What specific containers drop Cooling Fans?

As of now, Server Racks are the confirmed and reliable source. If you are opening lockers, toolboxes, or generic storage crates, you are wasting time if your goal is Cooling Fans.

Server Racks stand out visually. They look like tall cabinets filled with electronics and cables. If you are new, take a second to memorize their silhouette, because spotting them quickly saves time and reduces how long you stay exposed in a dangerous area.

Most experienced players ignore other loot nearby and go straight for these racks when they are on a Cooling Fan run.

Do all Technological areas have the same chance?

Not really. While Cooling Fans are tagged as Technological loot, the real factor is how many Server Racks you can safely access in a short time.

Some zones technically count as technological but only have one or two racks, often in high-risk rooms. Other zones let you move between multiple racks with decent cover and escape routes. Those zones are far more efficient even if enemy density is higher.

In real play, players tend to favor routes they already know well rather than chasing “best spawn” rumors. Knowing where enemies patrol and where you can disengage matters more than theoretical drop rates.

How rare are Cooling Fans in actual runs?

They are rare enough that you should plan around them, but not so rare that they are frustrating if you are prepared.

From experience, a focused run hitting several Server Racks usually gives you one Cooling Fan every few raids, not every raid. Sometimes you will get lucky and pull two. Sometimes you will go three runs without seeing one.

This is why most players do not farm them alone. They combine Cooling Fan runs with gathering Wires and Electrical Components, which come from the same sources and are needed in similar projects.

Why do players need Cooling Fans at all?

Cooling Fans are mainly used for progression projects rather than gear crafting. A common roadblock is the Core System to Framework transition, where you suddenly need multiple Cooling Fans along with other materials.

Because you need five Cooling Fans at once for that stage, many players feel stuck if they did not start collecting them early. The mistake newer players make is recycling or selling Cooling Fans early, not realizing they will need a batch later.

Once you know this, the smart move is to keep every Cooling Fan you find until your major projects are done.

Should you recycle or sell Cooling Fans?

In most cases, no.

Yes, Cooling Fans can be recycled into Plastic Parts and Wires, and yes, they sell for a decent amount of coins. But both of those options are usually worse than keeping them.

Plastic Parts and Wires are easier to farm directly. Cooling Fans are not. Selling them early often leads to regret later when you are stuck needing exactly five and cannot find any.

Experienced players only recycle or sell Cooling Fans after they are completely done with all projects that require them.

How much weight do Cooling Fans add, and is it a problem?

Each Cooling Fan weighs 3.0, and the stack size is only three. That means carrying multiple fans quickly adds up.

In practice, most players extract as soon as they get one unless they are already near an exit or running a coordinated squad. Dying with a Cooling Fan in your bag feels worse than dying with common loot, so people play more cautiously once they have one.

If you find two in a single run, that is usually your signal to leave unless you are very confident in your route and combat readiness.

Are Cooling Fans worth targeting solo?

They can be, but solo players need to be realistic.

Server Rack locations are often contested or guarded by enemies that punish slow looting. If you are solo and lightly geared, you should only go for racks you can loot quickly and escape from cleanly.

Many solo players treat Cooling Fans as a bonus rather than a primary goal. They run normal scav routes and hit Server Racks only when the situation feels safe. This approach is slower but far more consistent over time.

Is it better to buy instead of farm in some cases?

Some players choose to shortcut parts of progression by buying related blueprints or gear rather than grinding every material. For example, you may see discussions around options like buy arc raiders Snap Hook blueprint when players feel stuck behind progression walls.

That does not remove the need for Cooling Fans entirely, but it can change how urgently you need them. Even then, you should expect to gather at least some Cooling Fans yourself.

Common mistakes players make when farming Cooling Fans

The biggest mistake is rushing unknown Server Rack rooms without scouting. Many deaths happen because players tunnel vision on the rack and ignore sound cues or patrol routes.

Another mistake is assuming that every tech-looking area is worth checking. If you cannot confirm a Server Rack quickly, move on. Time spent searching empty rooms increases risk without improving your chances.

Finally, do not underestimate how often players lose Cooling Fans by staying “just one more minute” in a raid. When you have a rare item, extraction is part of the objective.

How should you plan a Cooling Fan farming route?

Plan short, repeatable routes. You want to know exactly where the racks are, how long looting takes, and where your exits are.

Good routes let you disengage quickly if something goes wrong. Bad routes force you deeper into the map after looting, which increases the chance of dying with valuable loot.

Over time, you will notice that experienced players run the same paths again and again. That is not laziness. It is risk management.

Final thoughts on Cooling Fan locations

Cooling Fans are not mysterious once you understand how the game actually distributes loot. They come from Server Racks, they are rare, and they are meant to slow progression just enough to force deliberate play.

If you treat them like common materials, you will be frustrated. If you plan for them early, store them safely, and run smart routes, they become just another part of steady progression.

Arc Raiders Barricade Kit Blueprint Locations & How to Get