Hardware Cooling
TLDR: Hardware cooling refers to the systems and methods used to dissipate heat generated by computing components such as CPUs, GPUs, and power supplies. Efficient cooling is essential to maintaining performance, preventing overheating, and prolonging hardware lifespan. Common cooling solutions include air cooling with computer fans and heatsinks, liquid cooling systems, and advanced methods like phase-change cooling or Peltier devices for high-performance setups.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_cooling
Air cooling is the most widely used hardware cooling method due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It relies on CPU heatsinks and GPU heatsinks to transfer heat away from the processor and PC fans to dissipate heat it into the surrounding air. Advanced air coolers incorporate larger heatsinks, heat pipes, and high-static pressure fans to enhance thermal management. While sufficient for most consumer-grade CPU systems, air cooling may struggle to handle the thermal demands of overclocked processors or high-performance GPUs.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/thermal-solutions.html
Liquid cooling provides a more efficient solution for high-performance computing or hardware enthusiast systems. These systems use a water pump to circulate CPU coolant through a closed loop that includes a water block (attached to the hardware component), a radiator, and fans. Liquid cooling delivers superior thermal performance and is often used in workstations, gaming PCs, and data centers. Advanced techniques like submersion cooling or phase-change cooling are employed in specialized scenarios, such as supercomputing, to manage extreme heat levels effectively.