Crazy From the Heat: Keeping Computers Cool
Â
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-today 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.
