CPUs are cooled by either blowing air over them or using a liquid cooling system. Liquid cooling is more energy efficient and quieter, but it requires a custom loop and more labor. ..
For cheaper and simpler, go for an air cooler, or if you are also excited about those extra features, a smaller screen. However, they are usually more expensive and often require a little more know-how. Each cooler on this list has been rigorously bench tested so you can see which one provides the most optimal CPU cooling under different workloads. ..
Here is the list of Best CPU Coolers
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 CPU Air Cooler
Thermalright’s Peerless Assassin 120 SE offers the best performance of any air cooler we tested on Intel’s Alder Lake at a price below the competition. In our tests, it performed so well in cooling the Core i9-12900K that we retested it multiple times to make sure the results were correct. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE consumes over 200 watts more power than the competitor products we tested, but this increased performance is worth it because it keeps the CPU cooling at lower temperature/TDP settings. ..
The cooler’s two 120mm fans did their job of dissipating all the heat with noise levels as low as 34.5 dB at maximum speed and 33 dB at 50% speed. They are also available in silver/gray, white, and black, so if aesthetics are important to you, they should fit most build themes. Overall, this is one of the best CPU coolers that you can buy right now.
Noctua NH-L9i CPU Cooler
Many ITX and mATX cases are limited in how much they can fit. In such cases, you need to think carefully about what kind of CPU coolers you can fit. Noctua’s NH-L9i cooler is a very low-profile option that allows you to build the smart, small form-factor PC of your dreams.
The Noctua NH-L9i is a compact PC cooler that is sufficient for cooling a variety of Intel chips. It has a large radiator and a high-quality Noctua fan, which is sufficient to cool most Intel chips. However, it does not support many of Intel’s unlocked models and Extreme Editions. An optional mounting adapter can also support AMD chips in AM4 sockets. ..
Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix
The Corsair H100i Elite is easily one of the best CPU Coolers available on the market. It is an AIO cooler in a smaller form factor than its more powerful H115i Elite Capellix cousin, but with enough performance to keep the best processors on the market comfortably cool under load. 5 sockets are ready for the next generation of desktop processors and have enough cooling capacity to handle just about anything Intel and AMD throw at it. ..
The most powerful Intel Core i9 and AMD Ryzen 9 chips run particularly hot, and these chips often require a more substantial 360mm AIO cooling unit, so if you’re looking at Core i7 and Ryzen 7 chips or under a stack, this cooler needs to be higher than your ability to get the cooling you need.
NZXT Kraken X53 CPU Cooler
The NZXT Kraken X53 is a 240mm cooler that has an RGB “infinity mirror” embedded in the water block area, creating the optical illusion of a bottomless abyss receding into the PC’s core. While this adds a bit of an unrealistic feel to the system, the fans included with this cooler are more subdued, with just two standard 120mm fans without LED illumination.
The company offers a slightly more expensive version that includes RGB LEDs, but if you want high-quality heat dissipation hardware, the non-illuminated model is a more attractive option. The non-RGB Aer P radiator fan pictured is made with fluid dynamic bearings, which helps keep the cooler relatively quiet while still providing strong airflow.
Be Quiet! BW006 Pure Loop Liquid Cooler
The BW006 Pure Loop 240mm is easily one of the best CPU coolers on the market. It is big enough to easily cool Intel Core-i7 and Ryzen 7 CPUs, while keeping your computer quiet. Its discreet design uses subtle white LEDs around the processor to let you know it’s powered on. ..
The Pure Loop 240mm is a great CPU cooler that will keep your processor running at peak performance. It is easy to maintain and is one of the best CPU coolers that you can buy right now. ..
Zalman CNPS 10X Performa CPU Cooler
The CNPS10x Performa Black is a mid-sized quad heat pipe cooler that features jet-black styling and a single, ultra-quiet 135mm fan. It’s designed to cool the CPU heat load of multi-core desktop enthusiast processors, and at $45 it’s a costlier option than the competition.
The Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black is in a strong position to become a favorite of system builders when they need to spend extra dollars on other components. zalman is known for providing excellent, defect-free cooling options that look good and allow system builders to focus their funds where they are needed most. ..
Noctua NH-D15 chromax CPU Cooler
Overall, the Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best CPU coolers you can buy. It performs as well as, if not better than, some liquid coolers at a fraction of the price, and is virtually silent.
EVGA CLC 120 CL11 CPU Cooler
The CLC 120mm water-cooled CPU Cooler from EVGA is a basic thermal solution that is almost as basic as it gets. It just has a 120mm radiator and a pair of tubes connecting it to a copper mounting plate and pump. The cooler is powered by a single 120mm fan capable of pumping 58.9 cubic feet of air per minute, and EVGA rates the fan noise at 20 dBA to 32 dBA during operation, with the water pump producing an additional 20 dBA of noise.
This is one of the least expensive water coolers you can buy, making it attractive for any budget build. Currently, this CPU cooler is one of the best that you can buy. ..
Noctua NH-L12S
The Noctua NH-L12S is a great choice for home theater PCs. It offers incredible cooling capacity, and it is compatible with many of Intel’s 12th generation and Ryzen 5000 series CPUs.
The NH-L12S low-profile cooler is a great choice for those looking for a quiet and efficient cooling solution. The included mounting surface can be changed to accommodate wider memory compatibility, and everything needed for installation is included in the box. While the NH-L12S is the performance leader among low-profile coolers, it suffers from design-specific limitations that may not be ideal for hardcore gaming or intense processing tasks. ..
Corsair iCUE H60i RGB Pro XT
The Corsair iCUE H60i RGB Pro XT is a compact yet powerful AIO liquid cooler that manages a small footprint and is ideal when space around the CPU is limited. It delivers liquid to a 120mm radiator with a 120mm fan and gets a cold version of copper pumped in to draw heat away, ensuring that the inside of your PC is nice and frosty. All of this is done quietly, as this cooler is only 37 dBA when running at its maximum setting.
The Corsair iCUE H60i RGB Pro XT is an all-in-one liquid cooling solution that is less expensive than other options and has 16 individually addressable RGB LEDs on the pump head. This allows you to customize the lighting effect to match the rest of your PC. ..
Final Words
When buying a CPU cooler, there are a few things to keep in mind. For example, the type of cooling your budget allows will determine the quality of the cooler you buy. We’ve listed some key factors to consider below, such as use case, cooler types, CPU socket, and thermal design power (TDP). Hopefully this will make choosing a cooler easier for you. ..
