An interesting sidelight now is the comparison of a car with an engine that has an aluminum block to one that has a cast iron block. Aluminum blocks are lighter, but tend to warp and self distruct when over heated. A cast iron block is much more forgiving. Many people who have run out of water going over the Pali have had to have their engines replaced if it has an aluminum block, whereas a cast iron block might even seize up yet run perfectly fine again once it has cooled down.
Aluminum wiring in houses is generally considered dangerous fire hazard today although it was installed in homes in the past as a cost cutting measure. Copper is the standard today.
MonMotha wrote:
Steel is probably ons of the worst materials for a heatsink precisely for the reason you gave: it doesn't move heat well. For a heatsink, the objective is to MOVE heat (this is why people with lots of heat to move LOVE peltiers).
Remember, fans actually MAKE heat, but the reason they help cooling is because they move the air around. This means that the hot air resulting from the transfer of heat away from the sink is evacuated quickly and cool air is brought in. Again, larger delta T means faster heat transfer.
It seems to me that after all this discussion that Wayne should learn to live with his fan as that in fact is the best system.
