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When building a new PC, picking the CPU cooler is always the next step after finalizing the best gaming processor. However, thanks to many coolers in the market, choosing one over the other has become significantly more difficult based on their TDP and looks. Therefore, after thorough research, we have compiled a list of the best CPU coolers you can buy.
Before proceeding further, here are the specifications of our best CPU coolers in this article:
Last Updated:
- July 28, 2024: We have changed the formatting to improve readability.
Best CPU Coolers In 2024
Here’s a list of our best CPU coolers:
- Best Air CPU Cooler: Corsair A115
- Best Budget Air CPU Cooler: DeepCool AK620
- Best 420mm AIO: Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420
- Best 360mm AIO: EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB
- Best 240mm AIO: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240mm A-RGB
Corsair A115
Best Air CPU Cooler
Cooler Type: Dual Tower Air Cooler | Dimensions: 155 × 153 × 164.8mm | Fans: 2x 140mm AF Elite PWM Fans | Fan Speed: 400 — 1,600RPM | Noise Level: 33.9dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM5, AM4 | RGB: No
Pros
- Easy installation
- Remarkable air cooling performance
- Decent value
- Good black color theme
- Decent overclocking headroom
Cons
- Louder fans
- No RGB
- PC case & RAM compatibility issues
The Corsair A115 CPU cooler is an astounding air cooler, featuring 2x 140mm AF Elite PWM fans running at 1,600RPM speeds. Although the speed seems slow, the bigger fan has a higher 84.5CFM, which showcased better airflow capabilities during my performance testing and even allowed decent overclocking headroom. Using an enormous dual heatsink array with six copper heat pipes soldered directly on the copper baseplate, the Corsair A115 air cooler’s superior build quality is a major factor in its better heat dissipation. However, you might face PC compatibility issues because of the larger size and lower RAM clearance.
With a darker aesthetic and no RGB lighting, the air cooler is perfect for dark and stealth PC builds. However, I don’t recommend this cooler if you’re looking for a flashier component that complements the other RGB PC parts. Also, the CPU cooler lacks many customization capabilities, so black is the only color you’ll get.
I loved the CPU cooler’s outstanding cooling performance and socket compatibility in my review:
“Designed for high performance and ease of use, it supports various Intel and AMD sockets, making it a strong contender in the high-end CPU air cooler market.”
✅We took a few images of the Corsair A115 during our dedicated review:
✅You want to overclock your CPU with an air cooler offering higher value: If you’re looking to overclock your CPU while maintaining decent airflow in your PC case through an air cooler that offers higher value, I recommend purchasing the Corsair A115 CPU cooler because of its impeccable pricing and performance.
What Makes It The Best Air CPU Cooler?
The Corsair A115 CPU cooler provides outstanding cooling performance thanks to its 2x 140mm fans running at 1,600RPM speeds with an 84.5CFM speed, helping it provide decent overclocking headroom. Furthermore, the cooler has an easy installation process. So, with a lower price tag, the Corsair A115 works like a charm without issues, making it the best air CPU cooler.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 7/10 |
DeepCool AK620
Best Budget Air CPU Cooler
Specifications: Type: Dual Tower Air Cooler | Fans: 2x 120mm DeepCool FDB PWM | Fan Speed: 500 — 1,850RPM | Noise: ≤28dB(A) | Dimensions: 129 x 138 x 160mm | Socket Compatibility: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5 | RGB: No
Pros
- Great cooling performance
- Dual fan support
- Remarkable value
- Solid build quality
- Outstanding RAM clearance
- Easy installation
- Low noise fans
Cons
- Lacks RGB
- Case compatibility issues
The DeepCool AK620 air cooler improves the PC case’s airflow and cooling performance, thanks to its 2x 120mm DeepCool FDB PWM fans running at 1,850RPM speeds. During my testing, it showed no bottlenecking issues with high-end CPUs under full load, even allowing slight overclocking possibilities. The DeepCool AK620 air cooler houses six nickel-plated copper heat pipes that are around 6mm thick. Furthermore, the heatsink houses 50 fins, making the fin stack dense enough for the cooler to require high static-pressure fans. Ultimately, these factors help the air cooler maintain its heat dissipation.
While the cooler doesn’t support RGB, its simple look fits most silent aesthetic builds. On the other hand, if you’re planning a flashier build, completely illuminated with RGB, the DeepCool AK620 will be quite lackluster with its dark color and lack of appealing designs. However, it’s to be expected with its lower price.
Although it doesn’t have the best aesthetics, I couldn’t take my eyes off the cooler because of its sleek design, and this is what I said during my testing:
“The DeepCool AK620 is a sleek and visually appealing 120mm air cooler, part of the DeepCool ecosystem, with a dual-tower design and high-quality build. While it lacks RGB features, it’s excellent for neutral builds and offers compatibility with most mid-tower chassis.
Here are a few pictures of the cooler while we were reviewing it on our test bench:
✅You require decent air cooling performance on a tighter budget: If you’re looking for an air cooler that provides decent performance without costing too much, I recommend purchasing the DeepCool AK620 because of its solid build quality, longer warranty, and impressive airflow capabilities.
What Makes It The Best Budget Air CPU Cooler?
Its low price yet amazing thermal performance and heat dissipation make the DeepCool AK620 the best budget air CPU cooler. We should also mention including two 120mm PWM fans, which most budget air CPU coolers usually don’t come with.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 7/10 |
EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB
Best 360mm AIO
Specifications: Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Fans: 3x EK-Loop fan FPT D-RGB 120mm | Fan Speed: 550 — 2,300RPM | Noise: 36dB(A) | Dimensions: 400 x 124 x 27mm | Socket Compatibility: Intel: LGA 1700, 115X, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM5, AM4 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Remarkable overclocking headroom
- Removable pump lid
- Six-year warranty
- EK OmniLink
- Beautiful radiator design
- Impeccable cooling performance
Cons
- Noisy fans
- Slightly pricier
The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB cooler helps improve the chassis’s airflow thanks to its 120mm fans running at 2,300RPM speeds. During our dedicated performance testing, the AIO cooler had no problems helping high-end CPUs overclock to higher boost clock speeds than its competition. Using fluid dynamic bearings, the AIO cooler’s fans show sturdy build quality along with the aluminum radiator and copper pump baseplate, which help improve its heat dissipation properties. We also loved the AIO’s thicker FPI, which cools the air faster, keeping temperatures at all-time lows even under load.
Besides its cooling performance, the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB cooler has a beautiful design with many RGB elements. Additionally, you also get tons of customization options thanks to the removable and rotatable pump cap. The dark radiator design complements the RGB-lit fans, making a complex design for the cooler.
Our hardware reviewer, Awais Khan, loved the AIO cooler’s performance and aesthetics. Here’s what he said in his review:
“The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB packs a solid performance punch that the competition has to manage. The digital RGB lighting is quite brilliant. I have everything to love about this cooler, albeit a bit high price tag.”
We took a few pictures of the AIO cooler during our review:
✅You want decent overclocking headroom without having any cable clutter: If you’re looking for a 360mm AIO cooler that provides decent overclocking headroom and reduces cable clutter, then we recommend purchasing the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB cooler because of its performance and daisy-chainable fans.
What Makes It The Best 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler?
The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB cooler provides impressive thermal performance, leaving a lot of overclocking headroom for high-end CPUs. Furthermore, featuring a sturdy build quality, beautiful aesthetics, and tons of customization capabilities, it is the best 360mm AIO liquid cooler on our list.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB
Best 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler
Specifications: Type: 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Fans: 2x P12 PWM PST A-RGB 120mm Fans | Fan Speed: 200 — 2,000RPM | Noise: 39.4dB(A) | Dimensions: 277 x 120 x 38mm | Socket Compatibility: Intel: LGA 1700, 1851 AMD: AM4, AM5 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Outstanding value
- Remarkable cooling performance
- Low noise fans
- Robust build quality
- Six-year warranty
- Beautiful in-house pump design
Cons
- Limited Intel compatibility
- Difficult installation process
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB AIO cooler comes with 2x P12 PWM PST A-RGB 120mm fans, the primary source for the cooler’s incredible cooling performance. I saw no thermal throttling or bottlenecking issues during my performance testing, even when moderately overclocking the Ryzen 9 7900X CPU. The AIO cooler offers top-notch build quality, with fluid dynamic ball bearing fans and a 38mm thick radiator with 15 fins that help dissipate most heat. Moreover, unlike the AIO’s predecessor, I loved the rotatable tubes made of flexible material that made the installation process easier. I only disliked the lower CPU compatibility with the cooler.
Talking about its aesthetics, the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB AIO cooler does not disappoint whether you’re looking for a unique design, lots of RGB, or customization capabilities. To explain, the AIO uses a circular pump head embedded with RGB, while the 2x 120mm fans also show pretty RGB lighting, complementing the cooler.
When Hayyan Serwer, our AIO expert, tested the Liquid Freezer III 240, he said:
I’ve been really impressed with the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 240 White ARGB. It’s clear they’ve made significant strides in design and performance, taking user feedback to heart. The fact that it fits major sockets, excels in heat dissipation and offers sleek cable management really stands out.
During our testing, we took several pictures of the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240; here are a few:
✅You’re looking for a value purchase with silent fans: If you’re looking for an AIO cooler that doesn’t cost a lot, and also has silent fans, then I recommend purchasing the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB because of its value and features.
✅You want to overclock on a budget: In case you’re an overclocking fan and want to put your CPU to the test on a tighter budget, this AIO cooler will help you satisfy your curiosity with its greater performance and thermal headroom.
What Makes It The Best 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler?
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB AIO cooler provides impeccable cooling performance without costing a lot. Additionally, the AIO cooler has plenty of overclocking headroom and rocks an exemplary design featuring tons of RGB and an exotic in-house pump design. Therefore, all these points make it the best 240mm AIO liquid cooler on our list.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420
Best 420mm AIO Liquid Cooler
Specifications: Type: 420mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Fans: 3x 140mm AF RGB Elite Fans | Fan Speed: 500 — 1,700RPM | Noise: 33.8dB(A) | Dimensions: 457 x 120 x 140mm | Socket Compatibility: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5, sTR4, sTR5 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Outstanding thermal performance
- IPS LCD screen
- Easy installation process
- Longer warranty period
- Remarkable overclocking headroom
- Beautiful A-RGB lighting
Cons
- Higher price
- Loud fans
- Difficult cable management process
The Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420mm AIO cooler shows some of the best cooling performance thanks to its 3x 140mm fans running at 1,700RPM speeds with 89CFM for improved airflow in the PC case. The AIO cooler showed unbelievable overclocking headroom during my testing, even with the Intel Core i9-14900K CPU under full load. Featuring an aluminum radiator, a copper baseplate, and 450mm-long black-sleeved rubber permeation tubing, the Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420mm AIO cooler has sturdy build quality, which compliments its longer warranty period. However, I disliked the non-magnetic commander core and difficult cable management.
With a premium price tag, the AIO cooler offers impressive thermal performance and beautiful aesthetics. For example, we see an IPS LCD screen on the pump, making it easier to monitor CPU temperatures. Additionally, the fans offer remarkable A-RGB lighting that can easily be customized. I also loved the tubing, making it perfect for darker builds.
Outside of its cooling performance, I loved the cooler’s other features and remarked the following in my review:
“With excellent thermal performance that is augmented by a well-executed IPS LCD Screen and extensive customization options using iCUE and lighting effects, the iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT is definitely a worthy contender should your wallet afford it in addition to your PC Case.”
Here are a few images of the AIO cooler when we were reviewing it:
✅You want to overclock your CPU without losing out on customization capabilities: If you’re looking for an AIO cooler that allows you to easily overclock any CPU without thermal throttling while also providing impressive customization capabilities, then I recommend purchasing the Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420mm AIO cooler.
What Makes It The Best 420mm AIO Liquid Cooler?
The Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420mm AIO cooler provides outstanding thermal performance with its 3x 140mm fans running at 1,700RPM speeds and 89CFM. Furthermore, the AIO cooler has sturdy build quality, a longer warranty, and immense overclocking headroom. Thus making it the best 420mm AIO liquid cooler.
- Read Our Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT 420mm AIO Cooler Review
- Best 420mm AIO Coolers
- Best AM5 CPU Coolers
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Why We Didn’t Go For These Best CPU Coolers?
Out hardware experts have tested numerous CPU coolers, but not every product can make the cut. Here are a few honorable mentions that couldn’t make it to the list.
- Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4: Slightly higher cost and physical compatibility issues.
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 A-RGB: Less customization capabilities for its price.
- Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT: Higher cost with louder fans.
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB: Slightly lower thermal performance when compared against its competition at a similar price point.
- Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora Digital 240: It doesn’t have many installation options, and the coolant is sold separately, increasing the overall price.
Important CPU Cooler Key Terms
If you’re confused by various CPU cooler terms we used in the entirety of the article, here’s a short list of the most common jargon terms:
- TDP: It is a presumed measurement of the heat a processor generates while operating. For CPU coolers, these values are the heat the cooler can dissipate.
- FPI: Stands for Fins-Per-Inch. It is a reading to check the fin density in CPU coolers. The denser a radiator is, the better the thermal cooling it can provide.
- Heat Pipes: Exclusive to air coolers, heat pipes are the pipes that transfer heat from the processor to the cooler, which then dissipates it outside. More heat pipes equate to more heat transfer.
- PWM: Also called Pulse Width Modulation, is a CPU fan type that can regulate speed based on certain voltage readings.
- RPM: Also called Rotations Per Minute, it is the value through which we can calculate the speed at which a CPU fan runs. Higher RPM values can equate to better cooling but more noise.
- CFM: Short for Cubic Feet Per Minute, CFM defines the amount of air a CPU fan can distribute within a minute. Bigger but slower fans can have more CFM than smaller but faster fans.
CPU Coolers Benchmarks
Here’s a list of benchmarks we have conducted to back our claims for the awards we have enlisted for the CPU coolers. The benchmarks show comparisons against other coolers and how the ones we awarded fare. We have used the Intel Core i7-10700K and the Intel Core i7-13700K processors to conduct the following tests.
How We Test CPU Coolers
There are various rules we at Tech4Gamers follow when testing CPU coolers. For example, performance, noise, aesthetics, build quality, and compatibility are a few factors we look at. Please read through our detailed blog on how we test CPU coolers to know more about our testing methodologies.
- Performance: For the most part, the thermal performance of a CPU cooler is the main reason we test coolers. It’s the job of a cooler to dissipate heat, and the more it can dissipate, the better it is. We compare CPU coolers with their competitors in a closed environment with the same build at different clock speeds to achieve optimal results.
- Noise Levels: Another aspect to consider when testing CPU coolers is understanding their fan noise. While it goes unnoticed by many, noise from a case fan can be extremely distracting for many consumers. Therefore, we ensure that every CPU cooler’s noise is tested so you don’t have to buy a noisy cooler.
- Aesthetics & Build Quality: While most consumers look for aesthetics, the build quality of a CPU cooler is also important. CPU coolers have all aesthetics, from slim to sturdy looks and from RGB to stealthy models. Moreover, a good quality build ensures the longevity of the CPU cooler.
- Socket Compatibility: Compatibility is another important testing measure. While most CPU coolers are compatible with modern processors, a few might skip a generation’s compatibility. Therefore, we ensure a CPU cooler is compatible with most processors.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are three different types of coolers. Air coolers, All-in-One (AIO), and custom liquid cooling kits. Depending on your use case scenario, you should choose the cooler you require.
The best CPU cooler for gaming depends on which CPU you are using to play games. For a high-end gaming rig, you should use the Corsair iCUE Elite CAPELLIX XT.
Recent Updates
- March 7, 2024: We have replaced the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 with the Corsair A115 due to the latter’s lower price and similar performance.
- March 4, 2024: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 A-RGB replaced the Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT due to better performance and greater customization capabilities.
- March 3, 2024: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB replaced the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT due to lower fan noise and better aesthetics.
- March 1, 2024: The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB took the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 A-RGB’s spot and was replaced thanks to providing better thermal performance.
- February 28, 2024: The Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora Digital 240 was replaced by the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB due to higher overclocking headroom, lower price, and an exotic design.
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[Hardware Reviewer & Editor]
Meet Nauman Siddique, a highly experienced computer science graduate with more than 15 years of knowledge in technology. Nauman is an expert in the field known for his deep understanding of computer hardware.
As a tech tester, insightful reviewer, and skilled hardware editor, Nauman carefully breaks down important parts like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, CPU coolers, and more.
- 15+ years of PC Building Experience
- 10+ years of first-hand knowledge of technology
- 7+ years of doing in-depth testing of PC Hardware
- A motivated individual with a keen interest in tech testing from multiple angles.
- I majored in Computer Science with a Masters in Marketing
- Previously worked at eXputer, EnosTech, and Appuals.
- Completed Course in Computer Systems Specialization From Illinois Tech
Get In Touch: nauman@tech4gamers.com
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