Double-tower
A feature found in some active CPU coolers (see "Intended Use").
For tower arrangements in general, see Airflow Blowing below. And
the double-tower design means that the cooler has two working blocks — that is, two fans and two radiators. Accordingly, there are more heat pipes in the design than in single-tower models — at least 4 of them, and more often 5 – 6 or even more. Such an arrangement can significantly increase the cooling efficiency; on the other hand, it also significantly affects the dimensions, weight and price.
Number of fans
The number of fans in the design of the cooling system. More fans provide higher efficiency (all else being equal); on the other hand, the dimensions and the noise generated during operation also increase accordingly. Also, note that other things being equal, a smaller number of large fans is considered more advanced than numerous small ones; see "Fan diameter" for details.
Fan thickness
This parameter must be considered in the context of whether the fan will fit into the computer case. Standard case fans are available in the order of 25 mm in thickness. Low-profile coolers with a thickness of about 15 mm are designed for small-sized cases, where saving space is extremely important. Fans of large thickness (30-40 mm) boast high cooling efficiency due to the increased impeller dimensions. However, they are noisier than standard models at the same speed and do not always fit into the case normally, sometimes touching other components.
Socket
Socket - processor connector - with which the corresponding cooling system is compatible.
Different sockets differ not only in compatibility with a particular CPU, but also in the configuration of the mounting place for the cooling system. So, when purchasing a processor cooling system separately, it is worth making sure that it is compatible with the socket. Nowadays, solutions are mainly produced for the following types of sockets:
AMD AM2/AM3/FM1/FM2,
AMD AM4,
AMD AM5,
AMD TR4/TRX4,
Intel 775,
Intel 1150,
Intel 1155/1156,
Intel 1366,
Intel 2011/2011 v3,
Intel 2066,
Intel 1151/1151 v2,
Intel 1200,
Intel 1700.
Dimensions
General dimensions of the cooling system. For water systems (see "Type"), this paragraph indicates the size of the external radiator (the dimensions of the water block in such devices are small, and there is no need to specify them in particular).
In general, this is a fairly obvious parameter. We only note that for case fans (see ibid.), the thickness is of particular importance — it directly depends on how much space the device will take up inside the system unit. At the same time, it is customary to refer to
fans with a thin case for models in which this size does not exceed 20 mm.
Height
The cooling system should fit into the computer case without any problems. The vast majority of case manufacturers indicate in the specifications the maximum height of the cooler that can be installed on their chassis. It is from this value that it is necessary to build on when choosing a cooling system. With an oversized cooler, you will have to leave the side wall of the case wide open, which violates the built-in air circulation pattern and provokes dust pollution of the internal space of the system unit.
