Learn About Desktop CPU Coolers

What is it?

It is a part that takes the heat off the CPU. CPUs operate at a certain range of temperatures. If it is too cold (-40 Celsius) or if it is too hot (+150 Celsius), CPUs can't work, and they might get permanently damaged from such extreme temperatures. Normally, CPUs operate in room temperatures (23 Celsius), however, when active and under load CPUs generate a lot of heat, which can take them very quickly to very high temperatures. As a result, CPUs need something to take off the heat from them to keep them running at full speed sustainably. This is where the CPU cooler comes in. It is designed to take the heat off the CPU to make it run at maximum performance for the longest period of time. There are mainly 2 types:

• Air

  They have fans that push air through metal fins.

• Liquid

  They circulate water through a radiator, then fans on the radiator push air through it.

How does it work?

CPU coolers work by doing the following (over simplified) steps:

1. Take heat off the CPU
2. Dissipate heat into the air

Look for

• Compatibility

  Make sure it is compatible with your Motherboard and CPU socket

• Performance

  Check how the CPU cooler performs at your normal workload

• Sustained Performance

  Check if the CPU cooler can sustain performance at an acceptable level

  CPU coolers can lose performance if they are under constant load for long periods of time.

• Clearance

  Check if the CPU cooler fits on Motherboard and PC case

• Noise Levels

  Make sure the CPU cooler has acceptable noise levels

  This is directly correlated with power consumption and cooling headroom. You need less power consumption and more cooling headroom to reduce noise levels.

• PC Case Airflow

  Make sure the PC case airflow is good for sustained performance

Avoid

• Type Comparisons

  Avoid comparing CPU coolers based on type, instead focus on performance

  Water CPU coolers can perform better than air based ones, but it is not always the case.

Help Me Choose My CPU Cooler

We have made a very simple tool that helps you choose your CPU cooler by just answering few simple questions. So that you choose the best CPU cooler for your needs.