Intel Xeon E5405 BX80574E5405 User Manual

Product codes
BX80574E5405
Page of 100
Thermal/Mechanical Reference Design
34
Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5400 Series TMDG
There are many different ways of implementing fan speed control, including FSC based 
on processor ambient temperature, FSC based on processor Digital Thermal Sensor 
(DTS) temperature or a combination of the two. If FSC is based only on the processor 
ambient temperature, low acoustic targets can be achieved under low ambient 
temperature conditions. However, the acoustics cannot be optimized based on the 
behavior of the processor temperature. If FSC is based only on the Digital Thermal 
Sensor, sustained temperatures above T
CONTROL
 drives fans to maximum RPM. If FSC is 
based both on ambient and Digital Thermal Sensor, ambient temperature can be used 
to scale the fan RPM controlled by the Digital Thermal Sensor. This would result in an 
optimal acoustic performance. Regardless of which scheme is employed, system 
designers must ensure that the Thermal Profile specification is met when the processor 
Digital Thermal Sensor temperature exceeds the T
CONTOL 
value for a given processor. 
2.4.2
Processor Thermal Characterization Parameter 
Relationships
The idea of a “thermal characterization parameter”, Ψ (psi), is a convenient way to 
characterize the performance needed for the thermal solution and to compare thermal 
solutions in identical conditions (heating source, local ambient conditions). A thermal 
characterization parameter is convenient in that it is calculated using total package 
power, whereas actual thermal resistance, θ (theta), is calculated using actual power 
dissipated between two points. Measuring actual power dissipated into the heatsink is 
difficult, since some of the power is dissipated via heat transfer into the socket and 
board. Be aware, however, of the limitations of lumped parameters such as Ψ when it 
comes to a real design. Heat transfer is a three-dimensional phenomenon that can 
rarely be accurately and easily modeled by lump values. 
The case-to-local ambient thermal characterization parameter value (Ψ
CA
) is used as a 
measure of the thermal performance of the overall thermal solution that is attached to 
the processor package. It is defined by the following equation, and measured in units of 
°C/W: 
Equation 2-3.Ψ
CA
 = (T
CASE
 - T
LA
) / TDP
Where:
Ψ
CA
= Case-to-local ambient thermal characterization parameter (°C/W).
T
CASE
= Processor case temperature (°C).
T
LA
= Local ambient temperature in chassis at processor (°C).
TDP
= TDP dissipation (W) (assumes all power dissipates through the 
integrated heat spreader (IHS)).
Table 2-6.
Fan Speed Control, T
CONTROL
 and DTS Relationship
Condition
FSC Scheme
DTS ≤ T
CONTROL
FSC can adjust fan speed to maintain DTS ≤ T
CONTROL
 (low acoustic region).
DTS >T
CONTROL
FSC should adjust fan speed to keep T
CASE
 at or below the Thermal Profile 
specification (increased acoustic region).