If you are using a computer or a laptop, then this information is for you. Have you ever thought about why CPU coolers are present on your computer? Well, the simple answer is that computers need cooling.
But why? Let’s dive into the deep.
First, you need to know how the current is passing on a cable or in an electronic device. The current is nothing but the passing of electrons. These electrons are small but they are a lot and can carry the data from place to place.
The electrons can travel at the speed of light – 299 792 458 m / s. It is the fastest thing on the planet.
- Useful Read: What is the difference between voltage and current?
Why is heat produced in a computer?
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy is neither created nor destroyed but can transform from one form to another.
Some examples of energy transformation.
- Electrical energy to heat energy – Rice cooker, water heaters, etc
- Electrical to mechanical energy – Motor pumps, fans, etc
- There are many other energy conversions like mechanical to electrical, solar to electrical, electrical to light, etc.
Doesn’t matter what type of energy it is, it must transform from one form to another. During this transmission, losing energy occurs, and it dissipates as heat. And no energy conversion occurs without losses.
This is the reason why your mobile gets hot when you are using it. Not only mobile, the light, fan, motor, engine, laptop, etc, are also in the same category.
All the electronic products where energy conversion takes place to produce heat.
The computer is also an electronic device. It converts electrical energy to digital signals for monitors, sound signals for speakers, radio wave signals for Bluetooth devices, etc.
Because all these actions take place on a computer, it gets hot when you are in use. The computer processor CPU will stand in the first place to make all the things happen.
The article about computer working will get you to understand what’s happening on a computer.
Heat in a computer is a problem
The processor works like crazy. So it gets more heat than any other component on a computer.
All the components in a CPU cabinet, like fans, motherboard, hard disk, or even cables, also will produce heat, but in less quantity.
Heat is not a problem in a computer until it reaches the maximum permissible range.
When it gets extreme levels of heat inside the CPU cabinet, along with the processor the other components also affect it. And as a result, you’ll find the slow performance of your PC.
In the worst case, you’ll find problems like BSOD because of the malfunctioning of RAM, hard disk, etc.
What does the CPU cooler do?
Now you need to know how the CPU cooler can reduce the temperature of a processor. Here I can share with you how I decrease my CPU temperature from 89°C to 52°C.
A few days back, I heard a weird sound on my CPU case. Also, it vibrates when I touch it. I don’t know what’s wrong with the hardware on my CPU until I open the case.
When I open the CPU case, I notice all the PC parts are fine like no burnouts, no dust in the slots, but a problem is with the stock cooler.
Since I bought this PC, I didn’t upgrade the stock cooler or CPU cooler. I thought something was wrong with the CPU cooler. So I checked my CPU temperature by using an app called Core Temp. And I found this, my processor core temperature records 89°C maximum. It is in a danger zone. Isn’t it?
That’s a clear warning signal for me to change my CPU cooler as early as possible. Then I choose the best one for my PC – Antec A30. Of course, it is from the amazon store.
It is coming with copper cool technology at the best price. So I chose it. You can see how I installed a CPU cooler on my PC here.
After installing it on my PC, again I checked my CPU temperature. You guessed it right, the temperature dropped from 89° to 52°C. And my PC performance also improved.
Note: The core temp app here I used is safe. However, if you want to use this app, I suggest you not give any kind of permission to it.
The necessity of a CPU cooler
You’ve seen how heat is generated in a computer and in what way a CPU cooler can reduce the temperature. But, what’s the need to control the temperature of a CPU?
The CPU cooler is one of the compulsory computer components. It is used to control the temperature of the CPU. If there is no CPU cooler, the temperature of the CPU will gradually increase and reach the maximum limit (90°C). At this point, short-circuit between transistors occur and lead to damage to the processor.
The operating temperature range of a processor slightly varies from PC to PC. But on average, the operating limits are between 35° to 90°C.
If you don’t take care to control the temperature, your processor will get a blast or damage. You don’t want it. Right?
CPU cooler and CPU fan are not the same. Why?
You know about the CPU cooler. But, what about CPU fans?
The CPU fans are the normal fans that are used for ventilation in a CPU case. But the CPU cooler’s main purpose is to cool down the CPU temperature only.
| CPU cooler | CPU fan |
| To cool down CPU temperature | To provide cooling all the parts in a CPU case |
| Air and liquid cooling exists | Only air cooling occurs |
| High effective than CPU fans | Low effective |
| One piece in a case is enough | At least 3 fans must in a case |
| cost is high | Low cost |
When you optimize PC airflow with the best CPU cooler, your CPU temperature is between 40° to 50°C. It is a good range to keep.
Don’t get confused with the case fan airflow direction and direction of airflow in a CPU cabinet. The PC airflow optimization guide will help you to keep the correct airflow direction in a CPU case.
Can I start a PC without a CPU cooler?
What do you think? Do I recommend it? Of course not. Never turn ON your PC without a CPU cooler. If you do so, your PC will not turn ON. Sometimes, the computer might be turned ON but in less time the processor will get a blast.
However, along with the CPU cooler, fans are also important in a CPU cabinet. Especially one front and one rear fan are compulsory to provide enough cooling with neutral air pressure in a case.
Note: If your CPU case is vibrating or PC restarts automatically, then malfunctioning of the stock cooler is a reason for them.
- Useful read: Motherboard vs CPU: What’s the difference?
Conclusion
I hope now you know the importance of a CPU cooler on a computer. Indirectly, the CPU cooler causes the performance of your PC.
If you ask me why other electronics like motors, fans, mice, keyboards, monitors, etc, don’t need cooling but computers do, my answer is, “It depends on the operating temperature range of an electronic device.”
The processor in a PC produces more heat than the permissible range (35°C to 90°C). So it needs to cool.
But in the case of mice, the generated heat (very small that you can’t feel) is in between its operating temperature range. And that’s why it doesn’t need cooling. In motors, and other electronic devices have the same phenomenon.
However, it is better to provide as much cooling as you can to your PC. It improves your system performance. To get that, you must install a CPU cooler with 3 ventilation fans in basic and many fans depend on your cabinet supports.
Also, read How much electricity does your PC consume?
