COOLNG

What is thermal headroom?

Thermal headroom can be defined as the amount of heat able to de dissipated by cooling methods, minus the amount of heat produced by the components of the system. While most components can be passively cooled ie: without a fan, components such as the CPU and GPU require custom cooling solutions to keep themselves at a sustainable temperature where they can perform optimally and safely. In an SFFPC, the physical space available for cooling systems is constrained, so cases and cooling systems must be designed thoughtfully, seeking to maximize the heat dissipated as well as choosing components with low heat outputs, all while staying under budget and availability restrictions.

Choose Your Components

Liquid Cooling

Liquid cooling systems utilize the thermally conductive properties of water to move heat away from the CPU chip and into a radiator. Unlike air coolers, liquid cooling systems are highly customizable and upgradable, allowing radiators to be added and the entire area of the case to be fully utilized.

Performance Fans

Unsurprisingly, fans, and fan choice play a pivotal role in temperature management. When every percent counts, these fans place top of the leaderboard in acoustics and air displacement.

RGB Fans

Who cares about performance when you have RGB! These fans are equipped with smooth LEDs, giving off a brilliant glow. Though their performance might falter, giving off barely any airflow and causing temperatures to increase, they have RGB!

Intel Core i5

The Intel 12th gen i5 12400k is a efficient little chip, packing a big punch at small power levels. With a rated TDP of 65 watts, its able to compete with the most recent flagship CPUs in computational power, while fighting off lower end CPUs in terms of TDP and cost efficiency.

Intel Core i9

The Intel i9 12900k is a colossal cpu, dealing massive computing performance with an enormous TDP of 125 watts. Safe to say it is not a very cool chip, requiring large equally mammoth CPU coolers or expansive liquid cooling systems.

ASUS ROG Strix 3060TI

The ASUS ROG Strix 3060TI boasts a massive cooler and plenty of rgb. Dont let its size fool you though, it contains the same GPU chip as the compact ASUS dual 3060TI, just with a much larger heatsink. With a length of 12.5 inches and a triple slot thickness, it exceeds the gpu space of smaller cases.

ASUS Dual 3060TI

The ASUS Dual 3060TI is a compact card with plenty of computing power. It lays on the smaller side, as far as heatsinks go, but has the perfect amount for its efficient GPU chip, keeping it at an acceptable temperature while it pushes above its weight class.

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Custom Cables

Look at those clean cable bends and swooping curves! Aren't they just satisfying! In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, tight, well managed cables provide an aerodynamic air path, leading to cooler temperatures.

Unorganized Cables

Despite calling these cables messy, they could actually be a lot worse. Generally speaking, and for the sake of argument, we can say that this is some messy wiring. The stray, unkempt wires detract from the overall clean look, and block up the ventilation areas towards the bottom of the case.

Tempered Glass

Similar to the RGB lights, tempered glass side panels have a stunning visual effect, offering view into the PC unavailiable with solid, or mesh materials. This design choice comes at a cost, heavily impacting airflow.

Mesh

Though they may not have the expensive feel or visual effect that comes with glass side panels, mesh panels understand the assignment when it comes to performance. They act as if they were not there at all in terms of airflow, while filtering dust and other materials in the air, leading to a clean, well ventilated case.

sff.pc

Sffpcs differ from the systems taught last semester in a couple different ways. Aside from the aforementioned traits regarding space and mobility, they run different in price and components. Click the buttons below to learn more.