This often proves to be a limit to overclocking potential, especially with heavy workloads. It can also make a big difference in terms of computer noise.
Reasons why purchasing a heat sink that can better manage the heat generated by the CPU, both at standard frequencies and in OC, is fundamental to avoid bottlenecks and prevent our system from unleashing its true potential.
Finding the right cooler for your needs will depend on the best processor you have purchased, your budget, and your overclocking needs. If you have little money.
Otherwise, you can treat yourself to a high-end liquid cooler by bringing your cooling performance to a high level. Here we will be listing the top 7 cpu coolers.
- Sleek Finishing: Anodized gun-metal black with brushed aluminum surface finish to the top cover for a more refined look
- Nickle Black: The nickel plated jet black also enhances radiation cooling performance
- Direct Contact Technology: 4 Heat Pipe with exclusive direct contact Technology effectively provides excellent heat dissipation;...
- Precise Air Flow: Stacked fin array ensures least airflow resistance which allows cooler air flow into the heatsink
- Snap and play: Intuitive fan bracket design makes upgrading and removing the fan a breeze CPU socket support: Intel: LGA1700...
- 3rd Generation Dual Chamber Pump for overall cooling efficiency and performance
- New SickleFlow Refreshed exterior design for improved lighting and fan blades for a quiet airflow performance
- RGB Lighting Signature cooling performance with an RGB design for all of the users wanting lighting effects that are fully...
- Industrial Grade Seal High Industrial Grade EPDM material to strengthen the seal for improved longevity and Anti-Leaking
- AMD AM4/AM3 plus/AM3/AM2 plus/AM2/FM2 plus/FM2/FM1
- A high 150W TDP cooling efficiency
- Four high-performance 6mm heat pipes with HDT technology
- Asymmetrical construction avoids blocking memory slots
- Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan for silent operation of max. 26. 8 dB(A)
- Elegant black surface.Easily installable installation kit can be mounted from atop the motherboard.Three-year manufacturer's
- 【Better Heat Dissipation】The AIO CPU water cooler equipped with a 240mm radiator and two 120mm PWM fans to make sure excellent...
- 【White LED Lighting】Classic white LED lighting on the pump to match your PC build.
- 【PWM Fans】The 120mm PWM fan delivers improved airflow for extreme CPU cooling performance.
- 【Compatibility】Compatible with multi sockets like Intel LGA1700/1200/1151/1150/1155/1156 & AMD AM5/AM4
- Streamlined, more affordable redux line version of the award-winning NH-U12S heatsink
- Slim 120mm size for excellent case, RAM and PCIe compatibility: fits most tower cases (158mm height), doesn’t overhang the RAM...
- Quiet NF-P12 redux-1700 120mm fan with PWM for automatic speed control: full cooling performance under load, near silent at idle!
- Pre-applied high-quality NT-H1 thermal paste & SecuFirm2 mounting system for easy installation on Intel LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1150,...
- Renowned Noctua quality at an attractive price, smart choice for Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3 (e.g. 13900, 13700, 13600) and AMD...
- High-Performance RGB Pump Head: Powerful, low-noise cooling for your CPU, lit by 33 ultra-bright CAPELLIX RGB LEDs
- Corsair iCUE Commander CORE Included: A smart RGB lighting and fan speed controller gives you precise speed and lighting control...
- Magnetic Levitation RGB Fans: Two 140 mm Corsair ML RGB Series PWM fans deliver powerful airflow for extreme CPU cooling...
- Extreme CPU Cooling: Incredible cooling fan performance controllable via PWM, from 400 to 2,000 RPM while in operation
- Zero RPM Mode: Zero RPM cooling profiles in Corsair iCUE software allow fans to stop entirely at low temperatures, eliminating fan...
- Classical edition of DeepCool AK620 CPU air cooler carries neither RGB nor ARGB lighting, ideal choice for low-profile PC building
- Pure copper bottom with six pieces 6mm nickel plated heat pipes maximize heat dissipation to overall 260W TDP cooling capacity...
- Two high-speed DeepCool FK120 PWM 120mm fans with fluid dynamic bearing offer 1850RPM and 68.99CFM each to build the efficient air...
- AK620 CPU air cooler Dual-tower “Chessboard” heat sink design makes it highly recognizable and the decorative boards on heat...
- AK620 standing 160mm height is compatible with most ATX/ M-ATX case, checking CPU cooler height limit of the PC case before buying...
Best Cpu Coolers Buying Guide
What Is a Cpu Cooler?
Too much heat would damage your CP. Of course, more powerful coolers are needed for more powerful computers. If you’re looking for better overall performance, a good CPU cooler is a necessary investment.
People often focus on their CPU and GPU, without considering anything else. If you want to build a system that can handle all the best newer and bigger PC games, then you need to make sure that the CPU and GPU remain cool during operation over long periods.
That’s why you need to have a CPU cooler that can effectively cool your PC.
Liquid Cooling
Liquid CPU coolers offer better performance, are much quieter, and look cool. Experienced users and overclockers prefer the additional heat reduction offered by liquid cooling.
And although many gamers don’t want the hassle of installing a usable configuration, many of the best CPU liquid coolers are easy enough to integrate with standard builds. Computer-generated energy is channeled into the water or cooling agent.
Where it is processed and cooled. This process continues as microchips and parts of the PC continue to generate electricity.
If you are still not sure what you want in particular, keep reading this guide, designed to help you identify the heatsink that’s right for you based on the type of processor and the work you intend to do with your PC.
Let’s start immediately with the most critical question: what should your PC do? Are you a fan of overclocking and extreme frequencies, or do you prefer a silent PC? Minimalist design or an avalanche of RGB LEDs?
Today on the market, there are solutions of all types, shapes, and sizes. Still, we can enclose them in three categories: air coolers, all-in-one liquid coolers (AIO, also called closed-loop), and finally customized liquid systems (custom open -loop).
The “air” solutions of various sizes, can combine a metal radiator (heatsink) and fans (ie, an active system) for better cooling, or have only the heater for maximum silence (passive mode), and vary according to shape, size and obviously for heat dissipation capacity (usually referred to as TDP). The high-end air coolers on the market today can cope with various AIO liquid solutions of the past years.
AIO (or closed-loop, closed-loop) liquid heatsinks can be (but not always because of the fans connected to the radiators) quieter than the air proposals, and also do not require cutting and adapting the pipes, in addition to any maintenance – including maintaining the coolant level.
Over the years, they have become increasingly resistant to leaks and are extremely simple to install. At the same time, however, they require a space dedicated to the radiator, which could translate into the need for a more significant case than other solutions.
How Do I Know What Manages to Get Into My Case?
Whether you choose an air solution, an AIO, or a custom loop, it is essential to check that it is not too large. Many limitations are given by the socket and the size of the case.
Which may not support the height of the heat sink of an air cooler or the size of the radiator of an AIO. Most air coolers and AIOs, however, recommend a large number of Intel and AMD sockets.
Usually, these products include some adapters that expand their compatibility to most sockets. In the case of Intel, the most popular models support the 115x, 2066, 2011/2011-v3 devices and in the AMD one, we speak of AM2 / AM2 +, AM3, AM3 +, AM4.
Particular mention must be made for the thread rippers, which are considerably larger, which have a clamping system and a larger plate to dissipate better the heat generated.
The support for this series of processors is limited to dedicated dissipation systems that bear the specific abbreviation of the socket (the TR4) in the description, such as the Noctua NH-U12S TR4-SP3.
What Type of Heatsink Best Suits My Needs: Air or Liquid?
If price and ease of installation are priorities, then an air cooler is probably the best solution. For example, for around 40 euros, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB offers better performance than a bundled heatsink.
Alternatively, a little more, if you don’t care about lighting, for about 70 euros, you can take a Be quiet home! Dark Rock 4 ranks among the best on the market for performance.
If instead, you prefer a quieter PC with lower CPU temperatures also checkout best room coolers, then a liquid solution could be for you. Simply spend more.
For example, a high-end AIO with a 280 or 360 mm radiator (as can be the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB ) will exceed – although sometimes not much – the price of almost all air coolers on the market.
However, there is always to be considered that, unless you have a suitably sized case, a radiator of this site may not respect the supported sizes.