[Hardware] Make a subtraction and get it right in choosing the heatsink for your processor

[Draeno]

 

Setting up a desktop computer is a methodical process where many variables have to be considered. The main one and that marks the hardware that we can access, is our budget. But, choosing the heatsink for our processor is easier than you can imagine and you only have to look at the heatpipes.

Tower type heat sinks with fans are more than enough for the vast majority of cases. The problem usually resides in the choice of the same, since it is usually not clear how to choose. As simple as doing a very basic mathematical operation that will surprise you.

Forget processor TDP, use the math
The TDP or Thermal Design Power, is a value in "watts" that indicates the maximum heat generated by the processor. Actually, defining it like this is not entirely correct, since this parameter tells us the maximum TDP when the processor is at 100%. Getting to use a processor to the maximum is very rare in everyday tasks, so it is still indicative.

If we do not want to complicate our lives, there is a very simple way to choose a heatsink for the processor. We do not need to know the TDP for this, the only thing we need to know is the number of heatpipes or heat pipes. These with closed cylinders that touch the processor and rise through a series of aluminum fins that help dissipate heat.

 

 

All commercial processors from Intel and AMD are subdivided into ranges. Intel names them Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. While AMD calls these ranges as Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9. It is precisely the number of each of these ranges of processors that matters to us.

We must take the number of the processor range and subtract 1 from it. The result tells us how many heatpipes the heatsink for our processor must have, as a minimum. If we choose the Intel Core i5 12500K, what we are interested in taking is number 5 of the "i5". We do a simple subtraction: 5 – 1 = 4. Done, we need a heatsink with 4 heatpipes.

Furthermore, this simple mathematical operation tells us that there is no processor that is incompatible with an air cooler. If we have an AMD Ryzen 9, we will need a heatsink with 8 heatpipes. For this processor we could purchase the Noctua NH-U12S chromax.black heatsink

Note: We must consider that the heatpies on each side are independent, even though they are joined at the base

 

https://hardzone.es/noticias/componentes/elegir-disipador-procesador-operacion-matematica/

Edited February 25, 2023 by Shyloo