Anyone who builds their own computer will come across the question of which cooling solution to use to increase their computers core processing unit or (CPU) processing speeds without installing a complex and expensive system, the use of an air-cooling solution also known as a heat sink is superior to the installation of liquid cooling normally called as a water loop. Air cooling will take the form of a small radiator with a computer fan attached to it which in turn is attached onto of the CPU while a water loop will be a small attachment that is placed on the CPU which may come in different shapes depending on the brand chosen that has tubing entering and exiting it caring water to a large radiator that is normally attached to a side panel of the computer case. While a water loop will always be more efficient than a heat sink it is not the only consideration that must be taken before its use.
A heat sinks main advantage over water loop is its reliability. The efficiency gained from the use of a water loop carries with it a high risk of internal components failing. A water loop may burst at any moment if improperly installed or of it contains a factory flaw. Once the water loop begins to leak it is almost impossible for all the other computer components to survive the water damage. Compared to a heat sink where a malfunction would be limited to the computer fan a component that can be easily replaced for a small price. If there where damage to the heat sink its self from the factory its function would not be affected due to its structure as a simple piece of metal.
As safe as a heat sink is the main reason individuals prefer its use over a water loop is due to the many shapes that it can be purchased in permitting a hobbyist to be creative with their custom build computers. Many custom computer cases come with size or layout restrictions that are created when the manufacturers attempt to create new eye-catching shapes that would never permit the use of a water loop due to the overall bulk of this component. However, the innate versatility of a heat sink to take any form and still accomplish its task allows manufactures to produce many them in varying shapes and forms permitting their use in computer systems that have limited in free space without an increase in price.
The use of air cooling in a costume-built computer has some stigmas attached to it. The most prevalent being that it is an inferior solution that is only used by a person that is unable to afford the purchase of a water loop. While the low end heat sinks specifically made to be cheap and inexpensive do fit into this stereotype there exists a large price range to choose from allowing a person with a restricted budget or a specific need to find something that fits their needs. However, the high end heat sinks manufactured by name brands are of impeccable quality and have competitive prices to water loops while bring to the buyer a highly reliable cooling solution with few dangers compared to liquid cooling.
The use of a heat sink also comes with the advantage of lower power requirement. All computers have a component called a power supply unit also known as PSU. This components task is to manage the distribution of the power from the wall outlet to the rest of the computer. However, power supply units are not flexible in their capacity to supply electricity that is why they come with power ratting’s. A custom-built computer on average has a power supply unit rated to 750 watts with the price for more powerful units increasing in correlation with their capacity. For an individual on a budget a heat sink will provide a solution that is not power hungry permitting the purchase of a smaller power supply unit while providing an efficient cooling solution.
Heat sinks have many advantages over water loops ranging from reliability to power requirements. While they will never be able compete against a water loops sheer efficiency in cooling permitting a computer to achieve high processing speeds they will always be safer. Their versatility and large price rage permit buyers to create interesting computers rather than a normal tower that most store-bought systems come in without the large price tag that a water loop carries with it. The skill level required to install both a heat sink and a water loop is similar but there is secondary knowledge needed prior to installation like how internal air circulation can affect your computer. A person seeking to increase their computers performance but has limited experience with custom built computers or has a limited budget to work with would do well to choose a heat sink over a water loop.
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