Best CPU cooler 2021: top CPU coolers for your PC

Date:
Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:20:12 +0000

Description:
The best CPU coolers of 2021 are here. Targeting all budgets and PC sizes, which will it be?

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The best PC cooler is one of the best PC investments youll ever make. That graphics card , processor and motherboard youve just spent a lot of money on need to be looked after and kept running at their peak efficiency, after all. And, only a quality cooling solution can keep them in that condition.

Whether its your first time building a PC or youre looking to upgrade the specs in your existing one, be sure to allocate some of your budget to
getting one of the best CPU coolers below to keep those internals nice and cool, and working optimally. After all, no one wants to see their gaming PC
to throttle when performing demanding tasks or worse, catch fire because they got too hot. The best CPU cooler at a glance Noctua NH-D15 Cooler Master
Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition Noctua NH-L9 NZXT Kraken Z-3 Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB Arctic Liquid Freezer 120 Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF NoFan CR-95C MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero Image Credit: Noctua 1. Noctua
NH-D15

Best CPU cooler Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 LGA 2066; AMD AM2 AM3+, FM1 FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 1500 RPM | Noise volume: 19.20dbA 24.60dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 160 x 150 x 135mm | Weight: 2.91 pounds (1.32kg) Whisper quiet Six-year manufacturers warranty
Too big for some PC builds

The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best CPU coolers you can buy in 2019 simply because it performs just as well as if not better than some liquid coolers, while costing a fraction of the price. You might not be too familiar with Noctuas name, as theyre relatively small in the CPU cooler world, but its business is revolves around designing coolers, so you know that when you buy one of their products, youre getting a product by people who really know
their craft. On top of delivering a fantastic cooling performance, the NH-D15 is nearly silent as well. (Image credit: Cooler Master) 2. Cooler Master
Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

Better than ever before Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA
1150 LGA 2066; AMD AM2 AM4, FM1 FM2+ | Rotation frequency: 650 - 2,000 RPM | Noise volume: 8 - 30 dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 120 x 79.6 x 158.8 mm | Weight: 1.54 pounds (700g) Improved performance Easy installation Quiet fan RGB lighting just ok

Cooler Masters Hyper 212 CPU RGB cooler is back with a vengeance, and
sporting a sleek gun-metal black brushed aluminum finish to boot. Its not
only jet black look thats upping this CPU coolers cool factor though it does help what with that aluminum top cover and nickel plated jet black fins to complete the look. Its also easily one of the best CPU coolers on the market with its stacked fin array that ensures least airflow resistance, four heat pipes that boast Direct Contact Technology to better battle the heat, and a wide speed range for fine-tuning cooling performance and silent operation. Image Credit: Noctua 3. Noctua NH-L9

Best low-profile CPU cooler Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1156/1155/1151; AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/FM1/FM2 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2500 RPM | Noise volume: 14.8dbA 23.6dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 206 x 184 x 37mm | Weight: 1.03 pounds (0.47kg) Ultra compact Six-year manufacturers warranty Only 92mm fan

Noctua is an Austrian manufacturer that does one thing, and one thing only: make the best CPU coolers and fans. What this means is that even though the Noctua NH-L9 is tiny, it is still more than capable of insane cooling with no compromises. This is a fantastic cooler for anyone with a smaller build, or even if youre using a ton of large components, and youre not comfortable with liquid cooling. (Image credit: NZXT) 4. NZXT Kraken Z-3

Personalize your all-in-one liquid cooler Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 1151 2066, Intel Core i9 / Core i3 i7, AMD Socket AM4, TR4, AMD Ryzen 3 Ryzen Threadripper | Rotation frequency: 500-1,800 + 300 RPM | Noise volume: 21-38dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 143 x 315 x 30mm Total customization Superior performance Premium price

Whether youre going for 360MM or 280MM, the NZXT Kraken Z-3 is an excellent choice if youre looking for liquid cooling. First of all, thanks to its vibrant 2.36-inch LCD screen thats capable of displaying 24-bit color, this liquid cooler allows total customization so you can fine-tune settings as
well as display your favorite images and animated gifs. More importantly, it delivers impressive liquid cooling performance and is easy to install. (Image credit: Corsair) 5. Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix

Brighter is better Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066, AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2,000 | Noise volume: 36dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 322 x 137 x 27mm Insane performance Brighter RGB lighting Only minor improvement over predecessor

The Corsair iCUE H115i Elite Capellix continues Corsairs tradition of outstanding liquid coolers. It couples excellent cooling, thanks to its split-flow copper cold plate and its low-noise centrifugal pump, with bright RGB lighting, due to the use of Capellix LEDs. And, the RGB lighting is, in true Corsair style, customizable through the companys proprietary iCue software. If you want a powerful liquid cooling system that looks good too, the Corsair iCUE H115i Elite is a perfect choice. (Image credit: Cooler Master) 6. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage

Cool and hypnotic Type: Liquid cooling | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 LGA 2066; AMD AM2 AM4, FM1 FM2+ | Rotation frequency: up to 2000 10% RPM |
Noise volume: 27dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 277 x 120 x 27 mm | Weight:
2.11 pounds (1,237g) Threadripper support Gorgeous RGB lighting Pricey

With the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage in your gaming rig, you
wont only end up playing for hours on end without worrying about thermal throttling or overheating. You might just an hour or so admiring your CPU, especially if you have one of those glass-window cases, as this CPU cooler is indeed hypnotically pretty. Its mostly thanks to its transparent pump design that lets you see the impeller spinning while bathed in different RGB lighting, like a colorful spinning wheel at a funhouse. Performance-wise, it definitely deserves a spot in our best CPU coolers list, with its PPS+ glass fiber housing and nozzle that provides temperature and liquid resistance,
EPDM rubber O-Ring that helps eliminate liquid emission, and a low-resistance radiator that increases flow rate, heat exchange efficiency and cooling performance. Image Credit: Cooler Master 7. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB

The best compact liquid cooler Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 LGA 2066; AMD AM2 AM4, FM1 FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 2000 RPM | Noise volume: 6dbA 30dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 83.6 x 71.8 x 52.7mm Luminous RGB lighting Premium build A little expensive

There isnt a single component that cant be improved through RGB, and Cooler Master is well aware jumping on the RGB bandwagon with the MasterLIquid ML 120R RGB. Whats more, it integrates some of the first addressable LEDs seen
on a liquid cooler. This all-in-one liquid cooling solution isnt just about aesthetics it features an oxidation free pump and an efficient radiator.
This means that not only will it last longer but itll keep your CPU cooler, and all without giving up too much case real estate, which is why its made
our best CPU coolers list. Image Credit: Arctic 8. Arctic Liquid Freezer 120

Best budget liquid-cooler Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 2011 2066; AMD AM2 AM3+, FM1 FM2 | Rotation frequency: Up to 1350 RPM
| Noise volume: 22.5dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 120 x 120 x 25mm | Weight: 2.65 pounds (1.2kg) Strong performance Inexpensive Somewhat noisey Few features

For less than 70 big ones in both US dollars and British sterling, the Arctic Liquid Freezer 120 is a deal you cant pass up if youre on the prowl for a liquid cooler that wont break the bank. While it lacks the bells and whistles of pricier, more extravagant liquid coolers, like the NZXT Kraken, the Arctic Liquid cooler is enough to get you by, not to mention its still a massive
step up from the classic fan and heatsink pairing. So, while you cant expect RGB lighting or software or even hardware-based fan control, the 120mm variant of the Arctic Liquid Freezer makes our best CPU coolers list as it will keep your system refrigerated at a (mostly) quiet volume. This product
is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF Image Credit: Corsair 9. Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF

Best low-profile CPU liquid-cooler Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 115x; AMD FM2 FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to
1,800 RPM | Noise volume: 36dBA 42dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 167 x 57 x 84mm | Weight: 2 pounds (0.91kg) Guaranteed leak-free tubing Compact, all-in-one form factor Blower style cooler

Even if your budget will allow you to really go all-out on a serious liquid cooling solutions, if you have a smaller PC case, youll likely not have
enough space. Thats where something like the Corsair Hydro H5 SF comes into play. Even on the smallest PC cases, youre able to use this CPU cooler to
keep your CPU chilled, even if you have some beastly overclocks happening. Plus, because its a closed loop, you dont even need to worry about maintenance. Set it up, and let it do its thing you wont be disappointed. Image Credit: NoFan 10. NoFan CR-95C

Best fanless CPU cooler Type: Passively cooled heatsink | Compatibility:
Intel LGA 775 1156; AMD AM2 AM3+; FM1 | Noise volume: 0dBA | Dimensions (W
x H x D): 180 x 148 x 180mm | Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.73kg) You wont hear a
peep Works well with low-power CPUs Exorbitantly massive 95W TDP limitation

Rounding out our best CPU coolers list is the NoFan CR-95C. Youve probably never heard of NoFan unless youre already neck deep into the rabbit hole
that is silent PC assembly. The South Korean component company specializes in helping enthusiasts reach that 0dBA silent sweet spot. In doing so, of
course, will severely limit your set-up in terms of power, with its CR-95C fanless solution being limited in compatibility to processors whose TDP fall below 95W. Still, the NoFan CR-95C is worth a shot if you want to build a low-power computer that completely blends into the background. This Product
is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noctua NH-L9 (Image credit: CoolerMaster) 11. MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero

Best CPU cooler for overclocking Type: Liquid cooler | Compatibility: LGA1200 | Noise volume: < 35 dBA pump, 8 - 26 dBA fan | Dimensions (W x H x D): 394 x 119.6 x 27.2 mm radiator, 57.3 x 57.3 x 92.2 mm pump, 120 x 120 x 25 mm fan For Intels high-TDP chips Has a condensation barrier Loud pump

Powered by Intels Cryo Cooling Technology, the MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero from Cooler Master allows increased performance for Intels high-TDP chips by letting them reach higher frequencies at lower voltages. This liquid cooler boasts a 360mm radiator and fans that are able to spin at low rpm while delivering a high air pressure to air flow ratio. Whether youre a hardcore gamer who loves to overclock or a content creator with demanding processing needs, this is the best CPU cooler for you.



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