meaning of C/W?

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
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C/W = degrees C per watt? So that means a heatsink with .5C/W would get you 35C above ambient with a 70 watt CPU, right? wouldn't that be the only number that matters? (well, that and dBa, of course)
 

Mikewarrior2

Diamond Member
Oct 20, 1999
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Correct, Degrees C per W..

HOwever, where C/W is measured is a huge factor in determining "theoretical" temps. Heatsink-based thermocouple measurement is not accurate for determining DIE temperature. It reads under it, and rather significantly. It is good for testing, though, if every ehatsink were tested that way.

On-Die C/W Calculations are the purest form of determing DIE temps.



Mike
 

CTho9305

Elite Member
Jul 26, 2000
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hrmm... yeah that would mean the HEATSINK has to be 35C above ambient, which, IMHO is obscenely bad. also strange, since I can touch the heatsink on a tbird 1.4 and NOT get burned (volcano5).

so to get the die temp, you'd need its wattage, the C/W of the paste, and then the C/W of the heatsink, right?