CPU Heatsink & Fan
CPU Temperature Cooler – Heatsink Compound and CPU Heatsink Fans
This part of your computer is usually on the processor and is absolutely necessary to reduce the temperature of the processor. Since all the information going through your computer travels through the processor in the form of electricity at one time or another, this generates a lot of heat. A heatsink is usually made of some sort of metal and has a series of spikes and valleys. The heat from the processor travels to these spikes, which are then cooled down by a fan.
Heatsink Compound
Although the heatsink does a great job at cooling down the processor, a fan and possibly some heatsink compound will be necessary. Your CPU is going to generate a LOT of heat since all the information in the computer will be passing through it in the form of electricity, thus heating it up. The heatsink will collect that heat, and the fan will pull the heat away from the valleys in the heatsink helping it cool down. Even with a heatsink and fan something else, a heatsink compound (pictured right), will help tremendously in creating a better heat conducting transfer point between the heatsink and processor. What heatsink compound does is aid in transferring the heat from the CPU to the heatsink. There is an article that explains it better on heatsink-guide.com.
Cost
These are fairly inexpensive at between $10 and $50 (Average $20)
Where to Buy
TigerDirect: has a great selection of many kinds of heatsinks and cooling fans .
