PC Cooling and Modding

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What's Thermal Throttling and Why's PC Cooling Important?

It's important for a computer to have a good cooling solution as its components are subject to what's known as dynamic frequency scaling, or - as it's more commonly referred to - thermal throttling. If a component reaches too high of a temperature, it will rein in its performance by continually dropping frequencies until a cooler, safer temperature is maintained. This temperature limit is set by the component's manufacturer and it's in place to protect your computer from overheating and completely shutting down.

An essential feature of CPUs and GPUs is their ability to boost to faster and faster frequencies automatically, so long as there's enough power to do so and a component's temperature limit hasn't been hit. By upgrading your computer's cooling solution, you effectively give your hardware more thermal headroom to work with. This will, in turn, allow the hardware to sustain higher, faster frequencies for longer, without thermal throttling kicking in. On the other hand, if a PC's cooling solution isn't up to task, its components will throttle under load, meaning you're leaving performance on the table.

Dust vs PC Cooling

Over time, dust will accumulate in your CPU cooler's heatsink, on your case fan's blades, and all over your hardware in general. Even the thickest layer of dust is unlikely to cause a component to short-circuit, or anything like that. However, a build-up of dust will restrict airflow in and out of the computer case, in turn increasing temperatures. And as we've established, higher temperatures can then lead to thermal throttling, negatively impacting your PC's performance.

Dust is everywhere, there's no avoiding it. But there's measures you can take to minimise its presence inside your system and allow your PC cooling gear to work at its best, with the most effective being a dust filter. Most computer cases nowadays include at least one dust filter on the front panel intake, as this is where dust is liable to enter. Some cases guard the power supply's vent and the top exhaust, too.

If you're looking to keep your PC cooling gear free from dust, a plain old can of compressed air is an affordable and practical solution. Its slim, pointy nozzle is perfect for manoeuvring in and around the fans and heatsinks of your PC cooling gear, and you can use it to clean your keyboard while you're at it. A can of compressed air is something every PC building should have in their back pocket.

PC Cooling at Ebuyer

Whether you're looking to build a brand-new system from scratch or upgrade an existing computer's cooling solution, we've got all the PC cooling and modding gear you need right here at Ebuyer. We stock a wide range of PC cooling and modding equipment that'll help keep your computer cool, even whilst you're busy pushing its components to the limit. Spread the cost of your purchase with our flexible finance offers. And if you want your new PC cooling and modding gear by tomorrow, next-day delivery is also available.