Add to Reddit
The Heatsinks
)
The Heatsinks
A closer look at the heatsinks reveals a pretty standard GPU heatsink design. The fins are very short so they do not take up extra space that would prevent the use of the neighbouring PCI slot. To provide the stated 400cm2 area of heat dissipation, Zalman made the heatsinks wide and long.
According to Zalman, the heatsinks are made of aluminum. So, don't be fooled by their copper colour! In the ZM50-HP, the smaller heatsink is used for the front side of the graphics card while the bigger one is for the back. I believe the reason for this is to create a difference of heat between the two heatsinks. This creates a tendency for the heat to travel to the bigger heatsink which cools faster due to its larger surface area.
The Heatpipe
The main principle by which the ZM50-HP works is all based on the principle of heat piping. So, how do heat pipes work?
Basically, the heat pipe contains a certain kind of liquid that
can easily vaporize within the heat pipe. The heat pipe is generaly divided
into two sections - the evaporator section and the condenser section. The evaporator
section is placed at the source of thermal output. The heat absorbed by this
section boils the liquid, bringing it into the vapor phase. The vapor then travels
upwards until it reaches the end of the tube which is attached to a heatsink.
The heatsink dissipates the heat and the vapor condenses back to its liquid
form and travels back to the evaporator section. This cycle keeps looping on
as long as there's a difference of heat between the two ends of the heat pipe.
For a illustrated explanation, check out the following explanation, courtesy
of Heat Pipe Technology,
Inc.
A traditional heat pipe is a hollow cylinder filled with a vaporizable liquid. A. Heat is absorbed in the evaporating section. B. Fluid boils to vapor phase. C. Heat is released from the upper part of cylinder to the environment; vapor condenses to liquid phase. D. Liquid returns by gravity to the lower part of cylinder (evaporating section). |
 |
