Inexpensive CPU heatsink and fan workable for a gainclone?

[beady]

My local Radio Shack is closing and getting rid of everything. I can get either of the two heatsinks with attached fans for $3.00 each. With the fans running I'd think it'd be plenty of cooling. But, I'd rather not use the fan if I don't have to. Would two of these heatsinks (one for each chip) be enough cooling for a LN3886 Dual Mono gainclone? Since they are only $3 each, I could get 4 for $12. No shipping or minimum quantity since it's local.

CPU heatsink and fan #1

CPU heatsink and fan #2

Thanks for any thoughts,

Mike

[mike.m216]

I'd go for the first one.



You'll probably have to use the fan to get enough cooling. CPU heatsinks have the fins fairly close together.. better for use with a fan.

[jaycee]

Best would be to get 4 and bond them to a plate. Then attach the chips to the plate.

Alternatively if you have any old Slot 1 heatsinks, they often do quite nicely

[BrianDonegan]

Most of the smaller CPU coolers (like the ones shown) have VERY noisy fans. You will definitely hear it (them) over the music, unless you turn it up.

[facundonu]

my gainclone is a lm1876, and is atached to a pentium II cpu heatsink (i guess that's "slot 1").
at first i was using the fan as well, and it kept the chip really cool. but noise was really noticeable. i had the obvious air turbulence noise, and also electric noise in my amp because of a bad PS design for the fan.
later i removed the fan and the heatsink turned out to be enough to keep the chip at a reasobable temperature, and of course, noises were gone.

mine looks like this one:

[lgreen]

My LM3886 amp is using a CPU heat sink about the same size as the one above (the one facundonu is using), no fan. My opinion is that this is just large enough.

Based on my experience, you will need 2x or 3x the size you have. Or use the fan. I would not spend money on those radio shack heat sinks. Hmmm.... I've got some similar ones with and without fans, can send them to you if you like.

The option of using a metal plate and multiple small sinks will also work.

By the way, for standard computer heatsinks I usually try goldmine-elec.com, like this one.

[AndrewT]

Hi,
why can't we buy at Goldmine prices in the UK?

[Shoog]

The smaller the fan the noisier it will be. Wisper fans will help but cost about £10.00
Running your fan at 5-6v will reduce its noise by more than half and it should cope well. Just use a simple LM7805 to derive your supply.

Shoog

[Christer]

For those who are interested in using silent cooling for PCs in their amps (or why not in their PCs? ), this is the place to look for advice:
http://www.silentpcreview.com

One of the newer and popular technologies in CPU cooling is heatsinks using heatpipes. I had a discussion with a friend yesterday and he asked, mostly out of curiosity I guess, if it would be possible to use heatpipe technology for amplifiers. I said that it would most likely work, but since we usually have many output devices, it would probably be expensive and problematic. However, for chip amps, where we only have one chip per channel, it would be sufficient with two CPU coolers using heat pipes, so there it could be an option. There are good ones now that aren't that terribly expensive. I think the one I bought for my new PC was around 20 Euro, including fan. Considering that a modern CPU is rated at a much lower max. temp. than an amplifier chip, I would guess it would work well to skip the fan. These coolers usually tend to be a bit bulky, though, so you need a large case. Or, if you like exotic looking equipment, put them like two towers on top of the case.

[DJ Exprice]

Fans =

I think they're almost like cheating - and they're annoying.

Just use one of those heatsinks per chip. It depends how hard you'll be driving it. I've tried using skimpy heatsinks before and it has come out fine. A lil toasty but nothing to worry about.