Solutions for keeping gaming devices from overheating | Global Sources
by Vianie Li & Cecile de Veyra
PCs have made a comeback after years of downturn when smartphones became the all-around device for most consumers. The steady decline started in 2011, when just over 350 million units were shipped worldwide, according to a 2020 report from Deloitte. The volume was down by 24 percent to 267 million in 2019. During this period, smartphone shipments were three times as many. But as the pandemic forced people to shelter in place, and work, study and play from home, their sales picked up and even surged in 2020 and 2021, boosting the market for related hardware and accessories.
Industry analysts, however, have hinted that 2022 will not be another blockbuster year for PCs due to market saturation, with growth expected to whittle down from a double to a single-digit percentage. Excluded from this projection is the gaming sector, according to IDC. "While we have seen some slowing of consumer demand in certain segments and markets, demand for gaming remains an exception and overall consumer demand is well above pre-pandemic levels,” said Jitesh Ubrani of IDC.
The world gaming market reached about $152.1 billion in 2019 at a CAGR of 13.4 percent from 2015, according to Newzoo. This rose to $164.6 billion in 2020 and $178.2 billion in 2021, and is forecast to hit $196 billion in 2022.
Eyeing the still-growing PC market and its booming gaming segment, suppliers of cooling systems continue to update their selections, offering aftermarket alternatives to stock coolers or those bundled by manufacturers with their processors, in diverse types for custom or home builds.
For gaming PCs, the great amount of heat generated from high workloads, such as playing high-graphics games and overclocking for more speed or performance, requires robust additional cooling solutions to prevent component damage and computer breakdowns.
In China, manufacturers of cooling systems are also aiming for the growing domestic gaming market, which realized a total sales value of $43.6 billion in 2021 and a YoY increase of 6.4 percent, according to Sohu News. China’s game console sector, meanwhile, will rack up $2.15 billion in 2024 based on Niko Partners’ projection.
To maximize proximity to this market, Chinese suppliers are keeping up with product trends, which emphasize efficiency, sound level and compatibility with major CPU brands Intel and AMD.
Soeyi Technology Ltd has a CPU cooler with four 4x6mm pure-bronze heat pipes with a double-row design and made using sintered metal for better heat dissipation. The 90mm PWM ARGB fan has 900 to 1,600rpm speed and 16.8 to 29dB noise level.
Commonly available air- and water-cooling types are made of copper, aluminum or plastic. These come in round and square variants usually with a fan speed of 900 to 1,800rpm, noise level of less than 29dB and rated voltage of 5 or 12V. Typical products are CE-approved, UL-listed and RoHS-compliant.
Customization is widely practiced by Chinese manufacturers. Orders based on buyers’ specifications account for a large chunk of the revenue of these companies. Such CPU coolers represent between 30 and 60 percent of shipments.
Manufacturing base
China is one of the world’s largest production hubs for cooling fans and heat sinks, with hundreds of companies that include foreign-invested ones. Huizhou Zhike, PC Cooler and Deep Cool are some of the major homegrown operations, with the first owning over 20 percent of the game console heat sink market.
These companies increased production by 10 to 20 percent in 2021 to meet demand, according to suppliers interviewed by Global Sources. They are likely to continue on this track in the coming months.
The boom in this category has been attracting new investments. Guangzhou Aojie Science and Technology Co. Ltd, which specializes in the manufacture of computer cases and power supplies, is one of the recent entrants. It has started offering CPU coolers as add-ons to cases.
Most Chinese suppliers allocate 30 to 80 percent for export, mainly to Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. They also send shipments to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America from their factories in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, Suzhou, Changzhou and Hangzhou.
2,500rpm±10% CPU cooler
From Dongguan Yanghai Industrial Co. Ltd, the YH-05 CPU cooler has 2,500rpm±10 percent fan speed, 45 to 55CFM airflow volume, 20dB noise, 12VDC voltage, 0.28A current and ≤55W rated power. This unit uses a DC or PWM fan, an aluminum heat sink and a hydraulic bearing. Product size is 85x85x15mm, with overall dimensions of 110x110x50mm.
The supplier requires a five-unit minimum order for delivery within 10 days.
9-blade CPU cooler
The PI360mm Liquid Cooler from Guangzhou Aojie Science and Technology Co. has a 120x120x25mm fan with nine blades and 0.45A LED, 73x86.5x51mm water pump with 2,250 to 2,750rpm speed and a 395x119x27mm aluminum water block with a 12-channel rubber water pipe measuring 380mm in length. Airflow is 58.2CFM. This 12V, 0.2A-rated unit, with a hydraulic copper bearing, has 800 to 1,500rpm speed, 30dB noise and 30,000-hour life span. The 500-unit minimum order has a 45-day lead time.
750 to 2,000rpm CPU cooler
Model 360-DEL-1-2154 from Shenzhen Sixty-Six Technology Co. Ltd is a CPU cooler with 12VDC rated and 7V starting voltage, and less than 0.5A current. Its speed is 750 to 2,000rpm, maximum airflow volume 56CFM and noise level less than 25dB. This 135g unit uses a hydraulic bearing and a 120x120x25mm fan. The minimum order quantity is 50 units. Delivery takes 20 days.
180W TDP
Soeyi Technology Ltd’s CE-marked CL6212A CPU Cooler-2537 has 180W thermal dissipation power. It uses six pure-copper heat pipes and a 120mm silent PWM ARGB fan. The minimum order quantity required is 2,000 units. Lead time is 30 days.
