EDA
Heatsink design & selection – the ultimate buying guide
Many factors affect the thermal performance of a heatsink; discover the design elements you need to know before buying a heatsink with this handy buying guide. Simply follow these 10 easy steps from GD Rectifiers to find your perfect heatsink
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D Rectifiers are a global manufacturer and distributor of products, services and solutions to
commercial and industrial users of power electronic components. GD Rectifiers specialise in supplying thousands of aluminium heatsinks to their customers each year. Here, they share the top 10 buying tips designed to make a purchaser’s job much easier.
1. Consider the material you need Be sure to consider cost, availability and performance, you need a heatsink that will do the job so make sure you invest in a material that is suited to your end product.
2. Research the heat sink capabilities required for your project Ensure you are familiar with the end product specification and what performance will be expected. Communicate the full specification to the heatsink engineer, it is important that they know what the heat sink is required to do so that they can suggest one of the best quality.
3. Choose the right fan for your product
The heatsink and fan are the most essential decision purchasers will make. The fan is incredibly important because it will quickly remove the heat that is generated by the
CPU away from the heatsink. This element is vital because as the CPU works, it generates a large amount of heat which needs to be removed from the device quickly otherwise the device could overheat and destroy the CPU.
The fans performance is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) which means that larger fans are usually more reliable when it comes to performance. Consider the noise of the fan, the noise output is measured in Sones which refers to how loud the fan is whilst in use. Noise output is an important factor which could affect the purchaser’s decision process.
4. Seek advice from experts to ensure you’re buying the right heatsink Google several heat sink manufacturers and ask to speak to their technical team, discuss your requirements and ask them to confirm which type of heatsink you require. Make sure you communicate the full product specification, end product and future applications it could be used in so that the engineer can advise you as best they can.
5. Check the heatsink drawings The drawings are important because they allow non-technical customers to envisage what the heatsink will look like and how it will function. Make sure the manufacturer sends you the drawings (if possible) so you can refer back to it as and when you need to.
6. Check the smoothness of the heatsink
Good heatsinks tend to have a machined base on the bottom, the flatter the base, the better it will be able to keep the CPU cool. Potential damage could be caused to the product if a heat sink was to have a rough or uneven base which is why flat and smooth bases are desired to transfer the heat away from the CPU.
7. Check the heatsinks thermal resistance A heatsinks thermal resistance can often be a purchasers deciding factor. The thermal resistance of a heatsink indicates the heat sink’s ability to remove the heat. Purchasers work closely with engineers to establish the thermal resistance required for the end product. Purchasers then determine the desired thermal resistance for the product. The lower the rated thermal resistance number is, the faster the heat will be removed from the heatsink. Typically, the heatsinks job is to move heat from the device and in to the heatsink itself, which without a higher thermal resistance, cannot be done as quickly.
8. Determine the fan’s air flow This is another important buying factor, the higher the airflow of the fan, the faster and better its performance will be at cooling the product down.
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9. Compatibility Today, there is a wide range of heatsinks in the industry to choose from. The heatsink must be compatible with your motherboard, so check the compatibility to make sure it will fit with your particular motherboard’s CPU socket. Ensure you discuss your requirements with a heatsink expert and are confident with the heatsinks compatibility to make sure you choose the right one.
10. Where to buy your heatsink Research heatsink manufacturers online and call several companies for technical support, once you know which heatsink you require you can gather quotes. Research the company that you’re thinking of buying the heatsink from, check that it is a reputable company, with good reviews, an extensive product range and a reliable sales and customer service team. Make sure technical support is available to you every step of the way should you require it. GD Rectifiers are a leading manufacturer of standard and custom made heatsinks, heatsink accessories and heatsink assemblies. They stock and machine the largest range of heatsinks suitable for stud, modules and capsule semiconductors plus high power LED applications. Offering a full service from design to production, technical support and fast delivery, GD Rectifiers is one of the top heatsink providers in the UK.
They have a wide selection of high quality heatsinks readily available in stock at unbeatable prices and offer a next day delivery service. GD Rectifiers offer technical support on all heatsinks including specific heat dissipation requirements.
www.gdrectifiers.co.uk Components in Electronics July/August 2017 15
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