Crazy from the Heat: Keeping Computers Cool
This article explores the problems associated with excessive heat in computers, the causes and methods to keep a system cool.
A computer’s
components produce large amounts of heat during a PC’s normal operation. CPU’s,
integrated circuits, graphics cards, hard drives and power supplies all generate
heat through normal day-to-day working. This heat has to be dissipated to keep
the computer’s components operating within their ideal operating temperature.
Overheating
can have catastrophic effects on a computers lifespan. S computer that runs too
hot will have a shorter maximum lifespan and be more susceptible to system failures.
CPU’s can even permanently expire if they run too hot.
Excessive
heat build-up can be caused by numerous factors (including the weather) and
some computers struggle to remain cool due to their working environments.
Computers having to run in warm areas or near to heat sources (like ovens and
radiators) will often expire long before they ought to but there are several
methods of keeping a computer running at an optimum temperature.
Heat sinks
are the simplest method of supplying cooling to a computer’s internal parts.
Heat sinking is merely attaching large pieces of metal, which is usually
finned, to increase the surface area and dissipate heat
Fans are
also very common. A fan will allow air to flow through a computer taking warm
air away from the components and replacing it with cooler air. Positioning of
these fans or adding extra ones can make massive differences to their effectiveness.
It is also important that these fans are working correctly and free from dust.
Dust will
heat a computer up in several; acting as an insulator, causing excessive heat,
and also blocking filters and vents. Regular cleaning or protecting a computer
from dust is an easy method of reducing running temperature.
Another
method of keeping a computer cool is known as soft cooling which is essentially
turning down a computers components and power saving functions to decrease power
consumption and therefore heat generation.
Many
hardcore computer gamers use liquid cooling which uses cold fluids in pipes to dispel
heat. However, liquid cooling can be expensive and difficult to maintain and
there is also the possibility of springing a leak causing permanent damage to a
machine.
There is
however another solution to computer cooling and one that is often missed by
so-called computer experts when advising on keeping systems cool and that is
the use of an industrial computer enclosures.
These
enclosures cost as little as a few hundred Pounds/Dollars/Euros but have the
advantage in sealing a computer in a dust free environment. They have several methods
of extra cooling including extra fans, plenum chambers (vents that use
differing pressures to suck air around a system) and heat sinking.
These
enclosures have the advantage of other methods of cooling as they not only cool
a computer but also keeps out dust and also protects from knocks and bangs. They
are also suitable for computes that have to operate in really tough conditions making
them a genuine and less expensive alternative to specialised sold state or industrial
machines.
They are
also useful for computer users who often find heat build-up a problem whether
that is because of excessive dust , a heated environment (such as near a radiator)
or even hot weather.
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About the author
Richard N Williams is a technical author and a
specialist in the industrial computer industry helping to develop industrial pc
enclosures and protection for all environments.
Please visit us for more information about industrial computer solutions.
Tags: acting, catastrophic effects, excessive heat, graphics cards, hard drives, heat fans, heat sinks, insulator, integrated circuits, maximum lifespan, optimum temperature, ovens, radiators, surface area, system failures, temperature heat, warm areas, Weather, working environments
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