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Faster processor...smaller heatsink?

idata
Employee
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Just upgarded my Core 2 Quad Q6600 I had installed (when my computer was built in Dec. of 2008) to a Core 2 Quad Q9650 (pack date: 02/10\10). The fan/ heatsink unit I removed is larger (thicker) than the new one that came with the new processor. Just wondering why. New technology? Any reason to use the wider, older heatsink unit? Assuming the boxed fan and heatsink are properly matched to the processor. Any information out there? Thanks, Peter in SLC.

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idata
Employee
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I'd use whatever heatsink came with the processor - I'm sure lots of engineering went into making sure it was a good match.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of both processors:

http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=35428,29765, http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=35428,29765,

You are right, the newer processor uses newer technology (45nm vs the older 65 nm) which allows packing more transistors into a smaller die and consumes less power (95W vs 105W for older), interestingly the case temperature is qualified to run hotter (71.4°C for newer vs 62.2°C for older). So the newer processor has a lower thermal design power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power) *and* is qualified to run hotter, therefore a smaller heatsink/fan will do the job.

Namehttp://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=35428 Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9650 (12M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=29765 Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)Code Namehttp://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?codeName=26553 Yorkfieldhttp://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?codeName=23489 KentsfieldStatusLaunchedLaunchedLaunch DateQ3'08Q1'07Processor NumberQ9650Q6600# of Cores44# of Threads44Clock Speed3 GHz2.4 GHzCache12 MB L2 Cache8 MB L2 CacheBus/Core Ratio9.0Bus TypeFSBFSBSystem Bus1333 MHz1066 MHzFSB ParityNoNoInstruction Set64-bit64-bitEmbeddedNoNoSupplemental SKUNoNoLithography45 nm65 nmMax TDP95 W105 WVID Voltage Range0.8500V - 1.3625V0.85V-1.5V1ku Bulk Budgetary Price$316.00$183.00Package SpecificationsTCASE71.4°C62.2°CPackage Size37.5mm x 37.5mm37.5mm x 37.5mmLithography45 nm65 nmProcessing Die Size214 mm2286 mm2# of Processing Die Transistors820 million582 millionSockets SupportedLGA775LGA775

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idata
Employee
390 Views

I'd use whatever heatsink came with the processor - I'm sure lots of engineering went into making sure it was a good match.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of both processors:

http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=35428,29765, http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=35428,29765,

You are right, the newer processor uses newer technology (45nm vs the older 65 nm) which allows packing more transistors into a smaller die and consumes less power (95W vs 105W for older), interestingly the case temperature is qualified to run hotter (71.4°C for newer vs 62.2°C for older). So the newer processor has a lower thermal design power (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power) *and* is qualified to run hotter, therefore a smaller heatsink/fan will do the job.

Namehttp://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=35428 Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9650 (12M Cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=29765 Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8M Cache, 2.40 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)Code Namehttp://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?codeName=26553 Yorkfieldhttp://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?codeName=23489 KentsfieldStatusLaunchedLaunchedLaunch DateQ3'08Q1'07Processor NumberQ9650Q6600# of Cores44# of Threads44Clock Speed3 GHz2.4 GHzCache12 MB L2 Cache8 MB L2 CacheBus/Core Ratio9.0Bus TypeFSBFSBSystem Bus1333 MHz1066 MHzFSB ParityNoNoInstruction Set64-bit64-bitEmbeddedNoNoSupplemental SKUNoNoLithography45 nm65 nmMax TDP95 W105 WVID Voltage Range0.8500V - 1.3625V0.85V-1.5V1ku Bulk Budgetary Price$316.00$183.00Package SpecificationsTCASE71.4°C62.2°CPackage Size37.5mm x 37.5mm37.5mm x 37.5mmLithography45 nm65 nmProcessing Die Size214 mm2286 mm2# of Processing Die Transistors820 million582 millionSockets SupportedLGA775LGA775
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idata
Employee
389 Views

That's about what I thought. Just wanted to hear it from a knowledgable source. Thank you for your response.

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