein the air source maintains the plenum air pressure if the first component temperature is not above the first cooling requirement and if the second component temperature is not above the second cooling requirement.