PCA Forums

okay, I messed around with having a vos32 custom cast from copper a few months ago. it worked nice but was still restricted by the same problems as the vos32, and had a problem of pulling the cpu off the board.

what I'm looking to do is build a better mousetrap if you will. Working with someone who is talented in making stuff like this from metals. I'd kinda like to hear your ideas (cuz mine suck) on material to use, fin type, size, and anything else you can come up with. I know we have some smart folks here that might be able to help build a better HS for us all... who knows maybe even market it as the PCA cooler if it works good enough

Super ultra-thin fins...and lots of them!

I've been thinking about this one for awhile. I'd be interested to know how well mounting the fan side ways or on an angle in relation to the cpu would work, for more linear airflow:

cpu: _
fan: |

_| OR
_\

so you're saying to design it similar to the alpha? More small fins (1/2 the thickness)?

i am by no means an engineer or master of physics, but you want the following basic elements:

1. best heat conductive material (copper?)
2. largest surface area exposed to external air
3. fan to remove heat from HS surface area and AWAY from the motherboard

wouldn't a copper heatsink with hundreds of tiny (almost needle-like) spikes create the highest surface area? like small cones that grow small in radius as they approach the fan...and end in a flat surface (so we don't stab ourselves).

finally, the fan could be mounted on the side to blow the heated air away from the motherboard/cpu, instead of down into it. (blow it towards an exhaust fan in the case for quick removal).


.02


oh, one other thing. wouldn't a heatsink that enveloped the cpu core (while making contact on all sides, if possible...including thermal compound) be better than a flat surface? ex. take an existing heatsink but machine out a square in the middle in which the cpu core fits into...like a key into a lock. that would provide maximum heat transfer.

---i only want 10% of the profits for my ideas!!

The wrap around heatsink is a good idea b-man.

There might be a trade-off to having pins, thin fins, or any large surface area. There is not enough metal over the cpu to conduct the heat away. In other words, as metal-to-air efficiency increases, cpu-to-sink efficiency might decrease.

I would think small (about the thickness of a piece of paper) evenly spaced copper 'sheets' on a big copper slug with two fans, one blowing in the side, the other blowing up, would be the best, the enveloping would have to be custom since every cpu is pretty much different in it's placement and size by little bits.

while you're at it PLEASE figure out a clamping system that does not involve the use of screwdrivers, popsicle sticks, etc. to install and remove socket a heatsinks - it;s ridiculous that we have 25 million transistors on a chipp and still need to use brute force to install heatsinks - i've thought of a system using double locknuts or something so that you could hook it up square, and screw the tension up until firm - maybe we could make teeny tiny torque wrenches

hmmmm, that might be a little tough. BTW this is for a slot1/A chip at first (PIII 550e). But I am considering restarting the desing for socketed cpus. The turning method on the Gorb seems to be fairly easy, as long as you turn the right way (seen some goof at the local shop rip the little tabs off a mobo turning it the wrong way!)

I don't like the turning action on the gorb. You never know if the grease is consistant, cause it gets sort of mashed in.

Have another idea...

What about tapering the fins. Make them thick at the bottom and thin at the top. This would channel more heat from the sink base to the fins...

i had to take off and reinstall the gorb on my 600e/msi slocket combo last night - couldn't believe how easy it was compared to the #$#$@#$ fop socket a heatsinks i've been playing with lately

i dunno too much bout designing HS, but i've had a few different alphas, a gorb, and several other ones in my time, and my personal favourite is the Hedgehog. made of copper, it's super-heatconductive and slapping on a sunon 60mm fan keeps my p3 700 the coolest it can be short of slapping on a peltier. we're talking 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit when idle. my .02 is definitely go copper. the Hedgehog has a solid copper base and bunch of them copper beams perpendicular to the base. the aren't particularly thin, nor are they monstrously thick either. hope it helps.

these sparked some new ideas here. the trick is mounting a fan on this thing so it's 100% effective.
http://www.hardocp.com/new_img_01/jan/011801d.html

http://www.hardocp.com/new_img_01/jan/011801b.html

http://www.hardocp.com/new_img_01/jan/011801c.html

not sure who makes that HS, but I'm gonna have to say they're on to something there.

looks like a copper slinky! what happens when you put the case right side up i wonder?

I actually thought of that setup believe it or not. The problem is airflow between the fins is limited. Now, turning the fins the other way would be way cool I think.