> Hi all, is it possible to cool down a P4 3.2 ghz / skt 478 processor through
> a passive heatsink?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
>
Yes...provided that there are alternative ways of removing the heat from
the radiator fins, such as forced-air cooling through ducting, good cross
flow ventilation through the computer chassis in the vicinity of the heat
sink, etc.
On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 17:28:39 -0000, "MS" <MS9119630@sapo.pt>
wrote:
>Hi all, is it possible to cool down a P4 3.2 ghz / skt 478 processor through
>a passive heatsink?
>
>Thanks in advance
>
Tpically, you'd need a heatsink designed for the thermal
load of the processor and a fin design that places these
rows or tines of fins perpendicular to the chassis exit, and
on that "exit" there is an exhaust fan with a duct leading
down to pull all the exhaust airflow through the heatsink.
Dell is a good example of an OEM that designs like this, you
might seek some of their system models using a similar
processor then search their website for pictures of the
internal configuration.
If you were just thinking of taking the fan off an intel
retail heatsink, it is not likely to keep it cool enough due
to the 'sink design as well as lacking aforementioned ducted
exhaust.
If you want to passively cool a processor, a higher speed P4
is about the worst candidate possible as even it's idle temp
is fairly high.
take a look at this cooler http://www.thermalright.com/default.htm
with the proper air flow thru your case and maybe a duct from the back
exhaust fan to the cooler...there might not need be a fan attached to the
unit............but if a fan is required a large slower moving low noise
high push fan like a Scythe S flex SFS21E which runs at 1200rpm and pushes
49cfm at 20dba is ideal http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/ac...ex_detail.html
I have 2 comps OC'd using thermalright coolers and Scythe fans...I am
sitting 3 feet from one and cant hear it....
peter
"MS" <MS9119630@sapo.pt> wrote in message
news:4758314c$0$21662$a729d347@news.telepac.pt...
> Hi all, is it possible to cool down a P4 3.2 ghz / skt 478 processor
> through a passive heatsink?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
On 2007-12-06, MS <MS9119630@sapo.pt> wrote:
> Hi all, is it possible to cool down a P4 3.2 ghz / skt 478 processor through
> a passive heatsink?
Of course. The relevant question is not whether it is possible,
but whether it is practical. e.g. if your heatsink needed to be
3ft square that probably wouldn't be an option.
Also a lot depends on what you mean by passive cooling. If you
mean no forced air anywhere in the system, everything would have
to be that much bigger. Things would be a lot more reasonable even
with a PSU fan keeping the air circulating.
As a rough guide to the potential size of the heatsink, take a look
at pictures of the VIA EPIA EN12000E. Half of the board is taken
up by the heatsink, and that is a 1.2 GHz processor that is far
more power efficient than the Pentium 4 even on a GHz for GHz basis.
passive cooling 
Linear Mode
