Cooling
One thing about gaming machines that truely separates them from any other kind of computer, is their power attributes. They generally chew more electricity with the electrons running around the mainboard at an accelerated rate. The advantage of this is superior performance, but it comes at a cost!
The trade-off for power and performance is heat. Because the busses run much faster they produce more heat. The trick with these high powered rigs, is effectively dissapating that heat.
Heat dissapation is primarily accomplished by two methods;
- Air Cooling
- Water Cooling
- Air Cooling
- Water Cooling
Many people will opt for the air-cooled method based on price, the water cooling system is often more expensive and in some cases arguably less effective. This is a contentious issue among serious gamers’ and techies alike. Personally, I am very impressed by the water cooled systems on offer these days, and no doubt they will improve with both performance and price as technology advances.
The air cooled method usually incurs a lower cost gradient and can be effectively supplemented by the use of an in-house air conditioner. In fact, most gaming machines enjoy nice steady temps somewhere around 14 – 16 degrees. More accurately that would ideally be the case temperature, but this is very often not the case!!
Many gaming systems will be built and designed with a view to upgrade and over clock, as with most upgrades, higher power consumption may result and it most certainly does with over clocking. Of course both of these will produce extra heat, and the harder you push your system, the hotter it gets. (Not to mention a substantially shortened life span in some cases!)
A closer look at cooling systems for gaming machines:
Air cooling
Since air cooling is cheaper you can usually install additional fans helping to keep temps down. One thing you may need to consider before adding extra fans is the power draw, that is, does your PSU (power supply unit) have enough reserve power to run additional fans on top of its already heavy power demands?
With this, keep in mind that the larger (20cm or bigger) fans with built in LED’s may draw more power than the traditional smaller 12cm fans. Some case fans may have the option of variable speed provided by the mobo, this may also increase the power draw on the PSU.
A very basic rule of thumb I use to work out how many fans I can add to a system is by using a simple (yet not exact) technique that goes like this:
12cm fan = 10watts (about 4 - 6 watts normally)
20cm fan = 20watts (about 6 - 7 watts normally)
Built-in LED’s add 5 watts. (these really draw bugger-all!)
20cm fan = 20watts (about 6 - 7 watts normally)
Built-in LED’s add 5 watts. (these really draw bugger-all!)
The truth is that in most instances these wattage estimates may be well past their actual draw, but better to overestimate when it comes to power consumption with gaming machines. This way, you will hopefully never have any power issues.
Perhaps the best thing to consider when building or upgrading your gamming rig, is to simply install the most powerful PSU you can afford.
The position of the case fans is just as important as the amount, actually it makes more sense to have fewer fans located in such a way that their cooling effectiveness works better than having many obstructed by internal structures.
Most gamming cases much like any other computer case are designed to operate under the “push-pull” method of cooling. This means air is drawn in from the front and basically sucked out the back. This push-pull operation works well provided your system case has relatively free and un-obstructed air flow. It is also important to pay some attention to the location of the computer, make it so placed as to provide the best clearance for the air vents and exhaust fans, and if possible, place it in the most direct line to the air conditioner or at least in the same room if you have one.
Considering the above and price, air cooling may be more effective and allows you to choose variable configurations with regard to the placement and size of your fans. Perhaps one major drawback many gamers’ will often complain about with air cooling, is noise, the more fans, the louder it gets! Although most of the latest fans are often quieter (and larger) than their predecessors.
Water Cooling
Water cooling generally offers more restrictions than air cooling, but not always. The H2O cooling was originally developed to primarily cool the CPU, but as time and tech developed this technology gradually crept into other components.
This technique uses a liquid coolant to cool components and employs some kind of radiator that may in some cases be air-cooled itself!
This technique uses a liquid coolant to cool components and employs some kind of radiator that may in some cases be air-cooled itself!
These radiators may be cumbersome devices and more often than not difficult to install, leakages were a problem with some early models but again with advancements in technology these issues have been largely resolved. Some radiators may be external and seemingly afford lower temp control over the internally housed models, the internal case temps will obviously have a significant effect on its cooling efficiency.
The piping and connections may not always fit your system perfectly or as advertised due in part to the very nature and variety of gamming cases available. This requires much research and careful consideration well before you design your computer.
One advantage to note with water cooling, is the possibilities or technique it allows for the designer to cool the water or coolant. I have read about a father and son who setup a system that used swimming pool water to cool the system, while at the same time it heated the pool water. They used extensive piping and needed supplemental pumping to transport the water, but it worked!
That part of water cooling is a little exciting if you’re the adventurous type!
For most of us we may simply just want to install or implement a simple system that does what it implies....cool your system..!
The power draw on the PSU also needs to be considered as does space and obviously location; some say the fans used for the radiators are rather noisy, while others will tell you that if it needs fans to operate, then just have fans! Being a complicated install compared to other cooling methods, this kind of cooling is normally left to the die-hard gamming system builder or tech savvy junkie with an eye for detail. You may often find that a large system case is required and a fair degree of patience and tolerance needs to be summoned before attempting one of these installs.