Computer heatsinks for audio

deleveld · 30th November 2004, 11:25 AM

Hi everyone,

Does anyone here use heatsinks from PCs for thier audio amps? I suspect they would be cheaper to get from a PC dumpstore than special audio heatsinks. They would be noisy at full power but would dissipate alot of heat cheaply. Anyone do this?

Thanks,

Doug

Roushon · 30th November 2004, 12:37 PM

In one of the threads someone pointed out this possibility sometime back. The CPU heatsink with a fan was suggested to do the job nicely.
You can also find it here http://www.shine7.com/audio/pa100.htm
with photo.

jaycee · 30th November 2004, 03:16 PM

If you could get old Pentium II heatsinks, they would be ideal. I have one here that's completely passive, about 30mm along the fins. Would be good if it wasnt in use in my firewall.

mcs · 30th November 2004, 04:03 PM

I sometimes use the heatsinks from dead PC power supplies for small amps.

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen

wimms · 30th November 2004, 04:16 PM

IMO, PC coolers are definitely option, especially that their cooling efficiency has been under high scrutiny and there's alot of data available.

Also, note that Panasonic has developed special fan for home audio cooling, that has received highest marks in silent PC computing - Panaflo. It is rated as about most silent fan on earth.

Then again, you'd need more mechanical work on them to fit your needs.

Petter · 30th November 2004, 04:37 PM

I did what you suggested, but it was painful since the size of heatsinks is typically so small.

The alternative is to use audio heatsinks for PC's to make them silent and better looking

Petter

tab30 · 1st December 2004, 04:26 PM

Hello,

I have done measurements on PC-Heatsink's some times ago. The result was realy impressive. A cheap normal Cooler for Athlon XP has an Thermal Resistance of no more than 0.2 W/K ( Fan aplied and running ).

If you want to use PC-Coolers I wouldn'd use them without fan, they are designt to work ideal with an Fan. Without it , the performance is bad - compared to "Audio-Heatsink"

greethings Andi

lgreen · 1st December 2004, 05:11 PM

I've used those heatsinks (got them from Electronic Goldmine) in my GainClone.

See here and here

They are very good at dissipating heat, but I'd still like them to be a little bigger.

30th November 2004, 11:25 AM	#1
deleveld diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002	Computer heatsinks for audio Hi everyone, Does anyone here use heatsinks from PCs for thier audio amps? I suspect they would be cheaper to get from a PC dumpstore than special audio heatsinks. They would be noisy at full power but would dissipate alot of heat cheaply. Anyone do this? Thanks, Doug

30th November 2004, 12:37 PM	#2
Roushon diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mumbai (Bombay)	In one of the threads someone pointed out this possibility sometime back. The CPU heatsink with a fan was suggested to do the job nicely. You can also find it here http://www.shine7.com/audio/pa100.htm with photo. __________________ S. Roushon

30th November 2004, 04:03 PM	#4
mcs diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denmark	I sometimes use the heatsinks from dead PC power supplies for small amps. Best regards, Mikkel C. Simonsen __________________ My personal electronics website Remote control kits website

30th November 2004, 04:37 PM	#6
Petter diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Scandinavia	Audio heatsinks for PC's more interesting? I did what you suggested, but it was painful since the size of heatsinks is typically so small. The alternative is to use audio heatsinks for PC's to make them silent and better looking Petter

1st December 2004, 04:26 PM	#7
tab30 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Germany - Lake Constance	Tested Hello, I have done measurements on PC-Heatsink's some times ago. The result was realy impressive. A cheap normal Cooler for Athlon XP has an Thermal Resistance of no more than 0.2 W/K ( Fan aplied and running ). If you want to use PC-Coolers I wouldn'd use them without fan, they are designt to work ideal with an Fan. Without it , the performance is bad - compared to "Audio-Heatsink" greethings Andi


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30th November 2004, 03:16 PM	#3
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	If you could get old Pentium II heatsinks, they would be ideal. I have one here that's completely passive, about 30mm along the fins. Would be good if it wasnt in use in my firewall.

30th November 2004, 04:16 PM	#5
wimms diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: home	IMO, PC coolers are definitely option, especially that their cooling efficiency has been under high scrutiny and there's alot of data available. Also, note that Panasonic has developed special fan for home audio cooling, that has received highest marks in silent PC computing - Panaflo. It is rated as about most silent fan on earth. Then again, you'd need more mechanical work on them to fit your needs.

1st December 2004, 05:11 PM	#8
lgreen diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: San Diego, USA	I have I've used those heatsinks (got them from Electronic Goldmine) in my GainClone. See here and here They are very good at dissipating heat, but I'd still like them to be a little bigger.

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