WidowPC Gaming Computers - Cooling a Gaming Computer
The two most important thing to keep in mind when configuring computer hardware for optimal performance are:
1. Get the highest quality hardware you can afford
Generic hardware is much more likely to fail and also underperforms when placed under stress from high performance and long duration computer gaming (read LAN party). That's why you see so many problems in the dark hours of the early morning after around multiple, straight hours of LAN party level intensive gaming. High quality hardware will save you money in the long run because it will have a higher mean time between failure (MTBF), will run faster and will generally be more compatible with other high performance gaming computer hardware.
2. Keep that high quality computer as cool as you can within your given constraints
"Cool" is a subjective term. In this guide we are going to concentrate on air cooling your gaming computer, but we'll also mention liquid cooling and peltier cooling (pronounced "Pel-tee-eh"). Also, remember that the most advanced air cooling system is only as good as the ambient temperature air around your computer. So, crank up the air conditioner if you have it. If you don't have air conditioning and the room temperature is above 80 degrees (f) then you'll want to take it easy. Lack of air conditioning is the number one way to kill a well designed gaming computer.
An Introduction to Case Cooling for Gaming Computers
Cooling a gaming computer is different from cooling lower performance computer hardware. Gaming computer build up much more heat due to the power hungry Athlon 64 and the heat intensive video card(s) gamers love.
Convection Cooling
Focusing on air cooling, the first thing to keep in mind is that heat rises. So, without fans or other outside influence the air flow will naturally be from bottom to top. These naturally occurring airflows are called convection currents. So, to optimize gaming computer cooling we want to optimize those convection currents air flow. We do this by using wire management to get the wires out of the way of the air flow.
Fan Placement
Now that we know how the air naturally will move within the computer case (bottom to top), the next thing we want to get right is fan placement. Fan placement is important because, if done right, it will
1. Improve the benefitial effects of convection cooling by sucking in cool air and channeling it to the hot spots
2. Remove heated air by blowing it out the top and top rear of the computer case.
 This is why it is important for the gaming computer case to have an large air intake in the low front of the case, a blow hole in the top of the case and powerful fans blowing out the top, rear section of the case (see diagram).
Whenever possible, select cases that allow 120mm fans in the front intake (as opposed to the regular 80mm fans). 120mm fans move a larger volume of air and are typically less noise polluting than their smaller cousins. 80mm fans are fine for side panel mounts and additional cooling. However, a 120mm for the main intake is a must have for a gaming computer.
Video Card and SLI Cooling
With high performance video cards and especially with dual video card configurations, a major hot spot is created in the lower rear of a gaming computer. This is not the easiest place to cool because of its low, rear positioning (see diagram). So, it is important to place fans in the lower rear portion of the case as well.
|
|
Sign Up to Receive WidowPC News and Specials Monthly Newsletter
|
|
