Introduction
CPU air coolers are used to reduce the temperature of a CPU (central processing unit) by transferring heat from it to the air. These devices generally consist of a metal heat sink and one or more fans.
Over time, the addition of components such as RAM and voltage regulators has allowed motherboards to decrease in size, while at the same time increasing in their capabilities. However, CPUs have not been able to keep up with these leaps forward in technology. To help cope with this increase in power consumption, CPUs have been produced which run much hotter than those manufactured years ago. In turn, manufacturers now produce larger heatsinks for use on CPUs that would have previously been cooled adequately by smaller ones.
A large number of CPU air coolers have been constructed, with varying degrees of success. Some perform well, while others do not cope so well with the increased power consumption by modern CPUs. In order to determine which is the Best CPU air cooler for a particular computer, one must take into consideration case space requirements, compatibility with other components in the system, and price.
In addition to being used inside a computer’s case as an accessory to a central processing unit (CPU), these devices are also used for a number of other purposes:
Because a cooled environment generally results in lower sound emissions from electronic system components such as CPUs and hard disk drives, they are often used in noisy environments such as data centers or industrial settings quiet operation is desired. In many modern high-performance systems, the motherboard has become extremely crowded with additional chips due to the larger number of features on newer CPUs. This means that many modern motherboards are larger than older ones, and they require cooler assemblies large enough to adequately cool them.
To reduce energy consumption in computers, some computer manufacturers have added an option for water-cooled cases where the heat is pushed into a chamber containing non-conductive fluid (usually oil or water) that can then be used to remove heat from inside the case before it reaches internal components.
While most CPU air coolers use fans, some manufacturers have released models which use convection cooling instead. These devices are similar to conventional heatsinks, but make use of a power supply unit’s fan rather than running one of their own.
We will discuss the things that we need to consider before going to the list of the best CPU Air Coolers.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
Purpose:
What are you going to do with the CPU air cooler? If it is for your gaming rig then go for something which has a good cooling system. If it is for your server, you can go for something which has a lower cooling system. If you are overclocking, you will need to go for something which has an extra cooling system.
Price:
It is understandable that people want to cut down the cost of their CPU air coolers. Although it is nice to save some money, you should try to understand how much money you are saving. Going for a cheap CPU air cooler would result in increasing your cooling system cost by increasing the number of fans.
Thermal performance:
People always want to know if their CPU air coolers can handle the load. The best way to find out would be by reading reviews on them.
Noise:
Even though people want to use their CPU air coolers at the lowest possible speed, it is necessary for them to know if there are any noise issues. Some fans are so noisy that they will drown out all the other noise in your room.
Aesthetics:
Some people only care about how their CPU air cooler looks. It does not matter to them if it performs well or not as long as they have a good-looking CPU air cooler. There are those who do not really care about the looks and only want to know how well their CPU air coolers perform.
After going through all this information, it is time to pick the Best CPU Air Cooler for your needs. Check out the comparison table to find out which CPU air cooler is the best for you. This list will be updated with new information so check back here.
Best Graphics Cards:
The Best CPU Air Coolers You Can Purchase Today
Deepcool Assassin III
Best Big Air CPU Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 161×140×165 mm – Base Height: 165 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 3.23 Pounds – Fans: 2 – Warranty: 5 Years
Deepcool Assassin III is the highest performing CPU air cooler on this list. However, it is also the most expensive one. It is capable of handling processors with TDP (thermal design power) of up to 250W.
This CPU air cooler has two fans which are mounted on opposite sides of the heatsink. This means that the hot air that is expelled is pushed outwards. This also means there are no blind spots when it comes to cooling the heat pipes.
Deepcool Assassin III has a structure that is four-piece and the pipes are each six millimeters in diameter. It is able to maintain a low profile and the heat pipes are only one millimeter above the CPU.
The heat sink has a thin design which is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. However, the heat sink itself is bulky and it will obstruct any other aftermarket CPU cooler installation.
It comes with two PWM fans that spin at speeds of up to 2,000 RPM. It also comes with two sets of four screws which can be used for mounting the heatsink. To make matters worse, the fans are pre-installed and they do not have a way to plug the fan into the motherboard. Deepcool Assassin III can be improved by installing the fan correctly.
Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M
Best AMD GPU, Forget About DLSS
Specifications
Dimensions: 111.8 x 130.9 x 165.1 mm – Base Height: 165.1 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 1.81 Pounds – Fans: 2 – Warranty: 5 Years
Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M is a silent CPU cooler designed for optimal cooling performance and low noise levels. It has two fans which are silent and they offer a wide range of speeds. The heat sink is made up of aluminum fins and copper heat pipes. The heat sink has an optimal surface area and is able to dissipate heat properly.
This CPU air cooler has a structure that is four-piece and the pipes are each six millimeters in diameter. It is able to maintain a low profile and the heat pipes are only one millimeter above the CPU.
The heat sink has a thin design which is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. However, the heat sink itself is bulky and it will obstruct any other aftermarket CPU cooler installation.
It comes with two PWM fans that spin at speeds of up to 1,700 RPM. It also comes with four screws which can be used for mounting the heatsink. To make matters worse, the fans are pre-installed and they do not have a way to plug the fan into the motherboard. Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M can be improved by installing the fan correctly. It comes with two fans that spin at speeds of up to 2,000 RPM. It also comes with four screws which can be used for mounting the heatsink.
Noctua NH-U14S
Best AMD Threadripper Air CPU Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 78 x 150 x 165 mm – Base Height: 165 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 2.06 Pounds – Fans: 1 – Warranty: 6 Years
Noctua NH-U14S is a CPU air cooler with excellent cooling performance and low noise levels. It has a heatsink that is streamlined and has the perfect surface area for dissipating heat. The heat pipe comes with a square socket design which ensures socket contact pressure.
It has one fan, but it is designed to be quiet and it delivers an optimal airflow. The fan is PWM and it spins at speeds of up to 2,200 RPM when needed. Noctua NH-U14S can be installed for either Intel or AMD sockets and it has a six-millimeter clearance from the CPU.
The fan is pre-installed on the heatsink, but it can be replaced. However, installing an aftermarket fan requires the careful marking of where the screws go in. This is to avoid any damage to the CPU when installing the heatsink.
Noctua NH-U14S is an expensive CPU air cooler with excellent cooling performance and low noise levels. It has a heatsink that is streamlined and has the perfect surface area for dissipating heat. The heat pipe comes with a square socket design which ensures socket contact pressure. It is only 2.06 Pounds with 6 years warranty.
be quiet! Pure Rock 2
Best Budget Air CPU Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 87 x 121 x 155 mm – Base Height: 155 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 1.26 Pounds – Fans: 1 – Warranty: 3 Years
As the name shows that be quiet! Pure Rock 2 is the best budget CPU Air Cooler with no noise. It has high compatibility and no need for maintenance. It is suitable for all types of socket types like Intel, AMD, or others. It reduces the heat produced by the CPU. It can move 25% more air than other conventional coolers at the same level of noise.
The heat sink has an optimal surface area and it is able to dissipate heat properly. It has a thin design which is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. However, the heat sink itself is bulky and it obstructs any other aftermarket CPU cooler installation.
It has one fan, but it is designed to be quiet and it delivers an optimal airflow. The fan is PWM and it spins at speeds of up to 1,700 RPM when needed. It does not come with a fan and the user has to purchase it separately. Be quiet! Pure Rock 2 is a budget CPU air cooler with high compatibility and no need for maintenance. It is suitable for all types of socket types like Intel, AMD, or others. It reduces the heat produced by the CPU. It can move 25% more air than other conventional coolers at the same level of noise.
Noctua NH-D15
Best CPU Air Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 161 x 150 x 165 mm – Base Height: 165 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 2.86 Pounds – Fans: 2 – Warranty: 6 Years
Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best CPU air coolers on the market. It has a large heatsink with two fans that spin at speeds of up to 1,700 RPM. It has an optimal surface area for dissipating heat and it comes with four screws that can be used for mounting the heatsink. Heat pipes come with a square socket design that ensures proper contact pressure to the CPU.
It can be installed on Intel or AMD sockets and it has a six-millimeter clearance from the CPU. The fan is pre-installed on the heatsink, but it can be replaced. However, installing an aftermarket fan requires the careful marking of where the screws go in. This is to avoid any damage to the CPU when installing the heatsink.
It has a very large and bulky design that obstructs other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard. It uses two fans and those fans are loud at high RPMs, but it delivers an optimal airflow.
It is designed to be quiet and delivers an optimal airflow. Noctua NH-D15 is a high-end CPU air cooler with two fans and an optimal surface area for dissipating heat. It has four screws that can be used for mounting the heatsink. It is suitable for all types of socket types like Intel, AMD, or others.
Noctua NH-D15 is an expensive high-end CPU air cooler with two fans and an optimal surface area for dissipating heat. It has four screws that can be used for mounting the heatsink. It is expensive and it comes with a six-year warranty on parts and labor.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Best Cheap Air CPU Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 120 x 79.6 x 158.8 mm – Base Height: 37.8 mm – Socket Support: AM4, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, LGA 115x – Weight: 1.54 Pounds – Fans: 1 – Warranty: 2 Years
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is an affordable CPU air cooler with a single fan. It weighs 1.54 pounds and has an optimal surface area for dissipating heat. It has a thin design which is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. The fan is pre-installed on the heat sink and it delivers an optimal airflow.
However, it has a bulky design and it obstructs most CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard. It uses one fan and that fan is loud at high RPMs, but it delivers an optimal airflow.
It has a thin design which is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. The heat sink itself is bulky and it obstructs other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard.
It has one fan, but it is designed to be quiet and it delivers an optimal airflow. It is very affordable and comes with a two-year warranty on parts and labor. It is suitable for AMD AM4 socket type.
It has a single fan and the user has to purchase it separately. The heatsink is thin, but it obstructs other fan installations. It does not come with a fan and the user has to purchase it separately.
Noctua NH-L9i
Best Air Low-Profile Cooler
Specifications
Dimensions: 95 x 37 x 95 mm – Base Height: 37 mm – Socket Support: AM4, LGA 2011, LGA 1200, LGA 115x – Weight: 0.85 Pounds – Fans: 1 – Warranty: 6 Years
Noctua NH-L9i is an affordable low-profile CPU air cooler with a single fan. It has an optimal surface area for dissipating heat and it has a thin design that is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. It weighs 0.85 pounds and has a slim design that does not obstruct most CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard.
The heatsink is thin and it is very affordable. It has a single fan, but it comes with a six-year warranty on parts and labor. The build quality of its heat sink makes it very durable and suitable for many types of CPUs like Intel, AMD, and others.
Noctua NH-L9i has a slim design that does not obstruct other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard. It is very affordable and it comes with a six-year warranty on parts and labor. However, its heat sink has a thin design that makes it less efficient in dissipating heat.
Noctua NH-L9i is an affordable low-profile CPU air cooler with a single fan. It has an optimal surface area for dissipating heat and it has a slim design that is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders. It comes with a six-year warranty on parts and labor. The build quality of its heat sink makes it very durable and suitable for many types of CPUs like Intel, AMD, and others.
Cryorig H7
Best Hyper 212 Alternative
Specifications
Dimensions: 98 x 123 x 145 mm – Base Height: 145 mm – Socket Support: LGA 1151, LGA 1200, AM4 – Weight: 1.57 Pounds – Fans: 1 – Warranty: 6 Years
Cryorig H7 is an affordable high-end CPU air cooler with two fans. It weighs 1.57 pounds and it has a slim design that does not obstruct most CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard. It has an optimal surface area for dissipating heat and it has a thin design that is optimal for cooling down CPUs with heat spreaders.
It comes with one fan, but they are quiet at low RPMs. The heatsink is very durable due to its high-quality build. It has a slim design that does not obstruct other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard and it delivers an optimal airflow as well as optimal cooling performance.
It does not obstruct other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard, but it has a bulky design. The heatsink is very durable due to its quality build and it also has a slim design that does not obstruct other CPU coolers from installing on the same motherboard. It weighs 1.57 pounds and it has two fans, but they are quiet at low RPMs. It is an affordable high-end CPU air cooler.
Conclusion
Heat dissipation in processors is also increasing rapidly due to the growing demand for higher-end CPUs. The fierce competition for the highest clocks, multiple cores, and the fastest CPUs has resulted in an inflow of high TDP CPUs. The demand for low-cost higher capacity coolers is on the rise. Although they aren’t as popular, in some cases, liquid coolers are the most effective choice. They’re more expensive and don’t come with extended warranties as air coolers do. Air coolers remain the most common consumer option to date due to their basic design and performance to cost ratio.
We’ve divided our suggestions into two categories: the finest and the most affordable. The Deepcool Assassin III is the ideal air cooler if money isn’t an issue. It has 280W of thermal dissipation capacity, which is enough for overclocking even the most power-hungry flagship CPUs like the 5950X. A high-end CPU cooler is an investment for any computer system, and it’s particularly pricey and unnecessary for general users. The Cryorig H7 is a bit more affordable and our budget picks for everyone else. It has a thermal efficacy of 150W and can effectively cool mid to high-level CPUs. Thermal limitations, on the other hand, limit overclocking only to mid-range CPUs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CPU air cooler is the best?
The ideal CPU cooler must be able to cool the CPU during all modes of operation, including peak loading. The greater heat dissipation resulting from overclocking will also require more cooling, and it’s essential that the cooler keep up to prevent throttling. Be quiet! Pure Rock 2 is an excellent all-rounder CPU cooler with a reasonable price tag, low noise function, and acceptable performance. It’s suited for mid-range and high-end PCs.
What is the most unusual CPU cooler on the market?
The Cryorig H7 is the coolest CPU air cooler. It has a distinctive design and utilizes an odd hive fin heatsink that improves airflow pathways and minimizes turmoil. The cooler’s atmosphere is nice, and noise levels are low. With a 150W TDP, the cooling performance is modest. Cryorig, on the other hand, sells this cooler at a very affordable price, making it a good choice.
Is it really worth purchasing an air CPU cooler?
CPU cooler products are often small and ineffective, making them unsuitable for overclocking even a little. On the other hand, Liquid coolers have much larger cooling capacities but are also pricey and out of reach for most individuals. Air coolers are within the budget of most customers, leaving us air coolers that are right in line with expectations. For people using stock CPU coolers to allow their CPU to breathe and perform better, a low-cost cooler like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is advised to purchase.
Which is the most effective CPU air Cooler?
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler is the best in class for high-performance computers. It has a U tower design with a single fan configuration that may be upgraded to a dual-fan setup if required. On a single-fan configuration, the RAM clearance of 64mm is complete, allowing for all sorts of XMP modules and taller components. The noise level is low on a single fan, and virtually inaudible when LNA is enabled, further enhancing the value provided by the cooler.
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