Explore the 5 best CPU coolers worldwide! Uncover top air and liquid coolers to keep your PC cool, quiet, and performing at its best. Read expert reviews now!
Introduction:
One of the most important things to think about while building or upgrading your PC is the CPU cooler. The performance and lifespan of your system can be greatly impacted by keeping your processor at ideal temperatures, which is something that a decent CPU cooler guarantees. But how can you pick the best option when there are so many available? Let’s examine what makes each of the top five CPU coolers in the world unique as we dive into them.
CPU Cooler Types:
Prior to discussing our top choices, it’s important to comprehend the many kinds of CPU coolers that are out there.
Air coolers:
Heatsinks and fans are used by air coolers to remove heat from the CPU. Generally speaking, they are less expensive and simpler to install.
Liquid coolers:
AIO (All-In-One) coolers, often known as liquid coolers, dissipate heat from the computer CPU by the use of liquid. Although they provide better cooling, and their installation might be more costly and difficult.
Hybrid Coolers:
In order to provide balanced performance, hybrid coolers use components of both liquid and air cooling. Although they are not very common, high-end builds do contain them.
Selection Criteria:
Take into account the following factors while choosing a CPU cooler:
Cooling Efficiency
How well does the cooler control the temperature of the CPU while it is under different loads?
Levels of Noise
Does the cooler make a lot of noise, especially when it is operating at a high load?
Harmony
Is the cooler compatible with your CPU socket and will it fit in your case?
Cost
Does the cooler offer good value for the money and is it within your budget?
Aesthetics Does the cooler complement the overall design of your setup and look good?
The Most Popular 5 CPU Coolers:
Let’s get started now examine the top five CPU coolers available worldwide in more detail.
1. Noctua NH-D15:
Overview of the Noctua NH-D15: This air cooler is considered to be among the best available on the market. It is highly renowned for both its silent operation and remarkable cooling qualities.
Crucial attributes:
Two-story building
Six heat pipes are present.
Two excellent NF-A15 140mm fans
exceptional RAM compatibility
Benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits: Excellent cooling, silent operation, excellent build quality.
Drawbacks: High cost and sizable size.
2. Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix
Overview This top-tier liquid cooler boasts amazing cooling performance and gorgeous RGB lights.
Key features:
360mm radiator with three ML120 RGB fans
Capellix LEDs provide bright illumination with iCUE software integration.
Benefit: Excellent cooling, adjustable RGB, and user-friendly software.
Drawback: Expensive and greater footprint.
3. be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4:
Overview of Dark Rock Pro 4 by Be Quiet! It lives true to its name by offering effective cooling with minimum noise.
Key features:
Dual-tower design
Seven high-performance heat pipes.
Two almost inaudible Silent Wings PWM fans
Stylish black design Pros and cons:
Benefit: Extremely quiet operation, superior cooling performance, and a sleek appearance.
Drawback: Can be difficult to install and fairly bulky.
4. NZXT Kraken Z63:
Overview: The NZXT Kraken Z63 has excellent cooling performance and a customizable LCD panel.
Key Features:
280 mm radiator
Two Aer P 140mm fans
The pump includes a configurable LCD display and is compatible with CAM software.
Benefit: Customizable display, efficient cooling, and a sleek design.
Drawback: Expensive, and the CAM software might be difficult.
5. Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition:
Overview: The Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition is a popular choice for budget setups that don’t sacrifice performance.
Key features:
sleek black design.
Four direct-contact heat pipes.
RGB lighting
Flexible mounting options
Benefits and drawbacks
Benefit: Low cost, adequate cooling performance, and simple installation.
Drawback: Less powerful than high-end coolers, and noisier under load.
How CPU cooler testing are carried out:
To test CPU coolers equally, we measure the CPU temperature using CoreTemp and subtract the air temperature from this value. This yields a delta T value that permits us to perform experiments in a lab without temperature control.
Ten minutes later, we take the CPU’s temperature and load it by executing the Prime95 smallest FFT test in accordance with the AVX guidelines. We test the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X for AM5 cooling and the Core i7-13700K with Intel LGA1700 cooling. For detailed details, visit our How we test page.
Is air conditioning sufficient?
An air cooler can provide surprisingly large cooling headroom, and the Noctua NH-D15 even demonstrates that the newest high-end CPUs can be effectively cooled with just a simple heatsink and fan combination. Since an air cooler cannot leak coolant or have a pump malfunction, they are practically maintenance-free.
To maximize the benefits of air cooling, you will need a sizable heatsink and two sizable fans, which means you will need to fit a large, bulky item into your system. Thus, before purchasing a large air cooler, make sure the CPU clearance in your case is sufficient. You should also measure the height of your memory modules to make sure they won’t collide.
On the less expensive end of the spectrum, all you need to cool a Core i5-13600K or Ryzen 5 7600X is a simple heatsink and fan assembly like the Cooler Master, albeit it won’t be able to handle the heat from a 16-core CPU. An AIO cooler is unnecessary if you’re merely cooling a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU at stock speed and want to save money. An air cooler around $50 will work just fine and won’t produce a lot of noise.
In summary:
Selecting the appropriate CPU cooler is crucial to preserving the longevity and performance of your system. There is a cooler out there for any build and price range, whether you choose the elegant and powerful NZXT Kraken Z63 or the powerful Noctua NH-D15. When making your selection, don’t forget to take into account your unique requirements and limitations, such as case size and noise tolerance.
FAQ:-
Which CPU cooler is ideal for gaming?
Because of its excellent cooling capabilities and silent operation, the Noctua NH-D15 is a highly recommended gaming cooler. It can withstand the strong heat produced by high-performance gaming CPUs.
Are liquid coolers better than air coolers?
In general, liquid coolers perform better in terms of cooling than air coolers, particularly in systems that have been overclocked. They can, however, be more costly and difficult to install.
Do CPU coolers come with thermal paste?
The majority of CPU coolers have thermal paste already applied or include a tiny bottle of thermal paste in the box. But it's wise to always review the product details.