How to improve the cooling of the system unit housing. Hot heads: how to cool the computer in summer heat. Installation of additional fans

One of the integral elements of the personal computer is the system of cooling. Since all components of PCs work from electric current, they have a property to heat up, and the degree of their heating is directly proportional to the level of load on these components. In other words, if you want a computer to successfully cope with the tasks, and at the same time do not overcome, it is worth paying attention to the selection of high-quality cooling. The basic cooling system is needed even for the most simple computer, if you are or planning to become the owner of a gaming or professional PC, then in good cooling in no case should be saved.

Types of cooling systems

On the this moment There are two main types of computer cooling systems: air and water.

Air cooling systems

To date, air cooling is the most common. Principle of system operation air cooling It is that heat from the heating element PC is directly transmitted to the radiator, and then dissipated into the surrounding space. The effectiveness of this cooling method depends on several conditions: the useful area of \u200b\u200bthe radiator, the material from which it is made and the speed of the undergoing air flow. For example, copper is the best heat conductor than aluminum, however, the cost of it is much higher. Also for better heat transfer of the radiator, the black surface can be used. The air cooling of the computer can be active or passive.

• Active Cooling involves the presence, in addition to the radiator, also a fan that significantly accelerates the heat removal process from the radiator tubes into the surrounding space. As a rule, active cooling fans, or, as they are also called, coolers are used to cool the most "hot" components of the PC processor and a video card.
• Passive Cooling is mainly installed on those components that are not very hot in the process, since its effectiveness is significantly lower than that of active. However, there are passive radiators that are intended specifically to build a silent system - they are distinguished by the high efficiency of heat removal at low air flow rates.

Liquid cooling systems

Water cooling systems, which used to be used only on server systems, are recently efficiently used in home computers. Their main advantage is the speed of cooling, since the fluid can heat up approximately 30 times faster than air. The basis of the liquid cooling is the refrigerant - the working fluid, with which heat is removed from the heating element of the PC to the radiator, where then dissipates in environment. Distilled water, oil, antifreeze, liquid metal or other special substance can be used as such a working fluid.

In addition to the radiator and tubes, on which the working fluid is carried out, the water cooling system includes a pump for circulating fluid, the tank for compensating for the thermal expansion of the liquid and the heat supply is a metal plate that collects heat from the computer components.

As can be seen, the liquid cooling system is a rather complicated design, which requires special knowledge and considerable effort. In addition, if installing the water cooling system is incorrectly, the leakage may occur, as a result of which the computer components will suffer or even fail. Therefore, the equipment of such a system is better to entrust professionals, or simply buy a ready-made PC on water cooling.

Water cooling system can be used for two purposes: ensuring high computer performance or to create a silent PC. Some mistakes believe that with the help of water cooling, it is possible to maximize the other, but unfortunately it is not. Highly efficient liquid cooling system should have a powerful pump, and noise from such a pump may well exceed the noise from the active ventilation system of the PC. On the other hand, silent water cooling will not provide such high efficiency.

In any case, the liquid cooling systems - the product is not at all mass, because even the most inexpensive configuration of such a system will be at times exceeding the cost of air cooling. Therefore, water cooled computers most often acquire gamers, as well as those who are highly critical to work. The rest of the users are quite enough traditional air cooling.

Cooling system elements

To build a competent cooling system, you need to know which elements of the computer most need the heat of heat, and how to organize this removal.

Cooling for housing

In low-cost configurations of personal computers, the air exchange in the system unit occurs due to the ventilation grille and the exhaust fan on the power supply. Air falls inside the housing through the ventilation holes, passes through the PC components and takes the heat outward, through the power supply. However, with more or less decent power of the computer, this is often not enough and then additional fans must be installed in the system unit. But they need to put them not as it fell, otherwise the hot air will "walk" inside system Blockthat shortens all the efficiency of cooling. The illustration below shows the scheme of the correct air exchange inside the computer case: the cold air is tightened with a large fan from below, passes through all the main components of the PC and pulls up the top with several small fans.

Cooling for processor

The processor is the most "hot" component of the computer and therefore especially needs good cooling. The best solution for removing heat from the processor will be a high-quality radiator with a cooler of medium or large diameter - this will ensure high efficiency at a low noise level.

Also, you should not forget about the right and timely application of the thermal paste - without this substance between the processor and the radiator, a thin air layer with extremely low heat-conductivity will be formed.

Cooling for video card

The video card is also needed high-quality cooling, because it also experiences a considerable load when working (especially during games, or working with graphic editors). Most video cards are sold with a built-in cooler of active cooling, but there are also models with a radiator of passive cooling. The latter are acquired by lovers of silent systems, as well as enthusiasts that additionally install the cooler on them, thereby increasing the performance of the video card.

Cooling for hard disk, chipset and RAM

The usual user is unlikely to worry about cooling the motherboard, random access memory or hard drive. However, the owners of powerful components setting passive heat sink elements on the above components will not prevent at all. A motherboard chipset is particularly heightened - at high loads, its temperature sometimes reaches 65-70 degrees Celsius.

Dust - main source of overheating

In addition to installing a good cooling system, it is also necessary to monitor the purity of the internal space of the computer's system unit. When clogged with dust, the effectiveness of heat sink radiators is reduced by at least twice, and the fan, scored by dust, is not able to provide sufficient circulation of air inside the case. Therefore, you need to carry out the planned cleaning of the computer from dust in time, which should also include: cleaning fans, radiators, power supply and contact surfaces of components (video cards, RAM, etc.).

» The computer overheats - how to cool

In the summer heat, more and more appeals from users that the computer began to suddenly turn off, cut down, hang - most likely he overheat. How to cool it? We look later.

Like mathematics and philosopher René Descarte, let's go from simple to complex. Repetition of capital truths about cooling PC Sometimes it helps to understand what was missed. So…

How to cool the computer when overheating

1. The system unit is better lowering down (ideally - on the floor, on a special stand on wheels). From the school year of physics, everything will probably remember that hot air usually rises up, and cold - lowers down.
2. Explore the surroundings of the systemism - is there a nearby curtain, napkins, chairs and other home utensils, which can interfere with the full air exchange computer.
3. Clean the inside of the PC with a vacuum cleaner. Dust and animal wool can be very sensible to climb the coolers, especially on the power supply.
4. Adjust the coolers on the front panel by blowing, on the back - on blowing out.
5. Make sure that in the system unit in this case there were no big gaps (for example, holes from the output panel for the drive).
6. The wires inside should also not prevent air circulation, therefore they should be accurately put and strengthen with ordinary clamps.
7. Check the presence of the thermal paste and with the need to update it (50 gram tube is worth a penny, and it is enough for 40-50 cleaning). To do this, you need to remove the coolers from the processor and the video card and gently linse with alcohol from the residues of the old thermal paste, then it is also scrupulously lubricate the surface of the processor's contact and the radiator and put everything in place.
8. If there are several hard drives in the housing, they are worth putting them away from each other.
9. If possible, do not connect to PCs power consumables like USB refrigerators, fans, etc. (especially it applies to laptops that we will talk below).
10. Install on the PC program to check the "iron" temperature. Free software is enough for these purposes. Normal temperature Separate components need to be viewed on the manufacturer's website.
11. If necessary, change the regular cooler to the more advanced. Look tips on this occasion in the insert "Choosing a cooler is worth the needs."

PC temperature monitoring

Separately, it is worth talking about programs displaying the PC temperature. This software reads the temperature data from special thermal sensors. In addition to the sensors on the processor and the motherboard, you can also install additional. Sometimes such sensors are equipped with advanced computer enclosures of the IKONIK Zaria A20, they can be found in Zalman ZM-MFC3 devices. In addition, measure the temperature inside the housing can be a multimeter that has such an option. But back K. software. There are quite a lot of them. We list the main.

1. Everest. - a program that will conduct the diagnostics of the computer and will issue detailed information as about his hardware (processor, motherboard, monitor and video content of the entire, discs, etc.) and about the software stuffing - operating system, Drivers, all installed and separately automated programs, running processes, licenses, hotels, etc., etc. It is possible to perform a test performance test test and its comparison with reference results. It gives more than 100 pages of information, and also allows network audit and configuration of a computer to optimal operation.
2. Core temp - Compact program without unnecessary functions, designed to control the temperature of the processor. Core Temp may show the temperature of any individual kernel in each processor exhibiting in the system. Using this utility, you can observe in real time, as the temperature of the processor kernel changes depending on the load. The program supports the entire series of processors. Intel Core and Core 2, as well as all AMD processors in the AMD64 line. Core TEMP allows you to record processor temperature changes within a certain time with subsequent data transfer to Excel.
3. MBProbe. - Utility intended for tracking stresses, temperatures and operation of the system fans. Note: This program should be used carefully, knowing the principle of its action, since it usually applies to the composition with a small utility that resolves some of the security parameters forbidden by the system.
4. Speedfan.- free programwhich monitors the temperature, speed of the cooler and voltage. Speedfan can also display temperature hard diskIf the device supports this option. The main function of Speedfan is to monitor the speed of the cooler and its change depending on the temperature inside the computer. It helps reduce the noise and consumption of electricity. IN latest version Improved support for NVIDIA video cards, as well as access to information S.A.A.R.T. From some RAID controllers, supported support for new devices.
5. HDD Temperature. - A program that displays the temperature of the hard disk. It monitors the condition of the hard disk and its temperature to prevent data loss. The hard disk temperature monitoring is carried out at the expense of S.M.A.R.T., which is used in most modern hard drives.
6. HDD THERMOMETER.- monitors the temperature of the hard disk (disks). In case of exceeding the specified level, it may output a sound message, run an external application or turn off the computer (or enter it into the "hibernation"). In this case, the program distinguishes two levels of the unwanted HDD temperature - elevated and critical, and depending on this can act according to different scenarios. For example, when the slave is reached, the "Increased temperature" is displayed, and in case of exceeding the critical mark, the computer will turn off. If necessary, monitoring results can be recorded in the log file. Interface - multilingual. For full use HDD THERMOMETER requires free registration.
7. NextSensor. - Easy to use and does not require installation utility for monitoring temperatures and voltages in the computer (CPU / HDD), as well as the speed of rotation of the fans. Can give a signal when exceeding the permissible parameters. Remote monitoring is supported. Works with WinBond, Fintek and ITE SUPER I / O LPC sensors.
8. Cpucool. - program to reduce the temperature of the processor; In addition, it allows you to change the FSB frequency, optimize the operation of the processor, as well as monitor the main parameters of the motherboard and the HDD temperature.
9. HWMONITOR - a utility for control in real time such parameters of PC components such as temperature and voltage at control points, as well as the speed of rotation of the fans.
10. CPU-Z. - This is free application program to display technical information about personal Computer User operating under OS Microsoft Windows. All versions starting with Windows 95 and up to Windows 7. The program determines specifications central processor, video cards, motherboard and RAM.

"Advanced" Computer Cooling

Surely everyone heard about rather complex additional cooling systems for PCs. They are radiator, liquid, freon, liquid and disheveled and fluid and cooling on the basis of liquid metal. Such systems are used mainly in overclocking, and the acute need for them, ordinary users do not have. Actually, this is like a comparison of the needs of the race car driver and the usual (even advanced) car enthusiast. The difference between these most technical needs is obvious. Water cooling systems are well-deserved in overclockers. The principle of their action is based on circulation of the coolant. In need of cooling, the components of the computer heated water, and water, in turn, is cooled in the radiator. In this case, the radiator can be outside the case and even be passive. It should be separately said about cryogenic cooling systems for PCs operating on the principle of changing the phase state of a substance, like a refrigerator and air conditioning. The disadvantage of cryogenic systems is high noise, a large mass and cost, complexity in the installation. But only using similar systems, it is possible to achieve a negative temperature of the processor or video card, and accordingly, and highest performance. It is worth adding a few words about the benefits of complex cooling systems. They are silent, and at any time in the PC you can enable the possibility of forced reinforced cooling. Of the minuses for an ordinary user, it is worth noting the fairly high cost of the finished system, the requirement of great accuracy during its use and the need for additional accessories during installation. In any case, experiments with such types of cooling should be carried out only with the need - if your PC really has huge power.

Stand out a large number of Heat that needs to be discharged to avoid overheating and failure of components. Most warm graphic processor , and some parts.

To remove heat in the computer applied cooling systemwhich you can hear during the computer in the form of a quiet rusting sound. The cooling system consists of passive elements and active. Passive cooling elements are ribbed heat-conducting metal radiators installed on the cooled component of the computer. The active cooling elements are made in the form of fans, the so-called coolers that rotate at high speed and remove heat from the heating component. For example, a fan is installed for cooling the power supply in it.

There are also found active systems Cooling where heat is removed by water. These are water cooling systems, the principle of which is similar to the cooling system of the car radiator. Here, water with a pump circulates along a closed loop and cools the hot component of the computer. Such cooling systems are most effective, but their cost is high and they are used in very powerful computers.

As a rule, for a central processor and a video card, a combined cooling system is used in the form of a block with a radiator and a cooler fixed on it.

Radiators are most often used to cool the built-in motherboard items.

The computer cooling system from time to time requires cleaning due to the fact that with time the dust accumulates on the blades of the fans and between the ribs of radiators. Its accumulation contributes to the deterioration of heat removal and the occurrence of the risk of overheating and failure of the computer.

In today's article we will talk about what is proper cooling of the computerand we will analyze the types of all cooling. In the life of a modern person everything is connected with the technique. One of the most common species in the world of the technique is a computer. I would call him "the best of all the equipment." He helps to relieve human life. But, like any other technique, the computer needs careful care. Care is needed as virtual (protecting it from viruses "Antivirus"), and the external (as you probably understood - it is wiping, protecting the water and not to handle and do not beat him if he suddenly begins to "pull").
But there is another important point that must first be observed and this proper cooling of the computer.It is not a secret for everyone that the computer needs a good cooling of its microchips, video cards, processor, hard disk and power supply. It is about the types of cooling computers will go my story.

If you acquire a "factory" system unit, you can not be worried about the fact that it is installed correctly cooling the computer. After all, in the already "ready" block, all the necessary types of cooling are provided. And if you are a stunning super suit and decided to collect your own system unit, then this article is just for you.
Proper cooling of the computer, as such, a very difficult system. I will try to tell about all kinds of cooling, and you, in turn, can choose what kind you will be more like. I'll tell you about them in more detail.
There are three types of system cooling: passive, active, water.

Passive cooling

This cooling system does not contain movable parts and includes a radiator with a large number of edges that increase its total useful area and as a result, thermal exchange. The radiator is tightly adjacent to the cooled chip and "selects" her heat itself. In order to improve the thermal transmission between the processor and the radiator, they laid a special thermalist. The passive system is very good because it is absolutely silent and does not consume a lot of electricity. Its disadvantages are low performance, and, consequently, passive cooling. Therefore, this type of cooling is used for low-power computers.

Active cooling

This type speaks for itself and is significantly different from passive. The main difference is a fan that helps to level the temperature inside the processor with the temperature of the external environment due to the powerful stream of air and thermal exchange. It is based on its main advantage - there is a very fast proper cooling of the computer. The main disadvantages this type Cooling are fan noise and energy consumed.

Water cooling

This type of cooling system is very good, but will cost decent money. In this cooling system, the heat exchange process occurs, which is carried out by water, which moves along a special system. The water system cools very well and almost silent. There are no shortcomings, but there are some difficulties when working: a very painstaking system, prevention and maintenance. Nevertheless, this system is confidently possible to give a name - the correct cooling of the computer!
So, I briefly spoke about existing types of cooling. Remember, each view is unique in its own way. Therefore, I can say - do your personal choice, based on your personal preferences and financial wealth.

I would like to pay more attention to active cooling as the most commonly used.
As a rule, the factory system blocks are the active cooling system. But it happens that she does not manage to cool the computer quickly, as necessary. Therefore, you yourself can deliver additional fans. The number of fans does not speak more about the successful cooling of your computer. The main thing here is competently positioned. Now it costs to tell in more detail.
First, better "Find out" your computer, see if the motherboard will withstand an additional load. Making sure that it will be possible to buy a new fan.
Secondly, choose a fan with large blades, as well as pay attention to the screw icons - the sound level emanating from the running fan is indicated there. Pay attention to the installation of the fan, because another disadvantage is that the heated air when leaving flows through the power supply, thereby heating it even more. A, on the contrary, when sucking cold air, dust accumulates very much inside the computer, which greatly harms him.
As if you were not confident in your abilities and professionalism, it is better yet when installing a fan or after it (but not including computer), consult with a specialist. It will be better decision. And then you never know that ...
I hope my tips will help you when choosing cooling systems.
Health to you and your computer and choose proper cooling of the computer.

On various computer forums and shops wandering a huge number of myths associated with the assembly and tuning of the PC. Some of them were truly true years ago 10 back, and some were already initially incorrect. And today we will talk about myths that are associated with cooling systems as a systemic unit, and the video card and processor separately.

Myth first: a complete thermal cooler need to throw out and take a normal

Yes and no. It all depends on the class of the cooler: for example, if you take a simple cooler, which consists of an ordinary aluminum radiator and a small fan, then you will be put in the package of a simple thermal chaser of the KPT-8 level. And you do not need more: all the same, such a cooler will cool the maximum of Core i3, and when it is heat dissipation (about 30 W), thermal conductors do not play a special role, and a change in a complete thermal span for something expensive (even on liquid metal) will reduce You have a temperature from the strength for a couple of degrees - that is, the game of the candle is not worth it. On the other hand, if you take an expensive cooler from the same noctua, with 5 copper heat pipes and nickelting, then you will be put in the kit good thermal plaisterAt least the level of Arctic MX-2. So here the change of thermal paste for the better (or on the same liquid metal) will reduce the temperature again slightly. But, on the other hand, usually such coolers are taken under overclocking, so a pair of degrees can be critical. But in general, the fact that a bad thermal charm is a myth: it is good for your class cooler.

The Myth of the second: of two fans more efficiently the turnover above

A fairly funny myth that is not faithful. The most important characteristic of the fan is not its maximum speed of revolutions per minute, and not the shape of the blades, and not even the size - and the air flow that it creates: that is, the air volume, which pumps such a fan per unit of time. And the higher this indicator - the more effectively the fan will work. And so the speed of the fan here does not play the role: 120 mm The turntable on 1000 rt / m often creates a larger air flow than 80mm the turntable at 1500 rpm. So this is a unambiguous myth: from two fans more efficiently that has more air flow.

Myth Three: direct contact of copper heating tubes with a processor lid better than contact cover with aluminum cooler base

Everything is not so simple here. First, if we see such a foundation of the cooler, then you should not take it:

Why? The answer is simple - heat removal will be ineffective, since there are gaps between the heating tubes, and in the end the area of \u200b\u200bcontact will be significantly less than the area of \u200b\u200bthe processor cover. Taking into account that this is a tower cooler and is usually used to cool the hot "hot" core i7 or Ryzen - we will get large temperatures than with full contact of the cooler base with a processor lid (for skeptics - even ASUS when moving from 900 series nVIDIA video cards To 1000a, it was abandoned from direct contact of heating tubes with a GPU crystal for this reason).

That is, the aluminum base with pipes passing through it is better? The design looks like this:


Yes and no. The problem is that the contact site of two metals is in this case copper and aluminum - has some thermal resistance. And to reduce this resistance, the contact of two metals should be most dense (copper tubes must be completely surrounded by aluminum, and even better - in it). In this case, the contact of the processor cover with the base will be the most complete, and heat transfer at the junction of two metals will be good.

Myth Fourth - Grinding the base of the cooler and processor will improve heat transfer between them

In theory - everything is true: the smaller surface, the smaller the gaps in them, the more dense it will be the contact and, it means that the heat transfer will be. But the point is that at home you will definitely do not make sure the surface, moreover, it is most likely due to the fact that there are no more in some places, and sometimes you will worsen the contact ("on the eye" it will not be good). Well, modern coolers are already polished so that even on a special grinding machine you are unlikely to make polishing better. So this myth can be attributed to the ancient - yes, indeed, at the dawn of the appearance of the coolers, their polishing leaves much to be desired. But now it is not.

Myth Fifth - as the liquid metal in its properties is similar to the solder, it must be used wherever you can and can not be used.

Yes, indeed, the thermal conducting properties of the liquid metal, it happens, is an order of magnitude better than the thermal paste, and really similar to efficiency with the solder. But he has several important features: first, he spends current. So when it is smeared (although it is rather rubbing), make sure that it does not fall into components of the board. Especially carefully follow this when you change the thermal passer on the GPU crystal - there are often many small components next to it, which can lead to a video card output:


So, when using LMS, it is too pressing all the nearest components of the board with the same varnish.

And the second feature of the liquid metal - there is gallium in its composition. Metal is notable in that it destroys aluminum, so if you have such a cooler substrate - it is impossible to use it. With copper, nickel, silver and other metals - there are no problems. Well, his last feature - it makes no sense to use it with an air cooler: Practice shows that the replacement of a good thermal paste on LPG reduces the temperature of only 2-3 degrees. But with water cooling, you can achieve a more substantial difference.

Myth Sixth: Water cooling is always better than air

In theory - yes: Water effectively removes heat from the processor to the radiator, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich good water can often more than the coolers. Yes, and the fans on diets are usually still two, and not one, so the air flow is also obtained by large. But with modern processors from Intel, where under the lid "Themist", you can observe an interesting effect: that with a cooler they often overheat that with awarding water. There is already a problem that the bad factory thermal panel under the cover of the processor can take only 130-140 W from its crystal. Taking into account the fact that the heat dissipation of top 10-nuclear processors is often approaching to 200 W (especially when overclocking) - we get overheating, which does not depend on the cooling system, since the problem with the heat sink is still up to it, under the cover of the processor. So that water system Cooling will not always be better than air, and therefore should not be surprised why it is with a top water of Core i9 heats up to 100 degrees under load.

Myth seventh: the more cabinet coolers, the better

A fairly popular misconception: the Internet is full of pictures, where 3-4 coolers with a parrot illumination are joined on the housing. In practice, this will not only not help, but will also interfere. The problem is that any hull is a closed narrow space, and any cooler will create a certain air flow in it. And when the coolers are a lot, and even blowing in different directions - the wind hell will be worked inside the case, and in the end it may turn out that the warm air will not really get out. Therefore, it is best to push only two coolers, but right: on the front panel, it works on blowing, on the back - to blow on. Then inside the case there will be one clear air flow:


And it is worth considering the fact that the air flow of the cooler on blowing should be equal to the air flow of the cooler on blowing. The question arises - why on the front panel cooler on blowing, and on the back - on blowing, and not the opposite? The answer is Banalen - the rear of the systemist is usually more dust than in front. So the cooler is blown on back cover I would simply draw dust inside the hull, which is not good (yes, the reason is only in this, and not that the processor fan is spinning precisely in this direction).

The eighth myth - with the load, it is better to set the maximum fan turnover for better cooling

In theory, all right: more turns\u003e More airflow\u003e more efficient heat removal from radiator\u003e below the processor temperature. However, in practice, it is often a difference in the processor temperature at maximum fan speeds, and with half of the maximum revolutions - only a few degrees. Why is this happening? The answer is simple: the air is not the best coolant, and therefore the higher the air flow - the smaller the increase from this. So often you can set the fan rotation speed by 50-70% of the maximum, and get a good balance of silence and temperature.

As you can see - myths are quite a lot, so when assembling a PC, be careful: it happens that, it would seem, the logical conclusion can be in the root of incorrect.