What does the C/W ratio mean?

[Swanny]

I know it's for thermal resistance, but what are the units? It seems to me that it would be degrees Celsius per watt. But I don't know what significance that would have to thermal resistance. The more I think about it the more I confuse myself Please help me here!

Thanks,
Swan

 

[V]

C=Celcius, W=Watt.

C/W x Wattage of CPU at full load = Temperature(C) over case temp.

 

[Swanny]

So a better HSF unit would have a lower C/W value, right? But you'd think more surface area would equal a lower C/W value, right? This is sort of confusing me again. I'll just take the orb series for an example. Since the Chrome orb has more surface area, you'd think it would have a lower C/W value than the Blue orb. But the Blorb's C/W=.47 and the Chrome orb's C/W=.75. Could you explain that to me?

 

[nnnyyy]

Good question. Did you get those number from the TT website? If so its probably bs like how the volcan fan pushes 38 cfm.

 

[Swanny]

Yeah, I got the numbers off the TT website. Anyone have the answer?

 

[russmanuk]

Swanny

A lower C/W is better. It basically works by saying x cpu produces n watts. Call it a duron 800 produces 40 watts or something. A HSF unit will have a certain C/W ratio as you've already seen. So using your TT figures

Blorb's C/W=.47
so
C=.47*W
C=.47*40W
C=18.8

Chrome orb's C/W=.75
so
C=.75*W
C=.75*40
C=30

So in theory the Blorb is better than the Chrome Orb! A 40W cpu using these figures would run 11.2C cooler with the blue orb.

My MC462 is about C/W=.18
so
C=.18*40
C=7.2

Hope this clears things up for ya!

Russman