Understanding the Importance of a Cooling System
Computers generate a lot of heat. That is why these days, all computers come fitted with a cooling system. A cooling system gets rid of any waste heat your computer generates.
When your computer is overheated, it can cause adverse, even irreversible damage to it. That is the reason why you should invest in the right cooling system.
What is the primary purpose of a cooling system?
A cooling system comprises of six major parts - a radiator, an engine, a water pump, hoses, a cooling fan, and a thermostat. During combustion, some of the fuel energy is converted to heat. The heat is then transferred to the coolant circulated in the engine by the water pump.
What are the components of a cooling system?
Cooling in computing refers to the dissipation of large amounts of heat created while your computer system is running. Various computer hardware, such as video cards, CPU, or hard drives, generates a lot of heat. Below are the key components of your computer cooling system.
- Heat sinks - You can get heat sinks with various components in your computer. Heat sinks keep specific parts of your computer cool by expelling the heat generated by the specific part. For instance, a heat sink with a generous surface area works well with a CPU when attached directly onto the CPU chip with either thermal pads or thermal grease wedged between the two. Heat sinks are common with older CPUs and suited for attaching to parts that do not generate a lot of heat. Also, note that over time dust accumulates on the heat sink and can considerably affect its efficiency.
- Fans - Fans are different from heat sinks. They are active cooling systems and use energy to run. Fans enable air to move around. It pushes out heat generated by CPU through your PC or laptop casing. In most cases, fans and heat sinks work together. For example in a CPU, you first place a heat sink on top of the CPU then pile on the fan. You will find similar set up on components such as hard drives, GPUs, and chipset. Fans come in various sizes, starting from 40 mm to 250 mm specifically used in performance PCs.
- Liquid cooling - It is one of the most effective forms of a cooling system that uses liquids. The most common liquid is distilled water with a specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. A liquid cooling system in your computer is more like the internal combustion engines you can find in vehicles. First set up a water-block on the CPU through which the cooling water runs through the CPU before making its way to the radiator. The radiator needs cooling of its own and the fan or a Peltier cooler cools it. However, liquid cooling can be complex and therefore rarely used in computers despite its efficiency. Liquid cooling has its dangers. In case of any coolant leaks, it can seep into critical parts of your computer irreversibly damaging your CPU.
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