You can pick up and buy a cooling system yourself in the corresponding catalog at the link provided. And below we will tell you what is important to pay attention to when choosing a device.

Most processors are sold bundled with a cooler. Therefore, those devices for active cooling that come in a box with Intel and AMD products are called boxed (from the English box – box). When choosing such a cooler, the manufacturer is guided by two main considerations: to reduce the price of the product and at the same time provide it with sufficient cooling. If you are going to limit yourself to running office applications on a PC and surfing the Internet, then you can do with a box cooler.

And in what case is it worth looking for a non-standard active cooler? If you want to create a powerful PC, especially with the prospect of overclocking the processor, or the desktop will be your home entertainment centre. Then, probably, he will be in the same room with you and even a small noise from him will annoy you. Another possible (though unlikely) option is that the CPU is sold only without a cooler (tray version) or its box version is temporarily not available for sale.

The main selection criteria

Inexpensive, compact and quiet cooling system Cooler Master X Dream i117
it is a good alternative to box coolers for Intel processors

What should you pay attention to when choosing a cooler model? The main thing is that the device is compatible with the processor on which it will be installed. Therefore, the search begins with determining what is the name of the socket (the type of socket) of your processor. This is indicated in any description of it — on the box, pages in online stores, etc. Most coolers are universal and suitable for all systems with current AMD and Intel CPUs. But still make sure that the socket specified in the model description is the same as that of your CPU. After all, there are exceptions like Noctua NH-L9a, which is installed only on AMD chips with socket AM2, AM3, FM1, FM2.

The second factor is the ability of the cooling system to dissipate the maximum level of heat dissipation of the processor, which is assumed during its operation (TDP). This parameter can be obtained from the CPU passport data. The main thing is that the system's power dissipation is greater than the TDP of your CPU. But overpaying to have a margin of safety is not very rational. The money will be spent, but there will be no tangible benefit.

Traditionally, the cooler package includes all the mounting elements for various options. There is also a thermal paste, which provides a tight connection of the radiator with the processor cover for better heat transfer. However, better solutions are also available to achieve better results. The main characteristic of thermal pastes in syringes or vials is their thermal conductivity, which is measured in W / (m · K). And the higher this indicator is, the more high-quality heat removal is provided by this material. For example, one of the best is Arctic MX-4 thermal paste with a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W / (m · K).
Compatibility with different sockets is provided by several
different mounts included in the delivery of coolers

Design features

According to the geometry of their design, coolers are divided into low-profile (with a height of less than 30 mm) and tower with a height of 30 mm and reaching 140 mm or even more. This factor should be taken into account when installing the cooling system in the housing, especially if it is compact like mini-ITX models.

One example of a fairly well-balanced model for Intel Core i5 processors isDeepCool GAMMAXX 300. This cooler with an aluminium radiator and copper heat pipes has a vertical impeller with a diameter of 120 mm. Therefore, the total height of the device is 135.7 mm. The fan speed is in the range of 900-1600 rpm, and the noise is in the range of 17.8-21 dB. Owners of systems based on processors with a thermal package of up to 65 watts can take a closer look at the modelDeepCool Theta 15 PWM. Here the impeller with a diameter of 100 mm is located horizontally, so the height of the cooler is 46 mm. It is equipped with an aluminium radiator. The speed of rotation of the impeller is adjustable in the range of 800-2800 rpm, which corresponds to a noise level of 17.8-36 dB.

Another difference in the design of coolers, which is not so striking, but is important for heat dissipation, is related to the material used in their radiators. More affordable devices are equipped with aluminium, and in higher-end devices, aluminium or copper radiators are supplemented with copper heat pipes. The second option is preferable. And an additional (but not mandatory) bonus is the nickel coating of the radiator, which gives it anti-corrosion properties and an original appearance.

For desktops in a case with a window (through which their "filling" is visible),
there are coolers with backlight like Zalman CNPS12X

How to reduce noise?

The inevitable consequence of the fact that a rotating impeller is used in the fan is the noise produced at the same time. It is important to reduce it if you plan to install your personal computer at home, and not in the office. Box coolers are not the loudest, but also not the quietest. You can find a good replacement for them.

Usually, the noise is affected by the size of the fan blades — from 60 to 140 mm (the larger they are, the quieter the system works), their rotation speed is usually 500-2500 rpm (the higher it is, the more noticeable the noise). Another factor influencing the choice of cooler is the ability of this device to change the speed of rotation of the impeller.

With this adjustment (it is called PWM from pulse-width modulation), you can flexibly adjust the air flow rate. By increasing it, we increase the heat removal from the heating chip of the processor. At the same time, the noise level is also increasing. If you reduce the rotation speed of the impeller, the noise becomes weaker. Therefore, cooling systems with rotation adjustment can be a way out in situations where it is necessary to simultaneously provide sufficiently high power and at the same time, low noise during minimal platform activity. At the same time, it is worth considering what minimum rotation speed (and hence the noise level) the model supports. And it is usually performed with the help of proprietary utilities from manufacturers of motherboards or special devices — rheobases. In the cheapest coolers, including box models, such adjustment is usually absent.

There are not only active cooling devices with a fan, but also passive ones in which there are no moving parts. They are absolutely silent! The main limitation of their use is the relatively small power dissipated by them. One of the most powerful in this class is the Zalman FX100 model, capable of dissipating up to 95 watts. And even it is advised to install it in a well-ventilated case. Since such solutions are quite expensive, they are not very popular. However, when silence is needed, there is practically no alternative to them.

The Aerocool STRIKE-X X1000 rheobase allows you to adjust the speed of rotation of the impeller for five fans
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