PC Cooling: Why It is Important and What Are Your Options

Most gamers know about the best graphics cards and CPUs, but they have failed to develop an understanding of PC cooling. By default, most mainstream processors, PC cases, motherboard chipsets, and PSUs have a cooling fan, which may make us think we do not require a cooling solution. However, power gaming or workstations need a high-end PC cooling solution to ensure proper cooling.

Most modern high-end PC cooling utilizes a liquid cooler or an air-based cooling system to ensure PC component cooling. Running the PC at a lower temperature ensures performance, longevity, and stability. Let's begin elaborating on these aspects!

1. The Importance of Heat Management in PCs

1.1 Impact of Overheating on Performance

When a computer component starts to heat up, the PC cooling first increases the fan speed to improve the air flow rate. However, if the increase in fan speed does not improve the temperature, it will start reducing the operating frequency of the components, which is called thermal throttling. Thermal throttling can cause your performance to drop; the system will crash if that does not work.

1.2 Longevity of Components

Running your computer cooler with PC cooling will result in longer component life. A 10°C increase above normal operating temperature can reduce the component's life by half. Although this is an oversimplification, as electronic components' degradation is complex, it gives a general idea.

1.3 System Stability and Reliability

Operating electronics at higher temperatures can cause electronic components to behave erratically and cause stability issues. Users may face BSOD or PC restarting whenever that happens. Maintaining temperature using a PC cooling solution, especially for PC components like the CPU, GPU, and motherboard, is important, as it directly contributes to stability and reliability.

2. Understanding Heat Generation in PC Components

2.1 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the brain of the computer. It performs all the key calculations that can affect PC performance. Every processor has a specified thermal design power (TDP), which is its heat production under sustained load. The CPU is one of the most significant heat loads in the computer; finding the right solution for CPU cooling can lead to a massive performance boost.

Moreover, modern powerful CPUs have overclocking features that require complex PC cooling solutions like liquid or AIO cooling. As an example, here are two processors with their TDP:

• Intel Core i9-14900K: PBP (Processor Base Power) = 125W, MTP (Maximum Turbo Power) that can go up to 253W.
• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D: This processor generally has a TDP of 120W.

2.2 Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Another big heat load for modern gaming and workstation PC is the GPU. Most GPUs have a pre-fitted cooling solution that can handle their peak load. However, fan-based PC cooling solutions rely on an increase in fan RPM for better cooling, which can unfortunately lead to higher noise levels.

The GPU, VRAM, and VRM generate heat load and require cooling in a graphics card. Heat sinks with thermal pads carry heat to the air using heat transfer. PC cooling might come with GPU cooling options, like custom loops and some liquid cooling kits. Almost all the power consumed by the graphics card is converted to heat. Here are the typical total graphics power (TGP) of powerful GPUs:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090: Around 450W
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super: Around 320W
• AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX: Around 355W
• AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT: Around 300W

2.3 Other Heat-Producing Components

The CPU and GPU are the major contributors to the system's heat. However, some other key components can also impact PC performance.

2.3.1 Motherboard Chipsets

Most Intel chipsets do not require an active PC cooling solution, but some modern AMD chipsets may need it. Typically, motherboard chipsets produce 6-15 watts of heat.

2.3.2 NVMe SSDs

The latest PCIe 5.0 high-end or enterprise-grade NVMe drives can reach up to 20 watts in active use. They need heatsinks to keep cool and avoid thermal throttling.

2.3.3 Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Depending on the power supply's efficiency, it can also produce a lot of heat during the conversion of AC electricity from the wall to DC for electronics. 80% efficiency means that 20% of the power from a power outlet converts to heat. Therefore, its removal using efficiency fans is vital.

3. Types of PC Cooling Solutions

Three major solutions are widely utilized: air cooling, liquid cooling, and passive cooling. These three types of solutions depend on the PC configuration and user requirements. Let's dive deeper to understand these solutions:

3.1 Air Cooling

Air cooling is the most affordable PC cooling solution. It is not restricted to individual components; it can also cool the space inside a PC case, ensuring fresh air. Similarly, it can be a fan blowing air over a component heatsink. CPU, GPU, PSU, and even the passive components rely on air cooling for maximum efficiency. The following are the air coolers used in a PC:

3.1.1 CPU Air Cooler

They use a heatsink thermally coupled to the CPU using thermal paste. A fan passes air over the heatsink, which has the key advantage of moving air over other motherboard components, further increasing the PC cooling effect.

3.1.2 Case Fans

Most PC cases have case fans to prevent hot air from recirculating inside. Some meshes allow air flow from the front to the back improving the PC cooling performance.

3.1.3 GPU Coolers

These also mostly use an air-based PC cooling system. The fan's speed changes with temperature; sometimes, the fans will become idle to save electricity and reduce noise when under low load.

3.1.4 Motherboard Coolers

While most motherboards do not have an active PC cooling system, they all require passive cooling. This means fresh cold air should be inside the PC case for the motherboard to remain cool and perform stably. If there is no good flow, some components fail, eventually leading to system crashes.

3.2 Liquid Cooling (AIO and Custom Loop)

The more premium way to ensure PC cooling is liquid cooling. There are many types of liquid cooling kits, each of which offers unique capabilities. The sole purpose of building liquid cooling circuits is that liquid coolers produce lower noise and easily handle peak loads. They have a higher heat dissipation capability. Here are the two main types:

3.2.1 All-in-One (AIO) Liquid Coolers

The most popular category for gaming PC is the AIO solution. These readymade liquid PC cooling solutions come with a water block and radiator. The radiator length is the key aspect determining the AIO cooler's capability. The most popular AIO is the 360mm radiator technology. It can handle the most challenging cooling conditions and provide. However, they come in different sizes like 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm, 360mm, 420mm, 480mm, and 560mm, with each number representing the total length of the radiator and corresponding to the number and type of fans it supports.

Liquid coolers use coolant that flows inside the cooling loop. A pump inside the CPU block portion of the fluid cooler acts as the driving force, moving hot liquid from the CPU chip to the radiator. A bigger radiator heatsink means lower noise levels and higher fan efficiency.

3.2.2 Custom Liquid Cooling Loops

Enthusiast gamers may take their custom gaming PC aesthetics to a whole new level by using custom liquid PC cooling loops. There is no limitation; you can cool any component you want. All you need is a liquid coolant and the necessary fittings to create a custom liquid cooling loop. They usually include CPU and CPU cooling, but you can also use them to cool motherboard chipsets.

3.3 Other Cooling Methods

Other, less popular methods of PC cooling exist. They might be relevant in data centers, industrial systems, or specialized high-performance computing environments.

3.3.1 Passive Cooling (Heatsinks Only)

The most common PC cooling method is using the heatsink alone. This method is effective for cooling components like RAM, chipsets, and even SSDs. A heatsink is simply a metal piece with fins that offer a higher surface area.

3.3.2 Immersion Cooling (Advanced)

More advanced computer systems may use immersion cooling, also known as aquarium PC builds. Each PC component is submerged in mineral oil, which acts as a medium for heat transfer, like air. Though unconventional, this visually striking and highly effective PC cooling solution represents the cutting edge of thermal management for extreme-performance computing.

4. Air Cooling vs. Liquid Cooling for PC Components

5. Conclusion

To summarize, PC cooling is a crucial part of any PC. It helps manage heat, which can lead to performance drops and system crashes. PC coolers can extend the lifespan of components and improve stability. They remove heat from the CPU, GPU, and PSU, the most significant heat producers inside the PC system. There are two types of cooling solutions: air-based and liquid cooling solutions. Pick the right one based on your preference and hardware requirements. Prioritize selecting a trustworthy brand like ESGAMING.

ESGAMING brings over two decades of expertise in PC cooling and gaming accessories, earning global trust through innovation, quality, and performance. With ISO9001, CE, and RoHS certifications, their in-house R&D ensures cutting-edge products like air and liquid coolers meet the highest standards. Backed by a 40,000m² factory and 600+ skilled staff, ESGAMING PC cooling delivers reliable, visually striking, high-performance cooling solutions. From CES in Las Vegas to Berlin tech expos, ESGAMING continues to lead the industry, making it a top choice for gamers and PC builders worldwide.