At a minimum, a desktop computer case fan vents air out the back of your computer tower to help keep the components from overheating. Many computer cooling systems use more than one case fan. Doing so allows for fans to work in tandem creating a flow of cool air across important components, like the graphics card and CPU. How effective a computer’s cooling system is can be important when choosing a desktop computer or laptop, and it is an area where you may choose to upgrade your device.

While there are multiple approaches to computer cooling, including the fan built into GPUs and the use of a specific CPU fan or the option of a liquid cooling system, case fans play an essential role in most desktop computer cooling setups, getting hot air out and cool air into the computer case effectively.

Laptops also use fans for cooling, but, because there is less air space inside a laptop, keeping a laptop cool can be a bigger challenge. Sometimes a laptop fan cannot keep up with the amount of heat generated. For processing-heavy activities, like gaming, it can be wise to use a laptop cooling pad.

To choose the best PC fan for your computer tower and to get the most out of it, there are a few things you will want to understand. First, look at a fan’s CFM (cubic feet per minute). The higher a case fan’s CFM, the more air it dispels. Many PC fans fall in the 50–59 CFM range, but you can find case fans with 80+ CFM. Keep in mind that more airflow can sometimes create more noise depending on the design. Generally, the larger the fan, the quieter it can be while still moving lots of air.

Like all components in a computer, your new PC fan must be compatible with the other PC components you have. This means you must take size, connection and placement orientation into account. Also, when installing, be sure to orient your new computer fan in the right direction.

In addition to practical considerations, you can think about aesthetics. If you have a transparent computer tower, getting case fans with RGB lighting can really spruce it up. Colorful PC fans are particularly popular for PC gaming desktops.