Many CPU purchases will come with a free heatsink. This means you will reduce costs when building a new machine. But many PC builders say these coolers aren’t worth using. You can certainly buy a better CPU cooler than the one that came with your CPU—but should you?
The answer depends on how you use your PC and how hot the CPU gets during use.
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It’s all about keeping your CPU cool
The important thing any CPU cooler should do is keep your processor from overheating. If your CPU cooler does a good job, it’s okay.
CPUs generally have a maximum safe limit of about 100 degrees Celsius, but PC components will degrade faster if they are regularly forced to operate at higher temperatures. If your CPU is always at 80 degrees or higher, then it’s likely your processor won’t last long. Additionally, when the processor overheats, it reduces its performance or shuts down, making your daily experience less than ideal.
The easiest way to determine your CPU temperature and whether you need better cooling is to use a desktop program such as Core Temp, CPU-Z, or MSI Afterburner.
Once installed, see how hot your CPU gets with your current cooler by running a benchmark program like Prime95 or Asus Real Bench. These programs force the CPU to work hard and then you can see how hot it gets when using Core Temp. If the temperature gets above 80 degrees for an extended period, turn it off and check and get yourself a new cooler. If the temperature is good, then your computer is probably fine.
Another way is to check your PC and keep an eye on it when you work on heavy tasks. If you use it for video editing, then keep an eye on the temperature while doing so. If you’re gaming, press the Windows key on your keyboard to return to the screen and check your temperature. Again, if your CPU rises above 80 degrees Celsius for a long period, you should consider getting a more powerful cooler.
How to choose a CPU cooler
If you’ve determined that you need a better cooler, the next step is to choose one of two popular types. This has two basic options: Air cooling and water cooling. Whichever option you choose, it’s important to make sure it fits your CPU socket type as well as the size of your case.
Air cooling is usually the cheapest and often (but not always) easiest to install. The air cooler conducts heat from the CPU up through a series of copper pipes to a heatsink, and then a fan pushes that heat away.
The design of these coolers can vary widely, and although they are easier to install, they are often quite bulky. Some radiators may protrude too far, making it impossible to close the case lid. It’s rare, but it’s something to pay attention to. A more common problem is that the fan will squeeze the RAM sticks. That can sometimes be improved by turning the radiator the other way around, but sometimes the radiator only fits one way, depending on its size.
For example, Noctua NH-D15 is a popular choice and usually costs around 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 VND. However, the NH-D15 is very large and you may encounter problems during installation. Another simpler and more popular cooler is the Cooler Master Hyper 212 and its variants. These products usually cost around 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND depending on the specific model.
There are many other air cooler options out there. The best way to determine which one is best for you is to do some online research. Read reviews of specific coolers and watch YouTube videos from PC manufacturers that cover the cooler and are best for your situation. This will give you an idea of the best way to install the cooler and help you learn about any quirks the unit may have.
The second option is an AIO water cooler. These coolers come with a water block that attaches to your CPU and a set of fans. They can have just a single fan, dual fans, or even a set of 3 fans. Fans can also come in different sizes, such as 120mm or 140mm. The liquid passes through the water, where it absorbs heat from the CPU. It then moves away from the CPU through one of two pipes back to the fan, where the liquid circulates to cool before returning to the water to absorb more heat.
Water cooling (AIO) is generally very effective at cooling. They’re usually well-built to keep liquid from leaking out, and they can have a variety of features, such as RGB lighting, which can be set to change depending on CPU temperature.
The problem with AIO coolers is not the size of the CPU block, but whether the fan fits into your PC case. Each AIO size is measured by the number of fans and their size. So if you have two 140mm fans, it is called a 280mm AIO. Three 120mm fans will be a 360mm AIO. To see if AIO will work with your setup, see if your case size supports it.
For air coolers, it’s important to read reviews and watch YouTube videos to see how well it dissipates heat for your CPU. However, you can choose AIO coolers without worrying too much about CPU temperature (because most of them dissipate heat very well).
A simple answer
To check if you need to change the heatsink is quite simple. It may or may not be your CPU is overheating. If so, then with a little research you can find a suitable air or water cooler for your PC.