— optional component that creates a local airflow to the processor power supply unit, keeping the VRM temperature within a comfortable range. It can be implemented as a built-in micro fan in the water block or as a separate cooler directed at the VRM heatsinks; connects to any 4-pin/3-pin FAN connector and can be configured based on VRM/CPU temperature. Compared to just case airflow, it better covers the "pockets" around power phases, and compared to passive cooling, it responds faster to thermal peaks, which is particularly noticeable on boards without massive heatsinks and in compact cases. Typical usage scenarios include compact Mini-ITX cases with tight layouts, powerful Core i9/Ryzen 9 level CPUs under AIO, and motherboards with moderate VRM heatsinks.
