What is the purpose of a heat sink?

The purpose of a heat sink is to dissipate heat away from electronic components. Heat sinks are critical in managing thermal performance, especially in devices like CPUs, GPUs, and power transistors, which generate significant amounts of heat during operation. By enhancing the surface area that is exposed to the air or a coolant, heat sinks facilitate more efficient heat transfer. This helps to maintain optimal operating temperatures for the components, preventing overheating and potential damage, thus ensuring reliable performance and longevity of the electronic devices.

Amplifying electrical signals, storing thermal energy, or isolating electrical components do not relate to the primary function of a heat sink. Each of these functions is associated with different components or systems in electronics, but they do not involve the heat management that heat sinks are specifically designed for.