Best CPU Coolers 2023 – Zen 4 & 13th gen updated
We take a look at the best fan and AIO CPU coolers on the market for a range of different budgets and needs
While the best CPU cooler will certainly help to keep your gaming PC running at its best, it is not always a crucial part of the equation. There are a number of factors that contribute to a gaming PC’s performance, and the best CPU cooler is an important factor. Whether you just want to push your gaming rig further and gain a performance boost or do serious overclocking, you are going to need a CPU cooler that suits your needs and meets those demands. Poor cooling will lead to subpar performance.
CPU coolers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Air coolers, for example, use fans to move air across the CPU; water coolers, on the other hand, employ a closed-loop system to do so. In general, air coolers are more affordable than water coolers, but they are also less effective at cooling down the CPU. Water coolers are more expensive, but they are also more effective at keeping the CPU cool. As a result, it is important to consider both the cost and the performance of a CPU cooler before making a purchase.
The article contains some hardware from 2022 and earlier. This is because we deem the hardware relevant even in 2023. If anything changes we will promptly update the article.
You can always get by on the stock cooler that comes with your CPU but in any case, cooling this component is vital to its longevity and performance. But what if your CPU doesn’t come with a stock cooler:? As most of the new CPUs don’t, we’re required to think up our own solution, and find a cooler that suits us on or own.
Our Top Picks
Ryzen 7000 series and Intel 13th gen
Both Intel 13th gen and the Ryzen 7000 series run incredibly hot, and need a large cooler with a high cooling capacity to keep at an acceptable temperature.
We managed to throttle the 13900K by 13% in our testing, all this was thanks to a particularly stressful stress test from Aida64 Extreme. Although we never expect you to reach this level of CPU stress under normal circumstances, we still feel you shouldn’t be able to throttle with a 360mm AIO. Has Intel packed too much into its CCD?
Ryzen is a similar story, although we never actually achieved any thermal throttling, we were close. The 7600X reached a toasty 95 Celsius during our stress tests, with the 7900X not too far behind. Bear in mind, that’s just with PBO enabled, we have no hope for manually overclocking these chips, or trying to increase the voltage in any way. Doing so tends to skyrocket temps and with Ryzen only having 5 Degrees of wiggle room, it’s safe to say we’ll see some throttling in that scenario.
We have the best cooler pages for both of these CPU types since they are kind of in a league of their own.
How We Choose
All of the CPU coolers on this list are here for a reason – we didn’t just pick them out of thin air. First and foremost, we conducted a search to discover which CPU coolers gamers are into while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.
Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry.
Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close, test how easy they perform, and see how they effectively cool the CPU.
How We Test
From PC cases to CPU Coolers, we like to get hands-on with all the hardware we recommend. Testing the products is a huge part of our overall selection process and it is a way we can be sure that a specific option is the best for the job.
CPU Coolers must meet our expectations which largely comes from a lot of acoustic and thermal performance tests, with some other boring stuff but most if not every recommendation will have gone through a strict testing process.
With a CPU cooler, we need to assess build quality, thermal performance, acoustic performance, and finally, value.
This process enables us to provide you with an accurate take on how well a cooler performs and, ultimately, if it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
Things To Consider
When buying a CPU cooler there is more to consider than just ‘will it fit’. Below are a few key factors that you should go over and understand before making that final purchase.
Performance
All the CPU coolers on our list are proven to perform well in relation to their cost. A cooler’s only job is to keep temperatures low and give you, the consumer, more bang for your buck from your CPU.
So having a solid performing cooler can help you squeeze extra power from your CPU if you go down the overclocking route and it’s best to have it as cool as you possibly can.
Noise
CPU coolers are expected to be loud when running at max which is often the case if in a game for example. Air coolers generally produce more sound than liquid coolers but not always. Cooler manufacturers test the max noise levels so we can see what noise impact certain coolers will have on our system.
Reliability
It’s important to go with manufacturers that produce high-quality products and this is especially true when it comes to liquid cooling solutions.
There have been cases where the closed-loop ‘liquid’ coolers have leaked so we have tried to ensure quality suggestions!
Your Budget
Often any aftermarket cooling solution is better than the stock fan that comes with certain CPU’s. If you’re unsure how powerful your fan should be after reading everything here, then it’s best to go overboard as its safer than not cooling your CPU enough.
If you buy an extra powerful CPU cooler, then you might not need to upgrade it when you upgrade your CPU next. If money is tight then save your cash and go for a solid air cooling solution.
Consider The Amount Of Heat Your Computer Generates
Before you can determine what size cooler you need(and how much money you should budget) you first need to know how much heat your CPU generates.
Thankfully this is a lot easier than you’d think since you really just need to know the TDP.
This information is normally on the CPU box and should tell you everything you need to know.
If you don’t have the CPU box anymore, simply go online and type in the model number of your CPU and head straight to the specifications tab and look for the TDP.
What Size Cooler Should You Pick?
Now that you know your CPU model, it’s time to determine what sized cooler will best suit your needs.
If you have a low TDP CPU (around 40W to 70W), then a large cooler will not be necessary. You can go for a cheaper, small-to-medium-sized cooler and still keep those temps down. Anything over 75W will benefit from a larger CPU cooler as the large heatsinks help keep those temps even lower and they sometimes come with extra fans for improved airflow.
Mind the CPU Socket
Whether you use an air or liquid cooling solution, it must fit with the CPU socket.
Even though most coolers are produced to fit most CPU sockets by offering various brackets, some coolers still only work with specific sockets.
To determine the type of CPU socket that fits your CPU cooler, check your CPU or your motherboard specifications.
Should You Use Air Or Liquid?
Technically for out of the box processing power, the choice is down to preference as they will all provide adequate cooling. Often air coolers are cheaper but may not offer the same performance for cooling an overclocked CPU.
Regardless of what you pick both cooling types share some pros and cons. As a rule of thumb, low profile air fans can often be really quiet and can fit in smaller builds.
Clearance: Make Sure All Your Components Fit
One of the most common problems people face when buying a mid-to-high-end air cooler is the clearance(room once cooler is installed).
Sometimes the heatsinks can be really big and leave little to no space for your RAM and other hardware and sometimes the case its self. So make sure you check the clearance, which should be clearly indicated on the spec sheet of the CPU cooler.
You should also check your motherboard’s layout to ensure parts won’t be bumping into one another.If you have plenty of clearance, then you’re good to go. On the flip side, if you don’t have enough clearance, you’ll need to go with a liquid cooler since they take up less space but ensure your case has adequate room to mount it.
Consider the Position of the Fan and the Direction of the Air
Typically, a case will have four different locations for liquid coolers to be mounted. Depending on the case, you can normally install a cooler on the top ( you will see vents and screw holes). Sometimes this can be mounted on the front if your front panel comes off your case. In extreme cases, where space is tight, a smaller liquid cooler can replace the exhaust fan at the back of the PC.
When positioning the fans on the air or liquid cooler make sure you know which way the air is going to blow. Some manufacturers have arrows etched onto the fans to show you the direction and you ideally want this air to be flowing out of the case so position accordingly.
How Much Do Aesthetics Matter?
It goes without saying that liquid coolers look nicer than most air coolers.
Despite liquid coolers looking ‘cooler’, it doesn’t mean that it is more effective. There are of course a handful of air coolers that cool better than liquid coolers so don’t just go for the dearest.
Just keep in mind that liquid coolers are usually the go-to option when overclocking as they cool better than air at higher temperatures.
Key Terms To Understand
Before we get stuck in, here are some basic terms to familiarise yourself with if you aren’t currently aware.
AIO (All-In-One)
This is in reference to a liquid cooler or a closed-loop cooler. This means the pump, pipes, liquid, and reservoir all come together as one single unit. All you have to do is install it and you’re good to go. It’s known as an ‘All-In-One’ as you can get fully customized liquid cooling which requires a lot more know-how and skill to install
TDP (Thermal Design Power)
Also called Thermal Design Point. This is a specification measured in watts. It tells us the maximum amount of heat that component will produce which in this case is a CPU.
RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)
Revolutions per minute or RPM is the number of revolutions a CPU fan makes in a minute. More RPMs means more airflow, but this can raise noise levels.
PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Pulse-width modulation is a modulation process or technique that performs a predefined action based on either temperature (of the CPU) or system commands.
It simply means a PWM fan lets you control the rotational speed or RPM and lighting (if it’s RGB) wirelessly or via a 3rd party software.
dbA (A-weighted decibels)
This directly expresses the relative loudness of sounds in the air as it is perceived by the human ear. A-weighted system decibels means sounds at low frequencies are reduced compared with the unweighted decibels.
Here’s a table showing comparative examples of noise levels:
Noise levels
Example | dbA |
---|---|
Breathing/pin drop | 10 |
Rustling leaves | 20 |
Whisper | 30 |
Babbling brook | 40 |
Light traffic | 50 |
Conversational speech | 60 |
Why are CPU coolers so important?
CPU coolers are important for PC operation because they help regulate the temperature of the CPU and prevent it from overheating. Overheating can cause the CPU to slow down or shut down in order to prevent damage, which can negatively impact performance and stability.
A properly functioning cooler helps maintain the ideal temperature range for the CPU, ensuring that it can operate at maximum speed and efficiency. In extreme cases, overheating can cause permanent damage to the CPU, requiring costly repairs or replacement.
A good cooler helps extend the lifespan of the CPU, improve system stability, and prevent performance throttling, making it an important component in any system.
Related Cooling Pages
If you enjoyed this guide, why not check out some of our similar guides that may help you with your purchasing decision.
The The 5 Best CPU Coolers In 2021
In-depth Review
- Solid thermal performance
- Excellent acoustic performance
- User-friendly mounting system
- Outstanding build quality
- Comes with (2) 140mm fans
- Relatively expensive
- Hefty size
Noctua is a very popular brand in this industry thanks to its proficiency in cooling products, and the Noctua NH-D15 is a proven cooling master. It performs just as well as a handful of liquid CPU coolers in the mid-range category, which also makes it one of the best CPU coolers not just for gaming but in general too.
Looking at what comes with the package, you have two 140mm fans. These fans were remarkably quiet even when running at max while playing games. With a 24.6 dbA sound level, it’s unlikely you’ll hear it running. While the performance isn’t massively different to the D14, this does seem to perform better acoustically.
A negative for some is going to be the excessive size, the heatsinks are rather large, meaning your RAM might not fit depending on your setup and there could be clearance issues in certain cases. While it’s true that you can move the front fan up to give more RAM clearance and the positives of its size definitely outway the negatives as long as it fits into your setup.
Noctua has accounted for this with a second, smaller version: The NH-D15S. However, the performance was noticeably worse than this model meaning you could find a better solution outside of these two products.
Some regard the color as hit and miss but it’s hardly noticeable once in your system and I personally quite liked the aesthetics. Despite what you make of the design this CPU is a serious bit of kit and one of the few air coolers that can keep a modern overclocked CPU cool.
- Excellent high TDP thermal performance
- Incredible aesthetics
- LCD screen
- Expensive
NZXT’s Kraken line has been growing in popularity in recent years and it isn’t just down to their high-end build quality and dazzling design. The NZXT Kraken Z63 is the latest iteration to the already impressive X63, only this features an LCD panel on the pump. While the panel offers nothing more than an aesthetic touch, it’s unique and a step forward for those who want more than just raw performance.
Now, there are 360mm options out there that are better suited to higher TDP overclocks but we feel the Z63 offers the perfect balance of aesthetics, cooling performance, acoustic performance, and compatibility, with this likely to fit in a wider range of PC cases.
The two 140mm fans really do a great job of dissipating that heat and the included CAM software is one of the better ones out there, with impressive customization and intuitive controls.
If the extra cost for the LCD panel is too much, we understand and the X63 performs just as well but for supreme aesthetics and cooling performance, the Kraken Z63 is easily one of the best AIO coolers out there at the moment.
- Excellent thermal performance for the price
- Extremely quiet
- Stylish design
- Large size could raise compatibility issues
The Scythe Ninja 5 CPU cooler is one that many consider rivaling the impressive Noctua D15 when you factor in the price. This is nearly half the price of the Noctua and offers similar levels of thermal performance and solid acoustic performance too.
This is one of the quietest fan coolers on the market and is by no means little, as we see a large heat sink and two 120mm fans. the heatsink is fed by six heat pipes, distributing the heat across the large heatsink. The fans may not be as effective as Noctua’s but these do a great job of circulating cool air through the fins and produce top-notch results.
The cooler features 2 x PWM fans with fluid dynamic bearings and they only go up to 800RPM so noise is always kept below a maximum of 14.5 dBa. As you would expect from a cooler marketed as quiet it features rubber corners to limit noise from vibrations which is a nice touch.
This cooler supports a wide range of sockets from both Intel and AMD and will keep a top of the line CPU at a reasonable temperature. Installation is actually relatively straight forward it is just the sheer mass of this cooler that makes it a bit trickier than a normal-sized one. This is being recommended as it is truly one of the quietest coolers on the market and the fact it comes in at a budget price is superb.
- Lighting is compatible with most motherboard headers
- Quiet operation
- Unrivaled RGB lighting
- Pump is quite noisy
- Very expensive
Our top RGB CPU cooler comes in the form of the massive Thermaltake Floe Triple Riing RGB 360 TT. This cooler features some of the best RGB lighting you can find on this list and comes with Thermaltake’s “Riing” fans as standard, which have three lighting loops.
This cooler is a 360mm rad size; so you will need a case big enough for that, but it’s worth noting that the extra cables for the lighting add clutter.
The CPU blocks lighting can sync up with your trio of fans, giving you quite an impressive display. The product comes with Thermaltake’s fan controller, allowing you to add extra Thermaltake Riing fans to your case.
The cooling performance may not be as good as some of the coolers on this list, but with the quality aesthetics, we can allow for a few degrees here or there. This AIO is surprisingly quiet though with the fans max RPM only going to 1400.
While this may not be ideal for a powerful overclocked CPU, it still offers good enough thermal performance to make it into this list!
- Cooling performance is outstanding
- Relatively quiet
- Great value
- Limited for higher TDP CPU overclocking
For those looking to cool their CPU on a budget, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is one of the best budget PCU coolers on the market. This model is a successor to the incredibly popular EVO and does so with impressive performance considering its price.
This “no-thrills” cooler utilizes four heat pipes and aluminum fins in an effective way and only produces a max fan noise level of 26 dBa, which is actually relatively quiet but largely depends on the RPM you set this to. Other features include precise airflow with a CFM of 42, a smart fan sensor to stop any cable snagging, and a wide array of CPU socket support.
The performance is technically the worst in the roundup but that is only if you have this going head to head with some of the best coolers in the game. The fact remains, not everyone needs huge heatsinks or liquid cooling and a steady performer like this can be a perfect fit for many.
Final Word
That concludes the best CPU coolers currently on the market. We have included several air and liquid options, with coolers to suit various budgets and needs.
Hopefully, this article will assist you in your quest for a new CPU cooling solution. Did you find this helpful? Do you have any personal recommendations to share? Comment down below or head over to the WePC Community and we will get back to you!
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