Product description. Comparative characteristics of Office 2003 / 2007.

Overview of new and useful programs for your PC! Stay up to date with what's new!

Skype call recording software

Operating Systems

Tired of Vista? We will help you move to XP!

Installing an operating system is a rather complicated thing and requires special skills and work experience, but still, if you decide to do it yourself, then the craftsmen from Microsoft have already helped you with this.

Is it possible to install Windows on a Mac and why is this service attractive.

The vast majority of modern computer users do not even assume the existence of a huge variety of operating systems that are a full-fledged alternative to Windows.

Instructions for self installation Windows on Apple computers.

Help with Windows installation 7 on Mac using virtual machine. Now you don't need to reboot between Mac systems OS and Windows 7!

Instructions for adding the Russian language to Windows Server 2012/2016

Instructions for fixing the error with double switching the keyboard layout in Windows 7

Security

Simple Rules to help protect your computer from malware.

For an ordinary user who sets out to secure his computer with a reliable antivirus, even googling it is difficult to figure out what to put?

Nod 32 has held the title for five consecutive years the best antivirus of the year.

You can unlock your computer from a banner in various ways. Here are the simplest and safest methods of dealing with this type of virus.

Overview of currently popular antivirus products (Avast, Avg, Kaspersky and Nod32)

Now no one will have access to your data except you!

Internet and networks

Which router to choose? Where to set up an access point? Choice of tariff and provider.

In this article I will tell you about the convenience of IP-telephony, its advantages over conventional telephony.

What makes this Internet browser attractive and not only.

Despite the dominance of various world currencies, mankind has invented another type of money - electronic.

If you are lucky enough to become the owner of a brand new laptop, then there can be no talk of wires!

The most popular router models

At the moment, an increasing number of Internet users are resorting to the use of equipment such as a Wi-Fi router.

The 3G standard in Russia has not yet exhausted even half of its resources - the network is growing and developing.

Computers - hardware

Computer selection, configuration selection

Today, technologies built into hard drives register the presence of specific faults.

Computer won't turn on, freezes, or restarts on its own? A few tips for troubleshooting and, in the future, the prevention of this.

Laptops are the same computers, which means that the problems associated with conventional computers can be extended to them.

This article describes the steps for setting up a computer for novice users who have just purchased this miracle of technology.

In order to choose the right keyboard and mouse, you must decide exactly what you want to use your computer for most: for office work, for games, for surfing the Internet, for watching movies and listening to music, or you want to do a little of everything.

Is your computer making noise and overheating? Save him!

new hard SSD technology disk allows you to boot operating system 5 times faster, processing speed is several times faster

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Surely all users have encountered a problem when the laptop does not turn on. However, not everyone knows what to do in such a situation. And first of all, you need to identify the root of the problem.

The article discusses the 6th stage of accelerating a PC on Windows OS without the use of special programs, i.e. system functionality.

What makes a laptop noisy. The main reasons for the appearance of increased noise and how to eliminate them.

Helpful Hints beginners and amateurs. Review of the best latest models!

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Any laptop heats up to some extent during operation. Especially often overheating of this technique occurs in the summer, when the ambient temperature rises. Similar overheating is also observed when modern computer games. In order to protect the equipment from critical temperatures, temperature sensors are initially installed in it. When the temperature indicators of the central or graphics processor reach a critical value, the device simply turns off. But this is not always convenient, especially if you were performing important actions on your device at the time of shutdown.

Causes of overheating

In order to cope with overheating problems, you need to find their cause and try to eliminate it.

• The main reason for overheating of the laptop lies in its dimensions, namely in the compactness of the case. In it, manufacturers put all the same components that are available in a regular desktop computer. In doing so, the task is to maintain the performance of the device. To fulfill this purpose, the hardware elements are packed quite tightly in the case. There is very little space between them. This prevents the full movement of air, the meaning of which is to bring hot streams out and cold in. The compactness of laptops does not allow equipping them with overall and powerful coolers.
• An additional inconvenience when using a laptop is dust, lint, hair, wool and other small light particles that periodically accumulate in places where air is blown out and on the radiator. Because of this, the performance of the device, in particular, thermal conductivity, is reduced. In this case, the cooler becomes clogged, and its efficiency is reduced.

Summer time has come, and laptop owners are increasingly asking themselves the question: “how to cool a laptop” if it gets pretty hot after a certain period of operation

• Sometimes the cause of your device overheating is a malfunction in the fan, caused by a breakdown or a factory defect. For example, it may turn out that the lubricant on it is insufficiently applied or the bearing is faulty.
• Running the device for a long time can dry out the thermal paste, which provides better heat transfer to the cooler and heatsink, allowing the fan to function more efficiently.
• Some laptop owners misuse them. For example, you can often observe how at home the device is not installed on a hard surface, but on a blanket or placed directly on your knees. In these cases, overheating of the device cannot be avoided, because the holes for blowing out heated air are closed, and the processor does not have the ability to fully cool.

Expert opinion: how to cool a laptop at home?

Most effective method to lower the temperature inside is to replace the thermal paste. It is desirable to carry out such a procedure regularly. It is also worth remembering that the best remedy from overheating is prevention: place the laptop only on hard surfaces (and it would be best to purchase a special cooling pad) and do not forget to clean it from dust.

Konstantin Kotovsky

About symptoms

To determine the temperature of the laptop are used special programs. If you suspect that your device is heating up excessively, refer to the data that displays the temperature sensor measurements. For example, you can use the BIOS / UEFI or the HWInfo utility to find out the required information. You can find any other program that will show you the heating of the computer by displaying sensor data. In a special window, you can also observe the speed of rotation of the cooler.

Refer to the operating manual for information on the permissible operating temperature range of the device. This data is also available on the official page of the company that sells laptops.

But it is not necessary to resort to utilities when determining the permissible operating temperature of a small-sized computer.

When the CPU/GPU temperature limit is reached, the device will simply turn off

If it overheats, then it will be clear immediately by the following signs:

• too loud noise from the fan;
• the blown air is very hot;
• abrupt shutdown of a laptop;
• hot body.

Consequences of high temperatures

If you do not pay attention to the constant overheating of the laptop, this can lead to unpleasant consequences. For example, high temperatures have a negative effect on the processor. The crystal structure of its components is gradually destroyed, negatively affecting its performance.

You probably paid attention to the fact that an overheated microprocessor begins to “slow down”, slowly completing tasks. In this case, the owner of the device can see error messages on the screen. Some processes may be invisible to the user. Sometimes when the processor overheats, it needs to perform calculations several times until it gets the correct result.

But this situation can be especially inconvenient for gamers who are fond of online games with detailed graphics. The high temperature inside the laptop provokes the device to turn off right during some important “battle”. Often such nuances make the gaming community wonder: “how to cool a laptop?”, And resort to sophistication for the sake of good cooling.

But the negative thermal factor adversely affects not only the crystal structure of the microprocessor. After all, the silicon involved in the operation of transistors is also subject to charring, as are the contacts. This provokes even more overheating and easily disables the device in just a few months.

Typically, a laptop is not in danger of failure due to overheating, because it has temperature sensors

Ways to eliminate factors that provoke overheating

Notebook stands

Today, there are many different laptop stands available. They differ in the presence or absence of an additional cooling cooler. Both of them allow you to reduce the temperature of the processor. Such devices are sometimes quite inexpensive and available to everyone.

Software cleaning

You can reduce the temperature by reducing the list of software that works with the system. It is also advisable to close unused applications through the task manager.

CPU voltage

You can manage it according to the following scheme: start the “power supply”, → go to the settings of the current power plan, → select additional power options, → open the processor power management tab → lower its maximum voltage.

Switching off the device

Sometimes, simply turning off a laptop allows it to cool down enough to allow it to continue. safe work. This reduces fan noise and allows time for the underside of the case to cool down.

Today you can buy a lot of gadgets and even installations that allow you to keep temperature regime device operation within acceptable limits

Cleaning and replacing thermal paste

Professionals advise every six months to clean the cooler (fan and radiator) from dust. At the same time, it is desirable to update the thermal paste, which increases heat dissipation from the CPU to the heatsink.

A Phillips screwdriver is used to open the housing cover. Dust that has accumulated inside the laptop, between the radiator fins and under the fan, is removed with wipes, cotton swabs, a can of compressed air, or a vacuum cleaner.

To reduce the chance of the device overheating, you need to properly distribute the thermal paste when replacing the cooling element. It can be bought at any computer store or radio market.

Sequencing:

• detach the heatsink from the processor surface;
• remove the remnants of the old thermal paste from the processor and heatsink;
• apply new paste to the surface of the microprocessor.

The paste is applied in a thin layer, it is necessary to provide a minimum of space between the radiator and the contact area. If you apply an excessively thick layer of paste, overheating of the central processor is possible, up to its failure.

Also, at least once a year, you should replace the thermal paste, which improves heat dissipation from the processor to the radiator, and, accordingly, the fan

Fan replacement and repair

If you have experience in assembling / disassembling a portable computer, then you will probably be able to independently replace the fan with exactly the same or more powerful one. This must be done in the case when it is known for sure that the cause of overheating lies precisely in this element of the laptop. Sometimes it is enough just to change the bearing grease. It's easy to do it yourself. After such maintenance, it rotates freely from a light touch.

Cooling programs

There are items in the BIOS that allow you to change the rotation modes of the fans that cool the motherboard (if any) and the central processor. In the presented section, you can set the aggressive mode for them. But at the same time, the noise from the fans will be noticeably higher, even when the laptop is not performing any tasks (idle).

Some discrete graphics cards come with special utilities, but they are usually used to reduce speed and noise from the fan, which increases the temperature.

Some manufacturers make life easier for users by supplying motherboard(or laptop) specialized programs that allow you to monitor sensor readings and change parameters that affect forced cooling.

Proper operation

When using a portable computer, its correct operation plays an important role. When it stands on a hard surface, such as a table or special stand, there is enough space for hot air to blow out. When the laptop is placed on a sofa, blanket or bed, the air inlet and outlet slots are blocked, therefore, cooling is degraded. It is best to place the body of the device on specialized tables, which have additional holes on their surface for the passage of hot air.

Good afternoon friends! Today we will talk about PC cooling: where does the heat come from, what is fraught with overheating of the computer and how to deal with high temperatures inside the system unit.

A comfortable temperature regime for a computer is no less important than for its owner. The higher the temperature outside and in the room, the more acute the problem of effective PC cooling becomes.

To correctly and with minimal cost to solve the problem of overheating, it is necessary, at least in general terms, to imagine what cooling systems are, why computers need them at all, and what consequences “overheating” can lead to.

A computer, like any electrical appliance, dissipates part of the electricity received in the form of heat. The main sources of heat are the CPU, motherboard and graphics processor of the video card.

Main reasons for the increase in heat release PC components are:

• growth of clock frequencies of the processor and memory bus;
• growth in the number of memory cells in PC chips;
• increase in power consumption by computer components.

Thus, the more powerful your PC, the more energy it consumes, and, consequently, it generates more heat. Minimization trends reduce the free space inside the system unit, and at the same time exacerbate the problem of heat dissipation for the PC.

Consequences of computer overheating

We are often dissatisfied slow work computer or its periodic freezing. And the reason is often trivial - the computer is “hot”. In the best case, the “reflex” (protection system) will work and the computer will reboot, and if you are not lucky, several components may fail.

High temperatures are most dangerous for the element base (microcircuits, capacitors, transistors, etc.), especially for a hard drive. Overheating, it works in a failed mode (writes data incorrectly). After rebooting and cooling down, there is a chance that you will not find your saved data on the storage medium.

Now, it seems to me, everyone is imbued with the importance of the issue under consideration.

Methods for determining the heat dissipation of a computer

1. You can study the documentation for PC components and calculate the total heat dissipation. But this is not very convenient, and in the end we get a high measurement error.

2. I advise you to use sites that provide a service for calculating heat dissipation and power consumption (for example, emacs.ru/calc). Very convenient and easy, the component base is constantly updated.

If the temperature inside the block is above 35 degrees, and the processor temperature is more than 60 degrees (45 degrees is critical for a hard drive), then it's time to take measures to upgrade the cooling system.

1. Pay attention to the location of the system unit: provide free air to all vents.

2. The free space from the rear wall of the “system unit” should be approximately equal to two distances of the diameter of the exhaust fan.

3. Mandatory presence of coolers on the central processor, graphics processor of the video card and in the power supply.

4. For more powerful computers, or in hotter environments, additional northbridge IC coolers are available, hard drives and an additional exhaust cooler on the back wall of the PC case.

5. The air intake should be at the bottom and front (the “coldest” zone), and the warm air should be exhausted at the top rear of the power supply.

6. Use the possibility of additional air intake for graphics adapter through PCI plugs.

7. Use the possibility of natural ventilation of the hard drive bays due to the slightly bent blanks of the free bays.

8. Increase, if possible, the aerodynamic resistance inside the system unit:

• provide enough space inside the computer case for the passage of air;
• neatly lay the cables inside the system unit using cable ties;
• install a dust filter at the air intake (do not forget to clean it regularly).

9. Regularly (about once every three months) clean the computer from dust.

10. If possible, change the thermal paste on the CPU once a year.

The “correct” fan

E If the noise level is not very important for you, then you can install high-speed coolers. If the "noisiness" of the computer plays an important role, then I advise you to install "thick" low-speed fans of a larger size.

Also pay attention to the gap between the blades and the fan rim: it should be no more than 2 mm (ideally, tenths of a mm). Otherwise, the efficiency of such a fan will be very low.

Which is better: air or water?

This question is very often of interest to people who assemble a computer themselves or are interested in the issue of its modernization. Water is definitely better: the heat capacity is twice that of air, and the density is 800 times. Those. other things being equal, water removes 1500 times more heat than air.

The noise of this design is about the same, but the complexity is much higher. Hence the big minus - it will be more difficult to change PC configurations after installing a water cooling system.

The most effective and interesting option are thermotubes.

Thermotubes

Thermotubes are a combination of two tubes one inside the other, sealed and filled with a coolant. It works as follows: in the heated part, the conductor evaporates and is transferred in the form of steam to the cooled area, where condensate forms, which returns to the heated area through the inner tube.

These tubes are compact and virtually silent. High thermal conductivity is achieved due to technological features: heat spreads at the speed of sound.

One nuance that manufacturers are silent about is the boiling point of the coolant. Namely, this indicator determines the threshold at which thermotubes turn from ordinary coolers into highly efficient heat removal systems. Before buying, carefully study the documentation, the recommended boiling point of the coolant is 35-40 degrees.

Thermal paste fills in the bumps at the contact point between the cooler and the processor, thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of heat transfer between them.

1. Before using a new thermal paste, remove the remnants of the old from the surface of the processor. For this, it is better to use special napkins.

2. Use thermal paste with high thermal conductivity and low viscosity.

3. Do not dilute the thermal paste, you thereby reduce its thermal conductivity.

4. Don't apply too much thermal paste, it won't improve performance.

Summer quickly came into its own; the thermometer is creeping up, and more and more often you have to think about how to ensure a comfortable temperature. Believe me: for computers, the problem of dealing with heat is no less relevant than for their users. Even if the conditions in the room are quite normal (20 - 22°С), the temperature in the system unit reaches 30–32°С. And this is at best. The hotter it is outside and in apartments, the more acute the issue of protection against overheating and the more attention is paid to the cooling systems of the system unit and its components.

In order to solve the problem competently, it is necessary, at least in general terms, to understand why computers need cooling systems at all, why system units overheat and how to protect the “computing friend” from thermal shock. In this article you will not find a long list of cooler models, but after reading it, you will be able to choose the right components for your PC cooling system and choose a new case wisely.

Why is he getting hot

The reason is trivial: like any electrical appliance, a computer dissipates a part (sometimes quite significant) of the consumed electricity in the form of heat - for example, the processor converts almost all of the energy used into heat. The more it is needed by the system unit, the more its components heat up. If the heat is not removed in time, this can lead to the most unpleasant results (see "Consequences of overheating"). The problem of heat removal and cooling is especially relevant for modern models processors (both central and graphic), setting new performance records (and often heat dissipation).

Every PC component that dissipates a lot of heat is equipped with a cooling device. As a rule, in such devices there is a metal radiator and a fan - these are the components that a typical cooler consists of. The thermal interface between it and the heating component is also important - usually it is thermal paste (a mixture of substances with good thermal conductivity), which ensures efficient heat transfer to the cooler's heatsink.

Advances in cooling systems, through which technological innovations such as thermal tubes have appeared, have provided new opportunities for the creators of components for personal computers, allowing them to abandon noisy coolers. Some computers are equipped with water cooling systems - they have their advantages and disadvantages. All this is discussed below.

Increasing PC heat dissipation

The main reason why computers generate more and more heat is because their processing power is increasing. The most significant factors are:

• growth of clock frequencies of the processor, chipset, memory bus and other buses;
• growth in the number of transistors and memory cells in PC chips;
• increase in power consumed by PC nodes.

How more powerful computer, the more electricity it "eats" - therefore, an increase in heat generation is inevitable. Despite the use of sophisticated technological processes in the manufacture of chips, their power consumption is still growing, increasing the amount of heat dissipated in the PC case. In addition, the area of ​​video card boards is increasing (for example, due to the need to accommodate more memory chips). The result is an increase in the aerodynamic resistance of the case: a bulky board simply blocks the access of cooling air to the processor and power supply. This problem is especially relevant for PCs in small cases, where the distance between the video card and the "basket" for the HDD is 2-3 cm - and yet in this space there are still drive cables and other cables ... Microcircuits random access memory are also becoming more “gluttonous”, and modern operating systems require more and more RAM. For example, in Windows 7, 4 GB is recommended for it - thus, several tens of watts of heat are dissipated, which further aggravates the situation with heat dissipation. Chip system logic on motherboard is also a very "hot" component.

HARD DRIVE VULNERABILITY

Inside the hard disk case, above the surface of the rotating platters, movable magnetic heads slide, controlled by high-precision mechanics. They write and read data. When heated, the materials that make up the disk components expand. In the operating temperature range, mechanics and electronics can cope with thermal expansion quite well. However, when it overheats, it exceeds acceptable limits, and the hard drive heads can "overshoot", writing data in the wrong place until the computer is turned off. And when it is turned on again, the cold hard drive will not be able to find the data written in an overheated state. In such a case, information can be saved only with the help of complex and expensive special equipment. If the temperature exceeds 45°C, it is recommended to install an additional fan to cool the hard drive.

There is a paradox: the thermal load in modern cases is growing at a high rate, and their design almost does not change: manufacturers take as a basis the design recommended by Intel almost 10 years ago. Models adapted to intense heat generation are rare, and low-noise models are even rarer.

Consequences of overheating

With excess heat, the computer will, at best, begin to slow down and freeze, and at worst, one or more components will fail. High temperatures are very harmful to the "health" of the element base (microcircuits, capacitors, etc.), especially for a hard drive, overheating of which is fraught with data loss.

APPROXIMATE HEAT RELEASE PARAMETERS

Approximate parameters of heat dissipation of the components of an average computer system unit (with a high computing load). The main sources of heat are the motherboard, CPU, and GPU of the video card (they account for more than half of the heat dissipation).

The capacity of modern HDDs allows you to store extensive collections of music and videos, work documents, digital photo albums, games and much more. Disks are becoming smaller and faster, but this comes at the cost of greater data density, structural fragility, and hence the vulnerability of the filling. Tolerances in the production of capacious drives are measured in microns, so the slightest "step to the side" disables the drive. Because HDD is so sensitive to external influences. If the drive has to operate under suboptimal conditions (such as overheating), the chances of losing written data increases dramatically.

PC Cooling Basics

If the air temperature in the system unit is kept at 36°C or higher, and the processor temperature is more than 60°C (or the hard drive constantly heats up to 45°C), it's time to take measures to improve cooling.

But before you run to the store for a new cooler, take into account a few points. It is possible that the problem of overheating can be solved more in a simple way. For example, system unit should be located so that there is free access of air to all ventilation openings. The distance at which its rear part is separated from the wall or furniture should be no less than two diameters of the exhaust fan. Otherwise, the resistance to air outflow increases, and most importantly, the heated air stays near the vents longer, so that a significant part of it again enters the system unit. If it is installed incorrectly, even the most powerful cooler will not save you from overheating (the efficiency of which is determined by the difference between its temperature and the temperature of the air cooling the radiator).

COOLER BASED ON THE PELTIER EFFECT

One of the latest models that uses the Peltier effect. Typically, these coolers feature a full range of the latest technological advances: TEMs, thermal tubes, fans with advanced aerodynamics, and an eye-catching design. The result is impressive; there would be enough space in the system unit ...

The most effective cooling is achieved when the air temperatures in the system unit and in the room where it is located are equal. The only way to get this result is to provide effective ventilation. For this, coolers of various designs are used.

In standard modern personal computer Usually several coolers are installed:

• in the power supply;
• on the central processor;
• on the GPU (if your computer has a discrete video card).

In some cases, additional fans are used:

• for chips of system logic located on the motherboard;
• for hard drives;
• for PC case.

Cooling efficiency

When choosing a case for a PC system unit, each user is guided by their own criteria. For example, modders need an original design solution or the possibility of rework to implement it. Overclockers need a case in which the overclocked processor, video card, RAM (the list goes on) will feel comfortable. And at the same time, everyone, of course, wants the system unit to be quiet and small in size.

However, a fancy PC can generate up to 500W of heat (see table below). Are wishes feasible from the point of view of the laws of physics?

HOW MUCH HEAT DOES A COMPUTER GIVE OUT

There are several ways to measure heat dissipation.

1. According to the power consumption values ​​specified in the documentation for the PC components.

• Advantages: accessibility, simplicity.
• Disadvantages: high error and, as a result, excessive requirements for the cooling system.

2. With the help of sites that provide a service for calculating heat dissipation (and power consumption), for example, www.emacs.ru/calc.

• Advantages: you do not have to rummage through manuals or travel through manufacturers' websites - the necessary data is available in the databases of the services offered.
• Disadvantages: database compilers do not keep up with node manufacturers, so databases often contain unreliable data.

3. According to the values ​​of the power consumed by the nodes and the heat release coefficients found in the documentation or measured independently. This method is for professionals or great enthusiasts of optimizing the cooling system.

• Pros: Provides the most accurate results and optimizes your PC most effectively.
• Cons: to use this way requires serious knowledge and considerable experience.

Solutions

The main principle: in order to remove heat, it is necessary to pass a certain amount of air through the system unit. Moreover, its volume should be the greater, the hotter the room and the stronger the overheating.

Simply installing additional fans will not solve the problem. After all, the more numerous, powerful and “resourceful” they are, the “sounder” the PC. Moreover, not only are the motors and fan blades noisy, but due to vibrations, the entire system unit makes noise (especially often this happens when poor assembly and using cheap cases). To correct this situation, it is recommended to use low-speed fans of large diameter.

In order to be able to achieve effective cooling without using noisy fans, the system unit must have low resistance to the air that passes through it (in professional parlance, this is called aerodynamic drag). To put it simply - if the air is difficult to "crawl" through a tight space clogged with cables and components, you have to install fans with a lot of overpressure, and they inevitably create a lot of noise. Another problem is dust: the more air you need to pump, the more often you need to clean the inside of the case (we'll talk about this separately).

Aerodynamic drag

For optimal cooling, it is always desirable to use a large case. This is the only way to achieve comfortable operation without noise and overheating, even in abnormal (over 40 ° C) heat. A small case is only appropriate if the computer has low heat dissipation or water cooling is used.

However, to minimize noise, it is not necessary to build an air-cooled PC in a sea container or in a refrigerator. It is enough to take into account the recommendations of experts. So, the free section in any section of the housing should be 2–5 times larger than the flow area of ​​the exhaust fans. This also applies to the air inlets.

THERMAL PIPE COOLER

Thermotube coolers are "silent" and allow you to cool even very hot PC components, such as GPUs video cards. However, it is imperative to take into account the specific features of these cooling systems.

Hybrid systems include, along with thermotubes and heat sinks, conventional fans. But the presence of thermal pipes, which facilitate heat removal, makes it possible to get by with a smaller fan or use low-speed, and therefore not so noisy models.

In order to reduce aerodynamic drag, you need:

• ensure enough free space for air flows (it should be several times greater than the total cross section of the exhaust fans);
• neatly lay the cables inside the system unit using cable ties;
• in the place of air supply to the housing, install a filter that traps dust, but does not provide strong resistance to air flow;
• the filter should be cleaned regularly.

Compliance with simple rules will allow you to install low-speed exhaust fans. As already mentioned, the case must ensure the supply of cold air from the room where the PC is located to all the “hot” components without high energy costs (ie, with a minimum number of fans). The volume of air must be sufficient so that its temperature at the outlet of the case does not turn out to be too high: for efficient heat transfer of PC components, the difference in air temperatures at the inlet and outlet of the system unit should not exceed a few degrees.

FAN AND CASE UNIT LAYOUT OPTIONS FOR EFFICIENT PC COOLING

Here is one of the concepts for building an air cooling system:

• air intake is carried out below and in front, in the "cold" zone;
• air outlet is made at the top and rear, through the power supply. This corresponds to the natural upward movement of heated air;
• if necessary, an additional exhaust fan with automatic adjustment is installed, located next to the PSU;
• additional air intake is provided for the video card through the PCIE plug;
• low ventilation of 3" and 5" drive bays is provided due to slightly bent blanks of unoccupied bays;
• it is important to let the main air flow through the “hottest” components;
• it is desirable to bring the total area of ​​the intake holes to twice the area of ​​the fans (it is no longer required, since this will not give an effect, and the accumulation of dust will increase).

In accordance with these recommendations, you can modify the cases yourself (interesting, but troublesome) or choose the appropriate models when buying. Approximate options for organizing air flow through the system unit are given above.

The "correct" fan

If the system unit weakly “resists” the flow of blown air, you can use any fan, as long as it provides enough flow for cooling (this can be found in its passport, as well as using online calculators). Another thing is if the resistance to air flow is significant - this is exactly the case with fans mounted in densely “populated” cases, on radiators and in perforated holes.

If you decide to replace a failed fan in the case or on the cooler yourself, install one that has at least the flow rate and excess air pressure (see data sheet). If there is no relevant information, it is not recommended to use such a fan in critical nodes (for example, to cool the processor).

If the noise level is not too important, you can install "revolving" fans of a larger diameter. Thicker models allow you to reduce noise levels while increasing air pressure.

In any case, pay attention to the gap between the blades and the fan rim: it should not be large (the optimal value is calculated in tenths of a millimeter). If the distance between the blades and the rim is more than 2 mm, the fan will be inefficient.

Air or water?

It is widely believed that water systems are much more efficient and quieter than conventional air systems. Is it really? Indeed, the heat capacity of water is twice, and the density is 830 times higher than that of air. This means that an equal volume of water can remove 1658 times more heat.

However, the noise is not so simple. After all, the coolant (water) eventually gives off heat to the same “outboard” air, and water radiators (with the exception of huge structures) are equipped with the same fans - their noise is added to the noise of the water pump. Therefore, the gain, if any, is not so great.

The design becomes much more complicated when it is necessary to cool several components with a water flow proportional to their heat release. Apart from branched pipes, complex control devices have to be used (simple tees and crosses cannot be dispensed with). An alternative is to use a design with flows adjusted once and for all at the factory; but in this case, the user is deprived of the opportunity to significantly change the configuration of the PC.

Dust and its control

Due to speed differences, the system blocks of computers become real dust collectors. The speed of the air going through the inlets is many times higher than the speed of the flows inside the housing. In addition, air currents often change direction around PC components. Therefore, the majority (up to 70%) of dust brought from outside settles inside the case; should be cleaned at least once a year.

However, dust can become your "ally" in the fight to improve the efficiency of the cooling system. After all, its active subsidence is observed just in those places where air flows are not distributed optimally.

Air filters

Fiber filters intercept more than 70% of dust, which allows you to clean the case much less frequently. Often, several 120 mm exhaust fans are installed in modern PC cases, while air enters the case through many inlets dispersed throughout the structure - their total area is much less than the area of ​​the fans. Installing a filter in such a housing without modification is pointless. Professionals give here a number of recommendations:

• inlets for the intake of cooling air should be located as close as possible to its base;
• points of entry and exit of air, the paths of its passage should be organized so that the air flows "washed" the most heated elements of the PC;
• the area of ​​the air intake openings should be 2-5 times the area of ​​the exhaust fans.

Coolers on Peltier elements

Peltier elements - or, as they are also called, thermoelectric modules (TEMs) operating on the principle of the Peltier effect - have been produced on an industrial scale for many years. They are built into car refrigerators, beer coolers, industrial coolers for cooling processors. There are also models for PC, although they are still quite rare.

First - about the principle of work. As you might guess, the Peltier effect was discovered by the Frenchman Jean-Charles Peltier; it happened in 1834. The cooling module based on this effect includes a plurality of series-connected semiconductor elements of n and p types. With the passage of direct current through such a connection, one half of the p-n contacts will heat up, the other will cool.

These semiconductor elements are oriented so that the heated contacts face one side and the cooled contacts face the other. It turns out a plate, which is coated on both sides with a ceramic material. If a sufficiently strong current is applied to such a module, the temperature difference between the sides can reach several tens of degrees.

It can be said that a TEM is a kind of “heat pump”, which, using the energy of an external power source, pumps the generated heat from a source (for example, a processor) to a heat exchanger - a radiator, thus participating in the cooling process.

To effectively remove heat from a powerful processor, you have to use a TEM of 100-200 elements (which, by the way, are quite fragile); therefore, the TEM is equipped with an additional copper contact plate, which increases the size of the device and requires the application of additional layers of thermal paste.

This reduces the efficiency of heat dissipation. The problem is partially solved by replacing the thermal paste with soldering, but this method is rarely used in models available on the market. Note that the energy consumption of the TEM itself is quite large and comparable to the amount of heat removed (about a third of the energy used by the TEM is also converted into heat).

Another difficulty that arises when using TEMs in coolers is the need for precise control of the module temperature; it is provided by the use of special boards with controllers. This increases the cost of the cooler, besides, the board takes up additional space in the system unit. If the temperature is not regulated, it can drop to negative values; condensation is also possible, which is unacceptable for electronic components computer.

So, high-quality coolers based on TEM are expensive (from 2.5 thousand rubles), complex, cumbersome and not as efficient as one might think, judging by their size. The only area in which such coolers are indispensable is the cooling of industrial computers operating in hot (above 50°C) conditions; however, this is not the subject of our article.

Thermal interface and thermal paste

As already mentioned, an integral part of any cooling system (including a computer cooler) is a thermal interface - a component through which thermal contact is made between the heat-generating and heat-removing devices. The thermal paste acting in this role ensures efficient heat transfer between, for example, the processor and the cooler.

Why heat conductive paste is needed

If the cooler's heatsink does not adhere tightly to the cooled chip, the efficiency of the entire cooling system immediately decreases (air is a good heat insulator). Making the surface of the heatsink smooth and flat (for perfect contact with the cooled device) is very difficult, and not cheap. This is where thermal paste comes to the rescue, filling the irregularities on the contact surfaces and thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of heat transfer between them.

It is important that the viscosity of the thermal paste is not too high: this is necessary to displace air from the place of thermal contact with a minimum layer of thermal paste. Note, by the way, that polishing the cooler base to a mirror state may not improve heat transfer by itself. The fact is that with manual processing it is almost impossible to make the surfaces strictly parallel - as a result, the gap between the heatsink and the processor may even increase.

Before applying new thermal paste, carefully dispose of the old one. For this, napkins made of non-woven materials are used (they should not leave fibers on surfaces). It is highly undesirable to dilute the paste, as this greatly impairs the heat-conducting properties. Let's give a few more recommendations:

• use thermal pastes with a thermal conductivity of more than 2–4 W / (K * m) and low viscosity;
• when installing a cooler, apply fresh thermal paste each time;
• during installation, after fixing the cooler with a mount, press it firmly (but not too much, otherwise damage may occur) and turn it around the axis several times within the existing backlashes. In any case, installation requires skill and accuracy.

Thermotubes

Thermotubes are great for removing excess heat. They are compact and silent. By design, these are sealed cylinders (they can be quite long and arbitrarily curved), partially filled with a coolant. Inside the cylinder is another tube made in the form of a capillary.

The thermotube works as follows: in the heated area, the coolant evaporates, its vapor passes into the cooled part of the thermotube and condenses there - and the condensate returns to the heated area through the capillary inner tube.

The main advantage of thermotubes is their high thermal conductivity: the rate of heat propagation is equal to the rate at which coolant vapor passes through the tube from end to end (it is very high and close to the speed of sound propagation). In conditions of changing heat dissipation, thermotube cooling systems are very effective. This is important, for example, for cooling processors, which, depending on the operating mode, emit different amounts of heat.

Currently produced thermotubes are capable of dissipating 20–80 W of heat. When designing coolers, tubes with a diameter of 5–8 mm and a length of up to 300 mm are usually used.

However, with all the advantages of thermotubes, they have one significant limitation, which is not always written about in manuals. Manufacturers usually do not indicate the boiling point of the coolant in the cooler's thermotubes, meanwhile, it determines the threshold, at the crossing of which the thermotube begins to effectively remove heat. Up to this point, the passive thermotube cooler, which does not have a fan, works like a regular radiator. In general, the lower the boiling point of the coolant, the more efficient and safer the cooler on thermotubes; the recommended value is 35-40 ° С (it is better if the boiling point is indicated in the documentation).

Let's summarize. Heat pipe coolers are especially useful for high (more than 100 W) heat dissipation, but they can be used in other cases - if the price does not bother. In this case, it is necessary to use thermal pastes that efficiently transfer heat - this will allow you to fully realize the capabilities of the cooler. General principle The choice is as follows: the more thermotubes and the thicker they are, the better.

Varieties of thermotubes

High pressure thermotubes (HTS). At the end of 2005, ICE HAMMER Electronics introduced the new kind high-pressure heat pipe coolers based on Heat Transporting System (HTS) technology. It can be said that this system occupies an intermediate position between heat pipes and liquid cooling systems. The coolant in it is water with an admixture of ammonia and other chemical compounds at normal atmospheric pressure. Due to the rise of the bubbles formed when the mixture boils, the circulation of the coolant is significantly accelerated. Apparently, such systems work most efficiently when the tubes are in a vertical position.

The NanoSpreader technology makes it possible to create hollow copper heat-conducting tapes 70–500 mm wide and 1.5–3.5 mm thick, filled with a coolant. The role of the capillary is played by a sheet of copper fibers, which returns the condensed coolant from the condensation zone to the heating and evaporation zone. The shape of the flat tape is supported by an elastic large-pore material, which does not allow the walls to fall off and ensures the free movement of vapors. The main advantages of thermal tapes are their small thickness and the ability to cover large areas.

Modding and cooling systems

The word "modding" is derived from the English modify (modify, change). Modders (those who modder) transform the cases and "innards" of computers in order to improve specifications and most importantly, looks. Like car tuning enthusiasts, computer users want to personalize their work and creativity tool, an indispensable communication tool and home entertainment center. Modding is a powerful means of self-expression; this is, of course, creativity, an opportunity to work with your head and hands, to gain valuable experience.

PRODUCTS FOR MODDING

There are many specialized online stores (both Russian and foreign) that offer goods for modding, delivering them all over the world. It is more convenient to use domestic ones: with foreign ones there is more trouble (for example, when transferring money), and delivery is usually expensive. Such specialized resources are easy to find using search engines.

Sometimes modding accessories are unexpectedly found in the price lists of ordinary online stores, and the price for them is sometimes lower than in specialized ones. Therefore, we recommend that you do not rush to buy this or that accessory - first carefully study several price lists.

What modders change in computers

It is unlikely that the average modder is able to remake a complex filling: the capabilities of a user who does not have special knowledge in the field of radio electronics and circuitry are still limited. Therefore, computer modding mainly involves a "cosmetic" transformation of the computer case.

MAIN MANUFACTURERS OF GOODS FOR MODDING

To better navigate the components, it makes sense to know the names of some companies specializing in the production of mod products: Sunbeam, Floston, Gembird, Revoltec, Vizo, Sharkoon, Vantec, Spire, Hanyang, 3R System, G. M. Corporation, Korealcom, RaidMax, Sirtec ( computer cases and power supplies), Zalman, Akasa (PSUs, cooling systems), Koolance, SwiftTech (water cooling), VapoChill (cryogenic cooling systems), Thermaltake (mainly cases and mod panels).

In particular, the so-called blowhole mods are implemented: holes are cut in the case for ventilation, as well as for installing additional coolers. Such modifications not only improve appearance- they are useful for the overall "health" of the computer, as they increase the cooling of system components.

Experienced modders often combine business with pleasure: install liquid cooling systems (most of them have a completely futuristic design).

Building an efficient water cooling system (WCS) is not an easy task, both technically and financially. As it was said, a solid baggage of special knowledge is needed, which not everyone has; Yes, and without technical skills can not do. All this greatly stimulates the purchase of a finished CBO. Leaning towards this option, be prepared to fork out a lot. Moreover, it is far from certain that the increase in the performance of the processor and other components of the system unit, even overclocked due to the efficient heat removal of the new CBO, will pay for the difference in cost compared to the standard (or even improved) air cooling system. But this option has obvious advantages. By purchasing a ready-made CBO, you will not have to independently select individual components, order them on the websites of different manufacturers or sellers, wait for delivery, etc. In addition, you do not have to modify the PC case - often this advantage outweighs all the disadvantages. Finally, serial CBOs are usually cheaper than models assembled in parts.

An example of a CBO that provides a reasonable compromise between free creativity and ease of assembly (without sacrificing cooling efficiency) is the KoolanceExos-2 V2 system. It allows you to use a variety of water blocks (the so-called hollow heat exchangers that cover the cooled element) from a wide range manufactured by the company. The block of this CBO combines a radiator-heat exchanger with fans, a pump, an expansion tank, sensors and control electronics.

The process of installing and connecting such CBOs is very simple - it is described in detail in the user manual. Please note that the ventilation holes of the CBO are located on top. Accordingly, there must be enough free space above the fans for the outflow of heated air (at least 240 mm for fans with a diameter of 120 mm). If there is no such space on top (for example, the tabletop of a computer desk interferes), you can simply put the CBO block next to the system unit - although this option is not described in the instructions.

The easiest and most obvious way of modding is to replace stock coolers with backlit modder coolers (their choice is also quite wide: there are both powerful CPU coolers and weak decorative ones).

The main rule: compare prices in different search engines and online stores! The amplitude of oscillations will surprise you a lot. Of course, you should choose cheaper offers, by all means paying attention to the terms of payment, delivery and guarantees.

Good day to all))) As promised, I will try to describe in as much detail as possible the process of manufacturing this modification of the case. To begin with, I apologize to the moderators of this project, because a link is used, and the photographs used were taken at different times and not all are directly related to this modification, although they are as close as possible. But, the link is from this site)))) So, let's get started. To do this, we need: (a) a firm belief that your case needs to be modified, (b) an ordinary centimeter ruler, (c) a compass or a simple pencil + a thin marker, a color different from the color of the case, (d) a drill or a screwdriver with two drills (on 4 and 8), (e) a jigsaw with a blade (nail file) for metal installed on it, (f) a Phillips screwdriver, a fan and fasteners (screws), (g) a protective device (grille, mesh, or without it). Further, in order: a) It is necessary to find out the location of our modification. In my case, opposite and a little lower than the video card, so that a stream of fresh air blows directly onto the video card. You can also apply airflow to the hard drive, the central processor, the north or south bridge of the motherboard, in a very rare case - to the power supply. b) With a ruler, find out the diameter (diameter of the fan) of the hole cut out in the case, which can be drawn (c) with a compass on the case wall. Or we will circle the inside of the fan with a pencil or a marker on this surface..jpg d) We will need a drill and drills to drill holes in the case. Drill for 8 - to insert a file from (e) a jigsaw and start sawing (in red in the photo), and a drill for 4 - to attach the fan with screws. Having cut out the required radius, we proceed to fastening. To do this, we need to mark the mounting points from (e) the fan and drill them out (black in the photo). (g) A lattice or its analogue (whatever your heart desires, you can even do without it. But I used protective grille from the power supply, because there is a small child in the house) we will fasten it simultaneously with the fan with screws that come with almost all "Carlsons" from the store. After mounting, I applied power to the fan. I used a connector on the motherboard and a resistor that lowers the speed.