Heatsink colors

[rivercom9]

I know that the color of the heatsink can sometimes affect its performance to cool. What is the best color for a heatsink?

[The Coolest]

Maybe the colors that u talk about are like brownish and like silver? The brownish are copper HS, & silverish are aluminum, the aluminum spreads heat better, but the copper transfer heat better from CPU. u should check all those out.. I'm not sure but I think that Global Win's are aluminum & thermalright SK-6 is copper..

[William]

If you are talking about a red vs. black heatsink then its a myth. Some people think that some colors are better than others because hey black gets hot when you wear your shirt. If you are talking about material, coppers better.

[Sonny]

Originally posted by rivercom9
I know that the color of the heatsink can sometimes affect its performance to cool. What is the best color for a heatsink? Black will release, for lack of a better word, the heat faster but it will absorb heat faster too so if its surrouonding is hot then any advantage will be lost.

[VashTheStampede]

Wouldn't paint inhibit heat transfer or is a certain type of paint required?

~Vash~

[Morbid]

I think it's an anodized paint, or whatever, good for heat transfer I suppose?? (I really have no clue as someone people will probably notice) :p

[DarkArctic]

That's correct Morbid, black anodized paint helps in heat transfer. But it has to be anodized in order to help. Just some cheap paint you find on the shelf will really hinder it.

-DarkArctic

[Doorman]

Don't Realy Know What Im Talking About, But It Seems to Me That While Anodizing is A Coating Prosses it May Have Some Afect. But Inside a Dark (No Light) Case Would Color Have Any Afect at All??
May Be if You Have A Window, However it Then Would Seam That a Dark (Like Black) Color That Absorbs More of the Light Spectrum May Increase The Amount of Heat That YouAre Trying To Disapate.(one of Theas Days I Will Learn How to Spel):beer:

[Sonny]

Anodizing is not paint as Doorman points out. Anodizing is a process which forms a particularly structured and dense oxide layer which resists abrasion and thus protects the underlying metal. Black will radiate or absorb heat faster regardless of direct light but in such a minute amount that it is useless. Alpha does it for protection on their aluminum HS.

[VashTheStampede]

Ok, wouldn't a completely black HSF pose a problem? There are more heat sources than just the CPU, the PSU just a few inches above it puts off some heat, as well as high performance vid cards just below that. So how about this (Since the military uses tan camo for more than just camo in the desert) a black base and a tan or lighter color on top/side?

~Vash~

[Sonny]

Originally posted by VashTheStampede
Ok, wouldn't a completely black HSF pose a problem? There are more heat sources than just the CPU, the PSU just a few inches above it puts off some heat, as well as high performance vid cards just below that.Not according to ALPHA NOVATECH. This is also why other manufacturers stay away from it. This is an old debate that nobody really needs to bring back.

Originally posted by VashTheStampede
So how about this (Since the military uses tan camo for more than just camo in the desert) a black base and a tan or lighter color on top/side?If you gain .01°C would it justify the cost of anodizing different parts of the HSF with different colors?

It's really for protection not performance:beer:

[VashTheStampede]

Originally posted by sonny
If you gain .01°C would it justify the cost of anodizing different parts of the HSF with different colors?

It's really for protection not performance:beer:

It would look cool anyway :D

~Vash~

[SeigeAkicksass]

i think anodizing should be only for 1 looking cools and 2 protection i dotn think it effects preformance at all except i think it doen make tbe sink non conductive- like elect. dosnt go throiught he anodized part- if that is true it may be a plus preformance wise if you are using it fror ramsinks a or somthing - so it dosent touch the pins or somthing but im not ure about he non conductivity thing and i dotn have any thng to tes it althg i do have an old heating about 7 inches from my hand:D