The sheer abundance of coolers currently available in the market makes searching for a new one nothing short of a daunting task. Moreover, with Intel’s 13th-generation processors, you will surely need a new cooler. Thus, based on our dedicated testing, we have compiled a list of the best CPU coolers for the i5-13600K to help you pick a cooler that checks all the boxes.
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Here are our best i5-13600K CPU Cooler picks compared to each other:
More For Core i5-13600K:
Best CPU Coolers For i5-13600K
Here are our top picks for the Best CPU Coolers for i5-13600K.
- Best Overall CPU Cooler For i5-13600K: Be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
- Best 360mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K: Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD
- Best 240mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240-ARGB
- Best White CPU Cooler For i5-13600K: DeepCool AS500 Plus White
- Best Budget CPU Cooler For i5-13600K: Arctic Freezer i35 A-RGB
- Best Low Profile CPU Cooler For i5-13600K: Noctua NH-L9i Chromax.Black
Be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Best Overall CPU Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: Dual Tower Air Cooler | Colors: Black, Brown | TDP: 250W | RGB: No | Dimensions: 162.8 x 136 x 123.7mm | Fan: 1x 120mm, 1x 135mm | Fan Speed: 1,200 — 1,500RPM | Noise: 24.3dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 2066, 1150, 1151, 1155, 2011-3 AMD: AM5, AM4
Pros
- Exceptional Cooling performance
- Sleek Black Design
- Unmatched Noise-To-Performance Ratio
Cons
- Less RAM Clearance
- Massive in Size
Cooling Performance: The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 houses seven copper heat pipes, enough to easily cool the i5-13600K. As per the testing of our reviewer Awais Khan, the cooler showed me temperatures between 55°C and 57°C, leaving enough thermal headroom for overclocking.
Build Quality: The cooler features a dual-tower design, with the heatsink being topped with removable caps. Furthermore, the heatsink is made of aluminum to maximize thermal efficiency. The Dark Rock Pro 4 also features a copper baseplate for better thermal conductivity.
Aesthetics: The Dark Rock Pro 4 is encapsulated in a clean black finish, with everything besides the base plate covered completely in a black coating. Also, the cooler doesn’t have any RGB, making it perfect for darker and stealthier PC builds.
Buy It If
Our Captured Images While Testing:
You want exceptional air-cooling performance: Many users find it difficult to switch to water cooling. If you’re similar, the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 air cooler provides exceptional air cooling for the Intel Core i5-13600K processor.
Don’t Buy It If
You have taller RAM kits: If you have pre-installed taller RAM kits, I don’t recommend purchasing the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler as it doesn’t provide lots of RAM clearance.
What Makes It The Best Overall CPU Cooler For i5-13600K?
The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 is an all-rounded cooler that strikes a stunning balance between its design and performance. Despite its gargantuan size, the cooler has managed to amaze us with its unrivaled performance in the air-cooling space. Ranking among the best air coolers to have ever been released, the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 takes the spot as the Best Overall CPU Cooler For i5-13600K.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 7/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD
Best 360mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Colors: Black | TDP: 250W | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 27mm | Fan: 3x ML Elite | Fan Speed: 450 — 2,000RPM | Noise: 10dB(A) — 30.4dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066 AMD: AM5, AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4
Pros
- Impressive Cooling Performance
- 2.1 inch LCD Screen
- RGB
Cons
- Expensive
Cooling Performance: The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD uses 3x ML Elite 120mm fans running at a max speed of 2,900 RPM. When I was testing the cooler in multiple triple-A titled games, I saw temperatures within 40°C to 45°C, leaving ample room for overclocking.
Build Quality: The cooler has a fully-coated aluminum radiator with a 450mm tube made of black-sleeved long permeation rubber. Furthermore, I noticed the cooler has a premium build quality simply by touching the radiator.
Aesthetics: The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD has dazzling beauty with the LCD panel and customizable RGB through Corsair’s iCUE software. You can also customize the LCD to show a GIF you prepared or choose from various pre-installed designs.
Buy It If
Here are all the product images captured by us:
You want maximum cooling for your processor: If you want to overclock your CPU while staying on an ATX case, the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD provides the maximum cooling for the Intel Core i5-13600K processor with its 360mm radiator and high-density fin radiator.
Don’t Buy It If
You’re on a tighter budget: With the performance, you’ll have to pay the price as well. The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD is by no means an affordable cooler. If you’re on a tighter budget, I don’t recommend purchasing it.
What Makes It The Best 360mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K?
The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD is designed specifically to provide the best performance possible; its asterisk pump, combined with the ML Elite fans, helps it achieve just that. It ranks among the best 360mm coolers that you can currently get, often topping the charts thanks to its unmatched performance. All of that is why I have given it the title of the best 360mm AIO cooler for the Intel Core i5-13600K processor.
Also, read our other tested roundups:
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 10/10 | Design: 9/10 |
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240-ARGB
Best 240mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Colors: Black | TDP: 250W | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 277 x 120 x 38mm | Fan: 2x ARCTIC P12 PWM RGB 120mm | Fan Speed: 200 — 1,800RPM | Noise: 10.64dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011-v3, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5
Pros
- Additional 40mm VRM Fan
- Great Price-To-Performance ratio
- Outstanding Performance
Cons
- Installation can get tricky
Cooling Performance: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm houses an additional 40mm VRM fan, besides its P12 PWM RGB 120mm fans for additional cooling. To explain, through the fan, I saw average temperatures between 46°C and 48°C while playing games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2.
Build Quality: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm AIO has a copper baseplate with an aluminum radiator for better heat absorption and dissipation. Moreover, the fans house rubber bumpers, which minimize vibrations. In my noise tests, the cooler has a noise level of 10.64dB(A), making it fairly inaudible.
Aesthetics: The moment I opened the packaging, I was overwhelmed by the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II’s futuristic pump design. The spaceship-like design is perfect for exotic build themes. In my testing, I installed the cooler to a darker build theme and kept the RGB at a minimum to blend the colors better.
Buy It If
Here are all the images captured by us:
You’re looking for the best value for money: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm AIO cooler provides an unbeaten performance-to-dollar ratio, making it the best value 240mm AIO cooler for the Intel Core i5-13600K. If you want the most from your purchase, I recommend buying this cooler.
Don’t Buy It If
You can’t handle difficult AIO installations: Although the cooler’s design has been revamped, the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm AIO is pretty difficult to install. If you’re new to installing AIO coolers, I don’t recommend purchasing the cooler, as the installation manual isn’t helpful either.
What Makes It The Best 240mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K?
ARCTIC has left no stone unturned with the Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB. It stands as a solid 240mm, and with an MSRP of $100 US Dollars, you cannot go wrong with the Liquid Freezer II. Its incredible performance and unmatched price-to-performance ratio make the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB a worthy pick as the Best 240mm AIO Cooler For i5-13600K.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 7/10 | Design: 7/10 |
DeepCool AS500 Plus White
Best White CPU Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: Single tower air cooler | Colors: Black, White | TDP: 220W | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 142 x 102 x 164mm | Fan: 2x TF 140s | Fan Speed: 500 — 1,200RPM | Noise: 29.2dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA1700, 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 2011, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5
Pros
- Attractive white design
- Excellent cooling capabilities
- Easy installation
Cons
- Fan noise
Cooling Performance: The DeepCool AS500 Plus White uses five heat pipes soldered directly to the baseplate. Our dedicated testing showed the cooler easily manages to keep the i5-13600K’s temperatures under control. Nauman Siddique, our hardware expert, went all out with the cooler, and this is what he has to say about its cooling performance:
“The Deepcool as500 plus white cooler offers fantastic performance and can handle any thermal load at hand except for the extreme overclocking.”
Build Quality: One of the biggest advantages of the DeepCool AS500 Plus White is its impeccable build quality, housing a nickel-plated copper baseplate. Furthermore, the heatsink has 5 nickel-plated copper heat pipes soldered on 56 fins. Such build quality is rarely seen in CPU coolers, so you won’t have to worry about the cooler’s performance deteriorating anytime soon.
Aesthetics: While all-white coolers are nothing new in the PC cooling space, the AS500 Plus White stands out with its seamless implementation of the white finish that embellishes the cooler’s great look. Further accentuating its looks is the RGB stripe at the edge of the heatsink cap, which can be controlled using the RGB controller present inside the box.
Buy It If
Here are all the captured images of DeepCool AS500 Plus White:
You’re building a white-themed PC wanting high-end cooling: The DeepCool AS500 Plus White is a treat to look at, standing out with its stunning white coating. It is a perfect pick if you’re building a white-themed PC, not only for its aesthetics but also because of its cooling performance.
Don’t Buy It If
You dislike noisy fans: While the DeepCool AS500 Plus White has almost no disadvantages, its noisy fans can be quite a nuisance. If you want a quiet environment for your PC, I don’t recommend purchasing this cooler.
What Makes It The Best White CPU Cooler For i5-13600K?
The DeepCool AS500 Plus White offers tremendous value with its distinguishable white design and beyond-impressive cooling capabilities. The cooler incorporates an attractive design, which makes it ideal for all-white builds. On top of that, a sufficient amount of RGB lighting has also been added to the mix, resulting in a balanced look. All of that, in combination with its relatively lower price, makes it the best white CPU cooler for i5-13600K.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
ARCTIC Freezer i35 A-RGB
Best Budget CPU Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: Single Tower Air Cooler | Colors: Black | TDP: 200W | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 158.5 x 133 x 91mm | Fan: 1x 120mm | Fan Speed: 200 — 1,700RPM | Noise: 10.64dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA1700, 1200, 1155, 1151, 1150
Pros
- Outstanding price-to-performance ratio
- Great RAM clearance
- Value pick
- Low noise fan
Cons
- Not fit for overclocking
- No AMD support
Cooling Performance: The ARCTIC Freezer i35 cooler houses four 6mm copper heat pipes, enough to moderately cool the i5-13600K processor. During my testing in games like Fortnite, Witcher 3, and Forspoken, the cooler averaged temperatures between 65°C to 68°C. For a budget cooler, the performance isn’t bad, but there isn’t any overclocking headroom.
Build Quality: Right from taking it out of the box, the ARCTIC Freezer i35 cooler showcases decent build quality. I found aluminum fins on a decently-designed heatsink. Additionally, turning the cooler upside down showed me a copper baseplate for better heat absorption.
Aesthetics: The ARCTIC Freezer i35 CPU cooler has a sleek matte black finish that gives it a stealthy look. It consists of five A-RGB LEDs that revolve around the translucent center of the fan and glow vividly. The cooler is perfect for black-themed PC builds.
Buy It If
All the gallery images captured by us:
You’re looking for decent performance from a budget cooler: If you’re under tight budget constraints and are looking for a cooler that won’t break the bank, the ARCTIC Freezer i35 A-RGB averages 65C in most games with the Intel Core i5-13600K processor. I recommend it for tight budgets, around $50.
Don’t Buy It If
You want to overclock your CPU: The ARCTIC Freezer i35 A-RGB cooler isn’t the greatest for overclocking. Thus, it’s not recommended to purchase this cooler if you’re planning to overclock your processor.
What Makes It The Best Budget CPU Cooler For i5-13600K?
To sum up, the ARCTIC Freezer i35 A-RGB is an overall package since it functions incredibly quieter, performs excellently, and fits in a very reasonable price tag for being an A-RGB cooler. The robust shrouded fan, the sleek matte finish appearance, and the premium A-RGB act as the cherry on top. With all these features and at this price range, the ARCTIC Freezer i35 A-RGB can easily be listed as the Best Budget CPU Cooler For Core i5-13600K.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Noctua NH-L9i-17xx Chromax.Black
Best Low Profile CPU Cooler For i5-13600K
Specifications: Type: Low Profile Air Cooler | Colors: Black, Brown | TDP: 150W | RGB: No | Dimensions: 95 x 95 x 37mm | Fan: NF-A9x14 | Fan Speed: 600 — 2,500RPM | Noise: 23.6dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA1700
Pros
- Great for SFF builds
- Low noise output
- Great cooling performance
- All-black aesthetic
Cons
- No RGB
- Limited overclocking capabilities
Cooling Performance: The Noctua NH-L9i comes equipped with a 90mm fan, providing fan speeds from 600 to 2,500RPM. Moreover, the cooler has two heat pipes soldered on 55 aluminum fins, improving overall performance. In our dedicated testing, the cooler showcased average temperatures between 55°C and 60°C, making it a decent cooler for the i5-13600K processor.
Build Quality: The Noctua NH-L9i has decent build quality, with a copper baseplate and heat pipes. The fins are made of aluminum and when one of our hardware reviewers, Awais Khan, reviewed the cooler, they noticed soldered joints and said the following:
“The build quality is unquestionable, as Noctua has always prioritized customer satisfaction.”
Aesthetics: The Noctua NH-L9i recently got a visual overhaul with a black coating that enhances its sleek design, upgrading from the dull brown color of the original variant. Something we disliked was the absence of RGB, as the cooler becomes too dark even for stealth builds.
Buy It If
Here are the Noctua NH-L9i Chromax.Black images:
You’re utilizing an SFF case: If you’re utilizing an SFF case for the Intel Core i5-13600K, the Noctua NH-L9i-17xx Chromax.Black air cooler will provide enough cooling to keep the CPU’s temperatures at bay. The cooler is perfect for smaller builds, and as such, I recommend purchasing it.
Don’t Buy It If
You want sub-50°C temperatures from a modern processor: The Nocuta NH-L9i is designed specifically for SFF builds, and if you’re looking for temperatures around 50°C, I don’t recommend purchasing the cooler. Even with the i5-13600K, the cooler averages 60°C to 65°C.
What Makes It The Best Low-Profile CPU Cooler For i5-13600K?
The Noctua NH-L9i-17xx Chromax.Black is a brilliantly engineered piece of technology that has cemented itself in the community as one of the great low-profile coolers to have come out in recent years. Its decent performance, along with the lower noise levels, help it stand out as one of the only well-equipped low-profile coolers. All of that makes the Noctua NH-L9i the perfect pick as the Best Low-Profile CPU Cooler For Core i5-13600K.
| Performance: 7/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Thermal Benchmarks Of The Best CPU Coolers For i5-13600K
I spent some time with the top coolers for the i5-13600K to evaluate their cooling prowess. Curious about which ones came out on top? Here are my results.
How We Tested & Picked The Coolers
- Performance: Performance is unsurprisingly the most important factor for a CPU cooler, especially considering the insanely high temperatures of modern processors. Moreover, if you want to dabble in overclocking, a higher-end cooler is a must-have.
- Budget: Getting the most value out of the product you are purchasing is important, which is why we made sure only to include products that offer a good price-to-performance ratio. While spending more money on a cooler essentially guarantees better overall performance, if you don’t intend to perform heavy overclocking, an affordable cooler is fine.
- TDP: The Thermal Design Power Rating of a CPU Cooler determines a cooler’s capabilities and how well it should perform relative to the processor it is paired with. A cooler with a higher TDP will always be capable of overclocking power-hungry processors without running into thermal throttling issues. In this instance, a CPU cooler rated at 125W or higher should suffice for the i5-13600K.
- Noise Levels: Higher noise levels can be a deal breaker for some people, especially those working in silent environments. A louder cooler not only disrupts one’s workflow but also ruins immersion during gameplay, which makes it crucial to opt for a CPU cooler with a lower noise output. Thus, we selected coolers with lower noise levels.
- Aesthetics: While Aesthetics may not be important for some people, they can have a significant impact on the entire look of your build. Having said that, all of that boils down to personal preference; however, all of the CPU Coolers mentioned in this list should not detract from the overall look of your system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Much like the rest of the 13th gen lineup, the Core i5-13600K does not come with a stock cooler.
Any cooler that supports the LGA 1700 should work with the i5-13600K; however, it is important to go for one that is capable enough to handle the i5-13600K.
Yes, 120mm AIO Liquid coolers should be capable of cooling the i5-13600K; however, a higher-end cooler is recommended if you wish to dabble into overclocking.
Much like the rest of the Raptor Lake processors, the i5-13600K uses the LGA 1700 socket
Recent Updates
- February 21, 2024: Adding thermal benchmarks from our hands-on reviews.
- October 10, 2023: Few text changes and grammar improvements for better readability. Image galleries added. No products were changed.
- September 5, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
- June 12, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
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[CPU Coolers & RAM Expert]
Hayyan Serwer is a tech enthusiast, with a love for PC building and article writing. Hayyan specializes in writing about CPU coolers and RAM kits. Hayyan has been familiar with the tech industry for over half a decade now, and has now stepped into providing quality reviews for the latest and greatest tech.
