Computer coolers: starting from scratch. Cooler and CPU cooling

It's no secret that when a computer is running, all its electronic components heat up. Some elements heat up quite noticeably. The processor, video card, north and south bridges of the motherboard are the hottest elements of the system unit. Overheating is generally dangerous and leads to an emergency shutdown of the computer.

Therefore, the main problem of the entire electronic part of computer technology is proper cooling and effective heat removal. The vast majority of computers, both industrial and home, use heat removalair cooling. It gained its popularity due to its simplicity and low cost. The principle of this type of cooling is as follows. All the heat from the heated elements is transferred to the surrounding air, and the hot air, in turn, is removed from the system unit case using fans. To increase heat transfer and cooling efficiency, the hottest components are equipped with copper or aluminum radiators with fans installed on them.

But the fact that heat removal occurs due to air movement does not mean at all that the more fans are installed, the better the cooling will be overall. Several incorrectly installed fans can do much more harm than solve the problem of overheating, when one correctly installed fan will solve this problem very effectively.

Selecting additional fans.

Before purchasing and installing additional fans, carefully examine your computer. Open the case cover, count and find out the dimensions of the installation spaces for additional case coolers. Look carefully at the motherboard to see what connectors it has for connecting additional fans.

Fans should be selected in the largest size that suits you. For standard cases this size is 80x80mm. But quite often (especially recently) fans of sizes 92x92 and 120x120 mm can be installed in cases. With the same electrical characteristics, a large fan will operate much quieter.

Try to buy fans from a large number blades - they are also quieter. Pay attention to the stickers - they indicate the noise level. If the motherboard has 4-pin connectors for powering coolers, then buy four-wire fans. They are very quiet, and their automatic speed control range is quite wide.

Between fans receiving power from the power supply throughMolex connectorand running from the motherboard, definitely choose the second option.

There are fans on sale with real ball bearings - these are best option in terms of durability.

Installation of additional fans.

Let's look at the main points correct installation case fans for most system units. Here we will provide tips specifically for standard cases, since non-standard cases have such a varied fan arrangement that it makes no sense to describe them - everything is individual. Moreover, in non-standard cases, fan sizes can reach 30cm in diameter.

There are no additional fans in the case.

This is the standard layout for almost all computers sold in stores. All the hot air rises to top part computer and, due to the fan in the power supply, goes outside.

The big disadvantage of this type of cooling is that all the heated air passes through the power supply, heating it even more. And therefore, it is the power supply of such computers that most often breaks down. Also, all the cold air is not sucked in in a controlled manner, but from all the cracks of the housing, which only reduces the efficiency of heat transfer. Another disadvantage is the rarefied air obtained with this type of cooling, which leads to the accumulation of dust inside the case. But still, this is in any case better than incorrectly installing additional fans.

One fan on the rear wall of the case.

This method is used more out of desperation, since the case has only one place to install an additional cooler - on the back wall under the power supply. In order to reduce the amount of hot air passing through the power supply, install one fan that works to “blow” out of the case.

Most of the heated air from the motherboard, processor, video card, hard drives exits through additional fan. And the power supply heats up significantly less. Also, the overall flow of moving air increases. But the rarefaction increases, so dust will accumulate even more.

Additional front fan in the case.

When the case has only one seat on the front of the case, or there is no possibility of turning on two fans at once (there is nowhere to connect), then this is the most ideal option for you. It is necessary to install one fan on the front part of the case.

The fan must be installed opposite the hard drives. It would be more correct to write that the hard drives should be placed opposite the fan. This way, the cold incoming air will immediately blow over them. This installation is much more effective than the previous one. A directed air flow is created. The vacuum inside the computer decreases - dust does not linger. When additional coolers are powered from the motherboard, the overall noise is reduced as the fan speeds are reduced.

Installing two fans in the case.

Most effective method installing fans for additional cooling of the system unit. A fan is installed on the front wall of the case for “blowing”, and on the rear wall – for “blowing”:

A powerful, constant air flow is created. The power supply operates without overheating, since heated air is removed by a fan installed under it. If a power supply with adjustable speed rotation of the fan, the overall noise will noticeably decrease, and more importantly, the pressure inside the case will equalize. Dust will not settle.

Incorrect installation of fans.

Below are examples of unacceptable installation of additional coolers in a PC case.

One rear fan is set to "injection".

A closed air ring is created between the power supply and the additional fan. Some of the hot air from the power supply is immediately sucked back inside. At the same time, there is no air movement in the lower part of the system unit, and therefore cooling is ineffective.

One front fan is set to “exhaust”.

If you install only one front cooler and it works as a blower, then you end up with very low pressure inside the case and ineffective cooling of the computer. Moreover, due to the reduced pressure, the fans themselves will be overloaded, since they will have to overcome the back pressure of the air. The computer components will heat up, resulting in increased operating noise as the fan speeds increase.

The rear fan is for “blowing”, and the front fan is for “blowing”.

Air is created short circuit between the power supply and the rear fan. The air in the area of ​​the central processor works in a circle.

The front fan tries to “lower” the hot air against the natural convection rise, working under increased load and creating a vacuum in the case.


Two additional coolers are set to “blowing”.

An air short circuit is created in the upper part of the housing.

In this case, the effect of the incoming cold air is felt only for hard drives, since it then enters the oncoming flow from the rear fan. Excessive pressure is created inside the case, which complicates the operation of additional fans.

Two additional coolers work as a blower.

The most severe operating mode of the cooling system.

There is reduced air pressure inside the case; all case fans and inside the power supply operate under reverse suction pressure. There is not enough air movement inside the air, and, therefore, all components work overheating.

These are, in principle, all the main points that will help you in organizing the correct ventilation system for your personal computer. If there is a special plastic corrugation on the side cover of the case, use it to supply cold air to the central processor. All other installation issues are resolved depending on the structure of the case.

Electric motors used in computer fans are built on a slightly different principle. True to their name, such motors do not have a brush-commutator assembly with sliding contacts.

In the previous section of the article, it was explained that brushed motors are driven by a central part with an electromagnet and a winding, while permanent magnets are stationary. Brushless motors, on the other hand, are designed in such a way that the inductor in the form of magnets is in the rotor and the winding is in the stator.

In the case of computer coolers, magnets are attached to an impeller with fan blades and a fixed shaft. This design in the system under consideration will be considered a rotor. Then the stator will be a fan frame with necessary components, such as a stationary electromagnet, and the junction of the stator and rotor, in which the bearings of interest to us are located.
Brushless motors can have different number There are usually eight coils in the fans we are interested in. If you disassemble such a fan, you will immediately notice four T-shaped metal “arms”, and each of them will have a double winding (in the next photo it is easy to distinguish the red and yellow copper wires).
Naturally, fans do not use bulky wires to power various coils, but compact printed circuit boards. Although there are complex and functional brushless motors with a large number of windings and their corresponding phases (for example, HDD motors are usually three-phase), simple two-phase motors are installed in fans. To start and rotate, they only need the sine and cosine components of the current. The driving force of brushless motors itself does not differ from brushless motors, only in brushless electric motors voltage is applied to the windings themselves in such a way as to repel the permanent magnet of the rotor and maintain constant rotation of the latter.
The most simplified brushless fans are equipped with only two wires for power supply. Additionally, there may be a third wire, which is necessary for feedback from the cooler to (or another board, if we are talking about, for example). The readings of such fans are converted by special chips into the number of revolutions per minute (RPM), and this human-readable number can be read in the BIOS or using special monitoring programs. Adding such a feature makes the circuit somewhat more expensive, but today a fan without a speed sensor can only be found on the most budget computer devices.

Let us repeat - this is a very simplified description of the operation algorithm of brushless motors, but it is quite sufficient for understanding the operation of computer fans.

It is worth mentioning the advantages of motors of this type over brushed motors: they are significantly less noisy, no sparks can arise from contact contacts, and the reliability of devices of this type is noticeably higher.

Summer has quickly come into its own; The thermometer is creeping up, and more and more often we have to think about how to ensure a comfortable temperature. Believe me: for computers the problem of dealing with heat is no less pressing than for their users. Even if the room conditions are quite normal (20 - 22°C), the temperature in the system unit reaches 30–32°C. And that's the best case scenario. The hotter it is outside and in apartments, the more acute the issue of protection from overheating and the more attention is paid to the cooling systems of the system unit and its components.

To correctly solve the problem, you need to have at least a general idea of ​​why computers need cooling systems at all, why system units overheat, and how to protect your “computing friend” from heat stroke. In this article you will not find a long list of cooler models, but after reading it, you yourself will be able to choose the appropriate components of the PC cooling system and competently approach the choice of a new case.

Why is it heating up?

The reason is trivial: like any electrical appliance, a computer dissipates part (sometimes quite significant) of the electricity consumed in the form of heat - for example, the processor converts almost all of the energy used into heat. The more it is needed by the system unit, the hotter its components heat up. If the heat is not removed in time, this can lead to the most unpleasant results (see “Consequences of overheating”). The problem of heat dissipation and cooling is especially pressing for modern processor models (both central and graphics), which are setting new records for performance (and often heat dissipation).

Every PC component that dissipates a lot of heat is equipped with a cooling device. As a rule, such devices contain a metal radiator and a fan - these are the components a typical cooler consists of. The thermal interface between it and the heating component is also important - usually it is thermal paste (a mixture of substances with good thermal conductivity) that ensures effective heat transfer to the cooler radiator.

Progress in the field of cooling systems, thanks to which technological innovations such as thermal tubes appeared, provided the creators of components for personal computers with new opportunities, allowing them to abandon noisy coolers. Some computers are equipped with water cooling systems - they have their advantages and disadvantages. All this is discussed below.

Increased PC heat dissipation

The main reason why computers generate more and more heat is because their computing power. The most significant factors are:

• increase in clock frequencies of the processor, chipset, memory bus and other buses;
• an increase in the number of transistors and memory cells in PC chips;
• increase in power consumed by PC nodes.

The more powerful the computer, the more electricity it “eats” - therefore, an increase in heat generation is inevitable. Despite the use of sophisticated technological processes When producing chips, their power consumption still increases, increasing the amount of heat dissipated in the PC case. In addition, the area of ​​​​video card boards increases (for example, due to the fact that it is necessary to place more chips memory). The result is an increase in the aerodynamic resistance of the case: the bulky board simply blocks the access of cooling air to the processor and power supply. This problem is especially relevant for PCs in small cases, where the distance between the video card and the “basket” for the HDD is 2–3 cm, but in this space drive cables and other cables are still laid... Microcircuits RAM They are also becoming more and more power hungry, and modern operating systems require more and more RAM. For example, in Windows 7, 4 GB is recommended for it - thus, several tens of watts of heat are dissipated, which further aggravates the heat dissipation situation. The system logic chip on the motherboard is also a very “hot” component.

VULNERABILITY OF HARD DRIVES

Inside the hard drive housing, movable magnetic heads, controlled by high-precision mechanics, slide over the surface of the rotating platters. They write and read data. When heated, the materials from which the disk components are made expand. In the operating temperature range, mechanics and electronics cope well with thermal expansion. However, if it overheats, it exceeds acceptable limits, and the hard drive's heads can "overshoot", writing data in the wrong place until the computer is turned off. And when it is turned on again, the cooled hard drive will not be able to find data recorded in an overheated state. In such a case, information can only be saved with the help of complex and expensive special equipment. If the temperature exceeds 45°C, it is recommended to install an additional fan to cool the hard drive.

There is a paradox: the thermal load in modern cases is growing at a high rate, but their design remains almost unchanged: manufacturers take as a basis the design recommended by Intel that was almost 10 years ago. Models adapted to intense heat generation are rare, and low-noise ones are even less common.

Consequences of overheating

If there is excess heat, the computer will, at best, begin to slow down and freeze, and at worst, one or more components will fail. High temperatures are very harmful to “health” element base(chips, capacitors, etc.), especially for a hard drive, the overheating of which can lead to data loss.

APPROXIMATE HEAT DISSEMINATION PARAMETERS

Approximate parameters of heat dissipation of components of an average computer system unit (at high computing load). The main sources of heat are the motherboard, CPU and graphics card GPU (they account for more than half of the heat dissipated).

The capacity of modern HDDs allows you to store extensive collections of music and videos, work documents, digital photo albums, games and much more. Disks are becoming more compact and faster, but this comes at the cost of greater data recording density, fragility of the design, and therefore vulnerability of the filling. Tolerances in the production of high-capacity drives are measured in microns, so the slightest “step to the side” will damage the drive. That's why HDDs are so sensitive to external influences. If the drive has to operate under suboptimal conditions (for example, overheating), the likelihood of losing written data increases dramatically.

PC Cooling: Basics

If the air temperature in the system unit remains at 36°C or higher, and the processor temperature is more than 60°C (or the hard drive constantly heats up to 45°C), it’s time to take measures to improve cooling.

But before you run to the store to buy a new cooler, there are a few things to consider. It is possible that the overheating problem can be solved in a simpler way. For example, the system unit should be positioned so that there is free air access to all ventilation openings. The distance at which its back part is separated from the wall or furniture should be no less than two diameters of the exhaust fan. Otherwise, the resistance to air outflow increases, and most importantly, the heated air remains near the ventilation holes longer, so that a significant part of it again enters the system unit. If it is installed incorrectly, even the most powerful cooler(the efficiency of which is determined by the difference between its temperature and the temperature of the air cooling the radiator).

COOLER BASED ON THE PELTIER EFFECT

One of the newest models that uses the Peltier effect. Typically, such coolers feature a full range of the latest technological advances: TEMs, thermopipes, fans with advanced aerodynamics and an impressive design. The result is impressive; there would be enough space in the system unit...

The most effective cooling is achieved when the air temperatures in the system unit and in the room where it is located are equal. The only way to achieve this result is to ensure effective ventilation. For this purpose, coolers of various designs are used.

A standard modern personal computer usually has several coolers installed:

• in the power supply;
• on the central processor;
• on the graphics processor (if the computer has a discrete video card).

In some cases, additional fans are used:

• for system logic chips located on the motherboard;
• for hard drives;
• for PC case.

Cooling efficiency

When choosing a case for a PC system unit, each user is guided by his own criteria. For example, modders need an original design solution or the ability to remake it to implement it. Overclockers need a case in which a fully overclocked processor, video card, RAM (the list goes on) will feel comfortable. And at the same time, everyone, of course, wants the system unit to be quiet and small in size.

However, a fancy PC can generate up to 500 W of heat (see table below). Are the wishes feasible from the point of view of the laws of physics?

HOW MUCH HEAT DOES A COMPUTER GENERATE

There are several ways to measure heat dissipation.

1. According to the power consumption values ​​specified in the documentation for the PC components.

• Advantages: accessibility, simplicity.
• Disadvantages: high error and, as a result, increased requirements for the cooling system.

2. Using sites that provide a service for calculating heat dissipation (and power consumption), for example, www.emacs.ru/calc.

• Advantages: you don’t have to rummage through manuals or visit manufacturers’ websites – the necessary data is available in the databases of the services offered.
• Disadvantages: database compilers do not keep up with node manufacturers, so databases often contain unreliable data.

3. Based on the values ​​of power consumed by nodes and heat dissipation coefficients found in the documentation or measured independently. This method is for professionals or big enthusiasts of optimizing the cooling system.

• Advantages: gives the most accurate results and allows you to most effectively optimize your PC.
• Disadvantages: to use this method, you need serious knowledge and considerable experience.

Solutions

The main principle: in order to remove heat, it is necessary to pass a certain amount of air through the system unit. Moreover, its volume should be greater, the hotter the room and the stronger the overheating.

Simply installing additional fans will not solve the problem. After all, the more numerous, powerful and “resourceful” they are, the more “sounding” the PC is. Moreover, not only are the motors and fan blades noisy, but the entire system unit is noisy due to vibrations (this happens especially often with poor-quality assembly and the use of cheap cases). To correct this situation, it is recommended to use low-speed, large-diameter fans.

In order to achieve effective cooling without using noisy fans, the system unit must have low resistance to the air that passes through it (in professional language this is called aerodynamic resistance). Simply put, if the air has difficulty “squeezing” through a tight space clogged with cables and components, you have to install fans with high excess pressure, and they inevitably create loud noise. Another problem is dust: the more air you need to pump, the more often you need to clean the inside of the case (we’ll talk about this separately).

Aerodynamic drag

For optimal cooling, it is always advisable to use a large case. This is the only way to achieve comfortable work without noise and overheating, even in abnormal (over 40°C) heat. A small case is only appropriate if the computer has low heat dissipation or uses water cooling.

However, to minimize noise it is not at all necessary to assemble an air-cooled PC in a shipping container or in a refrigerator. It is enough to take into account the recommendations of experts. Thus, the free cross-section in any section of the housing should be 2–5 times larger than the flow area of ​​the exhaust fans. This also applies to the air supply openings.

COOLER WITH THERMAL PIPE

Thermal tube coolers are “silent” and allow you to cool even very hot PC components, such as graphics processors on video cards. However, it is imperative to take into account the specific features of these cooling systems.

Hybrid systems include, along with thermal pipes and radiators, conventional fans. But the presence of thermal tubes, which facilitate heat removal, allows you to get by with a smaller fan or use low-speed, and therefore not so noisy, models.

In order to reduce aerodynamic drag, you need to:

• provide enough in the body free space for air flows (it should be several times larger than the total cross-section of the exhaust fans);
• carefully lay the cables inside the system unit using zip ties;
• at the point where air is supplied to the housing, install a filter that traps dust but does not provide strong resistance to air flow;
• The filter should be cleaned regularly.

Following simple rules will allow you to install low-speed exhaust fans. As already mentioned, the case must provide cold air from the room where the PC is located to all “hot” components without high energy costs (i.e., with a minimum number of fans). The volume of air must be sufficient so that its temperature at the outlet of the case does not turn out to be too high: for effective heat transfer of PC components, the difference in air temperature at the inlet and outlet of the system unit should not exceed several degrees.

OPTIONS FOR LAYOUT OF FANS AND SYSTEM UNIT ELEMENTS PROVIDING EFFECTIVE PC COOLING

Here is one concept for building an air cooling system:

• air intake is carried out at the bottom and front, in the “cold” zone;
• The air is exhausted at the top and rear, through the power supply. This corresponds to the natural upward movement of heated air;
• if necessary, an additional exhaust fan with automatic adjustment is installed, located next to the power supply unit;
• Provides additional air intake for the video card through a PCIE plug;
• poor ventilation of 3" and 5" drive bays is ensured due to slightly bent plugs for unoccupied bays;
• it is important to let the main air flow through the “hottest” components;
• It is advisable to increase the total area of ​​the intake openings to twice the area of ​​the fans (more is not required, since this will not give any effect, and the accumulation of dust will increase).

In accordance with these recommendations, you can modify the cases yourself (interesting, but troublesome) or choose the appropriate models when purchasing. Approximate options for organizing air flows through the system unit are given above.

The “correct” fan

If the system unit weakly “resists” the flow of blown air, you can use any fan, as long as it provides sufficient flow for cooling (you can find out about this from its passport, as well as using online calculators). It’s another matter if the resistance to air flow is significant - this is exactly the case with fans mounted in densely “populated” cases, on radiators and in perforated holes.

If you decide to replace a failed fan in a case or on a cooler yourself, install one that has no less air flow and excess pressure values ​​(see data sheet). If there is no relevant information, it is not recommended to use such a fan in critical components (for example, to cool a processor).

If the noise level is not too important, you can install high-speed fans of larger diameter. Thicker models reduce noise levels while increasing air pressure.

In any case, pay attention to the gap between the blades and the fan rim: it should not be large (the optimal value is tenths of a millimeter). If the distance between the blades and the rim is more than 2 mm, the fan will be ineffective.

Air or water?

There is a fairly widespread belief that water systems are much more efficient and quieter than conventional air systems. Is this really true? Indeed, the heat capacity of water is twice that of air, and its density is 830 times higher than that of air. This means that an equal volume of water can remove 1658 times more heat.

However, with noise, things are not so simple. After all, the coolant (water) ultimately gives off heat to the same “outboard” air, and water radiators (with the exception of huge structures) are equipped with the same fans - their noise adds to the noise of the water pump. Therefore, the gain, if any, is not that great.

The design becomes much more complicated when it is necessary to cool several components with a flow of water proportional to their heat output. Apart from branched tubes, it is necessary to use complex control devices (simple tees and crosses will not do). Alternative option– use a design with flows adjusted once and for all at the factory; but in this case the user is deprived of the opportunity to significantly change the PC configuration.

Dust and the fight against it

Due to speed differences, computer system units become real dust collectors. The speed of the air flowing through the inlet openings is many times higher than the speed of the flows inside the housing. In addition, air flow often changes direction around PC components. Therefore, the majority (up to 70%) of dust brought from outside settles inside the case; It is necessary to clean it at least once a year.

However, dust can become your “ally” in the fight to increase the efficiency of the cooling system. After all, its active subsidence is observed precisely in those places where air flows are not distributed optimally.

Air filters

Fiber filters intercept more than 70% of dust, which allows you to clean the case much less often. Often, several exhaust fans with a diameter of 120 mm are installed in modern PC cases, while air enters the case through many inlets distributed throughout the structure - their total area much less fan area. There is no point in installing a filter in such a housing without modification. Professionals give a number of recommendations here:

• the inlet openings for the intake of cooling air should be located as close as possible to its base;
• the entry and exit points of air, the paths of its passage must be organized so that the air flows “wash” the hottest elements of the PC;
• The area of ​​the air intake openings should be 2–5 times larger than the area of ​​the exhaust fans.

Coolers based on Peltier elements

Peltier elements - or, as they are also called, thermoelectric modules (TEMs), operating on the principle of the Peltier effect - have been produced on an industrial scale for many years. They are built into car refrigerators, beer coolers, and industrial coolers for cooling processors. There are also models for PC, although they are still quite rare.

First, about the principle of operation. As you might guess, the Peltier effect was discovered by the Frenchman Jean-Charles Peltier; this happened in 1834. A cooling module based on this effect includes a plurality of n- and p-type semiconductor elements connected in series. When direct current passes through such a connection, one half of the p-n contacts will heat up, the other will cool.

These semiconductor elements are oriented so that the heating contacts come out on one side, and the cooling contacts on the other. The result is a plate, which is covered on both sides with ceramic material. If a sufficiently strong current is applied to such a module, the temperature difference between the sides can reach several tens of degrees.

We can say that TEM is a kind of “heat pump”, which, spending energy external source power supply, pumps the generated heat from a source (for example, a processor) to a heat exchanger - a radiator, thus participating in the cooling process.

To effectively remove heat from a powerful processor, you have to use a TEM consisting of 100–200 elements (which, by the way, are quite fragile); Therefore, the TEM is equipped with an additional copper contact plate, which increases the size of the device and requires the application of additional layers of thermal paste.

This reduces the efficiency of heat removal. The problem is partially solved by replacing the thermal paste with soldering, but this method is rarely used in models available on the market. Note that the energy consumption of the TEM itself is quite large and comparable to the amount of heat removed (about a third of the energy used by the TEM also turns into heat).

Another difficulty that arises when using TEMs in coolers is the need to accurately regulate the temperature of the module; it is ensured by the use of special boards with controllers. This makes the cooler more expensive, and the board takes up additional space in the system unit. If the temperature is not regulated, it can drop to negative values; Condensation may also form, which is unacceptable for computer electronic components.

So, high-quality coolers based on TEM are expensive (from 2.5 thousand rubles), complex, bulky and not as effective as you might think, judging by their size. The only area in which such coolers are indispensable is cooling industrial computers operating in hot (above 50°C) conditions; however, this is not relevant to the topic of our article.

Thermal interface and thermal paste

As already mentioned, an integral part of any cooling system (including a computer cooler) is a thermal interface - a component through which thermal contact is made between the heat-generating and heat-removing devices. Thermal paste acting in this role provides efficient transfer heat between, for example, the processor and the cooler.

Why do you need thermal conductive paste?

If the cooler radiator does not fit tightly to the cooled chip, the efficiency of the entire cooling system immediately decreases (air is a good heat insulator). Making the surface of the radiator smooth and flat (for perfect contact with the cooled device) is very difficult, and not cheap. This is where thermal paste comes to the rescue, filling irregularities on the contacting surfaces and thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of heat transfer between them.

It is important that the viscosity of the thermal paste is not too high: this is necessary to displace air from the thermal contact point with a minimum layer of thermal paste. Please note, by the way, that polishing the cooler base to a mirror finish may not in itself improve heat transfer. The fact is that with manual processing it is almost impossible to make the surfaces strictly parallel - as a result, the gap between the radiator and the processor may even increase.

Before applying new thermal paste, carefully remove the old one. For this, napkins made of non-woven materials are used (they should not leave fibers on surfaces). It is highly undesirable to dilute the paste, as this greatly impairs the heat-conducting properties. Let's give a few more recommendations:

• use thermal pastes with a thermal conductivity of more than 2–4 W/(K*m) and low viscosity;
• When installing the cooler, apply fresh thermal paste each time;
• When installing, it is necessary to fix the cooler with a fastener, press it firmly (but not too much, otherwise damage may occur) by hand and rotate it several times around its axis within the existing play. In any case, installation requires skill and accuracy.

Thermal tubes

Thermal tubes are great for removing excess heat. They are compact and silent. By design, these are sealed cylinders (can be quite long and arbitrarily curved), partially filled with coolant. Inside the cylinder there is another tube made in the form of a capillary.

The thermotube works as follows: in the heated area, the coolant evaporates, its vapor passes into the cooled part of the thermotube and condenses there - and the condensate returns through the capillary inner tube to the heated area.

The main advantage of thermotubes is their high thermal conductivity: the speed of heat propagation is equal to the speed at which coolant vapors pass the tube from end to end (it is very high and close to the speed of sound). In conditions of varying heat dissipation, thermal tube cooling systems are very effective. This is important, for example, for cooling processors, which, depending on the operating mode, emit different quantities heat.

Thermal tubes currently produced are capable of removing 20–80 W of heat. When designing coolers, tubes with a diameter of 5–8 mm and a length of up to 300 mm are usually used.

However, despite all the advantages of thermal tubes, they have one significant limitation, which is not always written about in manuals. Manufacturers usually do not indicate the boiling point of the coolant in the heat pipes of the cooler, however, it is this that determines the threshold, upon crossing which the heat pipe begins to effectively remove heat. Until this moment, a passive heat pipe cooler, which does not have a fan, works like a regular radiator. In general, the lower the boiling point of the coolant, the more efficient and safer the heat pipe cooler; the recommended value is 35-40°C (it is better if the boiling point is indicated in the documentation).

Let's summarize. Heat pipe coolers are especially useful for high (more than 100 W) heat dissipation, but they can be used in other cases - if the price does not bother you. In this case, it is necessary to use thermal pastes that effectively transfer heat - this will allow you to fully realize the capabilities of the cooler. The general principle of choice is this: the more thermotubes and the thicker they are, the better.

Types of thermotubes

High Pressure Thermal Tubes (HTS). At the end of 2005, ICE HAMMER Electronics introduced new look coolers based on high-pressure heat pipes, built using Heat Transporting System (HTS) technology. We can say that this system occupies an intermediate position between heat pipes and liquid cooling systems. The coolant in it is water mixed with ammonia and other chemical compounds at normal atmospheric pressure. Due to the rise of bubbles formed when the mixture boils, the circulation of the coolant is significantly accelerated. Apparently, such systems work most efficiently when the tubes are in a vertical position.

NanoSpreader technology allows you to create hollow heat-conducting copper tapes 70–500 mm wide and 1.5–3.5 mm thick, filled with coolant. The role of a capillary is played by a sheet of copper fibers that returns the condensed coolant from the condensation zone to the heating and evaporation zone. The shape of the flat tape is supported by elastic, large-porous material, which does not allow the walls to collapse and ensures the free movement of vapors. The main advantages of thermal tapes are their small thickness and the ability to cover large areas.

Modding and cooling systems

The word “modding” is derived from the English modify (modify, change). Modders (those who engage in modding) transform the cases and “insides” of computers in order to improve technical characteristics, and most importantly, appearance. Like car tuning enthusiasts, computer users want to personalize their tool for work and creativity, an indispensable means of communication and a home entertainment center. Modding is a powerful means of self-expression; This is, of course, creativity, an opportunity to work with your head and hands, and gain valuable experience.

MODDING PRODUCTS

There are a lot of specialized online stores (both Russian and foreign) that offer modding products, delivering them all over the world. Domestic ones are more convenient to use: foreign ones are more hassle (for example, when transferring money), and delivery is usually expensive. Such specialized resources can be easily found using search engines.

Sometimes modding accessories appear unexpectedly in the price lists of regular online stores, and their prices are sometimes lower than in specialized ones. Therefore, we recommend that you do not rush into purchasing this or that accessory - first carefully study several price lists.

What do modders change in computers?

It is unlikely that the average modder is able to remake a complex filling: the capabilities of a user who does not have special knowledge in the field of radio electronics and circuit design are still limited. Therefore, computer modding involves mainly a “cosmetic” transformation of the computer case.

MAIN MANUFACTURERS OF MODDING PRODUCTS

To better navigate the components, it makes sense to know the names of some companies specializing in the production of mod products: Sunbeam, Floston, Gembird, Revoltec, Vizo, Sharkoon, Vantec, Spire, Hanyang, 3R System, G. M. Corporation, Korealcom, RaidMax, Sirtec ( computer cases and power supplies), Zalman, Akasa (power supplies, cooling systems), Koolance, SwiftTech (water cooling), VapoChill (cryogenic cooling systems), Thermaltake (mainly cases and mod panels).

In particular, so-called blowhole mods are carried out: holes are cut in the case for ventilation, as well as for installing additional coolers. Such modifications not only improve appearance– they are useful for the overall “health” of the computer, since they enhance the cooling of system components.

Experienced modders often combine business with pleasure: they install liquid cooling systems (most of them have a completely futuristic design).

Building an effective water cooling system (WCO) is not an easy task, both technically and financially. As was said, you need a solid amount of special knowledge, which not everyone has; Yes, and you can’t do without technical skills. All this greatly stimulates the purchase of a ready-made SVO. Leaning towards this option, be prepared to shell out quite a bit. Moreover, it is far from a fact that the increase in performance of the processor and other components of the system unit, even overclocked thanks to the effective heat removal of the new air cooling system, will pay for the difference in cost compared to a standard (or even improved) air cooling system. But this option also has obvious advantages. By purchasing a ready-made SVO, you will not have to independently select individual components, order them on the websites of different manufacturers or sellers, wait for delivery, etc. In addition, you do not have to modify the PC case - often this advantage outweighs all the disadvantages. Finally, serial SVOs are usually cheaper than models assembled in parts.

An example of a cooler that provides a reasonable compromise between creative freedom and ease of assembly (without compromising cooling efficiency) is the KoolanceExos-2 V2 system. It allows you to use a wide variety of water blocks (the so-called hollow heat exchangers that cover the cooled element) from the wide range produced by the company. The block of this air cooler combines a radiator-heat exchanger with fans, a pump, an expansion tank, sensors and control electronics.

The process of installing and connecting such SVOs is very simple - it is described in detail in the user manual. Please note that the ventilation holes of the SVO are located at the top. Accordingly, there must be enough free space above the fans for the outflow of heated air (at least 240 mm with a fan diameter of 120 mm). If there is no such space above (for example, the countertop is in the way computer desk), you can simply place the SVO block next to the system unit - although this option is not described in the instructions.

The simplest and most obvious way of modding is to replace standard coolers with modder ones with backlighting (their choice is also quite wide: there are both powerful processor coolers and weak decorative ones).

The main rule: compare prices in different search engines and online stores! The amplitude of the oscillations will surprise you a lot. Of course, you should choose cheaper offers, always paying attention to the terms of payment, delivery and guarantee.

Often used to build a large radiator heat pipes(English: heat pipe) hermetically sealed and specially arranged metal tubes (usually copper). They transfer heat very efficiently from one end to the other: thus, even the outermost fins of a large radiator work effectively in cooling. This is how the popular cooler works, for example.

To cool modern high-performance GPUs, the same methods are used: large radiators, copper cores of cooling systems or all-copper radiators, heat pipes to transfer heat to additional radiators:

The recommendations for selection here are the same: use slow and large fans, and the largest possible radiators. For example, this is what popular video card cooling systems and Zalman VF900 look like:

Typically, fans of video card cooling systems only mixed the air inside the system unit, which is not very effective in terms of cooling the entire computer. Only recently, to cool video cards, they began to use cooling systems that carry hot air outside the case: the first to use a similar design were from the brand:

Similar cooling systems are installed on the most powerful modern video cards (nVidia GeForce 8800, ATI x1800XT and older). This design is often more justified, from the point of view of the correct organization of air flows inside the computer case, than traditional designs. Air flow organization

Modern standards for the design of computer cases, among other things, also regulate the method of constructing a cooling system. Starting with , the production of which began in 1997, the technology of cooling a computer with a through air flow directed from the front wall of the case to the back has been introduced (additionally, air for cooling is sucked in through the left wall):

I refer those interested in details to the latest versions of the ATX standard.

At least one fan is installed in the computer power supply (many modern models have two fans, which can significantly reduce the rotation speed of each of them, and, therefore, noise during operation). Additional fans can be installed anywhere inside the computer case to increase air flow. Be sure to follow the rule: On the front and left side walls, air is forced into the body; on the rear wall, hot air is thrown out. You also need to make sure that the flow of hot air from the back wall of the computer does not go directly into the air intake on the left wall of the computer (this happens at certain positions of the system unit relative to the walls of the room and furniture). Which fans to install depends primarily on the availability of appropriate fasteners in the case walls. Fan noise is mainly determined by its rotation speed (see section), so it is recommended to use slow (quiet) fan models. With equal installation dimensions and rotation speeds, the fans on the rear wall of the case are subjectively noisier than the front ones: firstly, they are located further from the user, and secondly, there are almost transparent grilles at the back of the case, while in front there are various decorative elements. Often noise is created due to the air flow bending around the elements of the front panel: if the transferred volume of air flow exceeds a certain limit, vortex turbulent flows are formed on the front panel of the computer case, which create a characteristic noise (it resembles the hiss of a vacuum cleaner, but much quieter).

Choosing a computer case

Almost the vast majority of computer cases on the market today comply with one of the versions of the ATX standard, including in terms of cooling. The cheapest cases are not equipped with a power supply or additional accessories. More expensive cases are equipped with fans to cool the case, less often - adapters for connecting fans in various ways; sometimes even a special controller equipped with thermal sensors, which allows you to smoothly regulate the rotation speed of one or more fans depending on the temperature of the main components (see, for example). The power supply is not always included in the kit: many buyers prefer to choose a power supply themselves. Among other options for additional equipment, it is worth noting special mounts for side walls, hard drives, optical drives, expansion cards, which allow you to assemble a computer without a screwdriver; dust filters, preventing dirt from entering the computer through the ventilation holes; various pipes for directing air flow inside the housing. Let's explore the fan

For air transfer in cooling systems they use fans(English: fan).

Fan device

The fan consists of a housing (usually in the form of a frame), an electric motor and an impeller mounted with bearings on the same axis as the motor:

The reliability of the fan depends on the type of bearings installed. Manufacturers claim the following typical MTBF (years based on 24/7 operation):

Taking into account obsolescence computer equipment(for home and office use this is 2-3 years), fans with ball bearings can be considered “eternal”: their operating life is no less than the typical operating life of a computer. For more serious applications, where the computer must work around the clock for many years, it is worth choosing more reliable fans.

Many have encountered old fans in which the sliding bearings have exhausted their service life: the impeller shaft rattles and vibrates during operation, producing a characteristic growling sound. In principle, such a bearing can be repaired by lubricating it with solid lubricant, but how many would agree to repair a fan that costs only a couple of dollars?

Fan characteristics

Fans vary in size and thickness: usually in computers there are standard sizes of 40x40x10 mm, for cooling video cards and hard drive pockets, as well as 80x80x25, 92x92x25, 120x120x25 mm for case cooling. Fans also differ in the type and design of the installed electric motors: they consume different currents and provide different impeller rotation speeds. The performance depends on the size of the fan and the speed of rotation of the impeller blades: the created static pressure and the maximum volume of transported air.

The volume of air transported by the fan (flow rate) is measured in cubic meters per minute or cubic feet per minute (CFM, cubic feet per minute). The fan performance indicated in the specifications is measured at zero pressure: the fan operates in open space. Inside the computer case, a fan blows into a system unit of a certain size, therefore it creates excess pressure in the serviced volume. Naturally, volumetric productivity will be approximately inversely proportional to the pressure created. Specific view flow characteristics depends on the shape of the impeller used and other parameters of the specific model. For example, the corresponding graph for a fan:

A simple conclusion follows from this: the more intense the fans work in the back of the computer case, the more air can be pumped through the entire system, and the more efficient the cooling will be.

Fan noise level

The noise level created by a fan during operation depends on its various characteristics (you can read more about the reasons for its occurrence in the article). It's easy to establish a relationship between performance and fan noise. On the website of a large manufacturer of popular cooling systems, we see: many fans of the same size are equipped with different electric motors, which are designed for different rotation speeds. Since the same impeller is used, we obtain the data we are interested in: the characteristics of the same fan at different rotation speeds. We are compiling a table for the three most common sizes: thickness 25 mm, and.

Bold The most popular types of fans are highlighted.

Having calculated the coefficient of proportionality of air flow and noise level to revolutions, we see an almost complete coincidence. To clear our conscience, we count deviations from the average: less than 5%. Thus, we received three linear dependencies, 5 points each. God knows what statistics, but for linear dependence This is enough: we consider the hypothesis confirmed.

The volumetric performance of the fan is proportional to the number of revolutions of the impeller, the same is true for the noise level.

Using the obtained hypothesis, we can extrapolate the results obtained using the least squares method (OLS): in the table, these values ​​are highlighted in italic font. It must be remembered, however, that the scope of this model is limited. The studied dependence is linear in a certain range of rotation speeds; it is logical to assume that the linear nature of the dependence will remain in some vicinity of this range; but at very high and very low speeds the picture can change significantly.

Now let's look at a line of fans from another manufacturer: , and . Let's make a similar table:

Calculated data are highlighted in italic font.
As mentioned above, at fan speed values ​​that differ significantly from those studied, the linear model may be incorrect. The values ​​obtained by extrapolation should be understood as a rough estimate.

Let us pay attention to two circumstances. Firstly, GlacialTech fans work slower, and secondly, they are more efficient. This is obviously the result of using an impeller with a more complex blade shape: even at the same speed, the GlacialTech fan moves more air than the Titan: see graph increase. A The noise level at the same speed is approximately equal: the proportion is maintained even for fans from different manufacturers with different impeller shapes.

You need to understand that the actual noise characteristics of a fan depend on its technical design, the pressure created, the volume of pumped air, and the type and shape of obstacles in the path of air flow; that is, on the type of computer case. Since the housings used are very different, it is impossible to directly apply the quantitative characteristics of fans measured under ideal conditions; they can only be compared with each other for different fan models.

Fan price categories

Let's consider the cost factor. For example, let’s take the same online store and: the results are listed in the tables above (fans with two ball bearings were considered). As you can see, the fans of these two manufacturers belong to two different classes: GlacialTech operate at lower speeds, therefore making less noise; at the same rpm they are more efficient than the Titan - but they are always a dollar or two more expensive. If you need to assemble the least noisy cooling system (for example, for a home computer), you will have to fork out for more expensive fans with complex blade shapes. In the absence of such strict requirements or with a limited budget (for example, for an office computer), simpler fans are quite suitable. The different type of impeller suspension used in fans (for more details, see section) also affects the cost: the fan is more expensive, the more complex bearings are used.

The connector key is the beveled corners on one side. The wires are connected as follows: two central ones - “ground”, common contact (black wire); +5 V - red, +12 V - yellow. To power the fan via the Molex connector, only two wires are used, usually black (ground) and red (supply voltage). By connecting them to different pins of the connector, you can get different fan rotation speeds. A standard voltage of 12 V will start the fan at normal speed, a voltage of 5-7 V provides approximately half the rotation speed. It is preferable to use a higher voltage, since not every electric motor is able to reliably start at too low a supply voltage.

As experience shows, The fan rotation speed when connected to +5 V, +6 V and +7 V is approximately the same(with an accuracy of 10%, which is comparable to the accuracy of measurements: the rotation speed is constantly changing and depends on many factors, such as air temperature, the slightest draft in the room, etc.)

I remind you that the manufacturer guarantees stable operation of its devices only when using a standard supply voltage. But, as practice shows, the vast majority of fans start perfectly even at low voltage.

The contacts are fixed in the plastic part of the connector using a pair of bendable metal “antennae”. It is not difficult to remove the contact by pressing down the protruding parts with a thin awl or a small screwdriver. After this, the “antennae” must be bent to the sides again, and the contact must be inserted into the corresponding socket of the plastic part of the connector:

Sometimes coolers and fans are equipped with two connectors: parallel-connected molex and three- (or four-) pin. In that case You only need to connect power through one of them:

In some cases, not one Molex connector is used, but a female-male pair: this way you can connect the fan to the same wire from the power supply that powers the hard drive or optical drive. If you rearrange the pins in the connector to get a non-standard voltage on the fan, pay special attention to rearrange the pins in the second connector in exactly the same order. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the incorrect supply voltage being supplied to the hard drive or optical drive, which will certainly lead to their immediate failure.

In three-pin connectors, the installation key is a pair of protruding guides on one side:

The mating part is located on the contact pad; when connected, it fits between the guides, also acting as a latch. The corresponding connectors for powering the fans are located on the motherboard (usually several pieces per different places board) or on the board of a special controller that controls the fans:

In addition to ground (black wire) and +12 V (usually red, less often yellow), there is also a tachometer contact: it is used to control the fan speed (white, blue, yellow or green wire). If you do not need the ability to control the fan speed, then this contact does not need to be connected. If the fan power is supplied separately (for example, through a Molex connector), it is permissible to connect only the speed control contact and the common wire using a three-pin connector - this circuit is often used to monitor the rotation speed of the power supply fan, which is powered and controlled by the internal circuits of the power supply unit.

Four-pin connectors appeared relatively recently on motherboards with LGA 775 and socket AM2 processor sockets. They differ in the presence of an additional fourth contact, while being completely mechanically and electrically compatible with three-pin connectors:

Two identical fans with three-pin connectors can be connected in series to one power connector. Thus, each of the electric motors will receive 6 V of supply voltage, both fans will rotate at half speed. For such a connection, it is convenient to use the fan power connectors: the contacts can be easily removed from the plastic case by pressing the locking “tab” with a screwdriver. The connection diagram is shown in the figure below. One of the connectors is connected to the motherboard as usual: it will supply power to both fans. In the second connector, using a piece of wire, you need to short-circuit two contacts, and then insulate it with tape or tape:

It is strongly not recommended to connect two different electric motors in this way.: due to the inequality of electrical characteristics in different operating modes (start-up, acceleration, stable rotation), one of the fans may not start at all (which can cause the electric motor to fail) or require an excessively high current to start (which can lead to failure of the control circuits).

Often, to limit the fan rotation speed, fixed or variable resistors are used in series in the power circuit. By changing the resistance of the variable resistor, you can adjust the rotation speed: this is how many manual fan speed controllers are designed. When designing such a circuit, you need to remember that, firstly, the resistors heat up, dissipating part of electrical power in the form of heat - this does not contribute to more efficient cooling; secondly, the electrical characteristics of the electric motor in different operating modes (starting, acceleration, stable rotation) are not the same, the resistor parameters must be selected taking into account all these modes. To select resistor parameters, it is enough to know Ohm's law; You need to use resistors designed for a current no less than that consumed by the electric motor. However, I personally do not favor manual cooling control, since I believe that a computer is a perfectly suitable device to control the cooling system automatically, without user intervention.

Fan monitoring and control

Most modern motherboards allow you to control the rotation speed of fans connected to some three- or four-pin connectors. Moreover, some of the connectors support software control rotation speed of the connected fan. Not all connectors located on the board provide such capabilities: for example, on the popular Asus A8N-E board there are five connectors for powering fans, only three of them support rotation speed control (CPU, CHIP, CHA1), and only one supports fan speed control (CPU); The Asus P5B motherboard has four connectors, all four support rotation speed control, rotation speed control has two channels: CPU, CASE1/2 (the speed of two case fans changes synchronously). The number of connectors with the ability to control or control the rotation speed does not depend on the chipset or south bridge used, but on the specific model of the motherboard: models from different manufacturers may vary in this regard. Often, board developers deliberately deprive cheaper models of the ability to control fan speed. For example, the motherboard for Intel Pentiun 4 processors Asus P4P800 SE is capable of adjusting the speed of the processor cooler, but its cheaper version Asus P4P800-X is not. In this case, you can use special devices that are capable of controlling the speed of several fans (and, usually, provide for the connection of a number of temperature sensors) - more and more of them are appearing on the modern market.

You can control the fan speed values ​​using BIOS Setup. As a rule, if the motherboard supports changing the fan speed, here in BIOS Setup you can configure the parameters of the speed control algorithm. The set of parameters varies for different motherboards; Typically, the algorithm uses the readings of thermal sensors built into the processor and motherboard. There are a number of programs for various operating systems that allow you to control and regulate fan speeds, as well as monitor the temperature of various components inside the computer. Manufacturers of some motherboards complete their products with proprietary programs for Windows: Asus PC Probe, MSI CoreCenter, Abit µGuru, Gigabyte EasyTune, Foxconn SuperStep, etc. Several common universal programs, among them: (shareware, $20-30), (distributed for free, not updated since 2004). The most popular program in this class is:

These programs allow you to monitor a range of temperature sensors that are installed in modern processors, motherboards, video cards and hard drives. The program also monitors the rotation speed of fans that are connected to the motherboard connectors with appropriate support. Finally, the program is able to automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the temperature of the observed objects (if the motherboard manufacturer has implemented hardware support for this feature). In the above figure, the program is configured to control only the processor fan: when the CPU temperature is low (36°C), it rotates at a speed of about 1000 rpm, - this is 35% of maximum speed(2800 rpm). Setting up such programs comes down to three steps:

1. determining which of the motherboard controller channels the fans are connected to, and which of them can be controlled by software;
2. indicating which temperatures should affect the speed of various fans;
3. setting temperature thresholds for each temperature sensor and operating speed range for fans.

Many programs for testing and fine-tuning computers also have monitoring capabilities:, etc.

Many modern video cards also allow you to adjust the speed of the cooling fan depending on the heating of the GPU. Using special programs, you can even change the settings of the cooling mechanism, reducing the noise level from the video card when there is no load. This is what the optimal settings for the HIS X800GTO IceQ II video card look like in the program:

Passive Cooling systems are usually called those that do not contain fans. Individual computer components can be satisfied with passive cooling, provided that their radiators are placed in sufficient air flow created by “foreign” fans: for example, the chipset chip is often cooled by a large radiator located near the installation site of the processor cooler. Passive cooling systems for video cards are also popular, for example:

Obviously, the more radiators one fan has to blow through, the greater the flow resistance it needs to overcome; Thus, when increasing the number of radiators, it is often necessary to increase the rotation speed of the impeller. It is more efficient to use many low-speed, large-diameter fans, and it is preferable to avoid passive cooling systems. Despite the fact that passive radiators for processors, video cards with passive cooling, and even fanless power supplies (FSP Zen) are available, an attempt to assemble a computer without any fans from all these components will certainly lead to constant overheating. Because a modern high-performance computer dissipates too much heat to be cooled by passive systems alone. Due to the low thermal conductivity of air, it is difficult to organize efficient passive cooling for the entire computer, unless you turn the entire computer case into a radiator, as is done in:

Perhaps completely passive cooling will be sufficient for low-power specialized computers (for accessing the Internet, listening to music and watching videos, etc.) Economical cooling

In the old days, when the power consumption of processors had not yet reached critical values ​​- a small radiator was enough to cool them - the question was “what will the computer do when nothing needs to be done?” The solution was simple: while there is no need to execute user commands or running programs, the OS gives the processor the NOP command (No OPeration, no operation). This command forces the processor to perform a meaningless, ineffective operation, the result of which is ignored. This wastes not only time, but also electricity, which, in turn, is converted into heat. A typical home or office computer, in the absence of resource-intensive tasks, is usually only 10% loaded - anyone can verify this by launching the Windows Task Manager and observing the CPU (Central Processing Unit) load chronology. Thus, with the old approach, about 90% of the processor time was wasted: the CPU was busy executing unnecessary commands. Newer operating systems (Windows 2000 and later) act more intelligently in a similar situation: using the HLT (Halt, stop) command, the processor completely stops at short time- this obviously allows you to reduce energy consumption and processor temperature in the absence of resource-intensive tasks.

Experienced computer geeks can recall a number of programs for “software processor cooling”: when running under Windows 95/98/ME, they stopped the processor using HLT, instead of repeating meaningless NOPs, thereby reducing the temperature of the processor in the absence of computing tasks. Accordingly, using such programs under Windows 2000 and newer operating systems makes no sense.

Modern processors consume so much energy (which means they dissipate it in the form of heat, that is, they heat up) that developers have created additional technical measures to combat possible overheating, as well as means that increase the efficiency of saving mechanisms when the computer is idle.

CPU thermal protection

To protect the processor from overheating and failure, so-called thermal throttling is used (usually not translated: throttling). The essence of this mechanism is simple: if the processor temperature exceeds the permissible temperature, the processor is forcibly stopped by the HLT command so that the crystal has the opportunity to cool down. In early implementations of this mechanism, through BIOS Setup it was possible to configure how much time the processor would be idle (CPU Throttling Duty Cycle parameter: xx%); new implementations “slow down” the processor automatically until the temperature of the crystal drops to an acceptable level. Of course, the user is interested in ensuring that the processor does not cool down (literally!), but performs useful work for this you need to use a fairly efficient cooling system. You can check whether the processor thermal protection mechanism (throttling) is activated using special utilities, for example:

Minimizing energy consumption

Almost all modern processors support special technologies to reduce energy consumption (and, accordingly, heating). Different manufacturers call such technologies differently, for example: Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), AMD Cool’n’Quiet (CnQ, C&Q) - but they essentially work the same way. When the computer is idle and the processor is not loaded with computing tasks, the clock speed and supply voltage of the processor are reduced. Both reduce the processor's power consumption, which in turn reduces heat generation. As soon as the processor load increases, the full speed of the processor is automatically restored: the operation of such a power saving scheme is completely transparent to the user and the programs being launched. To enable such a system you need:

1. enable the use of supported technology in BIOS Setup;
2. install the appropriate drivers in the operating system you are using (usually a processor driver);
3. In the Windows Control Panel, in the Power Management section, on the Power Schemes tab, select the Minimal Power Management scheme from the list.

For example, for an Asus A8N-E motherboard with a processor you need ( detailed instructions are given in the User's Guide):

1. in BIOS Setup, in the Advanced > CPU Configuration > AMD CPU Cool & Quiet Configuration section, switch the Cool N'Quiet parameter to Enabled; and in the Power section, switch the ACPI 2.0 Support parameter to Yes;
2. install ;
3. see above.

You can check that the processor frequency is changing using any program that displays clock frequency processor: from specialized types, right up to the Windows Control Panel, System section:

Often, motherboard manufacturers additionally equip their products with visual programs that clearly demonstrate the operation of the mechanism for changing the frequency and voltage of the processor, for example, Asus Cool&Quiet:

The processor frequency varies from maximum (in the presence of a computing load) to a certain minimum (in the absence of CPU load).

RMClock utility

During the development of a set of programs for comprehensive testing processors, was created (RightMark CPU Clock/Power Utility): it is designed to monitor, configure and manage the power-saving capabilities of modern processors. The utility supports all modern processors and a variety of energy management systems (frequency, voltage...). The program allows you to monitor the occurrence of throttling, changes in the frequency and voltage of the processor supply. Using RMClock, you can configure and use everything that standard tools allow: BIOS Setup, power management from the OS using the processor driver. But the capabilities of this utility are much wider: with its help you can configure a number of parameters that are not available for configuration in a standard way. This is especially important when using overclocked systems, when the processor runs faster than the standard frequency.

Auto overclocking of a video card

Video card developers also use a similar method: the full power of the graphics processor is needed only in 3D mode, and a modern graphics chip can cope with a desktop in 2D mode even at a reduced frequency. Many modern video cards are configured so that the graphics chip serves the desktop (2D mode) with reduced frequency, power consumption and heat dissipation; Accordingly, the cooling fan spins slower and makes less noise. The video card starts working at full power only when running 3D applications, such as computer games. Similar logic can be implemented programmatically, using various utilities for fine-tuning and overclocking video cards. For example, this is what the automatic overclocking settings look like in the program for the HIS X800GTO IceQ II video card:

From the user's point of view, a computer whose noise does not exceed the surrounding background noise will be considered sufficiently quiet. During the day, taking into account the noise of the street outside the window, as well as the noise in the office or factory, the computer is allowed to make a little more noise. A home computer that is intended to be used 24/7 should be quieter at night. As practice has shown, almost any modern powerful computer can be made to work quite quietly. I will describe several examples from my practice.

Example 1: Intel Pentium 4 platform

My office uses 10 Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz computers with standard CPU coolers. All machines are assembled in inexpensive Fortex cases priced up to $30, with Chieftec 310-102 power supplies installed (310 W, 1 fan 80x80x25 mm). In each of the cases, an 80×80×25 mm fan (3000 rpm, noise 33 dBA) was installed on the rear wall - they were replaced by fans with the same performance 120×120×25 mm (950 rpm, noise 19 dBA ). IN file server local network For additional cooling of hard drives, 2 80x80x25 mm fans are installed on the front wall, connected in series (speed 1500 rpm, noise 20 dBA). Most computers use the Asus P4P800 SE motherboard, which is capable of adjusting the speed of the processor cooler. Two computers have cheaper Asus P4P800-X boards, where the cooler speed is not regulated; To reduce the noise from these machines, the processor coolers were replaced (1900 rpm, noise 20 dBA).
Result: computers are quieter than air conditioners; they are practically inaudible.

Example 2: Intel Core 2 Duo platform

Home computer on a new one Intel processor Core 2 Duo E6400 (2.13 GHz) with standard CPU cooler was assembled in an inexpensive aigo case priced at $25, a Chieftec 360-102DF power supply (360 W, 2 80x80x25 mm fans) was installed. There are 2 80x80x25 mm fans installed in the front and rear walls of the case, connected in series (speed adjustable, from 750 to 1500 rpm, noise up to 20 dBA). The motherboard used is Asus P5B, which is capable of regulating the speed of the processor cooler and case fans. Installed video card with passive system cooling.
Result: the computer is so noisy that during the day you can’t hear it over the usual noise in the apartment (conversations, steps, the street outside the window, etc.).

Example 3: AMD Athlon 64 platform

My home computer on the processor AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (1.8 GHz) was assembled in an inexpensive Delux case priced up to $30, initially containing a CoolerMaster RS-380 power supply (380 W, 1 80x80x25 mm fan) and a GlacialTech SilentBlade GT80252BDL-1 video card connected to + 5 V (about 850 rpm, noise less than 17 dBA). The motherboard used is Asus A8N-E, which is capable of adjusting the speed of the processor cooler (up to 2800 rpm, noise up to 26 dBA, in idle mode the cooler rotates about 1000 rpm and noise less than 18 dBA). The problem with this motherboard: cooling the nVidia nForce 4 chipset chip, Asus installs a small 40x40x10 mm fan with a rotation speed of 5800 rpm, which whistles quite loudly and unpleasantly (in addition, the fan is equipped with a plain bearing, which has a very short lifespan) . To cool the chipset, a cooler for video cards with a copper radiator was installed; against its background, the clicks of the positioning of the hard drive heads are clearly audible. A working computer does not interfere with sleeping in the same room where it is installed.
Recently, the video card was replaced by HIS X800GTO IceQ II, for the installation of which it was necessary to modify the chipset heatsink: bend the fins so that they do not interfere with the installation of a video card with a large cooling fan. Fifteen minutes of work with pliers - and the computer continues to work quietly even with a fairly powerful video card.

Example 4: AMD Athlon 64 X2 platform

Home computer on AMD processor Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (2.0 GHz) with a processor cooler (up to 1900 rpm, noise up to 20 dBA) assembled in a 3R System R101 case (includes 2 fans 120x120x25 mm, up to 1500 rpm, installed on the front and rear walls of the case, connected to the standard monitoring and automatic fan control system), an FSP Blue Storm 350 power supply is installed (350 W, 1 fan 120x120x25 mm). A motherboard is used (passive cooling of chipset chips), which is capable of regulating the speed of the processor cooler. A GeCube Radeon X800XT video card was used, the cooling system was replaced with a Zalman VF900-Cu. A hard drive known for its low noise level was chosen for the computer.
Result: The computer is so quiet that you can hear the noise of the hard drive motor. A working computer does not interfere with sleeping in the same room where it is installed (the neighbors talking even louder behind the wall).

Computer cooling systems come in different types and varying efficiencies. Regardless of this, they all have the same goal: to cool the devices inside the system unit, thereby protecting them from combustion and increasing operating efficiency. Various systems are designed to cool various devices and they do this using different ways. This is, of course, not the most exciting topic, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Today we will look in detail at what cooling systems our computer needs, and how to achieve maximum efficiency of their operation.

To begin with, I propose to quickly go over cooling systems in general, so that we can approach the study of their computer varieties as prepared as possible. I hope this will save us time and make it easier to understand. So. Cooling systems are...

Air cooling systems

Today this is the most common type of cooling system. The principle of its operation is very simple. Heat from the heating component is transferred to the radiator using heat-conducting materials (there may be a layer of air or a special heat-conducting paste). The radiator receives heat and releases it into the surrounding space, which is either simply dissipated (passive radiator) or blown away by a fan (active radiator or cooler). Such cooling systems are installed directly into the system unit and on almost all heating devices. computer components. The cooling efficiency depends on the size of the effective area of ​​the radiator, the metal from which it is made (copper, aluminum), the speed of the air flow (on the power and size of the fan) and its temperature. Passive radiators are installed on those components of a computer system that do not heat up very much during operation, and around which natural air currents constantly circulate. Active cooling systems or coolers are designed mainly for the processor, video adapter and other constantly and hard-working internal components. Passive radiators can sometimes be installed for them, but always with more efficient heat removal than usual at low air flow speeds. This is more expensive and is used in special silent computers.

Liquid cooling systems

A wonderful invention of the last decade, it is used mainly for servers, but due to the rapid development of technology, over time it has every chance of moving into home systems. Expensive and a little scary if you think about it, but quite effective since water conducts heat 30 (or so) times faster than air. Such a system can simultaneously cool several internal components practically silently. A special metal plate (heat sink) is placed above the processor, which collects heat from the processor. Distilled water is periodically pumped over the heat sink. Collecting heat from it, the water enters the radiator cooled by air, cools down and begins its second circle from the metal plate above the processor. At the same time, the radiator dissipates the collected heat into the environment, cools and waits for a new portion of the heated liquid. The water in such systems can be special, for example, with a bactericidal or anti-galvanic effect. Instead of such water, antifreeze, oils, liquid metals, or some other liquid with high thermal conductivity and high specific heat capacity can be used in order to ensure maximum cooling efficiency when lowest speed fluid circulation. Of course, such systems are more expensive and complex. They consist of a pump, a heat sink (water block or cooling head) attached to the processor, a radiator (can be either active or passive) usually attached to the back of the computer case, a reservoir for working fluid, hoses and flow sensors, a variety of meters, filters, drain taps, etc. (the listed components, starting from sensors, are optional). By the way, replacing such a system is not for the faint of heart. This is not a fan with a radiator for you to change.

Freon installation

A small refrigerator installed directly on a heating component. They are effective, but in computers they are mainly used exclusively for overclocking. Knowledgeable people say that he has more disadvantages than advantages. Firstly, condensation that appears on parts that are colder than the environment. How do you like the prospect of liquid appearing inside the holy of holies? Increased energy consumption, complexity and considerable price are minor disadvantages, but this does not make them advantages either.

Open cooling systems

They use dry ice, liquid nitrogen or helium in a special tank (glass) installed directly on the cooled component. Used by the Kulibins for the most extreme overclocking or overclocking, in our opinion. The disadvantages are the same - high cost, complexity, etc. + 1 is very significant. The glass must be constantly filled and periodically run to the store for its contents.

Cascade cooling systems

Two or more cooling systems connected in series (for example, radiator + freon). These are the most complex cooling systems to implement, which are able to work without interruption, unlike all the others.

Combined cooling systems

These combine elements of cooling systems various types. An example of a combined type is Waterchippers. Waterchippers = liquid + freon. Antifreeze circulates in the system liquid cooling and in addition to it, it is also cooled by a freon unit in the heat exchanger. Even more difficult and expensive. The difficulty is that this entire system will need thermal insulation, but this unit can be used for simultaneous effective cooling of several components at once, which is quite difficult to implement in other cases.

Systems with Peltellier elements

They are never used independently and, in addition, have the least effectiveness. Their principle of operation was described by Cheburashka when he invited Gene to carry the suitcases (“Let me carry the suitcases, and you carry me”). The Peltellier element is mounted on a heating component, and the other side of the element is cooled by another, usually air or liquid cooling system. Since cooling to temperatures below ambient is possible, the problem of condensation is also relevant in this case. Peltellier elements are less efficient than freon cooling, but they are quieter and do not create vibrations like refrigerators (freon).

If you have never noticed, there is a constant flurry of activity inside your system unit: current is running back and forth, the processor is counting, the memory is remembering, programs are running, the hard drive is spinning. The computer works, in a word. From a school physics course we know that passing current heats up a device, and if the device gets hot, then this is not good. In the worst case, it will simply burn out, and in the best, it will simply work poorly. (This is indeed a common cause of a weak braking system). It is to avoid such troubles that there are several types of different cooling systems inside your system unit. At least for the most important components.

Cooling the system unit

How is cooling done? Mainly by air. When you turn on the computer, it starts to hum - the fan turns on (very often there are several of them), then it goes quiet. After a few minutes of operation, when your system has reached a certain temperature threshold, the fan turns on again. And so all the time of work. The largest and most visible fan inside the system unit simply blows the heated air out of the box, which cools everything together, including components that are difficult to install. own system cooling, for example, hard drive. According to the laws of the same physics, cooled air enters the place of heated air through special ventilation holes in the front part of the system unit. More precisely, one that simply hasn’t had time to warm up yet. While cooling the internal parts of the computer, it heats up itself and exits through holes in the side and/or rear panel of the system unit.

CPU cooling

The processor, as a very important and constantly loaded component of your iron friend, has personal system cooling. It consists of two components - a radiator and a fan, of course smaller in size than the one we just talked about. A heatsink is sometimes called a heat sink, due to its primary function - it dissipates heat from the processor (passive cooling), and a small fan on top blows heat away from the heatsink (active cooling). In addition, the processor is lubricated with a special thermal paste that promotes maximum heat transfer from the processor to the heatsink. The fact is that the surfaces of both the processor and the radiator, even after polishing, have notches of about 5 microns. As a result of such notches, a thin air layer with very low thermal conductivity remains between them. It is these gaps that are covered with a paste made from a substance with a high thermal conductivity coefficient. The paste has a limited shelf life, so it needs to be changed. It is convenient to do this simultaneously with cleaning the system unit, which we will talk about below, especially since old paste can generally have the opposite effect.

Cooling the video card

A modern video card is a computer inside a computer. A cooling system is extremely necessary for it too. Simple and cheap video cards may not have a cooling system, but modern video adapters for gaming monsters absolutely need refreshing coolness, perhaps even more than you do in forty-degree heat.

Dust pollution

Along with the air from the room, dust enters your system unit. Moreover, even in a regularly cleaned and ventilated room, there is surprisingly enough dust to entangle your brand new spinner in long, unpleasant-to-the-eye tufts of wool that came from nowhere, in just a few months of daily work. This has the opposite effect - the ventilation holes become clogged, and the “shags” (besides the fact that they physically prevent the fan from spinning) are no worse than a mink coat and will warm your computer right up to the processor, not only in the tropical heat, but also in the polar blizzard. A person, as far as I know, gets sick from hypothermia, but a computer can easily get sick from overheating. We treat the poor fellow approximately once every six months, not with antibiotics and hot tea with raspberries, but with a vacuum cleaner. Preferably purchased from a special computer store. The usual one will do in a very last resort, but you should be extremely careful with static electricity. The internal components really don't like it.

Cleaning the cooling system

The first sign of a poorly working system or not working at all is that the fan is not humming and the system unit is heating up. By the way, this is a common reason for the computer to turn off on its own or for the system to work too slowly, and the diagnosis is so simple that it may simply not occur to you. And so it begins: updating drivers, scanning with an antivirus, hardware updating the system, purchasing additional RAM modules and other sad movements. Funny? Rather sad. We urgently open the patient up and see what’s inside. It is advisable to first look for the exact algorithm for carrying out the procedure in technical documentation from motherboard manufacturers.

In principle, there is nothing complicated in cleaning the system unit. You need to turn off the computer, remembering to unplug the cord from the outlet, disassemble the system unit and carefully clean all the insides from dust. Stores sell special vacuum cleaners that are best used to do this. The most dust accumulates on the radiator with the fan and near the ventilation holes on the system unit. Carefully remove dust accumulations from them and lubricate them if necessary (you need to remove the sticker on the fan and drop a few drops on the fan axis). Sewing machine oil is a good choice. In addition, you need to clean the processor from the old thermal paste and apply new one to it. We repeat similar actions with the video card and the system unit fan. All that remains is to assemble the computer and use it for a few more months before cleaning the system unit again. Laptops also need to be cleaned, and judging by my experience, somewhat more often than stationary ones (small distances between components inside the laptop and the consumption of cookies and sandwiches next to it do their dirty work). Many users easily cope with this procedure without the help of computer specialists, but it is better not to rush, especially with laptops, if you do not feel confident enough. Risks: static electricity can damage the motherboard, processor or anything else, and you yourself, due to inexperience, can easily damage something important. Jokes aside, but you really need to do this, otherwise an infinite number of problems may arise.

If you cleaned your computer, but it did not bring noticeable relief, you may need to install a stronger cooling system. In the mildest cases, an additional fan may help. To find out the degree of heating system components, you can look at the website of the motherboard manufacturer. It is quite possible that you will find a special one there software, which will help determine this. Average indicators for the processor are 30-50 degrees, and in load mode up to 70. The hard drive should not heat up more than 40 degrees. More accurate indicators should be checked in the technical documentation.

In conclusion, I would like to say that in 90 (if not more) percent of cases, a standard standard cooling system is quite suitable. Tossing between quality and price, as well as implementing a cooling system in your computer (sometimes this is quite risky and not at all easy) is really necessary for owners of servers, powerful gaming computers and fans of experimenting with overclocking. If you are buying a computer for your home or office, you just need to ask what’s inside it, so that the manufacturer’s possible savings don’t come back to bite you.