We all used various types of electronic gadgets in our lives. And if they are used for a long time, they will heat up gradually and not only affect the device operation but also its capacity.



So, it is essential to keep the electronic devices cool to boost their working capabilities as well as life span.



When you want to design a new power supply the first question that arises in your mind is how to deliver appropriate thermal management.



So, the basic purpose of a heat sink as well as a cold plate is to cool down the devices for better working performance.



There are various options of cooling for the power supply but our concern in this article is the difference between a heat sink and a cold plate. Because choosing the right cooling method is essential to design a reliable power supply.



When we talk about thermal management, we see the close relationship between the heat sink and cold plate because both are used for cooling.



The primary and basic difference between the heat sink and the cold plate is the presence and absence of fins.



Heat sinks have fins of different sizes sticking out from metal plates while cold plates lack fins and are produced from the thicker metal plates. Let's make out the difference between a heat sink and a cold plate. But before we proceed, we would like to explain both the heat sink and cold plate separately for better understanding.

What Is heat sink

A heat sink usually brings the heat flow away from a hot device by increasing the amount of low-temperature fluid along with the device's working surface that moves around to enlarge the surface area.