Now that summer is around for most, thought this Info Guide on Computer Cooling would be a good topic! For many average home computer owners do not realize the importance of, or the effects of not keeping you computer cool, and with proper airflow.

Computer Overheating can act erractically, usually shutsdown, shutsdown & restarts automatically, "freezes", lockups, run very slowly, or WORSE... shuts down, and you smell something not very good! These symptoms are very similiar to a virus, spyware, power supply unit failure also.

CPU units have a built in thermal safety feature, whichs means they will shut themselves down, (or suppose to) before permanent damage occurs. But for most, they usually "hang" in this hot zone, and produce some of the symptoms listed above.

Gamers might notice during intense game play, your system suddenly locks-up, freeezes, or shutsdown completely. Your CPU, and your video graphics card are working at full max, and producing alot, alot of heat. Improper airflow, and lack of good system cooling once again!

Most stock, store purchased computer systems are built with very poorly designed cooling. Usually 1, maybe 2 fans inside, the power supply fan, and the CPU heatsink fan. The average homeowner, usually doesn't encounter these problems unless a fan has failed, or cooling fans, vents are blocked,, OR they have there desktop inside of one of those really nice expensive, and hot, and lack of airflow desk compartments.

On Laptops, every bit of space inside of you laptop is jammed with very HOT, heat producing components. Failure of the 1 main fan inside of your laptop will kill your your laptop. Keeping all ventilation fans around and under the laptop clear IS CRITICAL! DO NOT use your laptop on your bed,,, blankets, comforter, conform around the laptop, blocking all ventilation grills, resulting in an overheat situation.

With Computer Case Selection

A properly cooled computer starts with good, thoughtul, and resourced computer case selection. A good PC Case will provide many spaces for fans in addition to metal construction for heat dissipation. Look for a case with at least one spot for a hard drive fan, a blowhole fan at the top of the case, a fan on the side panel, and plenty of space in the rear to mount a powerful fan to evacuate all that heated case air.

Look at the case and make sure there ARE ventilation vents. Most are on the side of case, some under case, and usually on the front panel. Aluminum has slightly better heat transfer characteristics than steel. Airflow around the outside is just as important. Blocking the exhaust or intakes can reduce the internal airflow substantially.

If your purchasing a stock, shelf, package deal computer system from a store ask the salesman about the computers cooling features, have him open the case and look for yourself. You should see at least 1 fan on the back as an exhaust fan,, if you don't see this, move along, keep looking.

These package deals, from the "Big" Mega Stores", are a great cheap deal for sure, but these manufactures of these computer systems build, and will cut any costs, to price and sell that system at an un-believable cheap price! Other maybe than the CPU, how fast the system is listed with the system box, the rest of the components are usually cheap, basic, generic parts, including the cooling system! What customer is going to ask about how good the case cooling is, how many fans does it have, and with those fans, what is the rated airflow inside of case? Most customers are not concerned, and have no idea. Case fans are low priced, and can be easily installed, so they can be added easily.

In addition, 120mm fans cool better while making less noise than smaller fans, so pick a case which will accommodate as many 120mm fans as possible.

Liquid Cooled The Alternative Solution.

Water Cooling: efficient, and requires a bit of space outside the case. Costs twice as much as an air solution, and needs a good deal of patience in order to assemble properly. Air cooling is much cheaper, easy to maintain, and to replace compared to "Liquid Cooled" Systems.

Liquid Cooling Basics: The purpose of any PC cooling system is to take heat away from your components and put it somewhere else.

"With a traditional CPU air cooler, the heat is transferred from the CPU into a heat sink. A fan is actively pulling air past that heat sink, and as that air travels past the heat sink it draws the heat away from it. The air in your PC case is drawn out of the case and out the back by another fan or fans. With liquid cooling, coolant is used to transfer heat instead of air. Liquid coolant is pumped from a reservoir into a tube that transfers the coolant to where it's needed. The liquid cooling unit can be either in a separate unit outside of the PC case, or integrated within the PC case.

The heat is transferred from the CPU into a "cooling block." The cooling block is simply a hollow heat sink with both an inlet and outlet for the liquid coolant. As liquid travels through this cooling block, it transfers heat along with it, and it works much more efficiently than air can.

The heated coolant is then pumped into a reservoir. From the reservoir it travels into a radiator where it is cooled, typically by a fan. It is then pumped out again to the cooling block, and the cycle begins anew.

Liquid cooling is superior and more efficient than air-cooling. If you are an enthusiast and air-cooling has taken you as far as you can go, liquid cooling is the next logical step. Yes, there are risks, and the equipment will certainly cost you more than air-cooling equipment, but the benefits can't be ignored."

I prefer myself to stick with Air Cooling your average desktop, and home computer, Liquid Cooling a computer can be risky, for a leak inside of that case, and your computer is toast!

Quick video I found on Water Cooling the PC on Youtube.

"Airflow around the outside is just as important. Blocking the exhaust or intakes can reduce the internal airflow substantially. Set up your personal computer away from other equipment or appliances that generate heat. Keep your personal computer away from direct sunlight, and make sure that your PC is placed in a well-ventilated area. Placing Desktop PCs and their monitors flat against walls or in enclosed areas should be avoided - leave at least 6 inches of space between the back of the PC and the wall."

Computer desks, that have that compartment with door for your computer tower,,, those desk compartments get very hot especially in the summer. Extra cooling fans are definetely needed in these computers! I advise keeping that door open when pc is on, OR removing the door, OR installing more, OR larger. cooling fans

Make sure that these ventilation fans are not blocked in anyway as to constrict the airflow that is needed to cool the internal components.

Some people place their Desktop PC's on the floor. While this may save your desk space, having your PC on the floor also makes it more susceptible to dust (and animal hair if you have pets in the house). It is safer to keep your PC off of the floor to minimize foreign matter from entering the computer case. Avoid placing the Desktop PC near drapes as they may end up blocking the ventilation of the computer case as well."

1. Keep Cables Inside of Case Neat - "Round Cables" are suggested for best airflow, than the old style ribbon cables.
2. Dust - accumulating dust inside your PC can be deadly. It acts to insulate the devices it covers, keeping heat in, plus dust clogged fans and vents restrict the amount of airflow possible.
3. Fans - periodically check your PC's fans to make sure they are working effectively. Fans can fail, resulting in significant reductions in airflow - in some systems a single fan failure can be enough to damage your PC.
4. Covers On Tight - your PC's chassis was designed for proper internal airflow across the various components. However, if your PC's enclosure is open, this then dramatically changes the cooling dynamic.