Cooling SystemsCooling Systems

Cooling SystemsCooling Systems High temperatures can shorten High temperatures can shorten the life expectancy of electronic the life expectancy of electronic components. components. A properly cooled system can A properly cooled system can run at faster speeds longer than run at faster speeds longer than one that fails to dissipate or one that fails to dissipate or release heat.release heat.

Case FansCase Fans

Case fans come in a variety of sizes, but Case fans come in a variety of sizes, but most cases are designed to use 80mm, most cases are designed to use 80mm, 90mm, and 120mm fans.90mm, and 120mm fans.

Fan PlacementFan Placement

Proper fan placement is critical for quality Proper fan placement is critical for quality air flow.air flow.

Fans placed at the front of the case should Fans placed at the front of the case should pull air into the case (Intake).pull air into the case (Intake).

Fans placed at the back of the case Fans placed at the back of the case should push air out of the case (Exhaust).should push air out of the case (Exhaust).

Other FansOther Fans

Fans can also be placed inside the case and Fans can also be placed inside the case and directed at specific components.directed at specific components.

CPU’s, video cards, power supplies, and other CPU’s, video cards, power supplies, and other powerful components often use their own powerful components often use their own dedicated fan(s).dedicated fan(s).

Components that only use heatsinks and rely on Components that only use heatsinks and rely on case airflow for cooling use passive cooling.case airflow for cooling use passive cooling.

Components with heatsinks and fans use active Components with heatsinks and fans use active cooling.cooling.

HeatsinksHeatsinks

Heatsinks are normally constructed from Heatsinks are normally constructed from copper and/or aluminum and directly copper and/or aluminum and directly contact microchips on a circuit board.contact microchips on a circuit board.

A fan blows air across the heatsink which A fan blows air across the heatsink which transfers heat absorbed from the CPU into transfers heat absorbed from the CPU into the air.the air.

Copper absorbs heat faster than Copper absorbs heat faster than aluminum, but aluminum transfers heat to aluminum, but aluminum transfers heat to air faster than copper.air faster than copper.

CPU HeatsinksCPU Heatsinks

A copper heatsink and fan.A copper heatsink and fan.

CPU Heatsinks 2CPU Heatsinks 2

An aluminum heatsink with fanAn aluminum heatsink with fan

Heat PipesHeat Pipes

This heatsink uses heat pipes to move This heatsink uses heat pipes to move heat from the contact point to the fins that heat from the contact point to the fins that radiate the heat into the air.radiate the heat into the air.

OverclockingOverclocking

Overclocking components such as the CPU, Overclocking components such as the CPU, RAM, and video card cause the components to RAM, and video card cause the components to generate more heat.generate more heat.

Extreme overclocking often requires innovative Extreme overclocking often requires innovative methods of dissipating heat, such as liquid methods of dissipating heat, such as liquid cooling.cooling.

Overclocking can damage electronics and it Overclocking can damage electronics and it should only be used with the understanding that should only be used with the understanding that it may shorten the life of the component.it may shorten the life of the component.

RAM CoolersRAM Coolers

Memory (RAM) is often covered with a Memory (RAM) is often covered with a heatsink to allow for overclocking.heatsink to allow for overclocking.

Quality, Not QuantityQuality, Not Quantity

Remember that proper placement of fans Remember that proper placement of fans will create quality air flow, which is far will create quality air flow, which is far more important than the number of fans more important than the number of fans installed within a case.installed within a case.