Thermaltake MaxOrb EX CPU Cooler

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[Reonekot]

Copper is better at pulling heat away from an object, but it takes longer to pull the heat away from copper when it is used as a fin.

You guys should read up on you thermodynamics I think. This "myth" is well known to be a myth when it comes to heatsinks.

I'm not sure what source you guys here "trust", but anyway:

[...] In this case, air has a much lower thermal conductivity than the metallic heatsink and is thus the limiting factor. HUGE BIGASS NOTE: There is no such physical phenomenon as to how well a material 'gives up heat'. This is an internet-overclocking myth that has propagated for far too long and will now be laid to rest!

Cooling - An In-Depth Look

I am not sure where exactly that thermal conductivity was first split into two aspects, "taking in" and "giving up", but AMDMB are by no means alone in making this type of statement. Interestingly, Myv65 of AMDMB addresses this myth directly in their "General Heat Transfer Guide". To briefly summarize Dave's thoughts, the only real advantage that aluminum has over copper is its density. If one is trying to remain within AMD or Intel's weight specifications then it is possible to produce an aluminum heatsink that is larger and with greater surface area. However, if two heatsinks are of identical size and construction then the copper unit will perform better. The real reason aluminum heatsinks are common is the low cost and ease of producing them. Copper isn't the ideal material to work with, as any machinist can tell you.

ProCooling.com

The Recurring Cu vs. Al Myth

The ability of a metal to transfer heat is described by the term thermal conductivity. Copper's much higher density is its main advantage over aluminum. The thermal conductivity of pure copper can be expressed as 386 W/m-C, compared to pure aluminum's 220 W/m-C. Higher thermal conductivity means faster heat transfer.


The puzzling, persistent myth among computer heatsink geeks is that, somehow, copper absorbs heat faster than aluminum, yet releases it more slowly. This is simply wrong. The metal cannot care or know whether the heat is coming or going, its thermal conductivity remains constant. Copper's thermal conductivity is always higher than that of aluminum.
This does not mean that a copper heatsink will always be superior to one made of aluminum. Material selection is just one of many factors in heatsink performance, and the overall design is often more important than any single aspect.

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