Heatsink material question

amdperson

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Jun 10, 2003

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Johannesburg - South Africa

• Jul 10, 2003

• #1

I'm not sure if this has been asked before.
Would it be better to have a heatsink made out of copper or silver? I'm asking coz doesn't silver have better thermal properties than copper.

If someone can help me with this question I'd be happy.

 

XJ

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Feb 11, 2003

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Bristol, UK.

• Jul 10, 2003

• #2

does it matter really? you think you're going to find a solid silver heatsink?

 

OP

amdperson

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Jun 10, 2003

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Johannesburg - South Africa

• Jul 10, 2003

• Thread Starter
• #3

Actualy it does matter coz im soon going to design a custom water cooling rig and need to know which would have better thermal properties.

 

I

Ichelo351

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Jan 23, 2002

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PA

• Jul 10, 2003

• #4

in theory, silver would make a better heatsink, because yes it does have better thermal properities, but the problem is that silver is quite expensive! and while it is better, it isn't that much better, the price/performance increase is not worth it realistically... but if you happen to have a block of silver lyeing around, and no need for it then yes it will make a better heat sink...

 

stan03

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Mar 30, 2003

• Jul 10, 2003

• #5

yea, silver is the best conductor, but copper is next, so its up to you if its worth the price. (at least silver is #1 and copper #2 according to my chem book.)

 

OP

amdperson

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Jun 10, 2003

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• Jul 10, 2003

• Thread Starter
• #6

ok thanks guys. I think I'll go for a silver heatsink.

 

Ffats

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Jan 20, 2003

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Illinois

• Jul 10, 2003

• #7

Do you have the car in your avatar? If yes, make me a silver waterblock too!

 

P

Paxmax

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May 8, 2002

• Jul 11, 2003

• #8

Hey! While we are at it, why don't we mention pyrolytic graphite (1500-3000) and diamonds(3000-3600). =o)
Silver gets only third place with it's 429 or something in thermal conductivity.

 

Carnil

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May 29, 2002

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Spokane, USA

• Jul 11, 2003

• #9

IIRC, graphite only has good thermal conduction along the plane of the material, and single-molecule diamonds aren't yet up to the sizes needed for heatsinks, so silver is the best available material.

 

flixotide

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Oct 29, 2002

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Denmark

• Jul 11, 2003

• #10

Ehhh.. what about Au? - gold

Or is it only the better electric conductor?

I've seen a few heatsinks with silver bases around... I'll see if I can find them.

I even think I've seen one with gold base.. (not anodised! like the zalman flower.. but solid gold base)

Cheers, Flix

 

C

creepy

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Feb 15, 2003

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tn

• Jul 11, 2003

• #11

stan03 said:

yea, silver is the best conductor, but copper is next, so its up to you if its worth the price. (at least silver is #1 and copper #2 according to my chem book.)

Click to expand...

I maybe be wrong but id have to disagree. Maybe for price and being able to get ahold of they are #1 and #2 but if I am correct diamond is the best or one of the best atleast. Yea I know this is kinda off topic.

 

B

breez

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Jul 2, 2002

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Finland

• Jul 11, 2003

• #12

Gold is only a little better than aluminium. Using gold in a heatsink is the stupidest idea. Also there's gold thermal paste from Coolermaster. That's a total ripoff.

 

login211

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Jun 11, 2003

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Ontario, Canada

• Jul 11, 2003

• #13

lols can someone post some links to silver or gold hs available for purchase? i'd love to see how much they cost