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Processor Thermal/Mechanical Information
T
CONTROL
larger negative number) of T
This is achieved in part by using the
performance curves from the Intel enabled thermal solution. A thermal solution
designed to meet the thermal profile would be expected to provide similar acoustic
performance of different parts with potentially different T
The value for T
factory configured processor register. The result can be used to program a fan speed
control component. See the appropriate processor datasheet for further details on
reading the register and calculating T
See Chapter 7, Intel
implementing a design using T
2.3
Heatsink Design Considerations
To remove the heat from the processor, three basic parameters should be considered:
The area of the surface on which the heat transfer takes place. Without any
enhancements, this is the surface of the processor package IHS. One method used
to improve thermal performance is by attaching a heatsink to the IHS. A heatsink
can increase the effective heat transfer surface area by conducting heat out of the
IHS and into the surrounding air through fins attached to the heatsink base.
The conduction path from the heat source to the heatsink fins. Providing a
direct conduction path from the heat source to the heatsink fins and selecting
materials with higher thermal conductivity typically improves heatsink
performance. The length, thickness, and conductivity of the conduction path from
the heat source to the fins directly impact the thermal performance of the
heatsink. In particular, the quality of the contact between the package IHS and
the heatsink base has a higher impact on the overall thermal solution performance
as processor cooling requirements become stricter. Thermal interface material
(TIM) is used to fill in the gap between the IHS and the bottom surface of the
heatsink, and thereby improve the overall performance of the stack-up (IHS-TIM-
Heatsink). With extremely poor heatsink interface flatness or roughness, TIM may
not adequately fill the gap. The TIM thermal performance depends on its thermal
conductivity as well as the pressure applied to it. Refer to Section 2.3.4 and
Appendix C for further information on TIM and on bond line management between
the IHS and the heatsink base.
The heat transfer conditions on the surface on which heat transfer takes
place. Convective heat transfer occurs between the airflow and the surface
exposed to the flow. It is characterized by the local ambient temperature of the
air, T
the surface, and the cooler the air, the more efficient is the resulting cooling. The
nature of the airflow can also enhance heat transfer using convection. Turbulent
flow can provide improvement over laminar flow. In the case of a heatsink, the
surface exposed to the flow includes in particular the fin faces and the heatsink
base.
Active heatsinks typically incorporate a fan that helps manage the airflow through
the heatsink.
Thermal and Mechanical Design Guidelines
will dissipate more power than a part with lower value (farther from 0, e.g.
CONTROL
is calculated by the system BIOS based on values read from a
CONTROL
®
Quiet System Technology (Intel
CONTROL
, and the local air velocity over the surface. The higher the air velocity over
A
when running the same application.
vs. RPM and RPM vs. Acoustics (dBA)
CA
CONTROL
.
CONTROL
®
QST), for details on
and the Thermal Profile.
values.
21
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