Best LGA 1700 CPU cooler for Intel 12th gen in 2024 – our top picks
With Intel and Z690 motherboards now moving to a new socket, you are going to need a supporting LGA 1700 bracket for your cooler, let's take a look at the best compatible options.
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Looking for the best Intel CPU cooler? We have you covered, Intel replaced the LGA 1200 socket size for the rectangular LGA 1700. Compared to its predecessor, the LGA 1700 socket features 500 more pins, requiring the 12th-generation processors to be 7.5mm longer. This is the first major change in Intel’s LGA CPU socket size in well over a decade (since LGA 775) for the consumer-grade market. We here at WePC have tested hundreds of CPU and CPU cooler configurations, so we have the knowledge and the expertise to guide you through the best CPU cooler for LGA 1700.
You may remember the issues cooler manufacturers faced when Intel switched its sockets, there was a period where you had to check cooler compatibility with the LGA 1700 socket. By now, every cooler manufacturer has included compatibility whether they announced it or not. LGA 1700 is just a little longer than LGA 1200 as it contains 500 more contact pins. We like to keep this article constantly up to date, so we have included all the latest in CPU cooling technology.
- 01The Best AIO LGA 1700 CPU CoolerEditor’s Pick
- 02The best CPU cooler for the i9-12900K
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT Liquid CPU Cooler
If you don’t have time to read the full article, we have chosen the Asus ROG RYUJIN II 360 CPU Cooler as the best CPU cooler for LGA 1700, as it features almost unrivaled performance and looks amazing. You can’t go wrong with an ASUS product. You can check out our review of the Ryujin II here.
What is the best LGA 1700 CPU coolers for Intel 12th-gen
We recommend an AIO or water-cooling solution with a 240mm radiator or larger for the higher-end SKUs in the 12th gen bracket. This is because these CPUs have a higher TDP than we’re used to and require a more robust cooling solution. But fear not, everything we have selected on this list can handle the 12th generation with ease, just pay attention to the air coolers, as we only recommend these for the 12600K.
Best CPU cooler for LGA 1700 – Asus ROG RYUJIN II 360 CPU Cooler
Asus ROG RYUJIN II 360 CPU Cooler
CPU Block Dimensions
78.15 x 87.5 x 81 mm
Socket Support
Intel: LGA 1150, 1151, 1152, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM4, TR4*
Fans
3x Noctua NF-F12 InductrialPPC 2000 PWM Fans
Features
3.5″ Full Color LCD Screen
- High Performance
- LCD Screen
- Aesthetically, one of the best looking AIOs on the market
- More affordable options that perform similarly
The ASUS ROG Ryujin II CPU cooler stands out as an exceptional choice for LGA 1700 CPUs for several compelling reasons. Firstly, its aesthetics are a key highlight. This AIO cooler is renowned for its stunning design, primarily attributed to its sizable pump and the addition of an LCD screen. That’s right, this CPU cooler has an LCD screen! The inclusion of a large pump and a full-color LCD screen makes it one of the most visually appealing AIO coolers available in the market. This aesthetic appeal can significantly enhance the overall look of your PC build, which is particularly important for those who value a visually striking system.
The ASUS ROG Ryujin II also offers versatility in terms of sizing. It is available in both 240mm and 360mm configurations, allowing builders with different case sizes to incorporate this cooler into their systems seamlessly. This adaptability ensures that it can meet the cooling needs of a wide range of system setups.
In addition to aesthetics and versatility, the cooler features 380mm long tubing that is constructed with thick rubber and sleeved for added durability. This not only enhances the cooler’s durability but also adds to its visual appeal. The premium quality of the tubing reinforces the reliability of the entire cooling system.
The standout feature of the Ryujin II is its 3.5″ LCD screen, which allows users to display any image or GIF of their choice. This level of customization makes it unique and highly personalized. Moreover, it supports AIDA64, enabling users to showcase crucial system information on the LCD screen, providing both utility and an original visual element. This feature can be particularly appealing to PC enthusiasts who want to monitor their system’s performance at a glance.
You can check out our full review of the ASUS ROG Ryujin II here.
Runner up LGA 1700 CPU cooler – Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT Liquid CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
15.63 x 4.72 x 1.06 inches
Brand
Corsair
Cooling Method
Water
Noise Level
34.1 dB
- Excellent cooling performance
- Visually superb
- RGB heaven
- Expensive
The Corsair H150i iCUE Elite Capellix is a strong runner-up for the LGA 1700 socket due to several noteworthy features. While it may not claim the top spot, it offers a compelling package for users looking for efficient cooling and attractive aesthetics.
One of the key strengths of the H150i iCUE Elite Capellix is its updated aesthetics. Corsair has managed to make significant improvements in the visual design of this cooler, which is a welcome upgrade for many PC builders. The cooler boasts a visually appealing look, from the pump to the fans, making it an attractive addition to any system. Aesthetics are an important aspect for many users, and Capellix excels in this area.
In terms of cooling performance, the H150i iCUE Elite Capellix is on par with its competition. It effectively manages to keep CPUs cool, which is crucial for high-performance processors like those compatible with the LGA 1700 socket. Its 360mm size is a perfect fit for CPUs like the i9-12900K, ensuring efficient heat dissipation.
Furthermore, the inclusion of RGB lighting adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of the cooler. The customizable RGB lighting allows users to personalize their system’s appearance, making it look magnificent and unique. The visual aspect of a PC build can significantly impact a user’s experience, and Capellix doesn’t disappoint in this regard.
While the Corsair H150i iCUE Elite Capellix may not take the top spot, it serves as a solid runner-up for the LGA 1700 socket due to its efficient cooling performance, updated aesthetics, and RGB customization. If you’re looking for a cooler that combines cooling power with a visually striking design and RGB features, the Capellix is a worthy option for your high-TDP CPU cooling needs.
We have reviewed a similar CPU cooler, the Capellix H115I ELITE, which should give you an idea of CPU cooler performance.
Best budget LGA 1700 CPU cooler – Noctua NH-D15
Noctua NH-D15
Type
Air
Max RPM
1500 RPM
Max Noise
24.6 dB
Dimensions
(H)165 x (W)150 x (D)150 mm
- Low-noise
- Highly efficeint
- Suitable for top CPUs
- Large size, make sure you have the space
The Noctua NH-D15 is undoubtedly a top contender for the title of the best budget cooler for LGA 1700 CPUs, and there are several reasons why it excels in this category. First and foremost, it offers exceptional cooling performance that rivals even some liquid cooling options. This means you can effectively cool your LGA 1700 CPU without the additional cost and complexity of liquid cooling, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious users.
While the Noctua NH-D15’s design may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s important to focus on the cooling potential when evaluating a budget cooler. The design, including the signature brown color, may not win points for aesthetics, but it delivers where it counts – in cooling efficiency. The NH-D15 features two large heatsinks and accompanying 140mm fans, providing substantial cooling power.
One of the potential downsides of this cooler is its size, which might be off-putting to some builders. The large heatsinks and fans require extra clearance in the PC case. However, Noctua offers an ‘S’ variant for users who want the NH-D15’s performance but have limited space, addressing this concern and adding versatility to the product lineup.
In terms of noise and RPM, the Noctua NH-D15 offers a reasonable balance. The maximum noise level is approximately 24.6dB, which is relatively quiet, and the maximum RPM of 1500 ensures effective cooling while maintaining a reasonable noise profile.
Best air cooler for 12600K – be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Socket
Multi-socket Intel: LGA 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011(-3) square ILM / 2066. AMD: AM2(+) / AM3(+) / AM4 / FM1 / FM2(+)
Fan compatibility
120 mm
Measurements without mount (L x w x H)
5.7 x 5.35 x 6.40 inch
Fans
2
- Extremely silent with a maximum of 24.3dB
- Easy to install
- Effective cooler
- Quite large, make sure you have the room
The Dark Rock Pro 4 by Be Quiet! is a popular option in the PC realm, thanks to its highly efficient cooling performance and near-silent operation. you could opt for any cooler on this list to take care of the i7-12700K but we have always been a fan of the Dark Rock Pro 4, thanks to its efficiency, noise output, and ease of installation.
Aesthetically this is a rival to the Noctua above, giving you a beefy air cooler in an all-black aesthetic. The size is quite large thanks to the giant heatsinks and fans but the low noise of 24.3 dB maxed is marvelous.
Lastly, the Dark Rock is very easy to install and takes any stresses a large cooler installation can have with a well-thought-out design, it’s great.
Budget Air cooler for 12600K – Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Type
Air
Max RPM
2,000 RPM
Max Noise
26 dBa
Dimensions
(H)120 x (W)77 x (D)158.5 mm
- Excellent price to perfomrance
- Relatively quiet
- Great value
- Not really suitable for the i9/ i7 SKUS but would be great for the i5-12600K
Despite being a budget cooler, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is still a fan favorite. The cooling performance is exceptional for the price and you are still getting relatively quiet operation too.
With four aluminum pipes and aluminum fins, this is highly effective at its job. Considering how affordable this is, a low noise output of 26dB is not to be sniffed at either but you should avoid this if buying one of the top two Intel 12th-gen SKUs.
The performance of this cooler may not match the rest in this round-up but it is a solid option for anyone looking to buy an i5-12600K or 12400 and deserves its place among these LGA 1700 coolers.
What is LGA 1700?
The LGA 1700 socket was announced back at CES 2021, specially designed for Intel’s latest hybrid architecture. The LGA 1700 socket features an additional 500 contacts compared to its predecessor (clues in the name), increasing the socket height by 7.5mm. This has forced cooler manufacturers to produce and ship accommodating brackets to ensure their customers don’t have to buy a new model entirely.
While some manufacturers, such as Lian Li, Be Quiet!, and Noctua are essentially giving away the brackets for free (small shipping fee), other brands are charging anything between $2-$5 (especially if you have no proof of purchase). Some consumers may be disgruntled by this but it’s just one of those generational change costs we are going to have to take on the chin.
The z690 motherboard is the first of its kind, carrying the LGA 1700 socket, among many other nice-to-have features, truly bringing us into the next generation.
LGA 1700 Vs LGA 1200 – which is better?
LGA 1200 was the LGA 1151 replacement, supporting the 10th and 11th generation Intel processors. The name comes from the amount of protruding pins that make contact with the pads on the processor. As you can tell by the name, the LGA 1700 socket has an extra 500 pins, making the dimensions change from a square 37.5mm x 37.5mm (LGA 1200) to 45mm x 37.5mm.
This change coincides with Intel’s introduction of its hybrid architecture to the desktop x86 market. Intel is moving away from the conventional sets of identical CPU cores, splitting them into performance and efficiency cores (Big. Little).
Socket LGA 1700 vs LGA 1200
Just in case you were unaware of the changes made this time around, we’ve broken down the difference between the two Intel sockets.
The LGA 1700 socket, also known as Socket A, is the successor to the LGA 1200 socket, which was introduced in 2020. Some of the main differences between the two sockets include:
- LGA 1700 has a larger pin count than LGA 1200 (171 pins vs. 1200 pins)
- LGA 1700 uses a new CPU architecture, called Alder Lake, which is a hybrid architecture that combines high-performance and high-efficiency cores. This is not compatible with LGA 1200 processors
- LGA 1700 also supports DDR5 RAM, while LGA 1200 supports DDR4 RAM.
- LGA 1700 also supports PCIe 5.0, while LGA 1200 supports PCIe 4.0
In summary, the LGA 1700 socket is designed for the new Alder Lake processors, which offer improved performance and efficiency, and support for faster memory and faster PCI-E interface.
FAQs
What happens if a LGA 1200 CPU is improperly cooled?
If a CPU is not properly cooled, it can overheat and become damaged. This can lead to system crashes, data corruption, and in severe cases, permanent damage to the CPU. To avoid this, it is important to make sure that the computer’s cooling system is functioning properly and that the CPU is not overheating. This can be done by monitoring the temperature of the CPU using software tools or by physically checking the cooling system for any blockages or issues.
Can a CPU cooler improve CPU performance?
Yes, a CPU cooler can improve CPU performance in certain situations. The performance of a CPU can be limited by its temperature, which can be affected by factors such as the workload and the ambient temperature in the computer case. When a CPU gets too hot, it can slow down or even shut down to protect itself from damage.
A good CPU cooler can help to dissipate heat more effectively and keep the CPU running at lower temperatures. This can allow the CPU to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods, leading to better performance in tasks that are CPU-bound.
For example, if you’re running a demanding application like a video game or a video editing program, a high-performance CPU cooler can help keep the CPU running at its maximum clock speed, allowing it to process data more quickly and efficiently. This can result in faster load times, smoother frame rates, and quicker render times.
Final word
With every manufacturer in the cooling game now providing LGA 1700 brackets, no one has to buy a new cooler when investing in the next generation of hardware. For everyone else looking to upgrade, the AIO and air coolers in this list are the best in their class and will efficiently cool your new Alder Lake CPU with ease.
Don’t forget, if you have one of the compatible coolers listed above, you can contact the manufacturer and possibly get an LGA 1700 bracket sent out for free, if not, they are relatively cheap. We hope our best LGA 1700 CPU cooler article helped you find your next Intel 12th Gen CPU cooler.
