Review and testing of four budget CPU coolers. Which processor cooling to choose: tips

— Almost silent and quite efficient processor cooler with two fans; 2 — Three-fan model with eye-catching design; 3 — Budget model with two fans that provide high-quality cooling of the computer. 1 — Almost silent cooling system; 2 - Simple and stable system; 3 — A model that has no analogues in its price segment in terms of cooling level.

Computer components become hot during operation. The temperature of some parts increases slightly, while others become very hot. Most of all this applies to the video card and processor. And if the first one is initially equipped with a cooling system, then the situation with the CPU is different. A working cooler protects the processor from overheating. Due to the rotation of the fan blades, an air flow is created, and heat can be removed by them. This is how the processor is cooled.

Without a cooler, the temperature on the CPU can reach critical values, and it runs the risk of failure. Liquid can also be used to cool the processor. Water systems are more expensive, but they are also more efficient.

When choosing cooling for your computer, there are many parameters to consider. And not only its effectiveness, but also its compatibility with computer components. These parameters will be discussed in more detail in the list of the best cooling systems for the processor.

Top CPU coolers with one fan

Score (2018): 4.5

Advantages: Popular cooler from a world famous company

Country of origin: China

In third place in the top coolers is the Zalman CNPS10X Optima. This is a very popular single fan model. She found it due to its low cost and fairly high quality. Supports a large number of processors.

Due to the material used, the radiator provides high thermal conductivity. The fan has wide blades and can produce more than 1500 revolutions per minute. The noise level at maximum rotation reaches 28 decibels. The weight of the assembled product is 630 g.

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Very reliable model

Country of origin: China

The Noctua NH-U14S cooler takes second place in the rating. According to the creators, the model is capable of working trouble-free for more than one hundred thousand hours. The cooler is compatible with sockets: LGA2011-3, LGA1150, AM2+, FM2+ and many others. Simply put, this model is suitable for cooling processors of the latest and previous generations.

The cooler is equipped with six heat pipes. This increases its effectiveness. The rotation speed can reach 1500 rpm. The noise level produced by the fan does not exceed 25 decibels at peak. The cooler is quite large in size, it weighs 935 g.

Block of useful information

When choosing a quality CPU cooler, you first need to consider several significant characteristics. Not only the efficiency of the cooling system, but also its compatibility, as well as the overall reliability of the computer will depend on them. Thanks to the right choice of cooler, you will be able to fully unleash the potential of the central processor, bringing its performance to the maximum level.

Socket. Please note that processors from Intel and AMD have different connectors for connecting to the motherboard. Moreover, the same company, depending on the model range, will have different sockets. This is a very important point when choosing the right cooling system. After all, connectors differ in the structure of the fastenings. And a cooler is already connected to them. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a cooling system compatible with the socket on the motherboard. Otherwise, its installation is significantly complicated or becomes completely impossible. And attempts can lead to damage to the motherboard.
Cooler dimensions. When a socket is selected, all that remains is to decide on the cooler model that is compatible with it. There are a huge variety of cooling systems on the market. They can differ in many characteristics, including dimensions. And here it should be taken into account that the dimensions of the product vary depending on the purpose of the system. If you are equipping a gaming computer, then a large cooler is preferable. When the system is intended for office work, then a smaller cooling system is installed.
Rotation speed. The quality of the cooler is determined by the final cooling of the processor. And the higher the rotation speed of the blades, the better the heat dissipation. This parameter is calculated in the number of blade revolutions per unit of time (usually per minute). In modern systems, the cooler rotation speed is adjusted automatically. It will depend on the computer load. Therefore, the processor temperature will be maintained at the same level.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: Quiet and high-quality computer cooling

Country of origin: China

And the first place in the rating is occupied by the Thermalright Macho Rev.A model. Reviews from a large number of users indicate that this is the best single-fan cooler in its price segment. This is also confirmed by numerous reviews.

The model is suitable for the latest processor lines. It provides excellent cooling even in gaming computers. The rotation speed is adaptively selected by the system from 900 to 1300 rpm. And at peak load the noise produced is below 21 dB. The weight of the model is 870g.

Top CPU coolers with multiple fans

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Budget model with two fans

Country of origin: China

Opens the top best CPU coolers with multiple fans Deepcool Maelstrom 240T. This is a very serious water cooling system with an aluminum radiator. This model is compatible with the most powerful new generation processors.

The cooling system is equipped with two fans, the rotation speed of which can reach 1600 rpm. At peak load the noise level reaches 34 dB, it will be clearly audible. According to a Deepcool company representative, the cooler will be able to operate without failure for 50 thousand hours.

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Three-fan model with eye-catching design

Country of origin: China

The cooler received second place due to a special system for changing the rotation speed, depending on the load on the processor. This way it is possible to maintain a constant temperature. This cooler weighs one kilogram.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: Almost silent and quite efficient processor cooler

Country of origin: China

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:

Users note the high cost of liquid cooling, since installing such a system requires a powerful power supply.
The design ends up being quite cumbersome due to the large reservoir and water block, which provide high-quality cooling.
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 dissipation 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:

Socket compatible (depending on motherboard: AMD or Intel based).
Structural characteristics of the system (width and height of the structure).
Type of radiator (types are standard, combined or C-type).
Dimensional characteristics of fan blades.
Noise reproduction capability (in other words, the level of noise produced by the system).
Air flow quality and power.
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).
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.
The point of contact between the cooler and the processor (connection density is estimated).
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 fan weight 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:

Standard or tower view.
C-type radiator.
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 passes through only 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 suits 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 assigned 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 where the tubes come into contact 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. From time to time the substance should be replaced, 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.

To achieve high overclocking results, you need a sufficiently powerful cooling system. In our review, we will look at several coolers of different types in different price categories and select the best models for overclocking.

The temperature of the processor cores must remain at a sufficiently low level, with a decent margin up to the maximum temperature TJMAX, in order not only to protect the processor from overheating, but also to ensure high overclocking results.

As tests of various CPUs have shown, as core temperatures increase, power consumption also increases, while frequency scaling turns out to be worse than at low temperatures. It is no coincidence that many overclockers prefer to overclock the system on the balcony - in this case they can more effectively cool the central processor.

However, too much heat may accumulate under the distributor, and even the best air cooler in the world will not have time to remove it. In such cases, extreme cooling or other measures are required.

The CPU core itself, at least in mainstream CPUs, is much smaller than the heat spreader (source: Intel)

This problem is well known for all Intel processors after the 2nd generation Core called "Sandy Bridge". In particular, with the third and fourth generations of "Ivy Bridge" and "Haswell", many users complained that Intel began to use not the most effective thermal paste under the heat spreader instead of solder with higher heat transfer.

Due to these changes, the processors warmed up more than their Sandy Bridge predecessors at the same clock frequency and VCore; at high frequencies the additional heating was 20-30 °C.

But Intel, with the Haswell Refresh generation, decided to meet the enthusiasts halfway by introducing “Devil’s Canyon” processors, which had improved thermal transfer material (TIM) under the heat spreader, which improved temperatures by about 5 ° C. But for long-term operation at high clock speeds At frequencies, enthusiasts still prefer to remove the heat spreader and replace the TIM with liquid metal.

For some processors, heat does not have time to be removed from the chip and accumulates under the heat spreader. Therefore, enthusiasts modify processors (

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 to 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 cabinet inside the table, then do not close the doors so that the heated air comes out. Do not cover 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 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. To do 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.

Video on the topic

As you know, many problems in a 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 assembling 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 that you should pay 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 associated with 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 the necessary 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.

At the same time classical the option when the fan blades are directly in front of you, when looking at the motherboard from above, is more suitable if the case and mother are small in microATX format, and you need to compactly place as many devices as possible on them. 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 cooler for the processor, 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 a program running under Windows or through the BIOS. Gigabyte has developed a special utility for its products 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 delving into the depths of the blue BIOS screen.

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.