Re: Effect of colour in SSD heatsinks

On Mon, 2 Jun 2025 02:01:24 +0530, Pimpom <Pimpom@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

On 02-06-2025 01:06 am, john larkin wrote:

On Sun, 1 Jun 2025 22:10:57 +0530, Pimpom <Pimpom@invalid.invalid>
wrote:
 

I'm thinking of installing simple heatsinks on the SSDs in my desktop
and other computers. The SSDs are seldom subjected to heavy write loads
and can do very well without the add-on heatsinks. But the peace of mind
they bring is well worth the price of UD$1.10 apiece in a pack of 5.
>
Here's an example: https://tinyurl.com/mpjar5bw There's a choice of
three colours on Amazon India - black, gold and plain aluminium. How
much of a difference, if any, will the colour make when fitted inside a
computer case? I expect that cooling will be mostly by convection than
by radiation.
>
This is more of an academic interest than of practical requirement
because, as I said, the heatsinks are not a necessity.
>

 
Radiation cooling is tiny for low temp differences, so the finish
doesn't matter much.
 
Plastic packaged ICs usually have a tiny hot spot, visible on a
thermal imager. The real virtue of a heat sink is that it spreads the
heat laterally. A piece of flat aluminum woud work about as well.
 
The 1 mm "conductive adhesive" will dominate theta.
 
 

Yes, I'm thinking of replacing those pads with the much thinner ones
intended for mounting TO-247 devices. Larger uncut sheets will be ideal
but I don't know if I can get them here.
>

Best to use silicone grease or epoxy. Theta goes as thickness and
grease or epoxy squash down to microinches.

Our Amazon has tons of Chinese thermal pad stuff in various
thicknesses. Most claim about 7 w/mK and I've tested some that was
actually about that.

Mica is good too. Specific theta is poor but it's very thin. And it's
super cheap.

Here's my Insult program:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/p1uw2fs6920m1vrave4ly/INSULT.EXE?rlkey=gzxdjdpd9xdy6mby09yecgkkf&dl=0