Proper air circulation in the system unit. Ventilation of buildings - myths and reality

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. Different systems are designed to cool different devices and they do it in 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 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 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 may 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 at the lowest fluid circulation rate. 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 cooling elements of various types of systems. An example of a combined type is Waterchippers. Waterchippers = liquid + freon. Antifreeze circulates in the liquid cooling system and, in addition to 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 their own cooling system on, such as a hard drive. According to the laws of the same physics, instead of heated air, cooled air enters 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 its own cooling system. 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 hardware 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. Before doing this, it is advisable to look for the exact algorithm for carrying out the procedure in the technical documentation from the 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 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 of system components, you can look at the website of the motherboard manufacturer. It is quite possible that you will find special software there that 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.

Any computer or laptop needs a good cooling system to function properly. During operation, elements such as a processor (CPU), video card, and motherboard generate a large amount of heat and become very hot. The higher the CPU performance rating, the more heat it produces. If the PC does not quickly remove air, this can lead to various system failures, incorrect operation of equipment, decreased performance, and cause failure of important elements. Why does the processor get hot? How to cool the CPU in PCs and laptops? Which cooler to choose for optimal PC cooling? We will try to answer these questions in this article.

Reasons for CPU overheating

If the computer starts to turn off, glitch, or freeze, this may be due to overheating of the CPU. The reasons why a PC processor begins to overheat are very different. Therefore, we will consider the main ones, and also give simple ways to solve problems.

In most PCs and laptops, the main elements of the cooling system are the cooler (fan) and radiator, which are installed on the processor. Thanks to the tightest possible contact, heat transfer between the surface of the radiator and the processor is minimal, which in turn ensures fast, efficient heat dissipation.

The radiator can be monolithic or consist of two parts. In the first case, it is completely fixed on the processor (budget option), in the second case, only a small part of it is attached to the CPU, inside of which there are heat pipes that transfer heated air to the main radiator.

The primary role in the case ventilation and PC cooling system is played by the fan. Regardless of its location, it cools the entire radiator or its main part. The more efficiently it works, the better the heat dissipation from the CPU will be, and, accordingly, the lower its temperature. Heat pipe coolers provide greater CPU cooling.

If the processor starts to heat up, the main reasons include:

• deterioration of contact between the processor and the heatsink;
• speed reduction cooler (fan) operation;
• use of ineffective cooling systems;
• absence ventilation systems in the case, in the PC power supply;
• pollution ventilation holes housings with dust;
• failure cooling systems;
• wrong radiator fixation.

An increase in process temperature can also be caused by the fact that the cooler is trivial clogged with dust. For this reason, its speed and efficiency are reduced. The fan is simply not able to remove heat. To increase heat transfer, after replacing the CPU, it is worth purchasing and installing a new model of case cooler.

Another reason is upgrade PC. For example, after replacing an old CPU, a new, more powerful and productive one was installed. But at the same time, the fan in the cooling system remained the same. Due to the increase in power, the processor cooler simply does not fully cope with its task.

If the processor gets hot, let's consider what to do in this situation.

How can you cool the processor of a PC or laptop?

Overheating of the processor in laptops and desktop computers significantly increases the load on all system elements. To reduce heat generation and reduce energy consumption, you need to:

• check the condition of the cooling system, perform cleaning;
• reduce the load on the CPU;
• overclock the processor cooler;
• replace thermal paste;
• install additional coolers.

You can also reduce processor heat dissipation by BIOS settings operating system. This is the simplest and most accessible method that does not require much time or physical effort.

There are special technologies that reduce CPU frequency when idle. For AMD processor technology is called Cool'n'Quite, For Intel - Enhanced SpeedStep Technology. Consider how to activate it.

On Windows 7 you need to go to " Control Panel", select section " Power supply" In the window that opens, check which mode is active: “ Balanced», « High performance», « Energy Saving" To activate the technology, you can select any one, with the exception of “High Performance”. In Windows XP you need to select " Energy Saving Manager».

Energy Saving Settings must be enabled in the BIOS; if they are not, you can load the default settings.

It is equally important to pay attention to the system housing ventilation. If the cooling system is working properly and is regularly cleaned, but the CPU is still heating up, then you need to look to see if there are any obstacles in the path of air flow, for example, if they are blocked by thick cables.

The system unit or PC case should have two or three fans. One is for blowing on the front wall, the second is for blowing out on the rear panel, which in turn ensures good air flow. Additionally, you can install a fan on the side wall of the system unit.

If the PC system unit is in a bedside table inside the table, then do not close the doors so that the heated air comes out. Do not block the ventilation openings of the case. Place the computer a few centimeters from the wall or furniture.

You can purchase a special cooling pad for your laptop.

There is a large selection of universal models of stands on sale that adapt to the dimensions and size of the laptop. The heat-dissipating surface and the coolers built into it will contribute to more efficient heat removal and cooling.

When working on a laptop, always keep your work area clean. The ventilation openings must not be blocked by anything. Objects lying nearby should not obstruct air circulation.

For laptops you can also do overclocking the cooler. Since a PC has at least three fans installed (on the CPU, video card, built-in storage), and most laptop models have only one. The second one can be installed if you have a powerful video card. In this case, you can overclock coolers:

• through special utilities;
• via BIOS.

Before increasing the fan speed, you first need to clean the cooler and motherboard elements from dust.

Cleaning the cooling system of a laptop or desktop PC should be done at least once every six to seven months.

Cleaning the cooling system

If the processor gets hot, check the condition of the fan and the entire PC cooling system. Dust is a serious enemy of any technology. Clogged between the edges of the radiator, dust, lint, and pet hair impair air circulation.

To thoroughly clean it, you need to disconnect the cooler from the power supply and disassemble it. By removing the fan, you can also clean the dust that has accumulated on the radiator. The radiator and cooler blades can be cleaned with a special plastic spatula or a stiff brush. After removing dust, wipe the radiator with a damp cloth.

In addition to removing dust from the radiator and cooler, wipe the wires located in the case from dust. Blow or wipe the vents on the chassis.

Replacing thermal paste

Upgrading and replacing the thermal paste on the processor will help reduce the heat generated by the processor. Thermal paste is nothing more than a lubricant for cooling the processor. It acts as a heat conductor between the CPU and the heatsink, eliminates microscopic irregularities of the contacting surfaces, and removes air between them, which impedes heat dissipation. Good, high-quality thermal paste will reduce the temperature by 5–10 degrees.

Over time, the paste dries out, loses all its properties, and does not cool the processor. Therefore, it needs to be replaced every six months. If your PC has a more modern CPU, the thermal paste can be changed less frequently. You can purchase it at any computer store. Thermal paste must be of good quality.

Before you apply the thermal paste that cools the CPU, you need to get to the processor itself. To do this:

How to choose a good thermal paste

Given the large selection of thermal pastes, many are interested in the question of which thermal paste is better. Note that the difference between pastes from different manufacturers can be from ten to twenty degrees. It all depends on the quality characteristics and heat-conducting properties of thermal interfaces. A good thermal conductivity paste should have low thermal resistance and high thermal conductivity.

According to experts, for cooling the processor you can purchase:

• Arctic Cooling MX-4.
• Arctic Silver Ceramique.
• Noctua NT-H1.
• Prolimatech PK-1.
• Thermalright Chill Factor III.
• Zalman ZM-STG2.
• Glacialtech IceTherm II.
• Coollaboratory Liquid Pro.

Some pastes can also be used to overclock the processor. For example, Arctic Cooling MX-4, Glacialtech IceTherm II, Thermalright Chill Factor III, Coollaboratory Liquid Pro. Knowing which thermal paste is better, how often and how to replace it correctly, you can significantly reduce the temperature of the CPU, thereby extending its service life.

How to cancel CPU overclocking

Many users, in order to improve performance and speed up the CPU, overclock the processor (overclocking). But in some cases, this procedure significantly increases the load on the CPU, which can negatively affect its functioning and lead to a decrease in operating life.

To check the performance of the CPU after overclocking, you need to warm up the processor using special utilities.

If you are interested in how to remove CPU overclocking, go to CMOS and BIOS. Cancel all motherboard voltage settings, return them to normal configuration.

Actions are performed in the following sequence:

1. We go into the BIOS by pressing the desired button when starting the computer.
2. Select the item “ Set BIOS Default/Use Default Settings", press Enter.
3. A window will appear in which you need to press the Y key.
4. After this, the original settings that were set before overclocking the CPU will be returned.
5. Now we save all the changes made and exit the settings.
6. Reboot the computer.

This can also be done by selecting the option " Restore Fail Safe Defaults", after finding out on the Internet the exact specifications of the installed motherboard and CPU. This is necessary in order to make changes by setting the basic frequency and voltage settings.

In addition, you can change the system bus frequency and multiplier settings to the base value, returning back all the parameters that were changed during overclocking.

You can also remove additional cooling hardware that you installed to prevent the CPU from overheating.

You can manage and monitor the operation of the processor using a special utility - CPU Core, where you need to specify and set the required values ​​of the multiplier and bus frequency.

Installing additional fans

If the CPU continues to heat up after cleaning and canceling overclocking, then in order to increase cooling efficiency, we recommend installing additional fans on the case to increase air circulation. This is necessary if there are many heating elements inside the system unit or if there is a rather small amount of free space inside it.

Give preference to large-diameter coolers, which will provide greater air flow at lower speeds. Such models work efficiently, but are noisy. When installing, consider the direction of their operation.

CPU coolers are classified into:

• Boxed, without heat pipes. The most common models. Consist of an aluminum plate with ribs. May have a copper base with a fan attached to it.
• Cooling systems based on thermal aluminum and copper tubes. They function by removing heat, which is carried out due to the liquid circulating in them. They have high efficiency indicators.

When choosing fans for the cooling system, read the installation instructions, check its compatibility with the socket, motherboard, and which socket is available for the processor. Consider weight, fan size, radiator type.

Too large, high-power fans will create additional stress on the motherboard and may cause its deformation. As for the size, select the housing to match the tire, take into account the location of other components. Choose products from well-known, trusted manufacturers.

If a large number of hard drives are installed, you can additionally install a fan on the front panel of the case, as well as on the rear upper part of the system unit to remove warm air outside. Modern cases allow you to install at least two fans: from the bottom, if there is no perforation on the front panel, and opposite the location of the hard drives.

If the PC has very advanced hardware and the processor gets hot, you can remove the side cover of the system unit. In this case, the cooling efficiency will be increased significantly.

How to overclock a cooler

You can overclock the cooler, as already noted, through the BIOS or using special free utilities that will allow you to monitor and control the speed of the fans. The programs are designed for various types of processors.

Let's look at how to overclock coolers via BIOS:

For processors Intel programs will allow you to reduce or increase the speed of rotation of the cooler Riva Tuner, SpeedFan. They have great functionality, a choice of settings, a clear interface, do not take up much space, and automatically control the operation of coolers.

If third-party PC software does not allow you to adjust the fan speed, the processor cooler can be controlled using original utilities from the manufacturers. For example, in the HP leptota there is a program Notebook Fan Control, in Acer - Smart Fan, ACFanControl. In Lenovo - Fan Control.

Modern “advanced” cooling systems, which are most often used in overclocking, include: radiator, freon, liquid nitrogen, liquid gel. Their operating principle is based on coolant circulation. The intensely hot elements heat the water, which is cooled in the radiator. It can be located outside the case or be passive, operating without a fan.

Conclusion

This article discussed various causes of processor overheating and solutions to this problem. Sometimes the reason for its occurrence can be ordinary dust, which periodically needs to be removed, or the consequences of inexperienced overclocking of equipment, as well as its upgrade. When replacing thermal paste, you must be careful and careful not to damage the equipment.

Video on the topic

A modern personal computer is a high-tech device capable of performing many complex tasks. A distinctive feature of a PC (and all electronic devices) is the heating of its components. If in the early 90s PCs made do with simple aluminum radiators on the processor, then these days you cannot do without ample air or water cooling. Today we will talk about air cooling and how to properly install coolers in a system unit.

You must understand one simple feature, the main thing is not the number of fans you install, but the direction of the air flow. The air in the system unit must “enter and exit” correctly, to put it simply - cold air is sucked in, does its job of cooling, and leaves the case. If the fans are installed incorrectly, there is a chance that hot currents will remain inside the case, thereby increasing the temperature of all components.

First, let’s figure out which parts heat up the most and have fans “by default.” This is (CPU), (if the video card is built-in, then a cooler is not required, since there is essentially no card itself) and . These parts will create the greatest amount of heat. However, to remove hot air outside the system unit you will need at least one more cooler.

Main fan sizes for system units:

• 80 mm;
• 120 mm;

Air enters the system unit and takes heat from the hard drive, memory, and motherboard. The processor fan gives off its heat to the flow, then it goes outside the case with the help of a blowing fan.

This scheme is very simple and practical; you will need to purchase two additional case fans (usually the case has at least one).

Sometimes the case has side holes for cooling; it is recommended to attach fans in these places for “blowing”, i.e. so that air is sucked into the housing. In addition, to create an efficient airflow path, it is recommended to change from a standard one to one that is to the side of the processor. This design will not only effectively cool your CPU, but will also direct the air flow to the fan to blow out of the case.

Sometimes there are holes for fans in the bottom of the case; in such places they also need to be attached in the “blowing” position.

It is worth understanding that the abundance of coolers in your computer is good; you don’t have to worry about heating, but there is also a downside to this issue - noise. Many “propellers” create a strong “rustling” sound. Before purchasing, look at the decibels the fan produces. Also, do not forget to periodically clean coolers, it not only contributes to worse heat removal, but also increases the noise level.

Explore the insides of your PC and consider whether you should buy many fans or whether two will do.

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. Even with normal computer idle time, their temperature can reach 50-60 degrees Celsius. But if the system unit is not periodically cleaned of dust, then the heating of the main components of the computer becomes even greater. Increased heating leads to constant computer freezes, fans run at high speeds, which leads to annoying noise. 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 removal air 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.

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 with more 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 through Molex connector and running from the motherboard, definitely choose the second option.

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

Installation of additional fans.

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 the top of the computer and is exhausted outside by the fan in the power supply.

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 thin air produced by 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, and hard drives exits through the 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.

The most effective method of 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 underneath it. If a power supply with adjustable fan speed is installed, the overall noise will be noticeably reduced, and more importantly, the pressure inside the case will be equalized. Dust will not settle.

Incorrect installation of fans.

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 one is for “blowing”.

An air short circuit is created 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 the 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 operate 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. We will be glad if you write your thoughts on this matter in the comments to the article.

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 mounting locations 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 with more 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 - this is the best option in terms of durability.

Installation of additional fans.

Let's look at the main points of correct installation of 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 the top of the computer and is exhausted outside by the fan in the power supply.

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 thin air produced by 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, and hard drives exits through the 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.

The most effective method of 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 underneath it. If a power supply with adjustable fan speed is installed, the overall noise will be noticeably reduced, and more importantly, the pressure inside the case will be equalized. 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 one is for “blowing”.

An air short circuit is created 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 the 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 operate 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.