20
SME5431PCI-360
SME5434PCI-440
Preliminary
360/440MHz CPU; 0.25 to 2 MB L2 cache; UPA64S, 66MHz PCI Interfaces
UltraSPARC IIi CPU Module
September 2001
Sun Microsystems, Inc
Two Step Approach to the Thermal Design
Step One determines the air ow requirements based on the CPU power dissipation and the thermal charac-
teristics of the CPU package and the surrounding heatsink assembly. The specications for the heatsink are
Step Two verifies cooling effectiveness by measuring the heatsink or case temperature and calculating the
junction temperature. The junction temperature must not exceed the CPU specification. In addition, the lower
the junction temperature, the higher the system reliability. The CPU temperature must be calculated for a
range of loads and environmental conditions, using one of the temperature measuring methods described in
the following sections.
Temperature Estimating and Measuring Methods
The following methods can be used to measure the case temperature of the module and to estimate the air-
ow required to cool it.
Case Temperature Method
The relationship between case temperature and junction temperature is described in the following thermal
equation.
If Tc is known, then Tj can be calculated:
Tj = Tc + (Pd x
θjc)
There is good tracking between the case temperature and the heatsink temperature.
Heatsink Temperature Method (Preferred Method)
Measuring the heatsink temperature is sometimes easier than measuring the case temperature. This method
provides accurate results for most designs. If the heatsink temperature (Ts) is known then the following ther-
mal equation can be used to estimate the junction temperature.
Tj = Ts + [Pd (
θjc + θcs)]
Airow Cooling Estimate Method
The relationship between air temperature and junction temperature is described in the thermal equation:
Tj =
Ti + [Pd (
θjc + θcs + θsa)]
Determination of the inlet air temperature (Ti) and the “free-stream” air velocity is required in order to apply
relative to the heatsink orientation to nd the thermal resistance between the heatsink and air (
θsi).
Note that the airow velocity can be measured using a velocity meter. Alternatively, it may be determined by
knowing the performance of the fan that is supplying the airow. Calculating the airow velocity is difcult.
It is subject to the interpretation of the term “free-stream.”