Guide: Choosing the right PC cooling system for you

Computers are continually improving as built-in processors become faster and more efficient. However this causes an increase in the heat they generate. Apart from the graphics board, the processor is the component that gets the hottest. So what can you do to prevent overheating? Our guide shows you how to choose the appropriate cooling system for your computer.

Why does the cooling system matter?

In modern processors, more and more transistors are installed to increase the performance and speed of the hardware. Due to the electronic tension, each of these transistors produces heat, which in turn heats up the surface of the processor.

This is further increased due to the fact that many transistors are installed next to each other in close proximity. If the temperature in the computer rises above 60°C, this can lead to a significant decrease in performance and, in the worst case, hardware failure.

To avoid this, the computer should be supported with an additional cooling system to remove the exhaust heat as quickly as possible from the processor core. Another option to prevent overheating is enlarging the heat output surface.

What different cooling systems are there?

Besides air cooling, water cooling is the most popular system for computers. Modern processor cooling systems come with heat pipes. These contain a special liquid or gas which transports the heat via convection rather than through pipes.

It’s also possible to cool via nitrogen. However, compared to other options, this process is not suitable for daily use and takes a lot of effort, even for experts. It also comes with health hazards.

Air cooling

With passive air cooling systems, heat is distributed out to the surrounding air via cooling elements. To achieve higher performance, some cooling systems use heat pipes to send excess heat out of the PC.

With active air cooling methods, the exhaust heat of the components is sent outside via an additional cooling element attached to the fan. A constant stream of air is produced in the computer case. In general, air cooling systems are cheaper than water cooling systems.

Passive air cooling systems are silent in their operation as no moving components are required. However, they are only suitable for processors with relatively low performance, and therefore limited possibility of overheating. Modern processors with high performance capabilities require active air cooling systems.

Cooling performance is dependent on the size of the cooling element, but also on the air stream that is produced by the fan. Bear in mind that active air cooling systems don’t operate silently. Those with big ventilators with slow rotational speed are quieter than small ventilators with high rotational speed.

Water cooling systems

The main advantage of water cooling systems is that exhaust heat is transported silently and efficiently outside the PC. The cooling performance is higher than that of air cooling systems, so this option is particularly useful for users wanting to overclock their computers. Overclocking is when a computer is operated with modified specifications, which are above the officially approved ones.

In most cases, the cooling element is made from aluminium or copper. In it, a pump moves the water in a circuit. The exhaust heat of the processor is integrated into this circuit and transported to the radiator. Here, the heat that has previously been cooled down through the water is distributed to the surrounding air.

As with air cooling, an active and a passive option exist with water cooling systems. With passive systems, the cooling process at the radiator happens through standard air movement. With the active option, a fan is responsible for producing the air stream.

Which cooling system is suitable for which computer?

Prior to choosing a cooling system, a few factors should be considered. In general, you should bear in mind that water cooling systems only ever cool down certain areas of the computer. Thus, a water cooling solution does not replace the default cooling system for other, built-in components of the computer. Moreover, a water cooling system may take additional effort during the installation process. This is the case when the main board has to be removed in order to install the cooler, for example.

Modern cooling systems that are designed as tower coolers offer an increased cooling performance, thanks to heat pipes. One we’d recommend is the Dark Rock Slim CPU Cooler from manufacturer, “be quiet!”.

If you only have limited space for a cooler due to a compact design, low profile cooling systems are a good option. Measurements are specifically designed for HTPCs or narrow cases. With a CPU cooler, pay attention to compatibility between components of different manufacturers or different technologies. If the cooling system is based on AMD technology, it is often not compatible with Intel bases. The same is also true vice versa.

This is, however, not an issue with the majority of water cooling systems. Most water coolers are compatible with both AMD and Intel. If you choose a purely CPU ventilator, look out for the noise level in the product specifications to avoid a noisy, distracting system.

What else should I consider?

Besides choosing an appropriate cooling system, computer overheating can be prevented by following a few simple rules of thumb. For example, there should be a minimum distance of 50cm between the computer case and nearby walls and furniture, to allow the heat to escape.

Ventilators and coolers should never be hidden behind objects. Heat sources such as lamps and should not be placed in immediate proximity to the computer. Avoid direct solar radiation and always keep the computer case closed.

Regularly test your ventilators: faulty fans can often be spotted through louder or unusual noises.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *