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1. ∑ XahLee (xahlee@noagendasocial.com)'s status on Tuesday, 27-Feb-2018 19:33:49 EST ∑ XahLee

   is it possible for cpu to have a heatsink that connect to the entire computer case with heat conducting metal box, so that fan is not necessary? anyone know some heat physics can give some explanation?
   (am annoyed that iMac mini still has fan.)

   1. Matthew Skala (mattskala@mstdn.io)'s status on Tuesday, 27-Feb-2018 19:55:29 EST Matthew Skala

      in reply to

      @xahlee You want water cooling. Merely connecting through a passive heat-conductor to the case wouldn't be useful because there's too much distance involved - the thermal resistance along the connection would make this pretty much useless.

      Really, the best way to make a very quiet computer is have it not generate much heat in the first place (low CPU clock speed, few cores), so that passive conduction to a fanless heat sink and natural convection will be enough to cool it.

      1. ∑ XahLee (xahlee@noagendasocial.com)'s status on Tuesday, 27-Feb-2018 20:25:22 EST ∑ XahLee

         in reply to

         @mattskala ah i see. I think this i the best answer am seeking.

         so basically because heat-conductor still have too much resistance?

         know some site or article discuss this?

         am interested in how stuff works kinda article, as opposed to PC review or gamer tech etc things.

         1. Matthew Skala (mattskala@mstdn.io)'s status on Tuesday, 27-Feb-2018 20:32:50 EST Matthew Skala

            in reply to

            @xahlee Are you familiar with electrical resistance? Thermal resistance is closely analogous - you have a fixed "current" (watts of power to dissipate), and then you have several resistances (measured in °C/W) in series between it and the ambient air. Add a longer heat conductor and you're adding to that resistance, so the °C difference between the CPU and the ambient air increases in proportion. Dunno if they're the level you want but see https://www.electronics-cooling.com/1995/06/how-to-select-a-heat-sink/ and https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/314