What is a heatsink?

A heatsink is a part that helps keep your computer's processor (CPU) or other components cool. It’s usually made of materials like aluminum or copper that do a good job of spreading out heat. The heatsink absorbs the heat from the component it’s attached to and releases it into the air, preventing it from getting too hot.

It’s made up of a flat base that sits on the processor, plus fins or metal pieces that increase the surface area for heat to escape. Often, a fan is attached to help speed up the cooling process. Together, the heatsink and fan work to keep your PC running smoothly and prevent overheating.

Heatsinks use different materials:

Aluminum Heatsinks:

• Lightweight and affordable.
• Good thermal conductivity but less efficient than copper.
• Commonly used in consumer electronics.

Copper Heatsinks:

• High thermal conductivity, making them more efficient at heat transfer.
• Heavier and more expensive than aluminum.
• Often used in high-performance systems.

Hybrid Heatsinks:

• Combine aluminum and copper to balance cost, weight, and performance.
• Copper is used for the base or heat pipes, while aluminum is used for fins.

Types are as follows:

Passive Heatsinks:

• Rely solely on natural convection for heat dissipation.
• No moving parts, so they are silent and reliable.
• Used in systems with low heat output or where noise is a concern.

Active Heatsinks:

• Combine a heatsink with a fan or liquid cooling to enhance heat dissipation.
• More effective than passive heatsinks but require power and generate noise.
• Common in high-performance computing devices.

There are a few cooling mechanisms used in PCs.

Air-Cooled Heatsinks:

• Use fins and a fan to dissipate heat into the surrounding air, like our A115.
• Easy to install and maintain.
• Suitable for most consumer-grade applications.

Liquid-Cooled Heatsinks:

• Circulate coolant through a heat block and radiator.
• Efficient for high-heat systems like gaming PCs and servers, like our Titan 240 RX LCD.
• More complex and expensive than air-cooled systems.

Phase-Change Heatsinks:

• Use phase-change materials to absorb heat during a state change (e.g., liquid to vapor).
• Often seen in high-end applications or compact systems.