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How to Keep Your Computer Cool

Posted by Zonk on from the summer-is-not-a-friendly-computer-time dept.

ThinSkin writes "ExtremeTech is featuring a how-to article on keeping your computer cool by adopting an efficient airflow strategy for your PC case. The article goes into detail on what types of fans are optimal for your computer and your needs, where you should place them, and how to make your own fan mounts. From the article: 'With an efficient cooling strategy, there's no reason a case should ever grow so warm. Good airflow is critical to keeping your PC operating and extending the life of the components. Keep the air flowing!'"

6 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. Filtration optional??? by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 3, Insightful
    From TFA:
    Fan filtration is optional; dust may get in your system anyway
    I'd hardly consider filtration optional...especially on any system deemed important enough to build a custom fan solution for. Dust shortens the life of not only your board components, but those fans as well.
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    1. Re:Filtration optional??? by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Um...no. Here's the context of my previous quote...from TFA:
      Fan filtration is optional; dust may get in your system anyway, so instead of that, I vacuum out my system a couple times a year.
      It's clear the author was referring to long-term fan filtration here, not filtration during the construction phase of the case mod.
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  2. Maybe... by Virak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you didn't overclock your computer to hell (in more ways than one) you wouldn't need so much cooling.

    1. Re:Maybe... by snorklewacker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      One of the fans has given up. The side of the case isn't on, the processor is roasting (50C), the hard disks are roasting and constantly give errors

      That's why. Unless you're pointing a box fan straight at the motherboard, put the bloody side panel back on.

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    2. Re:Maybe... by bdcrazy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Open cases can in fact cause higher temperatures due to uneven or even stagnant air flow. Closing the case and having good air flow through the case would be much better, unless you intend on connecting a box fan to the open side of your case...

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  3. Re:Remember, it's just a heat pump... by AKAImBatman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A heat pipe and a large radiator does passively via convenction what the stirling engine does forcefully for the extra 9W.

    Not so. A heat pipe is passive because it merely equalizes the temperature. A Stirling engine can continue pumping heat far below the ambient temperature. As I said, right into cryogenics range.

    The overall cooling effect is still limited by the heat transfer ability of the hot side, which is always some kind of radiator.

    'Tis true. But the hot side can easily be enhanced with fancier metals, and larger surface areas. Basically, you could use the entire side of the computer case to cool your centimeter square microprocessor.

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