Lindsey Ellefson is Lifehacker’s Features Editor. She currently covers study and productivity hacks, as well as household and digital decluttering, and oversees the freelancers on the sex and ...

Under normal circumstances, the CPU in your desktop PC generates modest amounts of heat; a smart fan on top of the CPU runs just fast enough to keep it cool. At this speed, you barely hear the fan.

Your desktop computer generates heat as it runs, which can reach dangerous, component-killing levels inside the enclosed tower. Internal fans help dissipate this heat, but sometimes it may not be ...

Deciding between PWM and DC case fans can be confusing, but it’s important for the optimal performance of your computer. In general, PWM fans are quieter, more controllable, and more durable than DC ...

The CPU OPT header is an additional connection for special processor cooling accessories, such as specialized coolers with multiple fans or water-cooling components. Functionally, CPU OPT is identical ...