Speed controller
—
Auto (PWM). A type of automatic regulator used in processor cooling systems. The principle of this adjustment is that the automation monitors the current load on the CPU and adjusts the fan operation mode to it. Thus, the cooling system works "in advance": it actually prevents the temperature rise, and does not eliminate it (unlike the thermostat described below). The disadvantages of such automation are the high cost and additional compatibility requirements: the PWM function must be supported by the motherboard, and the fan must be powered through a 4-pin connector (see "Power").
— Manual. Manual regulator that allows you to set the rotation speed at the request of the user. Its main advantages are both the possibility of arbitrary adjustment and reliability: automation does not always respond optimally, and in performant systems it is sometimes better for the user to take control into his own hands. On the other hand, manual control is more expensive and also more difficult to use — it requires the user to pay more attention to the state of the system, and if not attentive, the likelihood of overheating increases significantly.
— Manual / auto. A combination of the two systems described above: the main control is carried out by PWM, and the manual regulator serves to limit the maximum rotational speed. A fairly convenient and advanced option that expands the possibilities of auto-adjustment and at the same time doe
...s not require constant temperature control, as with a purely manual setting. However such functionality is expensive.
— Adapter (resistor). In this case, the speed is adjusted by reducing the voltage supplied to the fan. To do this, it is connected to the power supply through a resistor adapter. This is a kind of alternative to manual adjustment: adapters are inexpensive. On the other hand, they are much less convenient: the only way to change the rotation speed with such an adjustment is to actually change the adapter, and for this you have to turn off the system and climb into the case.
— Thermostat. Automatic speed control according to data from a sensor that measures the temperature of the cooled component: when the temperature rises, the intensity of work also increases, and vice versa. Such systems are simpler than the PWMs described above, moreover, they can be used for almost any system component, not only for CPU. On the other hand, they have more inertia and reaction time: if the PWM prevents heating in advance, then the thermostat is triggered by an increase in temperature that has already happened.Max. air flow
The maximum airflow that a cooling fan can create; measured in CFM — cubic feet per minute.
The higher the CFM number, the more efficient the fan. On the other hand, high performance requires either a large diameter (which affects the size and cost) or high speed (which increases the noise and vibration levels). Therefore, when choosing, it makes sense not to chase the maximum air flow, but to use special formulas that allow you to calculate the required number of CFM depending on the type and power of the cooled component and other parameters. Such formulas can be found in special sources. As for specific numbers, in the most modest systems, the performance
does not exceed 30 CFM, and in the most powerful systems it can be up to 80 CFM and even
more.
It is also worth considering that the actual value of the air flow at the highest speed is usually lower than the claimed maximum; see Static Pressure for details.
Noise level
The standard noise level generated by the cooling system during operation. Usually, this paragraph indicates the maximum noise during normal operation, without overloads and other "extreme".
Note that the noise level is indicated in decibels, and this is a non-linear value. So it is easiest to evaluate the actual loudness using comparative tables. Here is a table for values found in modern cooling systems:
20 dB — barely audible sound (quiet whisper of a person at a distance of about 1 m, sound background in an open field outside the city in calm weather);
25 dB — very quiet (normal whisper at a distance of 1 m);
30 dB — quiet (wall clock). It is this noise that, according to sanitary standards, is the maximum allowable for constant sound sources at night (from 23.00 to 07.00). This means that if the computer is planned to sit at night, it is desirable that the volume of the cooling system does not exceed this value.
35 dB — conversation in an undertone, sound background in a quiet library;
40 dB — conversation, relatively quiet, but already in full voice. The maximum permissible noise level for residential premises in the daytime, from 7.00 to 23.00, according to sanitary standards. However, even the noisiest cooling systems usually do not reach this indicator, the maximum for such equipment is about 38 – 39 dB.
Lighting colour
The colour of the backlight installed in the cooling system.
See above for more details on the backlight itself. Also note here that in the illumination of modern cooling systems there is both one colour (most often
red or
blue, less often
green,
yellow,
white or
purple), and multi-colour systems such as
RGB and
ARGB. The choice of a single-colour backlight depends mainly on aesthetic preferences, but the last two varieties should be touched upon separately.
The basic principle of operation of both RGB and ARGB systems is the same: the design provides for a set of LEDs of three basic colours — red (Red), green (Green) and blue (Blue), and by changing the number and brightness of the included LEDs, you can not only intensity, but and tint of light. The difference between these options differs in functionality: RGB systems support a limited set of colours (usually up to one and a half dozen, or even less), while ARGB allows you to choose almost any shade from the entire available colour range. At the same time, both of them can support backlight synchronization (see below); in general, this function is not required for RGB and ARGB systems, but it is used almost exclusively in them.
Lighting sync
Backlight synchronization technology, provided in the cooling system with built-in lighting (see above).
Synchronization itself allows you to "match" the cooling backlight with the backlight of other system components — the motherboard, processor, graphics card, case, keyboard, mouse, etc. Thanks to this matching, all components can change colour synchronously, turn on / off at the same time, etc. The specific features of the operation of such a backlight depend on the synchronization technology used, and, usually, each manufacturer has its own (Aura Sync for Asus, RGB Fusion for Gigabyte, etc.). The compatibility of the components also depends on this: they must all support the same technology. So the easiest way to achieve backlight compatibility is to collect components from the same manufacturer. However, among the cooling systems there are solutions of the multi compatibility format — compatible with several synchronization technologies at once; a specific compatibility list is usually indicated in the detailed specifications of such models.
