Passive cooling: principle and use

CPU cooling affects the performance and stability of your computer. But it does not always cope with the load, which is why the system malfunctions. The efficiency of even the most expensive cooling systems can be greatly reduced due to the fault of the user - poor installation of the cooler, old thermal paste, dusty case, etc. To prevent this, it is necessary to improve the quality of cooling.

If the processor overheats due to previously overclocked and/or high loads when operating the PC, then you will have to either change the cooling to a better one or reduce the load.

The main elements that produce the greatest amount of heat are the processor and video card, sometimes it can also be the power supply, chipset and hard drive. In this case, only the first two components are cooled. The heat generation of the remaining components of the computer is insignificant.

If you need a gaming machine, then first of all think about the size of the case - it should be as large as possible. Firstly, the larger the system unit, the more components you can install in it. Secondly, in a large case there is more space, which is why the air inside it heats up more slowly and has time to cool. Also pay special attention to the ventilation of the case - it must have ventilation holes so that hot air does not linger for a long time (an exception can be made if you are going to install water cooling).

Try to monitor the temperature of the processor and video card more often. If the temperature often exceeds the permissible values of 60-70 degrees, especially when the system is idle (when no heavy programs are running), then take active steps to reduce the temperature.

Let's look at several ways to improve the quality of cooling.

Method 1: Correct positioning of the case

The housing for productive devices should be large enough (preferably) and have good ventilation. It is also desirable that it be made of metal. In addition, you need to take into account the location of the system unit, because Certain objects can block air from entering, thereby impairing circulation and increasing the temperature inside.

Apply these tips to the location of the system unit:

Method 2: Clean from dust

Dust particles can impair air circulation, fan and radiator performance. They also retain heat very well, so it is necessary to regularly clean the “insides” of the PC. The frequency of cleaning depends on the individual characteristics of each computer - location, number of ventilation holes (the more ventilation holes there are, the better the cooling quality, but the faster dust accumulates). It is recommended to do cleaning at least once a year.

Cleaning should be done using a soft brush, dry rags and napkins. In special cases, you can use a vacuum cleaner, but only at minimum power. Let's look at step-by-step instructions for cleaning your computer case from dust:

Method 3: Install an additional fan

By using an optional fan that attaches to the vent on the left or rear wall of the case, you can improve air circulation inside the case.

First you need to select a fan. The main thing is to pay attention to whether the characteristics of the case and motherboard allow you to install an additional device. There is no point in giving preference to any manufacturer in this matter, because... This is a fairly cheap and durable computer element that is easy to replace.

If the overall characteristics of the case allow, then you can install two fans at once - one on the back, the other on the front. The first one removes hot air, the second one sucks in cold air.

Method 4: Speed up the fans

In most cases, fan blades rotate at only 80% of their maximum speed. Some “smart” cooling systems are capable of independently adjusting the fan speed – if the temperature is at an acceptable level, then reduce it, if not, then increase it. This function does not always work correctly (and in cheap models it does not exist at all), so the user has to manually overclock the fan.

There is no need to be afraid to overclock the fan too much, because... otherwise, you only risk a slight increase in your computer/laptop's power consumption and noise level. To adjust the speed of rotation of the blades, use the software solution -. The software is completely free, translated into Russian and has a clear interface.

Method 5: replace thermal paste

Replacing thermal paste does not require any serious expenditure in terms of money and time, but it is advisable to exercise some caution here. You also need to take into account one feature with the warranty period. If the device is still under warranty, then it is better to contact the service with a request to change the thermal paste, this should be done for free. If you try to change the paste yourself, your computer will be void of warranty.

When changing it yourself, you need to carefully consider the choice of thermal paste. Give preference to more expensive and high-quality tubes (ideally those that come with a special brush for application). It is desirable that the composition contains compounds of silver and quartz.

Method 6: installing a new cooler

If the cooler does not cope with its task, then it should be replaced with a better and more suitable analogue. The same applies to outdated cooling systems, which due to a long period of operation cannot function normally. It is recommended, if the dimensions of the case allow, to choose a cooler with special copper heat sink pipes.

Use step-by-step instructions for replacing an old cooler with a new one:

A typical representative of passive cooling is the Palit GeForce GTX 750 KalmX family video card (photo 1).

The use of a passive cooling system in modern video cards inevitably leads to an increase in the size of the heat sink. Indeed, since heated air circulates less actively (naturally), to effectively dissipate heat and cool the graphics chip, video card manufacturers increase the surface area of the radiator.

However, radiators with an active cooling system are no smaller in size due to the presence of additional coolers, as well as a casing, which is responsible for rapid heat removal and proper air circulation. Thus, a representative of active cooling is the GeForce GTX 970 card model (photo 2). The three rotating fans are quite noisy when used intensively, but this is compensated by increased performance.

And yet, the undoubted advantage of video cards with passive cooling is that a missing cooler cannot fail. But the lack of sufficient air circulation in the system unit also leads to overheating of video cards with passive cooling.

Graphics card systems cooling efficiency and performance

In 2013, in Hong Kong, representatives of InnoVISION Multimedia Limited tested a new line of video cards with passive cooling.

According to the company's specialists, passive cooling of video cards is the optimal solution for both budget computer models and systems used by professional graphic designers.

The main advantage for a passive cooling system is that it does not produce noise while continuously cooling the video card. Moreover, although such a video card is inferior in performance to analogues with an active cooling system on average by about 20%, this difference is noticeable only under load. Under normal conditions the performance is the same.

In turn, new technologies for using low-noise coolers on plain bearings are trying to reduce the noise of active cooling systems. At the same time, the cost of such video cards increases.

So from the table below it can be seen that the efficiency of both active and passive cooling systems is stable and almost equal in temperature conditions (Table 1).

This indicates that there is no fundamental difference in the efficiency of cooling systems. It's about efficiency. Another thing is that in extreme operating conditions the active system is more dynamic, i.e. more productive. Although such operating conditions are contraindicated for video cards with both cooling systems, since both of them fail equally.

But if you play modern games (demanding on the GPU), make video editing, or in any other way frequently and seriously load the video subsystem, but do not want to give up the quiet operation of the passive cooling system, then perhaps you should opt for representatives of the family of video cards, which are described below .

Video cards with semi-passive cooling system

Recently, video card manufacturers have begun to produce video cards with an active cooling system that support passive operation during system idle (inactivity) or under light load (watching videos or working with office applications). In such semi-passive video cards, for example, ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti (photo 3), the cooler begins to rotate only when the GPU reaches a certain temperature. This implementation of combining the advantages of two cooling systems is very practical, however, the cost of such video cards today is somewhat higher than top-end cards with active cooling.

But no matter what cooling system you choose, the main thing remains the fact that video card manufacturers in the future do not plan to give up the low noise advantages of passive cooling systems, so the development of a line of so-called “hybrids” is the most optimal and promising solution.

[This is nothing more than an experiment; I do not claim to be a discoverer!]
Greetings to blog readers.
I have always been interested in non-standard solutions in computer systems. Water cooling, passive cooling, overclocking and other things not needed by the average user. My urge to “reveal all the hidden capabilities” of a computer began during the release of the first generation Intel core. My home computer had an i3 530. Later it was overclocked from 3 to 4 GHz on the bus. I still laugh when I remember phrases from various forums that this processor does not overclock. After successful overclocking, I realized that this is accessible to everyone, the main thing is to read enough of the necessary information. Computers have become an interesting construction set for me (for adults). I started assembling systems for my friends. I got one of them into overdrive. Sometimes I bought laptops, but I couldn’t stand it and seeing a system on sale on some kind of fx 8350 for an inexpensive price, I sold the laptop and bought a PC. This is how my fx 8350 at 4.7 GHz worked in mining.

I recently purchased DEEPCOOL DRACULA for a small amount. I took it for the future, I plan to put an r9 290x on the card. Well, while the cooler was collecting dust on the shelf, another thought came into my head. This cooler removes 250 watts of heat when the processor emits 50-120 watts (we don’t take into account the latest amd fx, I consider their 250 watt heat output nonsense). But what if we try this cooler on an already cold Intel stone. Thoughts were spinning in my head, my hands were itching. And I carried out these manipulations. At the end of the article I will voice the pros and cons.

TEST STAND

To be honest, the system was assembled from what was available.

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3
Processor:intel pentium g2020
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile(CML4GX3M1A1600C9)
Cooler 1: DEEPCOOL Theta 9
Cooler 2:DEEPCOOL DRACULA
Hard drive western digital 160 gb
Video: Intel graphics core.
Thermal paste: complete from DEEPCOOL DRACULA
Chieftec aps 850cb power supply
Operating system: windows 8.1

Test participant DEEPCOOL DRACULA

The sole is smooth as always.

Comparison of coolers in size (relative to each other)

Assembly

The assembly turned out to be quite fun. At first I wanted to cut out the fasteners from metal, but then I abandoned this idea and decided to cheat a little. :)
It was decided to put elastic bands and tie everything together with strong threads (there were no ties at hand, and the threads fit well)
This is what the implemented fastening scheme looks like.

It seems to be more or less in appearance, but it’s terrible on the other side: D

Regarding RAM. With such a radiator, even two low-profile strips are installed with problems. The second one can be installed, but it will be tilted and may get scratched during installation. So I didn't make my life any more difficult.

Installing a video card. I also thought about this problem. We use a riser. I did not use a video card in testing, but for readers I took a photo of a riser with this cooling.

Imprint of thermal paste. As you can see, the cooler is not designed for the CPU, so it does not fit over the entire surface of the heat distribution cover.

So, the assembly is coming to an end. This is what the installed cooler looks like.
It takes up an awful lot of space in this arrangement.

At the socket connector itself.

Cooling covers all slots. Well, okay, we have extension cords (risers). It should be admitted that this solution is not a standard, which is where such incidents arise.

Photo with a ruler.

And for comparison, a photo with a regular cooler

We connect the power supply, hard drive, and the fighter is ready for battle.

I didn't use a video card, but a graphics core. Therefore, I connect the hdmi cable directly to the motherboard.

Let's move on to testing.

TESTING

I used my favorite tool LinX 0.6.4 And real temp for temperature measurements.
As you know, LinX exists with and without AVX.

First test. Passive cooling. LinX without AVX
during the test

completion of the test

I'm running LinX AVX. The temperature has risen, but is still within good limits. You can use it 24/7 without any problems with this passive cooling.

Tests with DEEPCOOL Theta 9.
I turn off the fan. The temperature is ok. The slight heat generation of the processor makes itself felt.

I connect the cooler spinner.

DEEPCOOL Theta 9 with the turntable turned on. We go through LinX AVX.

Total temperature 45-47 degrees. And again the credit goes to the small heat dissipation package.

NOISE LEVEL

But don't forget about the noise. Unfortunately I don't have a sound meter. But I will try to give you an approximate picture using the program.
Noise level in the room 30db

Noise level during the test.

We can conclude that the system, as expected, does not make any sounds.

And lastly, the noise level with DEEPCOOL Theta 9.

CONCLUSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Minuses:
-no mount for CPU
-covers all PCI slots
-not rationally located in the body.
-the sole is not made for CPU
Pros:
+creation of an ABSOLUTELY silent system
+ copes with 250W of heat

It's worth saying that DEEPCOOL DRACULA copes well with 55W heat dissipation without fans. Temperatures under LinX AVX were 67-68 degrees. This is a decent result. Of course, a cooler for 200 rubles copes with such a heat dissipation package with a bang, showing a temperature of 45-47 degrees in the same test, but at the same time making a lot of noise. DEEPCOOL DRACULA is suitable for creating a passive cooling system. All you have to do is replace the hard drive with an ssd, remove the turntable from the power supply, and your system will no longer make sounds. The noise level will be zero.

Any computer or laptop needs a good cooling system to function properly. During operation, elements such as a processor (CPU), video card, and motherboard generate a large amount of heat and become very hot. The higher the CPU performance rating, the more heat it produces. If the PC does not quickly remove air, this can lead to various system failures, incorrect operation of equipment, decreased performance, and cause failure of important elements. Why does the processor get hot? How to cool the CPU in PCs and laptops? Which cooler to choose for optimal PC cooling? We will try to answer these questions in this article.

Reasons for CPU overheating

If the computer starts to turn off, glitch, or freeze, this may be due to overheating of the CPU. The reasons why a PC processor begins to overheat are very different. Therefore, we will consider the main ones, and also give simple ways to solve problems.

In most PCs and laptops, the main elements of the cooling system are the cooler (fan) and radiator, which are installed on the processor. Thanks to the tightest possible contact, heat transfer between the surface of the radiator and the processor is minimal, which in turn ensures fast, efficient heat dissipation.

The radiator can be monolithic or consist of two parts. In the first case, it is completely fixed on the processor (budget option); in the second case, only a small part of it is attached to the CPU, inside of which there are heat pipes that transfer heated air to the main radiator.

The primary role in the case ventilation and PC cooling system is played by the fan. Regardless of its location, it cools the entire radiator or its main part. The more efficiently it works, the better the heat dissipation from the CPU will be, and, accordingly, the lower its temperature. Heat pipe coolers provide greater CPU cooling.

If the processor starts to heat up, the main reasons include:

deterioration of contact between the processor and the heatsink;
speed reduction cooler (fan) operation;
use of ineffective cooling systems;
absence ventilation systems in the case, in the PC power supply;
pollution ventilation holes housings with dust;
failure cooling systems;
wrong radiator fixation.

An increase in process temperature can also be caused by the fact that the cooler is trivial clogged with dust. For this reason, its speed and efficiency are reduced. The fan is simply not able to remove heat. To increase heat transfer, after replacing the CPU, it is worth purchasing and installing a new model of case cooler.

Another reason is upgrade PC. For example, after replacing an old CPU, a new, more powerful and productive one was installed. But the fan in the cooling system remained the same. Due to the increase in power, the processor cooler simply does not fully cope with its task.

If the processor gets hot, let's consider what to do in this situation.

How can you cool the processor of a PC or laptop?

Overheating of the processor in laptops and desktop computers significantly increases the load on all system elements. To reduce heat generation and reduce energy consumption, you need to:

check the condition of the cooling system, perform cleaning;
reduce the load on the CPU;
overclock the processor cooler;
replace thermal paste;
install additional coolers.

You can also reduce processor heat dissipation by BIOS settings operating system. This is the simplest and most accessible method that does not require much time or physical effort.

There are special technologies that reduce CPU frequency when idle. For AMD processor technology is called Cool'n'Quite, For Intel - Enhanced SpeedStep Technology. Consider how to activate it.

On Windows 7 you need to go to " Control Panel", select section " Power supply" In the window that opens, check which mode is active: “ Balanced», « High performance», « Energy Saving" To activate the technology, you can select any one, with the exception of “High Performance”. In Windows XP you need to select " Energy Saving Manager».

Energy Saving Settings must be enabled in the BIOS; if they are not, you can load the default settings.

It is equally important to pay attention to the system housing ventilation. If the cooling system is working properly and is regularly cleaned, but the CPU is still heating up, then you need to look to see if there are any obstacles in the path of air flow, for example, if they are blocked by thick cables.

The system unit or PC case should have two or three fans. One is for blowing on the front wall, the second is for blowing out on the rear panel, which in turn ensures good air flow. Additionally, you can install a fan on the side wall of the system unit.

If the PC system unit is in a bedside table inside the table, then do not close the doors so that the heated air comes out. Do not block the ventilation openings of the case. Place the computer a few centimeters from the wall or furniture.

You can purchase a special cooling pad for your laptop.

There is a large selection of universal models of stands on sale that adapt to the dimensions and size of the laptop. The heat-dissipating surface and the coolers built into it will contribute to more efficient heat removal and cooling.

When working on a laptop, always keep your work area clean. The ventilation openings must not be blocked by anything. Objects lying nearby should not obstruct air circulation.

For laptops you can also do overclocking the cooler. Since a PC has at least three fans installed (on the CPU, video card, built-in storage), and most laptop models have only one. The second one can be installed if you have a powerful video card. In this case, you can overclock coolers:

through special utilities;
via BIOS.

Before increasing the fan speed, you first need to clean the cooler and motherboard elements from dust.

Cleaning the cooling system of a laptop or desktop PC should be done at least once every six to seven months.

Cleaning the cooling system

If the processor gets hot, check the condition of the fan and the entire PC cooling system. Dust is a serious enemy of any technology. Clogged between the edges of the radiator, dust, lint, and pet hair impair air circulation.

To thoroughly clean it, you need to disconnect the cooler from the power supply and disassemble it. By removing the fan, you can also clean the dust that has accumulated on the radiator. The radiator and cooler blades can be cleaned with a special plastic spatula or a stiff brush. After removing dust, wipe the radiator with a damp cloth.

In addition to removing dust from the radiator and cooler, wipe the wires located in the case from dust. Blow or wipe the vents on the chassis.

Replacing thermal paste

Upgrading and replacing the thermal paste on the processor will help reduce the heat generated by the processor. Thermal paste is nothing more than a lubricant for cooling the processor. It acts as a heat conductor between the CPU and the heatsink, eliminates microscopic irregularities of the contacting surfaces, and removes air between them, which impedes heat dissipation. Good, high-quality thermal paste will reduce the temperature by 5–10 degrees.

Over time, the paste dries out, loses all its properties, and does not cool the processor. Therefore, it needs to be replaced every six months. If your PC has a more modern CPU, the thermal paste can be changed less frequently. You can purchase it at any computer store. Thermal paste must be of good quality.

Before you apply the thermal paste that cools the CPU, you need to get to the processor itself. For this:

How to choose a good thermal paste

Given the large selection of thermal pastes, many are interested in the question of which thermal paste is better. Note that the difference between pastes from different manufacturers can be from ten to twenty degrees. It all depends on the quality characteristics and heat-conducting properties of thermal interfaces. A good thermal conductivity paste should have low thermal resistance and high thermal conductivity.

According to experts, for cooling the processor you can purchase:

Arctic Cooling MX-4.
Arctic Silver Ceramique.
Noctua NT-H1.
Prolimatech PK-1.
Thermalright Chill Factor III.
Zalman ZM-STG2.
Glacialtech IceTherm II.
Coollaboratory Liquid Pro.

Some pastes can also be used to overclock the processor. For example, Arctic Cooling MX-4, Glacialtech IceTherm II, Thermalright Chill Factor III, Coollaboratory Liquid Pro. Knowing which thermal paste is better, how often and how to replace it correctly, you can significantly reduce the temperature of the CPU, thereby extending its service life.

How to cancel CPU overclocking

Many users, in order to improve performance and speed up the CPU, overclock the processor (overclocking). But in some cases, this procedure significantly increases the load on the CPU, which can negatively affect its functioning and lead to a decrease in operating life.

To check the performance of the CPU after overclocking, you need to warm up the processor using special utilities.

If you are interested in how to remove CPU overclocking, go to CMOS and BIOS. Cancel all motherboard voltage settings, return them to normal configuration.

Actions are performed in the following sequence:

We go into the BIOS by pressing the desired button when starting the computer.
Select the item “ Set BIOS Default/Use Default Settings", press Enter.
A window will appear in which you need to press the Y key.
After this, the original settings that were set before overclocking the CPU will be returned.
Now we save all the changes made and exit the settings.
Reboot the computer.

This can also be done by selecting the option “ Restore Fail Safe Defaults", after finding out on the Internet the exact specifications of the installed motherboard and CPU. This is necessary in order to make changes by setting the basic frequency and voltage settings.

In addition, you can change the system bus frequency and multiplier settings to the base value, returning back all the parameters that were changed during overclocking.

You can also remove additional cooling hardware that you installed to prevent the CPU from overheating.

You can manage and monitor the operation of the processor using a special utility - CPU Core, where you need to specify and set the required values of the multiplier and bus frequency.

Installing additional fans

If the CPU continues to heat up after cleaning and canceling overclocking, then in order to increase cooling efficiency, we recommend installing additional fans on the case to increase air circulation. This is necessary if there are many heating elements inside the system unit or if there is a rather small amount of free space inside it.

Give preference to large-diameter coolers, which will provide greater air flow at lower speeds. Such models work efficiently, but are noisy. When installing, consider the direction of their operation.

CPU coolers are classified into:

Boxed, without heat pipes. The most common models. Consist of an aluminum plate with ribs. May have a copper base with a fan attached to it.
Cooling systems based on thermal aluminum and copper tubes. They function by removing heat, which is carried out due to the liquid circulating in them. They have high efficiency indicators.

When choosing fans for the cooling system, read the installation instructions, check its compatibility with the socket, motherboard, and which socket is available for the processor. Consider weight, fan size, radiator type.

Too large, high-power fans will create additional stress on the motherboard and may cause its deformation. As for the size, select the housing to match the tire, take into account the location of other components. Choose products from well-known, trusted manufacturers.

If a large number of hard drives are installed, you can additionally install a fan on the front panel of the case, as well as on the rear upper part of the system unit to remove warm air outside. Modern cases allow you to install at least two fans: from the bottom, if there is no perforation on the front panel, and opposite the location of the hard drives.

If the PC has very advanced hardware and the processor gets hot, you can remove the side cover of the system unit. In this case, the cooling efficiency will be increased significantly.

How to overclock a cooler

You can overclock the cooler, as already noted, through the BIOS or using special free utilities that will allow you to monitor and control the speed of the fans. The programs are designed for various types of processors.

Let's look at how to overclock coolers via BIOS:

For processors Intel programs will allow you to reduce or increase the speed of rotation of the cooler Riva Tuner, SpeedFan. They have great functionality, a choice of settings, a clear interface, do not take up much space, and automatically control the operation of coolers.

If third-party PC software does not allow you to adjust the fan speed, the processor cooler can be controlled using original utilities from the manufacturers. For example, in the HP leptota there is a program Notebook Fan Control, in Acer - Smart Fan, ACFanControl. In Lenovo - Fan Control.

Modern “advanced” cooling systems, which are most often used in overclocking, include: radiator, freon, liquid nitrogen, liquid gel. Their operating principle is based on coolant circulation. The intensely hot elements heat the water, which is cooled in the radiator. It can be located outside the case or be passive, operating without a fan.

Conclusion

This article discussed various causes of processor overheating and solutions to this problem. Sometimes the reason for its occurrence can be ordinary dust, which periodically needs to be removed, or the consequences of inexperienced overclocking of equipment, as well as its upgrade. When replacing thermal paste, you must be careful and careful not to damage the equipment.