Tip #4260 - Computer Fans
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Q:
I have a quick question about the fans in my computer. I'm not sure
if they're working properly. Can you give me some information on how
they should be acting? Thank you for your help!
A:
That is an excellent question and I'm so glad
you asked! I'm sure you're not the only one who has ever wondered
about this either. So, in a sense, I'll be taking care of two birds
with one stone by helping you and everyone else who reads this tip.
I love it when it works out that way! Well, let's not waste any more
time and get right into it. Go!
I know every computer is different, but most of them usually have
a heatsink fan and some case fans. All of the fans work to keep your
computer protected so that it does not overheat or become inoperable.
Let's start with an explanation of the heatsink fan.
Basically,
the heatsink fan usually works right along with your CPU and it helps
monitor the motherboard, video card and any other circuit boards that
may work with your computer. The heatsink fan should always be blowing
any heat away from the components I mentioned above. Its main purpose
is to give the heat an escape route out of the computer case so that
it doesn't damage any of the circuits inside. For example, if your
motherboard was hit with too much heat, it's possible that it would
stop working. And well, you need the motherboard to be able to use
your computer, so you don't want that to happen!
So,
while the heatsink fan is doing its job of blowing the air out, the
case fans are working just as hard. How your case fans work depends
on how your chassis is set up. Chassis is just another word for your
computer case. It's the housing unit that holds all of your computer's
components together. So, depending on how yours is laid out, the case
fans will either be blowing the air out or sucking it in. Allow me
to explain this a little more!
If
your computer case only has one fan, it will more than likely be located
in the back. In that case, the fan will be blowing hot air out. Now,
another common configuration is to have one fan in the back and another
in the front. In that instance, the fan in the back will be blowing
hot air out while the fan in the front is sucking cooler air in. By
default, your computer case brings cool air in from the front, because
it's not constrained and it's more of an open area. So, once that
cool air is sucked in by the front fan, it's blown out by the back
fan once it's heated up. Interesting, huh? It's like this:
If
you're still a little confused, all you really need to remember is
if your computer case has two fans, one should always be sucking air
in while the other is blowing it out. That's the best configuration
to use to keep your computer in proper working condition. The heatsink
fan then will always work on its own to blow hot air out, because
it works in such close conjunction with all the major components of
your computer.
That's
it. Now you know exactly how the fans work for your computer. Who
knew there was so much going on inside that little case?!
~
Erin
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