Softcooling

What Does Softcooling Mean?

Softcooling is the practice of cooling computer components by using CPU power saving technology.This is accomplished by reducing the power consumption through the usage of software. Principally cooled components include the CPU, graphics card and motherboard when the system is idle or under light use.

Techopedia Explains Softcooling

Reduced power consumption is accomplished in three ways:

Undervolting: This sets the voltage to the CPU below that specified by the manufacturer.
Underclocking: This sets the CPU processing speed slower than specified by the manufacturer.
Control of Halt Instructions: This turns off components or puts them in standby mode when not needed.

The benefits of Softcooling include:

Increased battery life for laptop computers
Decreased power consumption in corporate settings
Increased life for personal computers, network servers and network client workstations
Decreased ambient temperatures for computers and connected devices

Related Reading

An Introduction to the OSI Model
INFOGRAPHIC: A Primer on Networking Cables

Margaret Rouse

Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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