A Sequel to Adequate Cooling Methods - Hard Drive and PSU
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The next component(s) that we need to take care of is/are the hard drive(s). Nowadays every HDD has a SMART feature ("Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology"). You can check the internal temperature of an HDD via SMART. In most cases you will want to try to remain below 60 C (or 140 F). Keep in mind that hard drives tend to die more often than, say, processors. Also, all of your critical data is stored on your HDD. Even if we avidly back up our data we should still not neglect the health of a hard drive.
Every component has its supposed lifespan. It is guaranteed to work up to that amount of time if, and only if, it is run under ideal conditions: temperature, air humidity, etc. Some manufacturer datasheets clearly explain that the "mean time between failures" (MTBF) can be increased if the drive is kept under ideal or even lower temperatures. A higher MTBF time means less likelihood of the occurrence of an error. If the drive runs hotter than it should, the MTBF time and the seek time drastically increase, which will ultimately result in a slow and poor performance. You are also risking premature death of the drive. So by all means, do not neglect your HDDs.
One of the solutions for HDD cooling is an intake fan at the front of your case. Yet again we return to the whole ventilation manifesto. Nevertheless, a 120mm fan is recommended (spins at lower rates, moves more air, and produces less noise.). Nowadays every case has at least one fan bay at the front panel and you can just hook up your fan there. These should work effectively enough for most people.
Dedicated HDD coolers have become popular since 7200rpm HDDs appeared. They are awesome. There are specific models; a few rely purely on heat sinks while others use fans. Some have 1 or 2 fans, others have 4; some are based on the cross-flow principle while others are based on standard radial; some have filters to reduce the amount of dust and other particles. Usually they have a main 5.25" drive-bay. All in all, they offer excellent performance. If you decide to go this route, please consider the noise level. Some are quiet but still great while others can sound like an airplane taking off.
Check out the attached picture below of a two-fan aluminum based HDD cooler.
The last component that needs cooling which we're covering here is the power supply unit (PSU). Most PSUs have active cooling, namely a fan that spins and sucks out the hot air (in other words, exhaust fans) with speed management features. Basically, they tend to slow down the fan when idle and increase its spinning rate when on load. Some of them are passively cooled. These are excellent but are expensive and, thus, used for HTPCs.
Ensuring the PSU is more than capable of powering the system is a good idea as it means the PSU won't be running hot while supplying the power, and it will most likely be running quietly. The best approach is to research and read reviews before purchasing a PSU so that you will know its noise level and performance. Then you will know what you are acquiring and not depend purely on luck.
Don't skimp on the PSU! It feeds your whole system and you do not want a poor quality PSU that underperforms, is unstable, has fluctuating voltages, and/or overheats. Never forget: shiny LEDs do not equate to better cooling or overall performance. Be aware of the marketing gimmicks.
Conclusions
We've come to the end of this article. This was a continuation of the first part. I really hope that you've found it interesting and that you could extract enough knowledge out of the articles. Computer cooling is unfortunately taken for granted due to the high number of pre-built generic OEM computers. Dozens of computers are overheating due to inappropriate care (dust, dead fans, dried out thermal compound, cables blocking airflow, and so forth). It is crucial to take care of your computer. By doing quarterly checkups and investing a few bucks more you extend its lifespan dramatically.
Do you have any questions about hardware in general? Are you hesitant to pick up a new cooling solution or component? Are you uncertain as to whether a particular component matches your setup? Whatever your needs are, come and join us over "DevHardware Forums." Ask for help and it is given! We're there… and waiting for you.
Good luck and be safe! Stay tuned for the final part of this series. The epilogue is coming soon! You don't want to miss it.
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