One of the most important components of any computer are the PC fans, those that are used to cool the electronic components, including the processor and the motherboard. Having an optimal air flow is decisive in the life of a computer, because the heat can affect the performance of the components and damage the circuits if it is not properly dissipated and removed.
If the PC fans are malfunctioning, the temperature of the video card, the motherboard and, above all, that of the CPU can rise until the computer shuts down on its own.
Furthermore, in the case of defective or old fans, it may be that they make a lot of noise when it is hot, becoming even uncomfortable and annoying.
For this reason, especially in summer and on the hottest days, it is advisable to manage the configuration of the fans and check the temperatures of the internal components of the computer, to eventually replace the fans or integrate or clean them internally .
READ ALSO: 8 ways to cool your pc in hot weather
The fundamental principles to understand how computer fans work are, roughly, the same as those of a machine: while the components of the computer accumulate heat during their operation and, due to the high temperature, they can lower the performance even damaging the hardware components, one or more fans suck the hot air in order to lower this temperature and let the cooler air in.
The fans suck the air on the open side and always expel the air on the side of the grill behind.
With this operation, it is evident that if the environment around the computer is very hot, the effectiveness of fan cooling can be greatly reduced.
In general and, above all, in summer, it is also important to keep the computer's vents free, not to rest the PC on the legs or on a carpet and not to keep it in a closed position like inside a piece of furniture.
The open side of the fan must always face outwards, with the air flow going from the front to the back of the PC or from the bottom to the top.
The desktop PC cases are always designed to allow the correct air flow, keeping the fixed components such as the CD player or the hard disk always in a horizontal position, so as not to create obstacles.
In less powerful computers, there is usually always a fan on the power supply, which acts as a heat sink and a heatsink positioned above the CPU, which is the part of the PC that heats up the most and always requires a fan above.
Some video cards also include a small heatsink.
In many PCs, the case 's additional cooling fan may be missing, usually a side fan that can be added optionally and which I personally always recommend to buy (it costs only 10 Euros)
To manage the speed of the fans and, above all, to control the temperature of the internal components of the computer, there are several programs, among which is the popular and powerful Speedfan, free.
With Speedfan it is possible to control temperatures, voltages and also works to manage the fan speed in a personalized way.
The speed of the PC fans is measured in revolutions per minute or RPM.
Even if the faster fans move more air and are noisier, if everything works well, with a compatible motherboard and a variable fan speed adjustment based on different temperatures, then this problem should not be there.
Any changes to the automatic fan configuration with Speedfan can only be made if you are an expert, following tutorials that can be easily found on Google.
For example, this guide from the Techarena forum seems very interesting even if the technical level is decidedly advanced. fan management in relation to some parameters of our choice.
In the case of high temperatures or if the fans make too much noise, there are basically two possible solutions: cleaning the fans or replacing them .
Dust is the first enemy of the computer ventilation system, therefore, every now and then, both on laptops and on desktop PCs, it is necessary to perform a cleaning also using a can of compressed air.
On how to clean the fans and the inside of the computer we have written a more detailed guide.
When cleaning the inside of the computer, in the case of desktop PCs, it is also important to be careful that the various cables do not create obstacles to the air flows, trying to move them further away from the fans.
In the case of a fan that is noisy or that does not cool enough, if the situation does not improve even after cleaning it or if you are unable to clean it properly, you must proceed with the replacement or integration .
On desktop PCs, in fact, most homes have slots and attachments for mounting multiple fans.
You could therefore buy a new side fan to add to the existing ones, if you wanted to solve the problem of high temperatures and if you noticed that the existing fans, even if clean, are struggling and must always run at full speed.
Obviously it is necessary to be careful to balance the air so as not to create a neutral effect of two opposing fans.
Regarding the models of fans on sale, there are many differences based on several factors and attention must be paid both to the connector on the motherboard and to the compatibility with the computer case.
If you want to buy on Amazon, which as usual when it comes to IT has hardly beatable prices, the best heatsinks for Intel and AMD CPUs are :
- ARCTIC Freezer 7 Pro from 22 Euros
- Cooler Master Hyper 212EVO, from 30 Euro
- Cooler Master RR-TX3E-22PK-R1 from 25 Euro
- ARCTIC Freezer XTREME Rev. 2 from 35 Euro.
As for the fans to be attached to the PC case and that can be purchased (one or even more) as an integration to have a more effective cooling inside the computer, we can instead buy.
- ARCTIC F12, a 6 Euro standard.
- Corsair Air Series AF120-LED, silent, with LED lighting effect and available in double pack.
- Corsair CO-9050065-WW HD, with or without lighting controller to change the color of the bright fan LEDs.
Fan or FAN connectors
For the case fans it is necessary to pay attention to the connectors of the fans on the motherboard, recognizable with the writing chassis fan or even pwrfan.
The difference is that the chassis fans take power from the motherboard, the pwrfan from the power supply, but in fact the 3-pin fans work in the same way whatever the connector used.
If the PC had a motherboard with no other free connectors, not the chassis does or even pwr, you can buy a 3 Pin to Molex adapter or a simple fan connector socket splitter like this.
To cool the portable notebook, however, you can always buy a cooling base on which to place the PC, such as, for example, that of Aukei for 25 Euros.
