Last Updated: September 17, 2021
Whether it’s an air or liquid cooler it doesn’t matter, they are a vital part of the setup and with the best CPU’s becoming more powerful we are requiring reliable cooling solutions sometimes even before overclocking.
After dedicating many hours researching and testing, we have concluded that the Noctua NH-D15 is the best CPU air cooler currently available. This may just be an air cooler but its performance is regarded for being able to compete with liquid coolers. If air cooling isn’t your desired solution then don’t worry we have you covered with some excellent liquid cooling options too! Also, don’t get intimidated if you’re not familiar with some of the terms because we’ll also cover these later, but first let’s take a quick look at each of our CPU cooler picks. The Noctua NH-D15 is heavily based on the NH-D14 cooler. The cooler features 2 large aluminum heatsinks, a fresh design, a smooth copper base plate, 6 copper heat pipes, and 2 140mm fans to deliver outstanding air cooling performance. A high-quality closed-loop liquid cooler. This AIO (all in one) features RGB, 3 x 120mm fans that levitate and all while staying relatively quiet and cool. Great pick! This is what you’ll want to get if you’re all about keeping things silent. It has a large heatsink accompanied by a 135mm fan which impressively keeps noise levels down to a maximum of around 21dB. Pair this with a silent case for the ultimate silent setup. Equipped with 2 RGB PWM based fans and an RGB pump this cooler from Corsair will light up your build while keeping that CPU nice and cold! The RGB that can be configured via Corsair’s iCUE software with some great customisation. This Corsair AIO is a brilliant RGB liquid cooling alternative! If your budget is tight, you can’t go wrong the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. The performance of this cooler speaks volumes and it is one of the best in this price category for 2019.
How We Choose
Every component in a PC is important, remember the cooler will ultimately protect your investment in a good CPU and you should make sure to pick the best solution for your needs. When it came to making these recommendations we specifically opted for coolers that excel not only in their specific category but according to the following criteria as well:
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!
Performance
All the CPU coolers on our list are proven to perform well in relation to their cost. A coolers 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.
How To Choose the Best CPU Cooler
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 customised 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 |
Things to Consider
When buying a CPU cooler there is more to consider than just ‘will if it’. Below are a few other things to consider:
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. If you don’t know the model number of your CPU, there is a 3rd party software you can use like CPU-Z (which we highly recommend, too). Once installed, open the CPU-Z software and the CPU tab should tell you everything you need, which we conveniently highlighted as seen on the image below. 
The Family, Model, and Stepping values will help you identify which processor you have which can be especially helpful if the processor has more than one version.
What size cooler should you pick?
Now that you know your CPU model, it’s time to determine the 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). Sonmetimes 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 flipside, 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 4 different locations for liquid coolers to be mounted. Depending on the case you can normally install 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. and 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.
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.
Which is the Right CPU Cooler?
Now that we have everything covered, it’s time to decide which CPU cooler is perfect for your needs.
Get the Noctua NH-D15 if you’re looking for the best air CPU cooler. It performs just as good and even better than a handful of mid-range liquid coolers for considerably less.
For builders looking for a really good liquid cooler, the Corsair H150i can compete with the best and offers solid build quality.
We highly recommend the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 if you’re after the quietest air CPU cooler.
If you want a smaller liquid cooling option with enhanced RGB, then the Corsair H100i Platinum SE is a very good aesthetic solution.
For those looking for the best budget option we highly recommend the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO, this cooler will not let you down and it comes with a very low price tag!
Parting Words
Hopefully, this has been helpful to 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 and we will get back to you!
