AMD and Intel both provide a simple fan with their off-the-shelf processors, but these standard options are usually very limited.

The most common complaint is not processor overheating, but that the heatsink that processor manufacturers ship is very loud.

Things usually get worse when the fan has to turn faster--either because the ambient temperature goes up, or because the processor is working harder.

Opting for a better heatsink, then, means you can make your computer both cooler and quieter--it's certainly not just a generic part that only needs replacing when it breaks down.

Materials and Methods

As so often in the world of IT, there is a huge range of heatsinks on the market today, starting from those delivered free with CPUs to very powerful models with price tags to match.

Rather than just focusing on the price, though, there are two key factors that distinguish one heatsink from the next: their internal architecture and the materials that they're made from.

As a general rule, aluminium heatsinks are the cheapest and copper ones are the most expensive.  The trade-off you have to make is between cooper, which is better at absorbing the excess heat, and aluminum, which is lighter, cheaper and more readily available.

As for the structure, the traditional option is a tiny heatsink, that's either round or square.

Usually less effective, these models are losing ground to newer 'tower' fans, so called because of their shape.

Finally, an increasingly popular addition is the inclusion of a heatpipe which can quickly move heat away from the processor.