They often use copper because it conducts heat much better than aluminum, helping keep the CPU cooler under heavy loads.
They often use copper because it conducts heat much better than aluminum, helping keep the CPU cooler under heavy loads.
When examining an i9 12900K, it becomes quite warm due to its performance demands. Intel doesn’t switch to copper over aluminum mainly because of cost and manufacturing considerations. Copper offers better electrical conductivity, which is crucial for high-speed chips, but it’s more expensive. Using aluminum helps keep production costs lower while still meeting performance needs. Other factors include reliability, heat management design, and the balance between performance and budget.
All the copper heat spreaders are present on every chip. They’re usually coated with a nickel layer. I’m pretty sure this design helps them last longer because copper tends to react more than other metals. If you scratch a CPU, it will turn a copper-like color.
Copper excels in transferring heat, while aluminum is superior for releasing heat.
Intel's team seems to have confirmed similar results in their trials. Despite higher costs, if they could sell it, they'd likely raise the price further. The IHS report is relevant, but the actual cooling component takes priority. Aluminum offers better resistance to corrosion compared to other materials. Pure copper tends to rust rapidly, which could affect durability.