What is the processor cooler and how does it work?

The role of the cooler is to reduce the temperature that your processor generates. Through its contact with the processor, it absorbs the heat, which is then dispersed through pipes that remove it from the processor.

Active vs Passive Coolers

Active Coolers: These are the most popular. They have a fan to remove the heat trapped in the pipes, pushing it towards the vents of the case.

Passive Coolers: They do not have fans and rely solely on the conductivity of the metal.

For effective heat transfer from the processor to the cooler, you apply a small amount of thermal paste at the point where the 2 devices come into contact, for faster heat transfer. Most coolers on the market come with this paste included in their packaging, while some already have it applied so you don't have to do it yourself.

Skroutz Tip: Changing the cooler? Be careful! Every time you need to remove the cooler from your processor for any reason, you need to replace the thermal paste at their contact point before repositioning it.

What should I consider before buying a processor cooler?

1. Compatibility

The first and most important thing is to make sure that the cooler is compatible with the corresponding socket of the motherboard you already have or plan to buy. For example, the latest AMD generations use the AM4 socket, while Intel requires the 1200 socket. However, you don't have to worry, as manufacturers mention the compatibility of each model on their websites to avoid mistakes.

2. Size

Size is another crucial factor for your choice, as the cooler should fit in your case and leave enough space for other hardware components such as RAM. Therefore, you should check the max cooler height specified by the case manufacturer and then see if the height of the desired cooler is within the limits. In rare cases, if you want to equip yourself with a larger cooler or if you have a small form factor motherboard, you will need to check the manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Skroutz Tip: If your case is particularly small, such as a Home Theater type, choose a Low Profile cooler to avoid space issues.

3. Performance

The performance of your cooler, indicated by the Thermal Design Power (TDP), should be at least equal to that of your processor.

For example, if your processor has a TDP of 65W, your cooler should have a TDP rating of at least 65W to be able to handle the generated heat. Additionally, it will produce less noise, as the fan won't reach its limits. A cooler with a lower TDP rating will be less effective, noisy, and may reduce the lifespan and performance of your processor.

Skroutz Tip: If you plan to use an overclockable processor to achieve maximum performance, then the TDP of your cooler needs to be higher than that of the processor. This will allow it to absorb the additional heat generated.

4.

Show & Lighting

Many builders want something extra for the appearance of their PC. For this reason, there are coolers that have the ability to be illuminated with LEDs. There are two options, the standard RGB 12v and the aRGB 5v, which allows you much more customization in lighting. Also, you can replace the fan that your cooler has with a type of RGB, without changing it if the one you have does not have lighting capability.

5. Cooler Noise

In terms of noise, if you don't want the operation of your cooler to draw attention, in addition to the proper matching of the TDP rating mentioned above, choose one with a low noise fan, so that you don't even realize it's there.

Skroutz Tip: If you already have a noisy cooler, you can simply replace the fan with a silent one, without having to fully replace the cooler.

Closing

Now that you know the essentials for CPU coolers, you are ready to take your build to new heights.