Illuminated fans can not only provide effective
cooling, but also embellish « grey" case box

insufficient or poor-quality cooling, which is fraught with malfunctions, braking and even breakdowns. The more powerful the computer, the more solid the cooling should be. As power increases, the amount of heat that needs to be removed increases. To do this, you can use classic air or more modern water systems, or install a hybrid type solution for yourself. But no matter which option you prefer, the fan remains the central element of the system, with rare exceptions. It is with him that we will begin the review.

The fan is our everything

The fan itself is used very rarely, mainly only for case cooling or hard drives, but it is present as a component in almost every system. A simple 80mm model today buy for $3-4, but if you are going to cool a high-performance PC, then this will not be enough. Models with a diameter of 120 mm and above are more efficient — they are able to capture an impressive volume of air and thereby ensure faster heat dissipation.

The higher the fan speed, the more efficient the cooling and the higher the amount of noise. In view of this, the ability to adjust the speed can be very useful. If you're just going to read mail, why then squeeze all the juice out of the system, as during computer battles at maximum graphics settings? So, some models support automatic adjustment function, due to which the rotation speed changes depending on the load on the central processor. Another option is to use a special resistor adapter that lowers the voltage and thus reduces the speed. A more advanced and expensive solution is to install a multifunctional panel (reobasa), which allows you to adjust its value manually.

The type of bearing also plays an important role. It depends on how “loud” the fan will be and how long it will last. There are four types: simple and relatively short-lived plain bearing< /a>, midrange solution — rolling bearing< /a> advanced hydrodynamic, and also a reliable, almost silent, but very expensive solution — magnetic centering.

By and large, this is the most important thing to know about fans. Next, let's build the cooling system itself.

Air cooling system

In fact, all systems of this type can be divided into two types: passive and active. Passive cooling consists of a single dissipates the heat coming from the chip. Active is either the fan itself or a bundle from a fan and a heatsink (active cooler).

If we are talking about cooling the processor and graphics card, then one of the main criteria is the size. The larger the fan diameter, the larger the heatsink, the more provided heat pipes — the more efficient cooling. But along with this, both the size of the system and the level of noise it creates increase, so you should not get too carried away. And one more important point: copper boasts more efficient thermal conductivity than aluminium.

The perfect solution for building an air cooling system is the correct installation of large fans on the case, as well as high-quality active coolers on the processor and graphics card. Proper installation means that cold air accumulates from below, and hot air rises, so you need to distribute case fans in accordance with this simple rule. Also, the lower cooling should be set to the intake, and the upper — to the exhaust. Inept installation will not only not reduce temperatures, but may even lead to the opposite effect.

Water cooling

This type is more efficient than air cooling, but also hits the pocket harder. It is possible that some users may refuse to install such a system due to fear of water leakage, which, of course, can lead to damage to components or the entire system as a whole. To avoid such a fate, you need to pay special attention to the construction of the cooling circuit and check the reliability and tightness of the fastening of the tubes to the water blocks. Or use modern solutions, which, usually, are supplied already closed and completely sealed. There are several options.

Active cooling for CPU, formed
from a cooler and heatsink with copper heat pipes
Modern watercooling comes already closed,
filled and fully sealed< /small>
on the processor, since it has increased heat dissipation and most of all needs high-quality cooling. To solve this problem, simply select the model you like from our catalog — installation will not be difficult. Modern solutions of this type are initially supplied already assembled, filled and securely closed — the user has nothing to worry about.

The second option is to install water cooling for the entire system. It is relevant primarily for overclocking enthusiasts who drive at exorbitant speeds. Fans of overclocking will simply need water cooling of the processor, because. as the clock frequency of the device increases, so does its operating temperature.

If you decide to install “water” on all parts of the computer, then this will require a little more effort. You can’t just take and buy ready-made water cooling for the entire system in the store. Most likely, you will have to select individual elements (a water block for a processor, graphics card, hard drive, as well as liquid, pumps, etc.), and then put it all into a single system. But if you have enough time and desire for such an experiment, then its results can not only provide excellent cooling, but also significantly decorate the system unit itself. By the way, about the beautiful...

Beautiful solutions

If the user cares not only about cooling efficiency, but also about the appearance of a personal computer, then transparent cases and illuminated fans come to the rescue and other tricks.

For the air system, it is worth recommending illuminated fans. Of course, it is better to install such ones so that their light can be seen, otherwise what's the point? For water cooling, there are special fluorescent liquids that are added to water or refrigerant, which gives the effect of glowing under the action of ultraviolet lamp. But this is more relevant for systems that the user has folded on their own, when, like modern dropsies, they are often delivered already fully filled and closed. Nevertheless, with the help of these simple solutions, with a sufficient amount of imagination, your computer can be transformed, become brighter and more colorful.

Control

In order to keep your finger on the pulse temperature of your computer components, a great variety of different software is provided. Usually, to monitor the processor, programs are used that come on a disk with drivers — they are quite enough. But if for some reason the disk disappeared or it didn’t even exist, then the Speed Fan programme will serve as a good solution, which will show the temperatures of all processor cores in real time. For a graphics card, MSI Afterburner is very popular — it is perfect for both overclocking a video accelerator and for its full monitoring, control over the amount of video memory used, temperature, cooler rotation speed and other parameters.

Bottom line

< p> An effective cooling system is, first of all, a properly built cooling system. Even with the help of air, you can achieve comfortable temperatures at very high loads on the processor. In this matter, everything is decided not by quantity, but by quality. For example, two properly installed fans can provide a much cleaner system than five poorly installed fans.

See also:

How to choose an uninterruptible power supply?

For loss of data or even hardware due to electrical problems.

Should I buy an SSD?

< p> Solid-state drives have faster write/read speeds, they are thermally stable and virtually silent.

How to choose a laptop stand?

a>

A laptop stand can serve as additional cooling, as well as allow you to comfortably use your laptop on your lap.