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All computers require cooling systems. Except for the MacBook Air — that laptop can stay cool without a fan — but that is neither here nor there. Traditional logic says more of these systems means more cooling, but that's often unnecessary and impractical.

Air cooling systems rely on more than just fans; they also use vacuum-sealed metal heat pipes that transfer heat from your hard-working CPU and GPU to a heatsink. Heatsinks are often built as large stacks of metal fins that soak up heat, which is why they are often called "towers." Each tower's fins are arranged to maximize surface area and heat absorption. But that's just one tower. Logically, if you build a PC with a cooling system that uses two towers instead of one, your computer should never overheat. That's a correct assessment, but there's always a price to pay, and we don't just mean in cash.

From a practical standpoint, a single-tower cooler will suit most people's needs.…