PC Cooling Methods

Computer cooling is required to remove the excess heat generated by computer components in order to keep them working.  These days' computer components are designed to generate as little heat as possible but depending on an individual’s setup there may be more heat generated than the PC can handle and this can cause problems ranging

from the PC shutting down until it has cooled enough, to permanent damage to components such as the motherboard or CPU, requiring them to be replaced.

PCs and Laptops are generally designed with temperatures in mind and won’t have any issues with overheating for the most part as long as the user isn’t overclocking the system but there are things which can still impede cooling if the user isn’t careful. These include:

Dust
Dust can block vents in the case and restrict airflow throughout the machine, which in turn reduces fan performance.

Poor cable management
While not really an issue with laptops, having improper cable management on a PC can lead to high temperatures due to airflow being restricted. An example of poor cable management would be using ribbon cables which take up a lot of space and can interfere with airflow.

 

Poor placement

Having a PC located in a room that gets very hot can lead to high temperatures inside the device. Care must also be taken to make sure that the PC isn’t placed too close to a wall or piece of furniture or else you run the risk of blocking off the vents.

 
While the above examples are a good starting point there are also various advanced methods of PC cooling using airflow and additional fans, water, mineral oil or even liquid nitrogen.

Air Cooling

Air Cooling is all about using fans and heat sinks to draw heat away from the internal components of your PC and expelling it through the vents located on the case. Air cooling is great for the first time buyer due to the fact that it’s generally ready to go right out of the box, most PC cases will come with two fans already installed -one for sucking in cold air and one for blowing out hot air- and most CPU and Graphics Cards come with their own personal fans installed. It’s also possible to install additional fans inside the case provided you have the internal connections and power supply.

 

While air cooling is generally the cheapest method for cooling, it’s not without its flaws. Air cooling isn’t as efficient as some of the more expensive methods such as water cooling, depending on your components. Heat sinks can end up taking up a lot of space inside the machine which could actually restrict airflow and finally the fans can generate a lot of noise as the temperature inside the machine begin to rise.

 

Liquid Cooling

Liquid cooling is a method of removing excess heat from a computer by using a network of tubes to pump coolant around the inside of the machine. The heat transfers from the components into the coolant which is then expelled through a heat exchanger or radiator. Liquid cooling was originally used for mainframe computers that run at much higher speeds than standard desktop computers but over the years the practice has been adopted by enthusiasts who wish to push their components beyond what they typically allow.
 

While liquid cooling is effective at transferring heat away from components it does have downsides that would make most people reluctant to try it. In terms of cost, one could expect to pay three or four times what they would have to pay for an air cooling system. The installation can take time and is much more complex than simply installing and connecting fans and any error that occurs in installing a liquid cooling system means that the entire machine could be ruined by coming into contact with the coolant if any of the setup isn’t sealed properly. As such it’s not really something recommended for first time buyers or people who only use a PC for simple office tasks or viewing media.