Sparkle coats GPU coolers with diamond-like carbon
Sparkle says that a diamond-like carbon membrane reduced the temperature of a GeForce 9500 GT from 88°C to 83°C
Of course, diamond-like carbon hasn’t been anywhere near a diamond; it’s just an amorphous form of carbon that has some of the same characteristics. Sparkle says that these include ‘high heat conduction,’ and claims that a coating of the material on a heatsink reduced the temperature of a GeForce 9500 GT from 88°C to 83°C in its own tests – a drop of 5°C.
Explaining the technology, Sparkle pointed out that diamonds dissipate heat in four times the speed as copper because the heat is transferred by phonons, which are produced by vibrations in the crystal lattice of the stones. This differs from heat conduction via a standard metal heatsink, which relies on the movement of electrons in the metal. The company says that DLC can replicate this effect, dispersing heat via a ‘graphite metal bond and a diamond insulation bond (the covalent bond).’
Sparkle also notes that the coating has other advantages, including its ‘super-hard carbon coating,’ which the company says can ‘protect the radiator metal from scratching.’ The company also says that the DLC membrane isolates air from the heatsink, which avoids any reduction in thermal conductivity that occurs due to oxidation, as well as protecting the heatsink from water vapour and erosion.
Sparkle hasn’t announced any graphics cards based on the technology yet, saying that the cost of is currently too high, but says that it will now ‘consider the appropriate application step-by-step’ before announcing new products.
Could DLC-coated heatsinks be the next big thing in cooling technology, or is it a misguided publicity stunt? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyA solid silver heat sink would be better than copper, but it doesn't matter because its too expensive.
No, the transfer is from phonons, not photons. They're different things, although they are rooted in the same mathematical description from statistical mechanics. A phonon is best though of (as long as you don't want to start bustin' some science on it) as the vibration of a molecule within a lattice vibrating. The "connection" with the other lattice sites allows for a fast transfer of vibration, much faster than the poor old conduction electrons.
This sounds like an interesting material and if it can be made cheaply enough, a great alternative to an all-copper heatsink. After all, carbon is pretty damn abundant, whereas copper will inevitably run out sooner or later.
Electrons? What? When did the Laws of Nature change without anyone telling me?
heat is the energy that particles posses by vibrating, passing that vibration onto other particles is how heat transfers trough solids and fluids. (it can pass trough a vaccuum and transparent materials as radiation)
I dont know if Ben just copied it or wrote this himself, so i wont automatically direct this at him, but the guy who came up with that is a class A idiot.
In all seriousness, I'll believe it when I see the proof.