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Difference between full copper and nickel plated waterblocks?

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  • Overclocking
  • Performance
  • Processors
Last response: in Overclocking
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January 27, 2014 8:57:14 PM

I was under the impression that full copper blocks were better for performance because since there is nothing between the processor and the block besides the copper, it would be easier for heat to transfer over. However, i almost always see people using nickel plated blocks, and they cost more than full copper blocks.

So are nickel plated blocks better or not than full copper blocks? Are there pros and cons?

More about : difference full copper nickel plated waterblocks

a b K Overclocking
January 27, 2014 9:03:59 PM

Metal Thermal conductivity (Btu/(hr-ft-F)
Silver 247.87
Copper 231
Gold 183
Aluminium 136
Yellow brass 69.33
Cast iron 46.33
Stainless steel 8.1


Nickel 52

...Correspondingly materials of high thermal conductivity are widely used in heat sink applications and materials of low thermal conductivity are used as thermal insulation.
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a b K Overclocking
January 27, 2014 9:11:30 PM

PCnooberson said:
I was under the impression that full copper blocks were better for performance because since there is nothing between the processor and the block besides the copper, it would be easier for heat to transfer over. However, i almost always see people using nickel plated blocks, and they cost more than full copper blocks.

So are nickel plated blocks better or not than full copper blocks? Are there pros and cons?


Nickel does not easily corrode at temperatures < 400 degrees centigrade. This allows nickel plated blocks to be used with a variety of other metals in the loop including unanodized aluminium. Using aluminium in a cooling loop is inadvisable, but some people do so as compatible parts may be hard to come by. The lack of corrosion also means that nickel plated parts will stay shiny for quite some time.
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January 27, 2014 9:28:47 PM

Pinhedd said:
PCnooberson said:
I was under the impression that full copper blocks were better for performance because since there is nothing between the processor and the block besides the copper, it would be easier for heat to transfer over. However, i almost always see people using nickel plated blocks, and they cost more than full copper blocks.

So are nickel plated blocks better or not than full copper blocks? Are there pros and cons?


Nickel does not easily corrode at temperatures < 400 degrees centigrade. This allows nickel plated blocks to be used with a variety of other metals in the loop including unanodized aluminium. Using aluminium in a cooling loop is inadvisable, but some people do so as compatible parts may be hard to come by. The lack of corrosion also means that nickel plated parts will stay shiny for quite some time.


if nickel has such a low thermal conductivity, wouldnt it lower performance as opposed to full copper? And if so, why do so many people use nickel plated blocks then?
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a b K Overclocking
January 27, 2014 9:30:52 PM

Nickle is not the same as "nickel plated"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_electroplating

Nickle plating just makes it's look nice. Often times, it's nickle platted copper.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/256239-29-nickel-copp...
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a b K Overclocking
January 27, 2014 9:42:31 PM

PCnooberson said:
Pinhedd said:
PCnooberson said:
I was under the impression that full copper blocks were better for performance because since there is nothing between the processor and the block besides the copper, it would be easier for heat to transfer over. However, i almost always see people using nickel plated blocks, and they cost more than full copper blocks.

So are nickel plated blocks better or not than full copper blocks? Are there pros and cons?


Nickel does not easily corrode at temperatures < 400 degrees centigrade. This allows nickel plated blocks to be used with a variety of other metals in the loop including unanodized aluminium. Using aluminium in a cooling loop is inadvisable, but some people do so as compatible parts may be hard to come by. The lack of corrosion also means that nickel plated parts will stay shiny for quite some time.


if nickel has such a low thermal conductivity, wouldnt it lower performance as opposed to full copper? And if so, why do so many people use nickel plated blocks then?


It's a very thin layer of nickel. It can easily be removed with sandpaper. The heat spreader which transfers heat from the microprocessor die to the heat sink is manufactured the same way, nickel plated copper. This prevents the copper die from corroding.
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a c 79 K Overclocking
January 27, 2014 9:44:22 PM

^
What these guys are saying; biggest difference is the rate of corrosion.
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January 28, 2014 10:44:25 AM

So its better to buy nickel plated than full copper?
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a c 79 K Overclocking
January 28, 2014 11:59:05 AM

For longevity, yes.
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