• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Anybody know a lot about MERCURY? (The metal)

In my journeys though geek-dome I found that silver is a better heat sink than copper (or just about anything as I understand).

Well awhile back I tried this theory out on one of my computers. I made a copper plate for a shim and on top of that I put a piece of solid silver I bought someplace, then on top of that I installed my heat sink and fan. Well I don't know how much if any if helped, but it didn't seem to hurt. 😉

Anyway, another big factor in heat sink efficiency is the fit between the heat sink and the CPU core right? So last night I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury, (NOT A GOOD IDEA AS I FOUND OUT LATER) anyway I remembered coating silver dimes and quarters with mercury. The stuff bonds right to the silver and coats it quite well, leaving a thin Mercury layer over everything.

So I started thinking about how well something like that would work for the whole CPU heat sink thing. Coating the silver with mercury would insure a tight fit between the heat sink and the CPU, and as the CPU heated up, because of the mercury expanding as it does under heat, it would make the fit tighter. Also is I understand heat dissipation and molecular structure, wouldn't Mercury actually dissipate heat better since the molecules would get wider apart as the stuff expanded? (Does that explanation make sense?)

Obviously you wouldn't want to use to much and have is run off the CPU and short things out....)
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
In my journeys though geek-dome I found that silver is a better heat sink than copper (or just about anything as I understand).

Well awhile back I tried this theory out on one of my computers. I made a copper plate for a shim and on top of that I put a piece of solid silver I bought someplace, then on top of that I installed my heat sink and fan. Well I don't know how much if any if helped, but it didn't seem to hurt. 😉

Anyway, another big factor in heat sink efficiency is the fit between the heat sink and the CPU core right? So last night I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury, (NOT A GOOD IDEA AS I FOUND OUT LATER) anyway I remembered coating silver dimes and quarters with mercury. The stuff bonds right to the silver and coats it quite well, leaving a thin Mercury layer over everything.

So I started thinking about how well something like that would work for the whole CPU heat sink thing. Coating the silver with mercury would insure a tight fit between the heat sink and the CPU, and as the CPU heated up, because of the mercury expanding as it does under heat, it would make the fit tighter. Also is I understand heat dissipation and molecular structure, wouldn't Mercury actually dissipate heat better since the molecules would get wider apart as the stuff expanded? (Does that explanation make sense?)

Obviously you wouldn't want to use to much and have is run off the CPU and short things out....)

Whatever contains the mercury won't be very efficient unless it's extremely thin. That and the fact that mercury is extremely dangerous and people are idiots = no burrito.
 
i think mercury vapor is toxic, therefore you certainly should not use it in a heatsink.

i should just steal a can of liquid nitrogen and use that... =)
 
the conceptual idea behind that sounds like something that would work, however keeping mercury out like that and inside your computer may not produce favorable results to the person sitting next to it. Although your computer may cool a little better, I imagine it wouldn't make a huge difference; and even if it did, not worth the risk 🙂
 
On the bright side, I got my new BIOS chip, installed it and I now have my 2100 +XP B core running @2.29 🙂

It's a bit hotter than I would like to see it though, hence my thought process about the heat sink thingy. 😉

Guess I'll just wait till my Volcano 10+ comes....
 
She is trapped inside a month of grey
And they take a little every day
She is a victim of her own responses
Shackled to a heart that wants to settle
And then runs away
It's a sin to be fading endlessly
Yeah, but she's alright with me

She is leaving on a walkaway
She is leaving me in disarray
In the absence of a place to be
She stands there looking back at me
Hesitates, and then turns away
She'll change so suddenly
She's just like mercury
Yeah, but she's alright with me

Keep some sorrow in your hearts and minds
For the things that die before their time
For the restlessly abandoned homes
The tired and weary rambler's bones
And stay beside me where I lie
She's entwined in me
Crazy as can be
Yeah, but she's alright with me
 
OK, so I'll leave out the Mercury. 😉

I am building a 2x2x2 copper pyramid that's gonna be my home made water block.

I'll post pics when it's done.

We'll see if there's anything to this pyramid power crap. 🙂
 
I like the idea....other than the mercury part; any other metals that react to heat like mercury does?

oh, and DOESN'T produce toxic fumes 😉
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I started thinking back on my younger days and playing with mercury

Well, that explains a lot.
Ten minutes later, am still laughing.

As to address the original idea, sounds very much like the concept of phase changing materials, which is not all that new of a concept. Also agree with Howard. Mercury is not the ideal conductor of heat.

More information regarding phase changing compounds (not sinks themselves) here.
 
Back
Top