> > >> > Commander K> >> >
> >> > <snip>
> >> > > Since you know so much about them, why does mine have some copper fins
> >> > > and some aluminium? Surely either one or the other is better? Or is
> >> > > it just to make it look pretty?
> >> > Good question. For decades now, Intel retailed bi-metallic CPU coolers
> >> > with copper baseplates and aluminum fins:
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >
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> >> >
> >> > The coolers shown above are intended for use in a "beige box." The
> >> > cooler fan on top of the copper core and the CPU beneath it obscure all
> >> > aesthetic aspects.
> >> > Perhaps the copper provides superior thermal conductivity while the
> >> > aluminum offers greater mechanical strength?
> >> I don't think copper is not strong enough for a heat sink, but it's
> >> freaking heavy compared to aluminum. You can only bolt so much weight
> >> onto these boards before it causes problems. The copper base is great
> >> for spreading the heat out to the fins, but the fins don't need to be
> >> so highly conductive to carry their portion of the heat and couple it
> >> to the air.
> >>
> >
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> >
> > but as you say, once the heat has been spread over a larger area there
> > is probably not much benefit from expensive copper
>
> Here's a solid copper server cooler shown next to a light-weight desktop
> bi-metallic:
>
>
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>
> The copper cooler weighs 989 g versus 256 g for the bi-metallic. The
> metal standoffs of the heavier cooler are designed to pass through over-
> sized motherboard holes and bolt directly to a server chassis. The
> lighter aluminum cooler uses plastic standoffs to secure itself directly
> to a desktop motherboard instead.
> Both copper and aluminum fins feel firm to the touch.
I often get crosstalk from other threads when I try to post. I'm curious as to which thread the post will actually land in.