Intel core i7 processor cooling system. Automatic speed control
Updated: 07/13/2018 16:43:23
The processor heats up intensely during operation. This is due to the laws of physics and there is no way to get around them. Coolers, in turn, are designed to cool the processor to a temperature at which it will function normally. We have compiled a rating of the best coolers that are suitable for use with almost any processor - from a simple Celeron for an office typewriter to a high-performance Intel Core i7-7700K, which to this day remains one of the best gaming chips.
How to choose a CPU cooler
The CPU cooler must be chosen carefully. Otherwise, he will not cope with his “responsibilities.” Overheating of the processor, in turn, leads to a drop in performance, shutdown the computer, or damage the chip itself.
Active, passive and liquid cooling
Cooling can be organized in one of three types - active, passive and liquid.
Active cooling system involves the use of a radiator and fan. The first is installed on the processor. The radiator plumage is heated by the “chip”, after which it is cooled by air flows. System efficiency active cooling depends on the materials from which the heat pipes are made, as well as on the performance of the fan.
Thus, the most effective are copper heat-water tubes with copper or aluminum fins. But exclusively aluminum radiators are suitable for cooling only old or budget processors like the Celeron or Pentium lines.
The disadvantage of the active cooling system is that it requires a constant flow of “cool” air inside the case. Otherwise, other components of the motherboard may overheat. Therefore, the system unit must be installed so that air circulates freely around it.
In addition, the efficiency of active cooling decreases when the radiator becomes clogged with dust.
The liquid cooling system is structurally similar to the active one. Only instead of a radiator, a contact plate and special tubes with a thermal fluid (often ordinary water) are used. The fans are placed in a separate block, which is placed outside the system unit. Thanks to this no special requirements to install the system unit, and the performance of the cooling system does not decrease over time.
The disadvantage of a liquid cooling system is that it is expensive.
Passive cooling consists only of a radiator. Heat from the processor is dissipated naturally through convection inside the system unit. The performance of such a cooling system leaves much to be desired, so it is used exclusively with low-heating chips - old or mobile, including laptops or ultrabooks.
When choosing the type of cooling system, you should be guided by the purpose of the computer:
An office “typewriter” with an old or low-power processor - a passive radiator is suitable;
“Regular” or “gaming” computer – active cooling;
Gaming computer with top components - liquid cooling.
What to look for when choosing a cooler
The main criteria when choosing a cooler are compatible socket and power dissipation.
Since processors differ not only in performance, but also in size, it is important to consider socket and cooler compatibility. Socket - the size and form factor of the chip itself, as well as the placement of mounts for the cooling system on the motherboard. If it is not compatible with the cooler, installing the latter simply will not work. You can find out which socket is being used from technical characteristics processor and motherboard, as well as through the AIDA64 program or similar.
Power dissipation is the performance of the cooling system. It shows how much heat can be removed by the cooler. The power dissipation must be greater than the thermal dissipation (TDP) of the processor. Both of these parameters are measured in Watts, so comparing them is not difficult.
The remaining parameters are optional and do not have much importance when choosing a cooler.
Manufacturer
The quality of the materials used, the durability of the cooler and additional functions cooling systems. Therefore, it is advisable to choose devices from trusted companies.
Rating of the best CPU coolers
| Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
| The best tower coolers for gaming systems and overclocking | 1 | 5 500 ₽ | |
| 2 | RUB 4,190 | ||
| 3 | 7,660 RUR | ||
| 4 | 5,090 ₽ | ||
| The best mid-class coolers under 3000 rubles | 1 | RUB 2,111 | |
| 2 | RUB 3,970 | ||
| 3 | 1 150 ₽ | ||
| 4 | RUB 3,350 | ||
| 5 | RUB 2,756 | ||
| The best passive cooling systems | 1 | RUR 3,920 | |
| Best CPU Water Cooling Systems | 1 | 9,273 RUR | |
| 2 | 6,290 RUR | ||
| 3 | 5,990 RUR |
The best tower coolers for gaming systems and overclocking
A tower cooler is a type of active cooling system. Its design involves placing the fan on the side of the radiator, allowing heat to be dissipated more efficiently. The main thing is to choose the right direction for blowing hot air.
An important advantage of a tower cooler is maintaining the performance of the radiator over time. The plumage is not covered with dust, so the efficiency of the airflow does not decrease.
Why first place: High performance, wide socket compatibility, virtually silent operation.
Description: The Noctua NH-U14S tower cooler opens the rating - one of the best active cooling systems on the market. At a relatively low price, it provides a maximum power dissipation of 220 W, making it compatible with high-performance and overclocked processors. The mounting pad can be installed on chips of the most popular sockets of the LGA, AM and FM series, including LGA1151 (which is used in the line Intel Atom Coffee Lake).
The radiator design includes six direct contact copper heat conductor tubes and an aluminum tail. Moreover, the plates are not welded to the tubes, but are pressed with them, which ensures effective heat transfer.
The fan is based on a magnetically centered bearing. The maximum speed is 1500 rpm, and the regulator of this number is internal. The fan provides an airflow of 82.52 CFM, but the volume does not exceed 24.6 dB.
Advantages
Highly productive and at the same time almost silent;
The kit includes a mounting structure, bolts, thermal paste and everything you need for installation;
Operating life 150 thousand hours, manufacturer's warranty 6 years.
Flaws
-
Large - can block PCI connector or slots random access memory;
When used with overclocked or “hot” chips, it is better to replace the supplied thermal paste with another one.
Why second place: High performance and compact design, but comparatively high level noise.
Description: In the Zalman CNP9900DF model, the manufacturing company used a radiator of a non-standard design for tower coolers. The tail is located radially, and the fans (there are two of them here) are somewhat “recessed” into the plates. According to the manufacturer, this design provides better heat dissipation and a smaller dissipation area while maintaining efficiency.
The nominal maximum power dissipation is 300 W. But this value is ensured only with open mounting; in a system unit with an installed side wall, this parameter drops by about 25-30%. However, even this is enough for most modern processors, including gaming ones.
The radiator is entirely copper – there are three direct contact heat pipes and tail plates. The fans are equipped with direct sliding bearings, providing rotation speeds of up to 1400 rpm with a nominal volume of up to 27 dB.
Advantages
Compact, does not cover anything during installation;
Cools stock processors well;
Flaws
Not suitable for overclocked processors due to lack of performance;
Loud noise under high load;
Difficult to install, it is better to mount it on a removed motherboard.
Why third place: Powerful, quiet, with 6 direct contact heat pipes, but relatively expensive.
Description: Cooler Noctua NH-D15 – good decision for computers equipped with multi-core processors latest generation(for example, Intel Core i9 or overclocked Intel Core i7). The device provides efficient cooling thanks to airflow of 82.52 CFM, 6 copper tubes-direct contact heat pipes in the radiator and two fans with a rotation speed of up to 1500 rpm. At the same time, the cooler is compatible with most processors - it can be installed on almost all sockets of the LGA, AM and FM series.
Like the leader in the rating, this cooler is equipped with a proprietary radiator - copper heat conductor tubes are connected to an aluminum fin using the pressing method. The sole is also copper, polished to a mirror finish. Heat pipes are coated with nickel for better protection against corrosion.
The fans are based on bearings with magnetic centering, which ensures quiet operation.
Advantages
Excellent cooling for both overclocked and multi-core processors;
Easy installation. Everything you need for installation is included;
Quiet fans even under high load.
Flaws
Huge! It cannot be used with standard-height RAM or with cooling. Install in a narrow body - too;
Boring, unattractive design;
The radiator fin plates are flimsy, so the cooler requires careful installation.
Why fourth place: A good cooler for stock, including multi-core, processors, but it may not cope with cooling overclocked ones.
Description: The rating is completed by one of the most classic tower coolers designed for use with gaming and multi-core (6, 8 cores) processors – Thermalright Macho Rev.B. The device dissipates up to 280 W of heating power, is equipped with six direct contact heat pipes, an aluminum radiator and one fan that operates almost silently even at maximum speed.
The fan rotation speed ranges from 300 to 1300 rpm, and the air flow intensity is 16.9-73.6 CFM, respectively. The speed controller is external, so the specific performance can be adjusted independently for the processor or tasks used. The cooler is compatible with almost all existing chips and can be installed on LGA, AM (including the latest AM4) and FM sockets.
Advantages
High performance and quiet operation;
Relatively low price (lower than predecessors on the list);
Compact, but the fan can cover the first RAM slot.
Flaws
Less productivity than that of “colleagues”;
Assembly and installation can be tricky, but instructions are included;
Tall, 165 mm, this is worth taking into account when choosing.
The best mid-class coolers under 3000 rubles
Why first place: Tower cooler, direct contact between heat pipes and the processor, rotation speed up to 2000 rpm.
Description: The top-ranking Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler has a tower design, thanks to which it can cool even high-performance processors. In particular, it is equipped with five copper heat conductor tubes in direct contact with the base plate, aluminum radiator and a 120 mm fan with a rotation speed of 900 to 2000 rpm.
The fan is equipped with a classic plain bearing, but thanks to optimization, the noise level even under maximum load is up to 36 dB. In this case, the speed controller is internal, so the rotation speed is set automatically by the cooler.
The cooler is compatible with both modern and classic sockets. So, it can be installed on almost all LGA models (including LGA1151 and even LGA775), AM, FM and S. Additional mounts can be purchased for other sockets.
Advantages
The design of the radiator allows for good cooling of processors even at low speeds;
Quiet operation;
Durability.
Flaws
Difficult, inconvenient fastening. It is advisable to place the cooler on a removed motherboard with RAM already installed;
It is advisable to replace the supplied thermal paste;
Bulky and heavy.
Why second place: Powerful, efficient cooling system, but more expensive than other models in the rating.
Description: Deepcool Assassin II – cooler tower type with two fans and eight copper heat pipes. Thanks to this, the device provides good cooling even gaming and overclocked processors, and is also compatible with almost all used sockets.
The cooler radiator, consisting of two modules, is made of aluminum plates. Copper heat conductor tubes are connected to them by pressing. This provides good transmission and lead high temperature from the processor.
Two 140 mm fans can rotate at speeds of 300-1400 rpm and are based on hydrodynamic bearings, ensuring low volume even at high load. Maximum – 27.3 dB.
Cooler, despite low price, characterized by high performance. For example, the Intel Core i7-7800X processor heats up to 54 degrees under peak load in stress tests.
Advantages
High performance;
Silence of work;
Rich equipment with a large number of pads, mounts, and thermal paste.
Flaws
Relatively complex assembly;
Large-sized, can cover power connectors or various functional elements of the motherboard;
The cooler power supply hub is inconvenient, it dangles, you need to glue it to the case yourself.
Why third place: Ultra-budget tower cooler, good combination of price and quality.
Description: The Deepcool Gammaxx 300 cooler, which occupies the “middle” of the rating, has an excellent combination of price and quality. Of course, it is not very suitable for overclocked or gaming processors, but it copes well with heating mid-range chips or with average heat dissipation. In particular, the maximum power dissipation of the device is 125 W.
The cooler is compatible with almost all processor models. Necessary soles and fastenings included. The radiator is made of aluminum plates, which are complemented by three copper heat pipes.
The cooler fan is equipped with a proprietary hydrodynamic bearing, which ensures minimal operating volume. In particular, even under load it makes 21 dB noise. The rotation speed is 900-1600 rpm (the regulator is external, i.e. it can be adjusted), and the air flow is 40 CFM.
Advantages
Simple, quick installation;
Minimum operating volume;
Rich equipment.
Flaws
Relatively large-sized;
The contact pad is made of aluminum, into which direct contacts of heat conductor tubes are built;
Inconvenient latches with plastic “ears” that can break.
Why fourth place: Quiet, efficient and comfortable. But the improved version (Rev.B) costs only a few hundred rubles more, so it’s better to take it.
Description: Tower cooler with the highest performance in this rating segment. In particular, the maximum power dissipation of the device is as much as 280 W, which makes it compatible even with gaming and overclocked processors. Includes fastenings and platforms for LGA sockets(including LGA775 and LGA1151), AM and FM.
The radiator configuration includes 6 copper heat conductor tubes with direct contact. The tail is made of aluminum sheets. The plates are connected to the tubes by pressing rather than welding.
The cooler is equipped with one 140 mm fan. Rotation speed – 900-1300 rpm. The proprietary bearing makes the fan quiet – even at maximum load it is noisy at 21 dB. In this case, the air flow is up to 73.6 CFM.
The speed controller is external, so you can customize it yourself to suit the installed processor and usage scenario.
Advantages
-
Rich equipment with a branded screwdriver and the necessary fasteners;
High performance.
Flaws
There are many revisions, and there are even ones with an aluminum sole without direct contact of heat conductor tubes;
Large, may not fit into some cases;
Assembly is not easy for beginners and there are no instructions in Russian.
Description: The Noctua NH-L9i cooler is designed for Intel Core i3-i7 series processors installed in LSI sockets. It is made in a traditional design, which involves placing a fan above the radiator. As a result, the cooler's power dissipation is relatively small and amounts to 65 Watts.
The cooler's radiator is made of aluminum plates, placed by pressing on a copper heat conductor tube with direct contact. The fan is equipped with a proprietary low-noise bearing with magnetic centering, thanks to which the cooler's operating volume does not exceed 23.6 dB even at 2500 rpm. The speed itself is adjustable from 300 to 2500 rpm. The airflow generated by the fan is 33.84 CFM. The speed regulator is built into the cooler and operates automatically.
The cooler is highly reliable – the trouble-free operation time is 150 thousand hours, and the manufacturer’s warranty is 6 years.
Advantages
Low profile design, can be installed in narrow spaces system units;
Low operating volume and good performance (can even cool down Intel Xeon E3-1225 v5);
Simplest installation.
Flaws
The mounting bolts are fixed when the motherboard is removed;
Relatively high price;
Not suitable for overclockable or unlocked processors.
The best passive cooling systems
Why it: Copper-aluminum radiator designed specifically for passive cooling systems.
Description: The Prolimatech Megahalems Rev.C cooler was designed specifically for use as a single cooling device. It features a massive base with a polished copper sole, to which six copper heat conductor tubes are attached by pressing, and an aluminum radiator with a wide distance between the plates, ensuring free air circulation.
The cooler is compatible with the vast majority Intel sockets LSA, including the newest ones, as well as AMD AM and FM.
Even without a fan, it provides as much cooling as some of the other devices in the ranking, delivering up to 40-50W of passive dissipation. However, if you wish, you can attach a fan to it – 120 and 140 mm models are suitable. Brackets for fixing it are included with the radiator.
Advantages
Effective heat dissipation thanks to a massive base and 6 copper tubes;
Wide space between the radiator plates for better air circulation;
Massive base.
Flaws
Tall radiator, may not fit into a thin case;
Dense placement of heat pipes;
The “two towers” design has less rigidity than a monolithic one.
Best CPU Water Cooling Systems
Why first place: A cooling system that can cool the processor even without fans. Of course, there are three of them.
Description: The rating opens with one of the most productive water cooling systems – Thermaltake Water 3.0 Ultimate. The device is equipped with three fans that rotate at speeds of up to 2000 rpm. This ensures effective cooling even for overclocked processors. In addition, up to 6 additional fans can be installed.
The contact pad is made of aluminum and copper. The mount is compatible with the most common sockets, including LGA, AM and FM. Adapters for other types of processors are commercially available.
The installed fans are quite quiet - even at a maximum rotation speed of 2000 rpm, they are noisy by 20 dB. In this case, the air flow passing through the cooling system is 99 CFM. Minimum speed Cooler rotation – 1000 rpm.
The system can also work in passive mode– with coolers turned off.
Advantages
Quiet but powerful cooling system;
Quiet pump;
Compact and easy to install.
Flaws
Over time, the noise level increases, it is recommended to replace the fans or install a reobass;
It may not be able to cope with cooling processors with a heat dissipation of more than 250-300 W (overclocked);
A bit expensive.
Why second place: Gaming water cooling system, the main drawback of which is the price.
Description: Deepcool Captain 360 EX could top the rating if it were not for its relatively high price (even for water cooling systems). It is very productive - the dissipated power is 220 W. At the same time, thanks to the use of proprietary hydrodynamic bearings in the fans, the system is characterized by quiet operation - a noise level of up to 31.3 dB at a rotation speed of 1800 rpm and an air flow of 76.52 CFM.
The contact plate of the water block is made of polished copper. The pump is equipped with a ceramic bearing, which provides a service life of 120 thousand hours. It works silently.
Why third place: Dual-fan cooling system with fast pumping and high efficiency.
Description: The rating is completed by a rather unusual liquid cooling system – the Arctic Cooling Liquid Freezer 120. It differs from other devices in its compact unit with a radiator and fans, which is significantly smaller in size than traditional “panels”. However, it copes with the task of cooling the processor “excellently” - the rated power dissipation is 300 W.
The fans can rotate at speeds from 500 to 1350 rpm, provide an air flow of 74 CFM, are equipped with durable hydrodynamic bearings and are relatively quiet - at maximum load the noise level is 30-35 dB.
The water block is equipped with a copper contact plate and a built-in pump that rotates at a speed of 5400 rpm. Thanks to this, the cooler can be used even in passive mode. However, the pump can still be heard from the housing.
Advantages
Rich equipment with high-quality additional items;
Quiet, effective work;
Suitable for overclocked processors.
Flaws
Pump speed is too high, which can reduce reliability and cause noise;
Heavy and bulky;
Relatively expensive.
Attention! This rating is subjective in nature, does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
As is known, many problems in modern computer arise not because of poor reliability of components, but because of a very banal situation - their overheating. Therefore, ensuring a high-quality cooling system for the entire system unit is the key to long-term operation of the computer. Choosing the best CPU cooler Intel or AMD plays an important role in this.
But all problems begin with the computer case - this is not only the base on which all components are screwed for compact placement. This is also one of the components of the PC cooling system. Just a few years ago, processors and video cards were not so powerful and did not produce as much thermal energy. Therefore, the case was not subject to such stringent requirements as today - it was a heavy box, closed on all sides, with 1 or maximum 2 small fans for air intake from the front and exhaust from the rear.
Today, if you are collecting at least a universal home computer, this is no longer enough. Cases on the market today have holes for large fans on all walls, and air intake and exhaust are carried out from several directions.
Not only are two fans not enough, but very often users take cases without pre-installed fans and do not install them themselves, causing overheating to occur even faster.
The same applies to the processor cooling system. As you already know from the article about, they are sold either with a cooler (the so-called “BOX”) or without it. So, boxed versions are only suitable for office work with processors that do not heat up too much, such as Intel Core i3, i5, i7. From experience, they heat up little in normal mode and stock CPU coolers cope with the task quite well.
If you plan to overclock them, play games, or work in complex graphics applications, then you need to buy a separate cooler (radiator + fan). This is especially true for AMD processors that generate a lot of heat.
How to choose the best CPU cooling cooler for Intel and AMD?
So we come close to the issue of choosing a cooler for the processor. Let's take a closer look at those parameters that affect performance and are worth paying attention to when purchasing.
First of all, choose the cooler that fits your processor socket! As a rule, they support several sockets from both Intel and AMD, but given that they all have non-standard mounting, take the time to look at the instructions - perhaps installation is not provided for your socket.
CPU cooler type
This is more likely not even a type of cooler, but of the entire system as a whole. The most common is air, which is what we call a processor cooler. It consists of a metal radiator, which absorbs heat from the processor cover, and a fan, which blows air onto it and thereby cools it. Advanced models even have two fans - one for blowing in and one for blowing out.
Another type of processor cooling common among gamers is water. Options for such systems vary, from small fans connected to cooling liquid tubes, to large expensive systems with remote radiators. One thing in common is that thermoregulation involves liquid, which cools more than just air.
By the way, if you plan to use this type of cooling, then pay attention to the presence of special holes on the rear panel of the case for the tubes to exit - they are usually covered with rubber curtains.
Coolers can also be divided into active and passive - the passive one does not have a fan and is usually used for inexpensive and already outdated video cards - of course, this is not suitable for a processor.
Cooler radiator size
I won’t touch on water cooling, but let’s talk about the most accessible and widespread - air cooling. And here the size of the radiator and the number of metal plates are important - the more there are, the easier it is for it to remove excess heat. It is also desirable that they be as thin as possible.
Fan size
A fan or even two must be installed on the radiator to pump and exhaust air. The larger the fan (120x120x25), the more efficiently it cools the processor, and secondly, it is easier for it to do this than a small one, so with the same quality of heat dissipation it will make less noise. It is also better to take fans with the inscription “Ball bearing” - they have a quieter and more durable bearing.
Ability to adjust CPU fan speed
It would be good if it was possible to adjust the speed of the processor cooler - so that it would not just spin at a constant speed, but would select it depending on the heating. It is easy to distinguish such a fan - its power connector, which connects to the system board, must have 4 contacts.
Metal and number of heat pipes of the computer cooling system
The radiator is in direct contact with the surface of the processor case, so the metal from which this surface is made, as well as the tubes through which heat is transferred to the radiator, are important. The characteristics of the metal must be such that it heats up and cools down as quickly as possible. There are tubes made of aluminum, but copper works best for this, although such a unit turns out to be heavier. So get the CPU cooler that has them in dark yellow color.
Cooler location type
As I said, the larger the processor cooler, the better, but at the same time consider how it will be located on the motherboard and in the case - will it interfere with the installation of RAM or expansion cards, covering required slots. And will it fit in the width of the case? Considered optimal tower type, since it exhausts air directly to the exhaust rear case fan.
In the same time classical option when the fan blades are directly in front of you when looking at motherboard on top, is more suitable if the case and mother are small in microATX format, and they need to compactly accommodate as many devices as possible. The advantage of this type is also that the radiator fins blow around other components inserted into the motherboard.
However, there are also expensive models in which these two types are combined, as in the figure below.
All the characteristics described above are indicated in one general parameter - heat dissipation (in watts). The higher it is, the better your processor will be cooled.
Manufacturer
Thermal paste
And finally, the final touch is the choice of thermal paste as an intermediate link between the processor cover and the cooler. Its task is to displace excess air between the metal plates, while it should also maximize heat transfer. In order for this to be as effective as possible, metal is added to good pastes, which is why it has a dark gray color rather than white - buy just such a paste. It is a little more expensive, but more effective. I already wrote somewhere, but I’ll repeat it again - I use MX-2 paste, it’s cheaper than competitors with comparable quality.
CPU cooler rotation speed
And now, after we bought a CPU cooler, I will show you how to adjust its speed if this function is supported in it and in the motherboard. This can be implemented in two ways - through the program from under running Windows or through BIOS. Gigabyte has developed for its products special utility, which is called i-Cool, which, however, is not supported by all motherboards. It makes it very easy for any novice user to do all this without going into the depths blue screen BIOS.
If you own a motherboard from another company, then reboot the computer, go into the BIOS and look for menu items such as CPU Smart FAN Control and CPU Smart FAN Control (I found them in the PC Status section).
In the first, the processor fan speed control mode must be activated (Enabled or Auto), and in the second, one of the modes must be set - automatic (Auto, Normal, Silent) or manual (Manual) to set the speed manually.
In conclusion of this article about processor cooling coolers, I suggest you watch an educational video - tests of several sophisticated models for Intel Core and AMD.
How to choose a CPU cooler | Basics (why bigger is better)
Any electrical circuit has resistance, and it is the principle of electrical resistance that is built into both CPUs and toasters. Electrical semiconductors have an unusual feature - they can change resistance from low to high when applied electric current in a certain way. These states are represented in a logic circuit as ones and zeros. Although CPU logic circuits are not designed to heat anything, we are essentially using small hotplates in computers.
Groups of logical circuits become very hot when processing data. Therefore, the developers are faced with the task of preventing the melting of small pieces of glass on which these circuits are etched. For this purpose, they came up with heat sinks in the form of massive metal radiators - these are the key elements of the processor cooling system.
Yet the term heat sink means something that absorbs heat. Radiators are helped to dissipate a large volume of heat into relatively cold air by their fins, which increase the dissipative surface area. These fins turn a standard CPU heatsink into a special type of heatsink, if you ignore the terminology. Like most radiators, their main principle of heat transfer is convection (and a little - thermal radiation), this is when heated air rises upward, being replaced by cold air from below.
The heat output of a processor depends on its clock speed, voltage, circuit complexity, and the material on which the circuit is engraved. Few fin-count heatsinks are sufficient to cool some low-power processors, but most desktop users want more performance, which results in more heat that needs to be dissipated.
When natural convection does not replace warm air with cold air quickly enough, the process must be accelerated, which is achieved by installing a fan. The photo above shows a rare, all-copper cooler. Copper transfers heat faster than aluminum, but it also weighs more and costs more. To achieve best ratio Price to Cooling and Cooling to Weight Manufacturers often use a copper rod surrounded by aluminum fins.
Additional fans and increased heatsink surface area improve the efficiency of the CPU cooler. Liquid cooling allows you to install huge radiators that are attached not to the motherboard, but to the computer case. A so-called water block is installed on the CPU, which transfers heat to the liquid. The pump is installed on the side of the radiator (as in the photo above) and pumps water (or coolant) through the channels of the radiator and water block.
Any of the solutions described above will maximize contact with circulating air, but they will not work effectively without good contact surfaces of the CPU and cooler. Used to fill the space between surfaces thermal conductive material, it displaces air, which acts as an insulator. Most CPU coolers come with it. For many models it is immediately applied to the contacting surface. But instead of factory materials, enthusiasts often choose third-party thermal conductive compounds, although our tests have shown that the difference between them is quite small .
For extreme cooling, refrigerant compressor units are used. Such systems are able to reduce the CPU temperature much lower than the ambient temperature. But, as a rule, they use much more energy than the processor itself. There are versions that compress and cool the air to produce liquid nitrogen. However, condensation around cold components is a serious concern, so even the simplest “refrigerators” are usually used only at exhibitions and competitions.
The “bigger is better” rule applicable to coolers, in in this case limited by the size of your case, but there are several other factors to consider as well. Since this article is written for beginners, we will only consider models from our list of the best processor coolers. It includes large air coolers (height more than 150 mm), low-profile coolers (up to 76 mm), medium-sized coolers (from 76 to 150 mm), as well as ready-made liquid cooling systems.
How to choose a CPU cooler | What about "boxed" coolers?
"Boxed" or "boxed" coolers are coolers that are supplied by CPU manufacturers with their products. Typically, they are not designed for the increased heat dissipation of the processor during overclocking or for installation in confined spaces of narrow computer cases. Motherboard, typically reduces fan speed to reduce noise and is the first to respond to rising CPU temperatures by increasing fan speed up to maximum. If, at maximum fan speed, the cooler is unable to reduce the CPU temperature to an acceptable level, the system reduces clock frequency and CPU voltage. We call this process thermal throttling or throttling. In the worst case, you can see a picture when a humming computer is not able to provide the required level of performance.
Third-party coolers usually have a larger dissipative surface area, as well as larger fans, which allow them to pump larger volumes of air with less noise. The photo above, from left to right, shows a water cooling system with a radiator for two 140mm fans, a large air cooler with two radiators, two generations of stock or boxed Intel coolers, and a wide, low-profile cooler designed primarily for HTPC systems.
Included with the FX-8370 processors, AMD provides Wraith cooler, which is another attempt to increase the cooling efficiency of box coolers.
Temperature change during processor heating process
Despite the good performance of the new AMD cooler, buyers are still sometimes forced to buy third-party coolers, since some high-end CPU models come without them.
Recently, AMD and Intel have begun shipping compact liquid coolers that meet the cooling demands of very hot processors without the need for customers to turn to alternative brands. The growing popularity of mounts for 120 mm fans in modern cases makes it possible to install small fan coolers in cases of different shapes and sizes, which distinguishes them from air coolers of similar dimensions.
Nowadays it is very difficult to imagine life without the use of computers and various gadgets, because with their help almost everything is available to us. For some it is entertainment, for others it is a way of communication, for others it is a place to work and earn good money. If there is demand, it means there is progress, today is the most average Personal Computer has the performance that prestigious institutions dreamed of just a few years ago. Yes, we ourselves notice that every year newer and more powerful computers are born.
High power has a huge disadvantage - heat generation. If the load on the processor is high enough, then it consumes more power, and therefore allocates a large number of heat. And heat is a problem, because its excess leads to system malfunctions, and frequent and prolonged overheating of the processor can lead to rapid failure of the processor, since the processor requires constant cooling, especially if you load it heavily or overclock it. That is why the cooler has become almost the most important part of a computer, although not the most expensive.
How to choose a good cooler for a computer based on parameters (4 important points)
Listed above are the most basic aspects, knowledge of which is necessary when purchasing a cooler. We can only advise that when purchasing a cooler, you touch its blades: they should not have any play, and they should also spin easily. We must not forget about the material from which the cooling radiator was made; it is best if it is aluminum.
Nowadays you can find a huge number of coolers on the market, but the best ones are from THERMALTAKE, COOLER MASTER and XILENCE. Of course, coolers from other companies may not be inferior in quality, but these three are the most famous, and also, these are the companies that care not only about cooling the system, but also think about the problem of excess dust. The mentioned products from these companies collect less dust, and all because the coolers are covered with a special coating and made of a special material. This repels dust, which affects the operation of the cooler, and because of this, the temperature of the system, since the more dust accumulates, the more difficult it is for the computer to operate.
Have you ever wondered what the performance and speed of modern processors is? This is actually very important. Every modern processor definitely needs to be refrigerated. This need arises due to the fact that it constantly heats up, due to the huge number of information flows that it has to process. Of course, the cooler plays the most important role in the process of cooling the processor. This device constantly supplies cool air to the core of the processor, allowing it to work for many years. However, not every processor cooling system is capable of coping with such a complex task. On the market computer equipment In 2018, a huge number of models are presented, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s easy to get confused in such diversity. How to choose a cooler for AMD processor and Intel we will talk about in this article.
A socket is a connector on the motherboard into which the central processor is inserted. Sockets have different distance mounts for coolers, so the first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a good cooling system is the socket. Design features modern sockets are such that they differ for each specific processor. The method of mounting the device will be different, and it is necessary to decide on the model in advance before visiting the store. Modern processor manufacturers, AMD and Intel, produce completely different architectures for these sockets, each of which is suitable only for one type of processor. The main thing is to know what kind of hardware your computer has, then everything will fall into place.
CPU Cooler Size
After the socket is determined, you need to choose one of the hundreds of models of cool processor cooling systems that the modern market offers. Cost is not always the most important factor here. The main thing is that the fan fits easily inside the system unit. Some home computers have undergone repeated upgrades over many years of operation, and this leads to the fact that certain problems may arise when installing a cooling system. There may simply not be enough space for the cooler. That is why its geometric parameters must be treated extremely carefully. The size of the fan blades directly determines the amount of air that will be supplied to cool the processor. The stronger this flow, the better for the computer. The best cooler has geometric parameters of 92 by 92 by 25 mm. This standard is primarily used by people in private home settings. For a processor that is not the fastest, this is quite enough. If a person purchases a fan for a computer that he uses for games and complex tasks, then this size may not be enough. Here it is worth paying attention to models with a geometry of 120 by 120 by 25 mm. This is a more powerful device that creates more intense airflow. By the way, it has been noted that larger fans for cooling the processor are less noisy.
Video advice from an expert on choosing a cooling system for a processor
Cooler rotation speed
A reliable cooler should provide high enough rotation speeds to ensure maximum cooling efficiency. This parameter is measured in revolutions per minute. The most “advanced” models are considered intelligent, that is, they independently change the rotation speed depending on the load on the system. For example, a person just surfs the Internet, while the processor runs on a minimum of resources. In this situation, the rotation speed will be approximately 1100 rpm. If he suddenly decides to play some modern “shooter” game, then the fan begins to navigate according to the state of the processor, that is, it picks up speed, which can rise up to 2000 rpm. For those who purchased a fan big size, you don’t have to worry about overheating at all, it will easily maintain the optimal processor temperature.
Types of CPU Cooling Systems
There are several types of processor cooling systems.
Box cooling systems
A cooler that comes with a processor in one box for one price is called boxed, from the word BOX (box). They are not the most powerful and are quite noisy. But for a low-power household computer, it is better to buy this system, which is very convenient. It's easier and cheaper than buying these devices separately.
Cooling systems without heat pipes
The simplest and cheapest processor cooling systems consist of a cooler and a radiator, which is a block of copper or aluminum plates - heat reflectors. They are easy to install and easy to use. Such cooling is quite enough for a low-power computer; in addition, this system has a low price. Its significant feature is the fairly high noise from the fan, which increases with increasing load on the computer.
Multi-cooler cooling system
Many processor cooling systems are equipped with two or even three coolers. Of course, the more fans there are, the more powerful the air flow and, accordingly, the stronger the cooling of the processor. But such units are massive and weigh quite a lot. It is clear that it is not advisable to install this expensive type of cooling system in an ordinary low-power computer.
Liquid Cooled Systems
Systems with liquid processor cooling have copper and aluminum heat pipes through which a liquid circulates, intensively removing heat. These systems are extremely efficient and quiet. But the price of such systems is quite high. In addition, they have specific fastenings, which make the coolers difficult to install; The devices are quite bulky and take up a lot of space. And it’s not a fact that in a system with liquid cooled there will be a high-quality fan.
Radiator designs for processor cooling systems
In order to choose the right cooler for an Intel and AMD processor, it is important to take into account the design of its radiator, which determines the direction of outgoing air flow inside the system unit.
Coolers with tower radiators
Tower cooling systems do an excellent job of cooling the fastest processors. They remove heat well, thereby providing long work computer. The only disadvantage of this type of radiator is the narrow direction of the outgoing air flow, which does not reach other parts of the motherboard. Outgoing air from tower systems rushes either upward or into back system unit.
C-type coolers
C-type cooling systems, with their curved tubes over the processor with a radiator with a cooler attached to them, resemble the letter C. In addition to high-quality cooling of the processor, these systems provide much better airflow to the motherboard.
Combined
Combined processor cooling systems are quite rare. They are equipped with powerful, expensive system units. This aims to combine the two above-mentioned types of cooling. But devices of this type are not much more effective, but they are expensive. And whether they are needed is a personal question for everyone.
Top CPU coolers of 2018
The main characteristics of good coolers were listed above, but in addition to them, you need to pay attention to the specific company that produced this device, and released it into the world. The most popular and high-quality products on the computer market in 2018 are considered to be the products of the companies Thermaltake and Cooler Master. It is these two companies that are most widely known today. This does not mean that there are no other manufacturers of similar devices on the market. Of course, they are present, and even produce products that are distinguished by high quality indicators. Only Thermaltake and Cooler Master coat their devices with additional protection that prevents dust from falling out. After all, dust is also destructive for any microprocessor technology. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the products of companies - DeepCool, Zalman and Thermalright and so as not to get confused in this a huge number models, we have compiled a rating of the best coolers for all types of processors and sockets, which took the entire Top of the coolest magazines and won the respect of gamers, so here they are.
The best CPU coolers of 2018
This Top includes universal models of processor cooling systems that became sales leaders throughout 2017-2018, that is, they are suitable for both Intel and AMD.
- ZALMAN CNPS10X PERFORMA
- DEEPCOOL ASSASSIN II
- Cooler Master Hyper 412S
- THERMALRIGHT MACHO REV.A
- Noctua NH-D15
- Cryorig H5 Ultimate
- Arctic Freezer i32
The best coolers for Intel i5, i7 processor
Here we have collected the Top 7 best processor cooling systems from Intel in 2018.
- Deepcool Lucifer V2
- Master Hyper 101
- Cooler Scythe Katana 3
- Thermalright HR-22
- Thermaltake Contac 30
- Cooler Master X6 Elite
- ZALMAN CNPS10X OPTIMA
Best CPU coolers for AMD