How to find out which cooler is needed for a processor. Which processor cooling to choose: tips

Have you ever wondered what the performance and speed of modern processors is? This is actually very important. Every modern processor must be cooled. 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. There are a huge number of models on the computer equipment market in 2018, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s easy to get confused in such diversity. We will talk about how to choose a cooler for AMD and Intel processors in this article.

A socket is a connector on the motherboard into which the central processor is inserted. Sockets have different mounting distances for coolers, so the first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a good cooling system is the socket. The design features of 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 noticed 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 have purchased a large fan, there is no need to worry about overheating at all, it will easily maintain the optimal temperature of the processor.

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 a liquid-cooled system will have 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 dissipate heat well, thereby ensuring long-term operation of the 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 flows either upward or to the rear of the 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 the companies - DeepCool, Zalman and Thermalright, and in order not to get lost in this huge number of 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.

1. ZALMAN CNPS10X PERFORMA
2. DEEPCOOL ASSASSIN II
3. Cooler Master Hyper 412S
4. THERMALRIGHT MACHO REV.A
5. Noctua NH-D15
6. Cryorig H5 Ultimate
7. 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.

1. Deepcool Lucifer V2
2. Master Hyper 101
3. Cooler Scythe Katana 3
4. Thermalright HR-22
5. Thermaltake Contac 30
6. Cooler Master X6 Elite
7. ZALMAN CNPS10X OPTIMA

Best CPU coolers for AMD

Hi all! Everyone knows that computers are a complex system consisting of components: a video card, a motherboard, and many other integral parts. How to cool the hottest part of the system - the processor! There is a great invention for this: a cooler! And today I will tell you how to choose a cooler and which manufacturer you should take a closer look at.

How to choose a CPU cooler?

First, let's decide on the goals of how intensively you will use the computer. Will you use office applications, play games, or will you use it aggressively by overclocking the processor?

• The most common option for desktop computers is a simple cooler without heat pipes; usually their power is enough to cool, but when running applications such as Microsoft Office, a browser or minor games, when your computer is running at its minimum capabilities.

• Well, what if you are an avid gamer and like to play games like Crysis 3? In this case, the second option is used - cooling coolers with heat pipes or with coolant. This cooler is based on removing heat from the processor using liquid in a tube and converting it into steam, which dissipates. The most important thing is the copper plate, which is in contact with the processor and removes heat.

Results: the first option is suitable for those who do not load the computer and work on it in normal mode, but if the computer was purchased for gaming, then you need either a tower cooler or water cooling.

Weight, dimensions and characteristics.

When choosing a cooler, you need to pay attention to several more important aspects:

• Size and weight, they should not exceed 700-750 grams, because there is a load on it, which can cause its deformation.

• Socket Compatibility. Before buying a cooler, you need to look at what socket your motherboard has, because... Cooler mounts are quite individual. The socket is the platform where the processor is installed, so if you buy a cooler for the wrong purpose, you will not be able to attach it to the motherboard.

• Dimensions: width, height. Also a very important factor, because installation may be difficult. And even if the cooler fits into the case, it is not a fact that you will be able to insert RAM.

• Active or passive cooling (preferably active). Of course, there are cool coolers with passive cooling, but all modern motherboards can regulate the speed. Therefore, if you are worried about noise, then even with an active cooler, you may not hear anything.

• Radiator types: tower and standard. Tower coolers dissipate heat well, unlike conventional ones. For this reason, take tower ones whenever possible. But if you have a limited budget and do not actively use your computer, then a regular cooler will do. Tower coolers also differ, but don’t bother, take the type like in the picture below.

• Noise level- of course, the quieter the better and more comfortable. Everything is simple here, you need a good manufacturer and the motherboard supports automatic cooler speed control.
• Material. There are 3 types. These are copper, aluminum and aluminum + copper. It is better to take only copper, it will best dissipate heat.
• Number of coolers. If you are not going to overclock anything, one cooler will be enough for you. Just in case, take one that has the ability to install another one. For example Zalman performance.

The best cooler manufacturers

Here many will probably refute me, but I will speak from my own experience. And my many years of experience tell me that the best cooler manufacturers are Noctua, Zalman and Thermaltake. These are real maniacs in their field, especially Zalman and Noctua...

And to confirm, I will say that they keep the temperature of the 4th generation Intel i7 processor, which I have, at 30°. Well, in games, of course, it gets hot, but! They cope well in games too! At first I thought it wouldn’t cope, I’d buy another fan for the tower cooler, but no, a tower radiator and one fan are enough!

Well, of course, the case also has a big influence, I also have the Zalman z11 plus, in which the air circulation is also well thought out and hot air does not linger.

So, in my opinion, the best cooler companies are the following:

1. Zalman this is the undisputed leader, the rest are just trying to compete and parody. Every company has its ups and downs, but in this area, this firm has more ups than downs.

2. Noctua this company is no worse than Zalman, but their price tags are much higher, and if you don’t overclock anything and don’t have extra money, then this company is not for you.

3. Thermaltake- also cooler maniacs, but in my opinion they are slightly inferior to Zalman, but there are also interesting models. But for example, I only have cooling from Zalman, but from ThermalTake, because... they still make them better.

4. Corsair— I like this company’s RAM more.

5. Cooler Master— they also make good coolers and cases.

6.GlacialTech— good coolers for mid-range processors.

7. Arctic Cooling— I saw a couple of good tower coolers.

8. Deepcool- cheap and cheerful. An actively developing company.

9. Intel- what can I say, a company, a company to all companies. Coolers are supplied in a box with processors. The i3 and i5 work well! And of course, you don’t even have to say about the coolers of their servers that their coolers, like those in Dell or HP, do a good job. Their servers cost so much that it’s a sin for them to overheat.

Because of all that has been said, I would advise you to choose Zalman cooling systems for both the processor and all parts of the case!

This is how you can choose the best cooler and prevent your computer from overheating. But when the computer overheats, it starts to slow down!

Currently, the most effective are tower coolers with copper heat pipes. With proper implementation, three or four heat pipes are sufficient to ensure cooling of any serial processor in the radiator design. Further increasing the number of tubes in radiators does not always lead to a decrease in peak processor temperatures, so there is no point in pursuing this. Radiator plates and heat pipes themselves are usually nickel-plated, which allows them to maintain an almost perfect appearance throughout their entire service life.

When choosing a cooler, you should pay attention to the method of contact of the tubes with the base and fins of the radiator. If soldering is used (its traces are always clearly visible at the joints), you can trust such a device with your processor, but the simple crimping of plates on tubes and the absence of grooves in the base should be treated with skepticism, although soldering is extremely rare in the middle price segment. Coolers with direct contact technology, which have become popular in recent years, are widespread, when the radiator does not have a base, and its role is played by heat pipes processed in the base area to a flat surface. In such models, you need to pay attention to the distance between the tubes at the base - the smaller it is, the more uniform the heat exchange will be, which means the efficiency of the cooler will be higher.

The size of the radiator really matters. The larger the area of ​​the fins and the greater their number, the larger the area of ​​the radiator and the more heat it can dissipate. Do not underestimate the various types of optimization of radiators - the ends of the fins of variable height, tubes arranged in a checkerboard pattern, but from evaporation chambers or radial radiators the effect is most often minimal.

It is also worth mentioning coolers of the so-called “top design”, in which the radiator is located parallel to the motherboard, and the fan forces air flow to its plane. The height of these coolers is small (no more than 150 mm), but due to design limitations their area is relatively small, so their efficiency is usually lower than that of tower coolers. But the air flow of such coolers better cools the elements of the space around the processor and the radiators on the motherboard.

Noise level

While the efficiency of even the simplest air coolers turns out to be quite sufficient for standard processor operating modes, their noise level does not suit everyone. The only source of noise in air coolers is the fan. In general, you can focus on the following figures: for 80- and 92-mm fans, the speed should be no higher than 1500-1700 rpm; for 120 mm fans - no higher than 1200-1300 rpm; for 140 mm fans and more - no higher than 1000-1200 rpm.

Almost all currently produced cooling systems are equipped with fans that support automatic speed control, depending on the load on the processor and/or its temperature. Such fans are practically silent in low processor load mode and at the same time sensitive to any increase in load. The adjustment algorithm is set in the motherboard BIOS, or through software.

An important component of the fan is the type of bearing. The most common and cheapest is the sleeve bearing, the typical service life of which is 30,000 hours or about 3 years of continuous operation. But in practice, such bearings do not last long, and after half their service life they begin to make noise. More durable (and expensive) are ball bearings, which can last more than 100,000 hours, and with high quality manufacturing can maintain low noise levels throughout their service life. A compromise option is hydrodynamic bearings (FDB bearing). As a rule, they are twice as durable as plain bearings and have low noise levels.

Every year more and more new models of computer equipment and components appear. However, in the pursuit of power and high performance, technology leaders face natural challenges. The processor, video card and other parts during operation generate energy, which is converted into heat and contributes to overheating of the system unit. This, in turn, entails frequent system malfunctions and breakdowns. The way out of the situation is to install a cooling system.

Types of CPU Cooling Systems

A high-quality system will not only avoid failure of seemingly completely new parts, but will also ensure speed, absence of delays and uninterrupted operation.

Currently, there are three types of processor cooling systems: liquid, passive and air. The advantages and disadvantages of each solution are discussed below.

Looking ahead somewhat, we can say that the most common type of cooling today is air, that is, the installation of coolers, while the most effective is liquid. Air cooling for the processor benefits largely due to its loyal pricing policy. That is why the article will pay special attention to the issue of choosing a suitable fan.

Liquid cooling system

The liquid system is the most productive method to avoid processor overheating and related breakdowns. The design of the system is in many ways similar to that of a refrigerator and consists of:

• a heat exchanger that absorbs the thermal energy generated by the processor;
• a pump that acts as a reservoir for liquid;
• additional capacity for a heat exchanger that expands during operation;
• coolant - an element that fills the entire system with a special liquid or distilled water;
• heat sinks for elements that generate heat;
• hoses through which water passes and several adapters.

The advantages of the water cooling method for the processor include high efficiency and low noise performance. Despite the productivity of the system, there are also plenty of disadvantages:

1. Users note the high cost of liquid cooling, since installing such a system requires a powerful power supply.
2. The design ends up being quite cumbersome due to the large reservoir and water block, which provide high-quality cooling.
3. There is a possibility of condensation forming, which negatively affects the operation of some components and can cause a short circuit in the system unit.

If we consider exclusively the liquid method, then the best cooling of the computer processor is the use of liquid nitrogen. The method, of course, is not at all budgetary and extremely difficult to install and further maintain, but the result really deserves it.

Passive cooling

Passive processor cooling is the most inefficient way to remove thermal energy. The advantage of this method, however, is considered to be low noise ability: the system consists of a radiator, which, in fact, does not “reproduce sounds”.

Passive cooling has been around for a long time and was quite good for low performance computers. At the moment, passive processor cooling is not widely used, but is used for other components - motherboards, RAM, and cheap video cards.

Air cooling: system description

A prominent representative of the most common air type of heat removal is a processor cooling cooler, which consists of a radiator and a fan. The popularity of air cooling is associated primarily with a loyal pricing policy and a wide selection of fans according to parameters.

The quality of air cooling directly depends on the diameter and bending of the blades. By increasing the fan, the number of required revolutions is reduced to effectively remove heat from the processor, which improves the performance of the cooler with less “effort”.

The rotation speed of the blades is controlled using modern motherboards, connectors and software. The number of connectors capable of controlling the operation of the cooler depends on the model of a particular board.

The rotation speed of the fan blades is adjusted through BIOS Setup. There is also a whole list of programs that monitor the temperature increase in the system unit and, in accordance with the data received, regulate the operating mode of the cooling system. Motherboard manufacturers often create such software. These include Asus PC Probe, MSI CoreCenter, Abit µGuru, Gigabyte EasyTune, Foxconn SuperStep. In addition, many modern video cards are capable of adjusting the fan speed.

About the advantages and disadvantages of air cooling

The air type of processor cooling has more advantages than disadvantages, and therefore is especially popular compared to other systems. The advantages of this type of processor cooling include:

• a large number of types of coolers, and therefore the ability to choose the ideal option for the needs of each user;
• low energy consumption during equipment operation;
• Easy installation and maintenance of air cooling.

The disadvantage of air cooling is the increased noise level, which only increases during the operation of the components due to dust entering the fan.

Air cooling system parameters

When choosing a cooler for effective cooling of the processor, special attention should be paid to technical aspects, because the manufacturer’s pricing policy does not always correspond to the quality of the product. Thus, the processor cooling system has the following main technical parameters:

1. Socket compatible (depending on motherboard: AMD or Intel based).
2. Structural characteristics of the system (width and height of the structure).
3. Type of radiator (types are standard, combined or C-type).
4. Dimensional characteristics of fan blades.
5. Noise reproduction capability (in other words, the level of noise produced by the system).
6. Air flow quality and power.
7. Weight characteristics (recently experiments with the weight of the cooler have been relevant, which affects the quality of the system in a rather negative way).
8. Heat resistance or thermal dissipation, which is only relevant for top models. The indicator ranges from 40 to 220 W. The higher the value, the more efficient the cooling system is.
9. The point of contact between the cooler and the processor (connection density is estimated).
10. The method of contact of the tubes with the radiator (soldering, compression or the use of direct contact technology).

Most of these parameters ultimately affect the cost of the cooler. But the brand also leaves its mark, so first of all you should pay attention to the characteristics of the component part. Otherwise, you can purchase a famous model, which will turn out to be absolutely useless during subsequent use.

Socket: Compatibility Theory

The main point when choosing a fan is the architecture, i.e. compatibility of the cooling system with the processor socket. Under an incomprehensible English term, directly translated meaning “connector”, “socket”, lies a software interface that ensures data exchange between various processes.

So, each processor has a certain space and types of mounting on the motherboard. This means, for example, that cooling an Intel processor will not work for AMD. At the same time, the Intel line of models is represented by both flagship and budget solutions. The i7 processor requires more efficient cooling than previous versions of Intel Core, which are suitable for other Intel-based processors (Pentium, Celeron, Xeon, etc.) require an LGA 775 socket.

AMD differs in that a standard fan is not suitable for components from this manufacturer. It is better to purchase AMD processor cooling separately.

There are also visual differences in the sockets for AMD and Intel, which will somewhat help even an ignorant PC user understand the issue. The type of mount for AMD is a mounting frame to which brackets with hinges are attached. The Intel mount is a board into which four so-called legs are inserted. In cases where the weight of the fan exceeds standard figures, screw fastening is used.

Design characteristics

Not only socket compatibility is an important parameter. You should also pay attention to the width and height of the cooler, because you have to find a place for it in the system unit case so that the operation of the fan is not interfered with by other parts. If the cooler is installed incorrectly, the video card and RAM modules will interfere with the normal movement of air flows, which in this case, instead of cooling, will contribute to even greater overheating of the entire structure.

Type of radiator: standard, C-type or combined?

Currently, fan radiators are available in three types:

1. Standard or tower view.
2. C-type radiator.
3. Combined view.

The standard type involves tubes parallel to the base passing through the plates. These fans are the most popular. They are slightly curved upward and are a more efficient solution for cooling the processor. The disadvantage of the standard type is that it fits to the back or top of the case along the motherboard. Thus, the air only passes through one circle of circulation, and the processor can overheat.

C-type coolers are free from this drawback. The C-shaped design of such radiators facilitates the passage of air flow near the processor socket. But there are some drawbacks: C-type cooling is less efficient than tower cooling.

The flagship solution is a combined type of radiator. This option combines all the advantages of its predecessors, and at the same time is almost completely free from the disadvantages of the c-type or standard type.

Blade dimensions

The width, length and curvature of the blades affect the volume of air that will be involved in the operation of the cooling system. Accordingly, the larger the blade size, the greater the volume of air flow will be, which will improve cooling of the laptop or computer processor. However, you should not go all out: cooling for the processor must correspond to other characteristics of the personal computer.

Noise level produced by the cooler

A parameter that cooling system manufacturers are trying to improve by almost any means is the noise level produced by the cooler. According to most users, CPU cooling should ideally be not only efficient, but also silent. But this is only in theory. In practice, it is not possible to completely get rid of noise during operation of the air system.

Small coolers make less noise, which is quite suitable for users of not particularly powerful computers. Large fans create enough sound to be considered a problem.

Currently, most coolers have the ability to respond to the amount of heat generated and, accordingly, work in a more active mode if necessary. The processor cooling program does an excellent job of controlling the need for active cooling. So, the noise is no longer constant, but occurs only when the processor is working intensively. CPU cooling software is an excellent solution for small models and undemanding computers.

When it comes to adjusting the noise level, you should pay attention to the type of bearing. The budget, and therefore the most popular option, is the sliding bearing, but the stingy pays twice: having already reached half of its expected service life, it will make an obsessive noise. A better solution is hydrodynamic bearings and rolling bearings. They will last much longer and will not stop coping with the tasks “halfway”.

Point of contact between the cooler and the processor: material

A cooling system is necessary to remove excess thermal energy from the system unit into the environment, but the point of contact between the parts should be as dense as possible. Here, important criteria for choosing a high-quality cooling system will be the material from which the cooler is made and the degree of smoothness of its surface. Aluminum or copper have proven to be the highest quality materials (according to users and technical specialists). The surface of the material at the point of contact should be as smooth as possible - without dents, scratches or irregularities.

Method of contact of tubes with radiator

If there are visible marks at the junction of the tubes with the radiator in the cooling system, then most likely soldering was used for fixation. A device made using this method will be reliable and durable, although soldering has recently been used less and less. Users who managed to purchase a cooler with soldering at the point of contact of the tubes with the radiator note the long service life of the cooling system and the absence of breakdowns.

A more popular way of connecting the tubes to the radiator is lower-quality crimping. Fans manufactured using direct contact technology are also widely used. In this case, the base of the radiator is replaced by heat pipes. To determine a quality product, you should pay attention to the distance between the heat pipes: the smaller it is, the better the cooler will work, since the heat exchange will become more uniform.

Thermal paste: how often should it be changed?

Thermal paste is a paste-like consistency and can be of various shades (white, gray, black, blue, cyan). By itself, it does not provide a cooling effect, but it helps to quickly conduct heat from the chip to the radiator of the cooling system. Under normal conditions, an air cushion is formed between them, which has low thermal conductivity.

Thermal paste should be applied where the cooler directly touches the processor. The substance should be replaced from time to time, because drying out leads to an increase in the degree of processor overload. The optimal “service life” of most modern types of thermal paste, according to user reviews, is one year. For older and reliable brands, the replacement frequency increases to four years.

Or maybe a standard solution is enough?

Indeed, is it worth purchasing a cooler separately and even thinking about the cooling system? The vast majority of processors are sold immediately with a fan. Why then go into detail and buy it separately?

Factory coolers tend to have low performance and high noise output. This is noted by both users and specialists. At the same time, a high-quality cooling system is a guarantee of long and uninterrupted operation of the processor, safety and integrity of the insides of the computer. The right choice will be the best cooling for the processor, which is not always a standard solution.

Computer technology is developing very, very quickly. Every now and then new versions of components appear, innovative technologies and solutions begin to be used. Modern manufacturers provide that the processor cooling system should also be improved.

Only a few companies now produce high-quality fan designs. Many brands try to distinguish themselves by compatibility with various types of connectors, low noise levels of their models, and design. Top manufacturers of air cooling systems are THERMALTAKE, COOLER MASTER and XILENCE. Models from these brands are distinguished by high-quality materials and a long service life.

A lot of articles, both useful and not very useful, practical and theoretical, have been written on the topic of how to decide on the choice of a cooler for a processor. The choice of models in stores is huge; they differ in design, size, cooling efficiency and price. Moreover, thanks to the efforts of marketers, the latter parameters are not always identical.

There are times when a great looking, painted and hyped supercooler performs mediocre. The opposite situation also occurs, when a mediocre manufacturer produces a very successful model. Therefore, when choosing, it is worth considering the various elements of the system from all sides, and only after careful analysis make an informed decision.

The main purpose of the cooler is to cool the processor, which occurs by removing heat from the processor cover and subsequent dissipation into the surrounding space. An important point in this regard is such an indicator as the thermal conductivity of the radiator material.

Thermal conductivity is the movement of thermal energy in a material from an area with a higher temperature to an area with a lower temperature due to the movement of microparticles, or, we can say, it is simply the ability of an object to transfer heat. Silver has the best heat transfer performance, however, it would be interesting to look at those who want to buy a cooling system made from such a material

For the industrial production of radiators, copper and aluminum are used, with slightly inferior characteristics. In general, an active cooler consists of a metal radiator attached to the processor cover and a fan. There are also passive models - they are without a fan. The fan increases the rate of heat dissipation many times over. Under no circumstances should this be allowed!

Types of coolers for processors

Such devices can be classified rather conditionally, given that until recently some types were not produced at all. Having analyzed a lot of information on the Internet and the range of products offered, we can distinguish two large groups:

• Boxed coolers and coolers without heat pipes are the simplest models, consisting of an aluminum plate with fins, in some cases having a copper base and a fan attached to it. They often come bundled with a processor when sold; they are called “boxed”. They have limited cooling capabilities, but are easy to install and perform their duties at standard processor frequencies. The included fan is of low quality, which is why as the rotation speed of the blades increases, a computer with such a cooler may produce additional noise.
• Heat pipe cooling systems - work by removing heat using a fluid circulating in hollow tubes made of aluminum or copper. They have the best efficiency indicators, but are often equipped with non-standard mounting, some are heavy, and are equipped with fans of different quality.

The first cooling option is not worth considering in detail. If you plan to work in normal mode, with an average-performance processor, without experimenting with overclocking, and the noise level is not a critical indicator, you can be content with any simple cooler. In principle, you can reduce the noise level by correctly setting the fan speed using BIOS or.

The second cooler option requires closer attention and has many additional characteristics that ultimately determine the buyer’s choice.

Computer coolers with heat pipes

The first idea of ​​using heat pipes to reduce the temperature of cooled units was patented by the USA back in 1942. Its essence was that inside the pipes, sealed on both sides, there was a liquid substance that evaporated at the place of heating, the steam moved to the cold zone, where it condensed, releasing thermal energy, again forming a liquid that returned to the place of heating.

They were used exclusively for industrial purposes; they did not think about any high-performance computers at that time. The tubes can be without filler inside, in which case they must be directed upward so that the condensate drains under the influence of gravity, or with a porous structure, in which case the shape of the tubes does not matter, and the circulation of liquid occurs due to the pores.

Now tube coolers occupy the majority of the market. Their design can be generally described as follows: there is a base (sole) of the cooler, pressed against the processor, tubes are soldered into it, on which aluminum plates are mounted to help dissipate heat. Conventionally, such products can be divided into various subtypes:

• With direct contact, when the tube directly interacts with the heat distribution cover of the processor;
• Without direct contact, when only the base of the cooler interacts with the processor.

It is difficult to say which type is better. The majority of users claim that direct contact is more effective. From practice, we can say that the alternative option copes with its functions very well. Here one should take into account the fact that the working fluid begins to evaporate only at a certain temperature, from 25 to 50 degrees. That is, until this moment, heat removal occurs only due to the metal parts of the radiator, and the base serves as the main heat sink.