heat sink

heat sink definition - computer

A material that absorbs heat. Typically made of aluminum, heat sinks are widely used in amplifiers and other electronic devices that build up heat. Small heat sinks are the most economical method for cooling microprocessors and other chips. They are commonly found glued or clipped to the top or the side of the chip package. See heat pipe, CPU cooler and thermal grease.


HEATSINK.GIF


Heat Sink on a Chip

This type of heat sink is glued to the top of the chip, typically a CPU chip, which generates considerable heat.






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