Digitblog2025: Refrigeration system

What is a refrigeration system?

The cooling system in a PC is essential for maintaining safe operating temperatures for its internal components. As parts like the CPU and GPU perform intensive tasks, they generate significant heat. Without proper cooling, this heat can lead to reduced performance, system instability, and even permanent damage to hardware. A well-cooled PC not only prevents overheating but also ensures stable performance, extends the lifespan of components, and reduces the risk of crashes or slowdowns caused by thermal throttling.

There are three main types of cooling systems used in PCs: air cooling, liquid cooling, and passive cooling.

Air cooling: is the most common and cost-effective method. It uses heatsinks—usually made of copper or aluminum—to absorb heat from components like the CPU or GPU. Attached to these heatsinks are fans that move air across the surface and out of the case. Air cooling is simple to install and maintain, but it may not be sufficient for high-performance systems or overclocking, and it can be noisy if multiple fans are used.

Liquid cooling: also known as water cooling, is more efficient and quieter than air cooling. This system circulates a liquid coolant through a closed loop that absorbs heat from a water block mounted on the CPU or GPU. The heated liquid is then moved to a radiator, where fans help dissipate the heat before the coolant is recirculated. There are two types: AIO (All-in-One) systems, which are pre-assembled and easy to install, and custom loops, which offer more flexibility but require more effort and can be costly. Liquid cooling is ideal for gaming PCs and workstations that demand high performance but comes with added complexity and the potential risk of leaks.

Passive cooling: uses large heatsinks and natural airflow, without any fans or pumps. While it is completely silent and has no moving parts—making it low maintenance—it is only effective for low-power systems such as media centers or compact, fanless PCs.