CPU is one of the most important components of your PC hardware. If you want to maintain the thermal output of your CPU, you need to install a CPU cooler. It will prevent your CPU from heating up and shutting down the operating system.
CPU coolers come in different types;
- A stock cooler that comes with Intel or AMD CPU
- A third-party cooler (air coolers and liquid coolers)
This article will provide a step-by-step guide so that the CPU cooler is installed correctly, whether it is a liquid cooler or an air cooler.
What you need to install a CPU cooler
Before you begin, there are a few things you need. Firstly you need thermal paste, also called thermal grease or thermal compound. It is intended to remove gaps between the CPU lid and CPU cooler base. However, if your CPU has a pre-applied thermal paste, you do not need to apply thermal paste. You will also need a few tools like a screwdriver to open the PC.
Install an air cooler
Air coolers have a heat sink and fans that move air through the heat sink. Here is what you need to do to install an air cooler.
- Get the right bracket to install the cooler. You can get it when you acquire the cooler kit.
- Check if your CPU has pre-applied thermal paste. If yes, you do not have to apply a second layer. But if not, you may have to apply a thin layer of thermal paste.
- Now align the connector of the air cooler with the screw on the board. Make an X pattern on the four screw holes for proper mounting. You may have to remove fans from the heat sink in the CPU cooler for proper installation.
- Now secure it through connectors and mount the fans if you had removed them earlier.
Here's a great video tutorial wtih a the step by step:
Install a liquid cooler
A liquid cooler has a CPU water block, radiator, cooler pipes and fans. Here is how you can install it.
- Get the right bracket to install the cooler, depending on the CPU socket.
- Install the backplate and the water block.
- Now place the radiator on the PC case after you have installed the radiator fans on the radiator.
- You can also install them separately if your PC case has enough space. Secure them with screws that came with the kit.
Now plug it in an appropriate power source to see if everything is working.
