We are sorry, eCoupon {0} {1} has been fully claimed
We are sorry, eCoupon {0} {1} has been fully claimed.
{0} coupons left to claim
Compare
Added!
Build Your PC
View {0} Model
View {0} Models
Configure/Buy
Add To Basket
This Product has recently expired. Please contact your Lenovo Sales Representative to renew this item.
This model is configurable! Click Build Your PC to start configuring.
JOIN LENOVO REWARDS!
• Shop & Get Rewarded
• Redeem & Save
• Member Exclusive Offers
• FREE to Join - Join now!
Coming Soon
New Options Available
Available Soon
READY TO SHIP
Price Match Guarantee
/shopping-faq/#payments
off
Save
Lenovo Outlet Price
Your price
List Price
List Price
List Price is Lenovo’s estimate of product value based on the industry data, including the prices at which first and third-party retailers and etailers have offered or valued the same or comparable products. Third-party reseller data may not be based on actual sales.
Est Value
Est Value (Estimated Value)
Estimated value is Lenovo’s estimate of product value based on industry data, including the prices at which Lenovo and/or third-party retailers and e-tailers have offered or valued the same or comparable products. Third-party data may not be based on actual sales.
Web Price:
Exclusive Price:
Starting At
Instant Savings:  
eCoupon Savings:  
Additional Savings
Show Price Breakdown
Hide Price Breakdown
Use eCoupon
Includes
Features
Key Details
Part Number:
See More
See Less
Coming Soon
expanded
collapsed
See More Details
Great choice!
You may compare up to 4 products per product category (laptops, desktops, etc). Please de-select one to add another.
View Your Comparisons
One moment please...
Search on Lenovo.com Public Website
& Up
Shipping Options
Update PostCode
Response Error
Input Format Error
Pts
FREE
Shipping options for {0}
Specs Text Link
Specs Teaser Content
Specs Teaser Link
Learn More
Show Details
Hide Details
View more details
Includes {qty} item
(qty: {qty})
read more
Join Now!
OR
*Savings cannot be combined
Undecided?
Phone Sales Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8:00AM-6:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM-4:00PM
Save
Pickup Availability near {0}
Update Location
All Eligible Items
Pickup Location for: {0}
{0} Miles Away
In Stock,
Today
Tomorrow
in {0} Days
Ready {0}
Open until {0}
Get Directions
Select This Location
Update
Use My Current Location
 
Enter Zip Code
Cancel
Store Pickup
Pickup unavailable
Available Today at select {0} locations
Get it today!
Get it tomorrow!
Lenovo and Best Buy have partnered to allow you to pick up Lenovo products at your local Best Buy. Choose a location near you and get it as soon as today!
Choose a pickup location
See all pickup locations
Ready {0}
at {0} {Store Name}
Pickup Availability near {0}
Update Location
All Eligible Items
Pickup Location for: {0}
{0} Miles Away
In Stock,
Today
Tomorrow
in {0} Days
Ready {0}
Open until {0}
Get Directions
Select This Location
update
Use My Current Location
 
Enter Zip Code
Cancel
Store Pickup
Pickup unavailable
Available Today at select {0} locations
Get it today!
Get it tomorrow!
Lenovo and Best Buy have partnered to allow you to pick up Lenovo products at your local Best Buy. Choose a location near you and get it as soon as today!
Choose a pickup location
See all pickup locations
Ready {0}
at {0} {Store Name}
After eCoupon limit is met, price is {nonEcouponPrice}
After eCoupon limit is met, price is {nonEcouponPrice}
QUANTITY UNAVAILABLE
Expiration Date:
Remaining Units:
My Price:
Hide quote dialog
Sign in or Create an Account
Sign In
Email Address
Password
Not enrolled for Rewards? Join Now
By joining, you agree to the
/gb/en/rewards/terms/
Terms & Conditions
Remember me
Forgot your username or password?
Create an Account
You can store addresses, easily keep track of your orders and save items in your basket for later.
Create an Account to Save Your Basket
Create an Account
You can store addresses, easily keep track of your orders and save items in your basket for later.
The email format is incorrect, please try again
First Name
Maximum length is 50 characters
Last Name
Password must have at least
8-20 characters
Include three of the following: letters, numbers, and symbols($!#&)
Confirm Password
I agree to opt-in to Lenovo communications and I understand that my data will not be shared.
Yes, I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Please agree the terms and privacy policy
By joining, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.
If you would like to earn Rewards, you will need to check the join Rewards checkbox above. To create an account without earning Rewards, register below.
Register
Sorry, the Email you entered is incorrect
Sorry, the password you entered is incorrect
We’re sorry, there are no locations within {0} miles.
Please update your location or select from available Best Buy locations below that exceed {0} miles.
Please enter a zipcode
Invalid Zip Code, please try again.
Update
Cancel
FPS
Pending
FPS for this system per game
within {Miles} miles
in {Store Name}
TELE DLP Click Here
Best Buy Store,
BEST BUY
delivery
Delivery Unavailable
No available data
https://cdn.chargeafter.com/promotional-widget/lenovo/widget.min.js
48926fe9bfca6413557d5f1dbba57fc8e94efd2a
Save to:
My List
Create a List
{0} items
View
Create
Label
You must fill in this field
You currently have no saved lists
Guest List
List name is repetition
{0} item
Only a maximum of 15 lists can be created
Maximum character limit 200
Your wish list capacity is full, please remove lists and/or products to wish for more.
List at maximum, please remove items to wish for more products.

The prices quoted for a particular make and model of device are for genuine, fully working devices with acceptable cosmetic conditions and operating performance regardless of age.

Your device Estimated
trade-in value

Information is provided by our partner Envirofone and it is not a contractual offer.       Get Your Quote

Click here to find more products >>

You're leaving Lenovo.com

Compared
Exclusive Loyalty Price
Loyalty Savings
Your session is about to time out
Would you like to stay signed in?
minutes
seconds
Sign Out
Stay Signed In
Wishlist
Compare ({sum})
LOYALTY DISCOUNT
In your cart
In Your Cart & Compared
Compared

Gaming Desktop Cooling Guide | Air & Liquid Cooling

This is a recommends products dialog
Top Suggestions
Starting At
View All >
Français
English
ไทย
繁體中文
Hi
TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
DISCONTINUED
Temporary Unavailable
Cooming Soon!
. Additional units will be charged at the non-eCoupon price. Purchase additional now
We're sorry, the maximum quantity you are able to buy at this amazing eCoupon price is
Sign in or Create an Account to Save Your Basket!
Sign in or Create an Account to Join Rewards
View Basket
Your basket is empty! Don’t miss out on the latest products and savings — find your next favorite laptop, PC, or accessory today.
Remove
item(s) in cart
Some items in your cart are no longer available. Please visit cart for more details.
has been deleted
There's something wrong with your basket, please go to basket to view the detail.
of
Contains Add-ons
Subtotal
Proceed to checkout
Yes
No
Popular Searches
skip to main content

Guide to Gaming Desktop Cooling

Anyone who’s ever made use of a gaming PC has likely become aware of one of their main drawbacks: They can generate a great deal of heat.

A gaming PC typically consumes a great deal of resources, drawing roughly the same amount of power and generating the same amount of heat as a small space heater. Spend some time in an enclosed room playing computer games, and after an hour or so the temperature of the room will likely become unbearable.

Any computer component that consumes electricity creates some amount of heat, but the heat generated by a gaming PC can be more than an inconvenience. In fact, without proper cooling that heat can affect the PC’s performance and eventually cause damage to the machine’s internal components.

What Happens When Your Gaming PC is too Hot?

When it comes to managing heat in a gaming PC, there are two main components that can be the source of issues: The CPU (processor) and the GPU (graphics processing unit or graphics card). Those components can generate a great deal of heat even under normal use, and the problem can be exacerbated under heavy load or when the component is overclocked, or tweaked to run faster than its rated design.

Desktop cooling can be such a concern that there are a number of software programs that measure temperature, both free tools and those designed to monitor specific brands of components.

The first issue that can arise with excessive heat is an impact on performance. Most CPUs and graphics cards include mechanisms, often called Thermal Throttling, that can reduce performance if the component reaches a certain temperature. That can be extremely frustrating when you’re just about to eliminate an alien horde and your PC slows down because of Thermal Throttling, allowing you to be overrun.

In addition, because many computer components are cooled by fans, constant operation of the machine under high temperatures can result in excessive fan noise, interfering with the gaming experience.

And if left unaddressed, excessive heat can cause your computer to shut down, shorten the lifespan of components or even cause them to fail. With high-end processors and graphics cards costing hundreds of pound or even more than a thousand pound, that can be a significant hit.

Keeping it Cool

Computer manufacturers including Lenovo incorporate a number of desktop cooling solutions in their machines to address the issue of excessing heat. The most common is air cooling.

Of course, most components will use heat sinks; pieces of metal that sit on top of the component and draw heat away via a set of fins. Heatsinks are passive, with no moving parts. When installing or replacing a heat sink, however, it’s critical to use heat sink paste, a sticky compound that is spread between the component and the heat sink. Without it, the heat sink will be largely ineffective.

In addition, fans mounted on CPUs and graphics cards automatically turn on when heat reaches a certain level. Other fans, mounted on the computer case, pulls in cool air and pushes out hot air.

Although fans may be the most common method of active cooling in a gaming PC, they do have their limitations. Fan cooling may not be as effective if the ambient air temperature is high or if the fans or components become covered with dust.

Another, possibly more effective way of managing heat in a gaming PC is liquid cooling. It’s not as common a method as air cooling, but it can be more effective.

In much the same way as the cooling system in a car functions, water (or some other liquid) is pumped through cooling blocks (similar to heat sinks, except without the fins) that sit on top of the components to be cooled. The liquid transfers the heat to a radiator which disperses it into the air, and a pump sends the liquid back to the cooling block.

Liquid cooling offers several advantages over air cooling. Because the liquid is denser than air, it’s more efficient. Unlike the fans used in air cooling, liquid cooling is silent. Because the system is sealed, once installed it requires very little maintenance. At no point does liquid actually touch the components.

Liquid cooling systems also take up less space than fans. This allows for a slimmer profile or allows more components to be installed in the same real estate.

In addition, noting that gamers often like to show off their gaming rigs via transparent cases and fancy lighting systems, liquid cooling systems look, well, cool.

On the downside, liquid cooling systems can be expensive, with some aftermarket solutions costing several hundreds of pound. Because they involve more components, such systems can be complicated to set up.

And while it may be rare, there’s always the possibility that liquid cooling systems may leak and cause damage to the system.

Other more exotic cooling methods exist, although they are rarely used in home PCs. One includes completely immersing the computer components in a non-conductive liquid. Such systems are typically beyond the financial reach of most gamers and are generally used for data centers or industrial components.

Additional Steps to Take

For most gamers, the choice of a cooling method will come down to either air or liquid, depending on your budget, the type of system you have and your personal preference. In addition to these methods, though are a few simple steps anyone can take to improve the efficiency of their heat management system.

Chief among them of course, is to keep the inside of the computer clean. Vents, electrical components and fan blades will invariably accumulate dust that will lower the efficiency of cooling systems.

Although you may be tempted to use a vacuum to clean a computer’s inner workings, DON’T DO IT! The suction could inadvertently dislodge or damage components or cause a static buildup that could fry the motherboard.

Instead, power your computer off, disconnect the power cable and move the computer to a well-ventilated area. If it’s extremely dirty, you might want to wear a mask to avoid breathing in the dust that will be blown around.

The tools you’ll need consist of a screwdriver (If you need one to open the case), a can of compressed air, a cleaning cloth, cotton swabs, a pencil and a small paintbrush. Most Lenovo gaming desktops are designed for tool-free access, so a screwdriver won’t be needed.

Using the compressed air, blow the dust off the components, paying particular attention to fan blades, heat sinks and open slots. Use a pencil to keep the fan blades from spinning if necessary and wipe them down with the cotton swabs.

For areas that can’t be cleaned with compressed air, use the small paintbrush instead. Once you’re done, wipe the case completely with the cleaning cloth.

If there are areas that won’t come clean with wiping or compressed air alone, dampen the cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Don’t use an excessive amount, and NEVER use water.

Other steps to take include keeping your computer in a clean area that gets good airflow. Avoid stacking items next to the computer that may block vents.

And finally, don’t smoke while at the computer! Do so and the resulting tar and dust will quickly clog up the computer and degrade its performance. Smoke can be such a problem, in fact, some computer manufacturers have declined to perform warranty service on computers that were used in a smoking environment.

How often you perform such cleaning depends in large part on the environment in which your computer is located, but every three months or so is a good rule of thumb. Performing this cleaning routine on a regular basis is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get both maximum and life from your gaming PC.

Read More
Hide more
open in new tab
Compare  ()
x