Heatsink material question

amdperson · 07-10-03, 09:28 PM

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 · 07-10-03, 09:32 PM

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

amdperson · 07-10-03, 09:36 PM

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.

Ichelo351 · 07-10-03, 09:42 PM

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 · 07-10-03, 10:23 PM

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.)

amdperson · 07-10-03, 10:24 PM

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

Ffats · 07-10-03, 10:47 PM

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

Paxmax · 07-11-03, 02:14 AM

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 · 07-11-03, 02:55 AM

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 · 07-11-03, 03:24 AM

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

creepy · 07-11-03, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stan03
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.)

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.

breez · 07-11-03, 06:16 AM

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 · 07-11-03, 06:40 AM

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

07-10-03, 09:28 PM	Thread Starter #1
amdperson Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Johannesburg - South Africa	Heatsink material question 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. __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition @ Stock Asus M4A78T-E 4GB Kingston DDR3 1333 @ Stock XFX 1GB HD-6850 1TB Seagate 7200 & 1TB Hitachi 7200 18.5" Benq LED LCD Monitor Coolermaster 750W GS Samsung DVD RW/Ram
	QUOTE Thanks

07-10-03, 09:36 PM	Thread Starter #3
amdperson Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Johannesburg - South Africa	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. __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition @ Stock Asus M4A78T-E 4GB Kingston DDR3 1333 @ Stock XFX 1GB HD-6850 1TB Seagate 7200 & 1TB Hitachi 7200 18.5" Benq LED LCD Monitor Coolermaster 750W GS Samsung DVD RW/Ram
	QUOTE Thanks

07-10-03, 09:42 PM	#4
Ichelo351 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: PA	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... __________________ e8400@4.1-P5Q Pro-HD4870 1gig folding for team 32!
	QUOTE Thanks

07-10-03, 10:23 PM	#5
stan03 Member Join Date: Mar 2003	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.)
	QUOTE Thanks

07-10-03, 10:24 PM	Thread Starter #6
amdperson Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Johannesburg - South Africa	ok thanks guys. I think I'll go for a silver heatsink. __________________ AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition @ Stock Asus M4A78T-E 4GB Kingston DDR3 1333 @ Stock XFX 1GB HD-6850 1TB Seagate 7200 & 1TB Hitachi 7200 18.5" Benq LED LCD Monitor Coolermaster 750W GS Samsung DVD RW/Ram
	QUOTE Thanks

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07-10-03, 09:32 PM	#2
XJ Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bristol, UK.	does it matter really? you think you're going to find a solid silver heatsink?
	QUOTE Thanks

07-10-03, 10:47 PM	#7
Ffats Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Illinois	Do you have the car in your avatar? If yes, make me a silver waterblock too!
	QUOTE Thanks

07-11-03, 02:14 AM	#8
Paxmax Member Join Date: May 2002	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.
	QUOTE Thanks

07-11-03, 02:55 AM	#9
Carnil Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Spokane, USA	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.
	QUOTE Thanks

07-11-03, 03:24 AM	#10
flixotide Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denmark	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 __________________ Ethical ancient-folder for Team 32. I'm watching you! Advisor and supporter within young peoples depression and anxiety group. Drop me a PM if you're stuck in the rut and need a boot up. Rate threads you like.
	QUOTE Thanks

07-11-03, 06:16 AM	#12
breez Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Finland	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.
	QUOTE Thanks

07-11-03, 06:40 AM	#13
login211 Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada	lols can someone post some links to silver or gold hs available for purchase? i'd love to see how much they cost __________________ ABIT NF7-S 2.0 Bios 23-3DFire \| XP-M2500+ @ 2.48Ghz (236x10.5) @ 1.85V \| 1x512MB PC3700 TwinMOSS 11-3-2-2T @ 2.98V \| PowerColor Radeon 9700Pro @ 360/360 \| Lapped SP-97/Tt Smart Case Fan II \| Windows XP SP1 \| Enermax 465W \| F@H for TEAM 32!!! \| My heatware
	QUOTE Thanks

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