Computer Cooling

I. Computer Cooling is required to remove the waste heat produced by computer

components, to keep components within permissible operating temperature limits.

A. Computer cooling systems:

1. Heatsinks

2. Computer fan

3. Liquid cooling

B. Components that are susceptible to temporary malfunction or permanent failure if

overheated:

1. Central processing units

2. Chipset

3. Graphics cards

4. Hard disk drives

C. Cooling may be designed to reduce the ambient temperature within the case of a

computer, such as by exhausting hot air, or to cool a single component or small

area (spot cooling). Components commonly individually cooled include:

1. Central processing unit

2. Graphics processing unit

3. Northbridge

II. Heat sinks

A. Use of heat sinks cooled by airflow reduces the temperature rise produced by a

given amount of heat. Attention to patterns of airflow can prevent the development of

hotspots.
III. Computer fans

A. Computer fans are widely used along with heat sink fans to reduce temperature by

actively exhausting hot air.

IV. Liquid cooling

A. There are also more exotic cooling techniques, such as liquid cooling. All modern

day processors are designed to cut out or reduce their voltage or clock speed if the

internal temperature of the processor exceeds a specified limit.

Submitted by:
Gairus Niel Legaspi
BSIT 1-A