AERIX COOLING Open calculator
Browser-based · No install

PC Cooling
Calculator

Optimize your PC cooling setup before buying hardware.

Open Aerix Calculator How it works

Fast engineering estimate — not a CFD simulation.

Overview

How PC cooling actually works

PC cooling depends on the balance between component heat output and airflow through the case. Add up how much heat the CPU and GPU produce, then ask whether your fans move enough fresh air past them to carry it away.

Total CPU + GPU heat output
Intake and exhaust fan layout
CPU cooler class
Graphics-card cooler and power
Case restriction and panels
Ambient room temperature
Workflow

Compare cooling setups before you buy

Compare different fan layouts and cooling configurations before building your system — so you spend on the parts that actually move your temperatures.

1

Enter your build

Select your case, CPU cooler, GPU, fan layout and approximate component power.

2

Compare configurations

Change fan count, direction or cooler and see how CPU and GPU estimates respond together.

3

Get CPU + GPU estimates

Aerix shows both temperatures and whether the build looks airflow-limited or balanced.

Go deeper

Focus on one component

Cooling is a whole-system balance, but sometimes you want to isolate a single part. These focused calculators use the same Aerix engine.

CPU Temperature Calculator

Estimate CPU temps from cooler class, processor power and the air your case delivers to the socket.

GPU Temperature Calculator

Predict graphics-card temps from board power, cooler design, mounting and case airflow.

PC Airflow Calculator

See how intake, exhaust and fan direction shape the airflow path through the whole build.

Cooling fundamentals

More fans is not a cooling strategy

Cooling improves when air enters, reaches the hot parts, and leaves — not simply when more fans are installed. Where the air goes matters more than how many fans push it.

Balance intake and exhaust

Air has to get in as easily as it gets out; a case starved of intake stays warm no matter the exhaust.

Feed the hot parts

Fresh air needs a path to the CPU cooler and GPU specifically, not just into the case in general.

Restriction sets the ceiling

Dense filters and solid panels can cap cooling even with several fans fitted.

Questions

Frequently asked

Do more fans always improve PC cooling?
No. More fans help only if they improve the actual airflow path. Fan placement, direction and case restriction usually matter more than raw fan count.
How many case fans do I need?
Many builds cool well with a simple intake-and-exhaust setup — for example one or two intake fans and one exhaust. The right number depends on component heat, case restriction and how quiet you want it.
Should I plan cooling before buying parts?
Yes. Comparing case and fan options up front is far cheaper than rebuying hardware later. That is exactly what this calculator is for — testing configurations before you commit.
Is Aerix a CFD simulation?
No. Aerix is not CFD. It uses a simplified engineering airflow and thermal estimation model designed for fast comparison of PC cooling configurations.
How accurate is Aerix?
Aerix is an estimation tool. Accuracy depends on the build, component data, fan speeds, cooler mounting, ambient temperature and real hardware behavior. The goal is a practical estimate that helps you compare setups.
More Aerix calculators

Related tools

PC Airflow Calculator

Estimate CPU & GPU temperatures from your case, fans and cooler.

CPU Temperature Calculator

Estimate CPU temps from cooler class, TDP and case airflow.

GPU Temperature Calculator

Predict graphics-card temps from board power, cooler and airflow.

Estimate your build in the browser

Pick your case, cooler, GPU and fans — then compare cooling scenarios side by side.

Open Aerix Calculator