Best Metal for DIY CPU Waterblock?

[Otaku_MasterRace]

I am looking to make a custom waterblock for a cheap liquid cooling loop in my system. Initially, I was going to repurpose an old aluminum sink into the block, but a quick hop into the Interwebs made me hesitate. As far as I can tell, the debate is fairly evenly divided between two metals - aluminum and copper. I'd like to know which metal performs better in actual builds as a waterblock, and any tips or guides the community has for projects like this.

 

PLEASE NOTE: I don't want raw data about the metals themselves. Only actual performance, price, ease of working with, and other factors which will matter in my situation. Also, I am aware of the advantages/disadvantages of DIY waterblocks, so there's no need to try and change my mind. 

 

Thanks for any and all advice.

[Paytend01]

Go with copper, pretty sure it can disperse heat better than aluminum 

[givingtnt]

aluminium is the thing tbh.

 

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-d_429.html

[SansVarnic]

Top metals for heat transfer in order;

Silver

Copper

Aluminum

 

*edit

fixed the order of metal, I typo'd.  :mellow:  and to add the link of my source.

http://www.qats.com/cms/2010/10/18/which-material-offers-the-best-thermal-conductivity-for-heat-sinks-and-thermal-management-applications-part-1-of-2/

 

Common units of thermal conductivity are W/mK and Btu/hr-ft-oF.

Material         Bulk Conductivity (W/mk)

Silver, Pure         418.0

Copper 11000         388.0

Aluminum 6061 T6     167.0 

Zinc, Pure           112.2

Iron, Cast            55.0

Solder, 60% Tin       50.0 

Titanium              15.6

Thermal Grease, T660   0.90

Fiberglass             0.040

Air, stp               0.025

 

*2nd edit 

Removed some bad info I was misinformed on.

Edited October 26, 2015 by SansVarnic

[QueenDemetria]

I am looking to make a custom waterblock for a cheap liquid cooling loop in my system. Initially, I was going to repurpose an old aluminum sink into the block, but a quick hop into the Interwebs made me hesitate. As far as I can tell, the debate is fairly evenly divided between two metals - aluminum and copper. I'd like to know which metal performs better in actual builds as a waterblock, and any tips or guides the community has for projects like this.

 

Yep, aluminum and copper are the only two metals for this kind for application that make any sense. Aluminum cheaper and easier to work with when compared to copper, but copper conducts heat better.

[iamdarkbowser]

Silver might be a bit expensive so copper might be the best choice for you.

[Tungsten_Hue]

 

People get this mixed with electrical conductivity;

Gold

Copper

Aluminum

Silver

Wrong, Silver has the highest electrical conductivity out of the elemental metals. Gold is used for contacts since it is very non reactive and thus exposure to the air will not degrade it's thermal conductivity over time, unlike copper for example.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/resistivity-conductivity-d_418.html

BAM!

[SansVarnic]

Wrong, Silver has the highest electrical conductivity out of the elemental metals. Gold is used for contacts since it is very non reactive and thus exposure to the air will not degrade it's thermal conductivity over time, unlike copper for example.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/resistivity-conductivity-d_418.html

BAM!

Interesting, I had read that silver though being the highest thermo-conductive was not the best electrical conductive material. I don't remember now off the top of my head when that was but I looked at your link and did some other searching sure enough your right.

I was misinformed. Thanks for that bit of input. I will correct my post.

[Tungsten_Hue]

 Thanks for that bit of input.

 Yeah I also used to think gold was better in those applications, University prof quickly shot that down.

 

On topic though, aluminum is generally a better option for machining since it is such a commonly used metal, the alloys have been tweaked to machine quite easily, Pure copper will not be great but there are certain copper alloys which behave better than aluminum in terms of thermal conductivity while being 'free cutting' for the most part.

[SansVarnic]

 Yeah I also used to think gold was better in those applications, University prof quickly shot that down.

 

On topic though, aluminum is generally a better option for machining since it is such a commonly used metal, the alloys have been tweaked to machine quite easily, Pure copper will not be great but there are certain copper alloys which behave better than aluminum in terms of thermal conductivity while being 'free cutting' for the most part.

I always knew that aluminum was a more common metal for this use for the none/less reactive properties. Hence the nickel plated copper sinks but i always wondered how much an effect the plating has on the heat transfer... I am told it isn't much or enough to make a difference.

[Starelementpoke]

Best idea. Make it all from melted soda cans.

[AnonymousGuy]

Honestly you're not going to do any better either $ or performance wise vs. something like http://www.aquatuning.us/water-cooling/cpu-water-blocks/cpu-water-blocks/15702/phobya-cpu-cooler-uc-2-lt-intel-775-1150-1151-1155-1156-1366-2011-silver-nickel-black-edition?c=6465

 

$32, the finishing of the nickel isn't amazing but it's $32.  It's what I use on my server that's under constant 80%+ load.

 

Aluminum is the easiest to machine.  Copper supposedly chips in a weird way unless it's a certain alloy (I think).

 

You can't make a waterblock out of pure silver because mechanically silver is crap.  The Aquacomputer Kuplex .925 silver one is just that...925 silver which is barely any better than copper.