It's hot ! Cool your PC properly ! (part.1)

Summer has just begun and the heat is very hot in our regions. Of course, in the face of this climatic phenomenon, it is necessary to know how to take steps to avoid succumbing to this heat wave. However, if you read this article, it is obvious that you are using a computer and that your equipment suffers just as much from these high temperatures. After a lot of reading here below as well as on different discussion forums that deal more or less with this topical subject, it is advisable to take some measures to take care of your hardware, in the hope of avoiding an overheating that could be fatal to it.

Why such an emission of heat ?

First of all, and to understand the thermal release phenomenon of our current equipment, we must analyze how it works. To make it short and concise, a processor, a motherboard chipset and a graphics card all work on the same principle, which is that of information processing or calculation, by electrical pulse. Charged with transistors, these modules proceed in a simple and binary way to fill their tasks. Of course, it goes without saying that a processor will need to be powered to operate, since it will be constantly shelled with electrical signals.

These signals are actually pulses that will then be interpreted by the processor as a value, alternating between 0 and 1. A value of 1 corresponds to an electrical current that changes the state of a transistor. All this at very high speed ! Imagine the activity that can be represented by an architecture that concentrates billions of microscopic transistors. Therefore, the more you use your hardware with multiple software, the more activity will be important inside your box ! This operation causes what is called a significant heat release, since it is concentrated in a single place.

Check your dissipation capacity !

Everything I have just mentioned above is by no means exhaustive and I invite you to do your research in order to better understand this phenomenon. However, all this allows you to have a basic understanding of why and how a PC generates heat. To this, it is necessary to add certain parameters such as the frequency of use and the fineness of engraving. A CPU with a high engraving fineness will consume less energy and produce a lower heat release than a less elaborate series. As a result, manufacturers systematically mention the thermal enclosure, expressed in Watts, that one of their components must obtain in order to operate in perfect conditions.

More commonly referred to as TDP (Thermal Design Power), this information is used as a recommendation in the use of a thermal transfer system that must be available to this component to operate properly. Thus a processor announced with 90W of max TDP must be managed by an element capable of delivering an equivalent dissipation to the outside. Yes, you read it right. You don't blow on a CPU, you simply extract the heat, the term dissipation finding its full meaning here !

This explains the importance of good dissipation, appropriate to the requirements of your equipment. Some manufacturers provide a heatsink compatible with their equipment. However, be careful how you use it. Especially if you are constantly using your hardware, with software that integrates complex instructions that monopolize the computing power of your hardware or by overclocking your CPU. At this point, we must not ignore a much more significant dissipation.

Clearly, an element not to be taken with a twist and which will ensure the integrity of each of your elements. Many people often do not pay particular attention to this detail and quickly find themselves with instability due to this lack of dissipation. This can have serious consequences in the long term: Data loss, software instability making the computer unusable, premature wear and tear of the equipment....

In the next episode we will see together the existing solutions. We will also take the opportunity to adopt the right gestures and reflexes to properly cool your faithful companion ! By then, enjoy the summer and get a little cool !