Coolers for Your CPU, GPU or Drive
Air Coolers and Heatsinks for the PC
For almost every PC, air is essential for cooling the components. And almost all computers require active support from fans; only the few, mostly less powerful systems, can do without any fans and thus operate passively. Even computers whose processors and graphics cards are kept at low temperatures with water cooling usually need fans on the radiators. Therefore, it is not surprising that PC fans are offered in all sizes, performance levels, and colors, and there is a wide range of accessories available.
The World of Fans and Accessories - Air Cooling for the PC
Fans (engl. "fans") are available in various formats, with 120 and 140 mm being the most established sizes, as they offer an optimal balance of space requirement, noise level, airflow, and static pressure. Accordingly, most computer cases provide mounting slots for one or both of these formats, and the majority of CPU coolers are designed to be equipped with them. Additionally, the following accessories play a role in the air cooling sector:
- Fan Controllers: They allow the regulation of fan speed, which entails variable airflow and different noise levels. While PWM fans with a 4-pin connection are automatically controlled by compatible motherboards, a fan controller can also throttle 3-pin and possibly even Molex fans.
- Voltage Adapters: They achieve something very similar, but the reduced speed is then fixed.
- Fan Screws and Decouplers: Fans are usually fixed to the case with screws, but to reduce the transfer of vibrations to the case, fans can also be mounted with rubber or silicone pins.
- Fan Adapters: They can transform the fan formats installable in a case from one size to another, so, for example, a 120 mm fan fits into a 140 mm slot.
- Fan Grills: These are screwed in front of or behind a rotor and primarily provide protection from the rotating fan blades.
- Dust Filters: Thanks to them, the coarsest dust stays outside the computer case.
- Fan Clips/Clamps: These are used to mount the fans on most CPU coolers.