Chemistry Forum

Hello,
Can some one elaborate on this that what will be the affect of branching on melting point and boiling point?
I mean I am confused and I got double answers....

Melting point increases with branching because they are closer together so that more compact easier to form solid thus harder to melt... so-- its increasing melting point
or
Melting point decreases with branching because they are closer together so that the less surface area and thus result in melting so-- decreasing melting point??

N-alkanes contain the highest melting points of the CnH₂n+2 Isomers. and its difficult to arrange a statement once you travel from no branching at all to branched chains as compare to what the extensive branching can do.