Are blower GPUs cool-headed players or hotheads in gaming?
When it comes to gaming, the graphics card is one of the most important factors in determining the overall performance and experience. Graphics processing units (GPUs) can either come with an open-air cooler or a blower-style cooler. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the differences between the two and ultimately answer the question of whether blower GPUs are cool-headed players or hotheads in gaming.
What are blower-style GPUs and how do they work?
Blower-style GPUs are a type of graphics card that uses a blower fan to cool down the heat generated by the GPU. The blower fan is located at the back of the GPU and draws in cool air from the case and expels hot air out through the rear vent. Blower-style GPUs are known for their loud noise level and higher temperatures compared to open-air coolers.
The blower style cooler is a compact solution that requires less space in the case and distributes hot air more efficiently out of the rear vent. They can also prevent hot air from being trapped inside the case and keep the temperatures of other system components in check, such as the CPU, which may be located near the GPU.
Blower-style GPUs are often used in small form factor (SFF) cases and a multi-GPU setup, such as SLI/NVLink. These setups will generate more heat since the fans of two GPUs won’t point in the same direction, making it a good choice for these compact configurations.
What are open-air coolers and how do they work?
Open-air coolers are the more common type of GPU cooler found. They are larger and use fans to cool the GPU. The cool air from the fan is generated in the direction of the heatsink, which is the larger array of fins that absorb heat from the GPU.
The heatsink dissipates the heat generated by the GPU, and the fans will expel the hot air out of the case. In some cases, the heat can also be absorbed by a thermal plate connected directly to the heatsink of the GPU.
As open-air coolers need to remove heat from both the GPU and memory modules surrounding it, they tend to be larger and take up more space in your PC case. They are also quieter than blower fans since they can operate at lower speeds to keep the system cool.
Are blower-style GPUs better for gaming?
Blower-style GPUs have their advantages when gaming. They tend to be more effective at maintaining a consistent temperature in small form factor cases or in setups with two or more GPUs where managing hot air inside the case could be more challenging.
The compact size of blower-style GPUs can also be advantageous since graphics cards often have tall heatsinks that can otherwise interfere with the RAM modules, CPU tower coolers, and other components in the system.
However, blower-style GPUs tend to be noisier and hotter than open-air coolers, so they may not be the best option for gamers who prefer silent computing or want to overclock the GPU. Their higher noise levels may also interfere with the quality of gameplay by producing excessive noise levels.
Are open-air coolers superior for gaming?
Open-air coolers are superior in most cases when it comes to average gaming requirements. They tend to be quieter than blower-style GPUs and offer better cooling performance to enable overclocking, which is essential for high-end gaming.
As open-air coolers need more space, they tend to have larger heatsinks, which give them a more considerable surface area for cooling, and better overall performance.
A quality open-air GPU using well-engineered heatsinks with good thermal conductivity and large-diameter fans will prove to show lower temperatures than blower-style GPUs with smaller fans. And rather than the noise emitted by a single fan with high RPM, open-air coolers relying on dual or triple fan layouts can generate lower noise levels with better cooling performance.
The Verdict
In conclusion, blower-style GPUs are better suited for SFF cases or multi-GPU setups. Their compact size can provide a cleaner interior and maintain a steady temperature inside the system case. However, if you have a larger case and plan on overclocking, then open-air coolers are a better way to go. They offer better cooling performance and lower noise levels and more reliability when it comes to sustaining intense gaming sessions.
Overall, your preferred GPU largely depends on your personal preference and the system requirements. Both blower-style GPUs and open-air coolers have their advantages and disadvantages. But depending on your priorities such as size, noise levels, and system requirements, one may prove superior over the other for your specific needs.
We hope you found this blog post informative and practical in making informed decisions when it comes to choosing the right GPU cooler for your gaming setup.
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