Curious question.

[Neco]

Which dissipates heat "better"

Copper or Aluminum.

No debates needed, just a small scientific backed answer :p

[roYal]

copper.

[Neco]

also left out important definition of dissipate.. not the act of actually sucking up heat - but shedding heat from the copper itself (dissipation :p )


Just incase that has any bearing on the answer

[Diggrr]

In my understanding, if you heat up equal ammounts of copper and aluminum, the aluminum will get back to room temp sooner than the copper will.

BUT, when a constant heat load is applied (like in a computer), the copper maintains a lower temp than the aluminum. That's why copper HSF's perform better than aluminum ones.

All is not lost for aluminum though, because of it's light weight, you can build a much bigger heatsink for the same weight, without stressing your poor motherboard mounts to breakage, possibly tipping the scales back the other way. It's also cheaper to buy, and easier to machine. That's why Aluminum ones are still made.

I'm no physicist, so I can't really explain the reason behind copper maintaining a lower temp in a steady load system, but that's what the articles I've read say.

[Robbie]

aluminum (you DID say disapate)
Rob