When you build a brand new PC, the last thing that’s usually on your mind is picking out one of the best CPU coolers. However, we think that’s a mistake. We get it, though: once you’ve entered all of your parts into PCPartPicker to ensure optimal compatibility, it’s very tempting to start rethinking where you can afford to make compromises to your next, likely expensive, DIY project.
However, when you end up deciding that you want one of the best processors, like Intel Coffee Lake or AMD Ryzen CPUs, it becomes essential to pair it with the best CPU cooler in order to protect that beautiful piece of silicon. Otherwise, if you don’t replace the stock cooler that comes standard with every non-K-series Intel chip, you could be subject to performance loss or throttling issues.
So regardless of whether your CPU has six or eight cores, you’ll probably find the performance of your chip disappointing if you’re using the cooler that came packaged with your CPU. That’s because an aftermarket CPU cooler, especially liquid coolers, can drastically diminish both fan noise and running temps, allowing your CPU to reach faster clock speeds when you’re overclocking and, in some cases, even when you’re not.
It’s time to focus, though, clear of any influence from the companies that manufacture them, we’ve compiled a list of the seven best CPU coolers on the market today, liquid-, air- or passively cooled.
Noctua is a relatively unknown quantity in the CPU cooler world, however, the Noctua NH-D15 is at the head of our list of the best CPU coolers because of this compelling premise: that while it may not be a liquid cooling system, it works just as well if not better than some all-in-one loops. Noctua focuses entirely on designing coolers, and just coolers, so even on top of the stellar cooling performance, this cooler is one of the quietest products you’ll find, plus, as an added bonus, it’s covered by a six-year warranty.
For $29 (£30, AU$43), the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is one of the most affordable CPU coolers you can buy. Given, too, that most online stores offer a rebate on this fan and heatsink combo pack, the Hyper 212 EVO is a prodigious value. Although it only features four heatpipes and aluminum fin structure, this legendary CPU cooler has proven itself to be as efficient as liquid-coolers two-to-three times more expensive than it. These air-coolers are designed to make heat dissipation, quite literally, a breeze, whether you’re playing Destiny 2 at max settings or watching YouTube videos in a web browser.
This CPU cooler is among one of the smallest we’ve ever used for our own Mini ATX builds. It come from an Austrian company as our best CPU cooler that specializes entirely in PC coolers and fans, which means no compromises are made in the way of quality assurance despite its low-profile form-factor.
Known best for its cases, such as those produced in collaboration with Asus and Razer, you may be surprised to learn that NZXT’s CPU coolers are every bit as impressive as the hardware which encloses them. The Kraken X62 is no exception, being one of the few 280mm all-in-one liquid coolers to feature RGB lighting. Given that the radiator comes pre-attached and the thermal paste pre-applied, the NZXT Kraken x62 is awfully easy to set up too. The packed-in CAM software, which lets you tweak settings on the fly, is merely icing on the cake.
For less than 70 big ones in both US dollars and British sterling, the Arctic Liquid Freezer 120 is a deal you can’t pass up if you’re on the prowl for a liquid cooler that won’t 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 it’s still a massive step up from the classic fan and heatsink pairing. So, while you can’t expect RGB lighting or software – or even hardware-based fan control, the 120mm variant of the Arctic Liquid Freezer will keep your system refrigerated at a (mostly) quiet volume.
Even if you have a budget that allows for some of the more serious liquid cooling solutions, even some of the sweetest PC cases don’t permit the sheer mass of a bulkier, dual-fan or even a single 120mm radiator. That’s where the Hydro Series H5 SF proves building small doesn doesn’t mean you have to give up on liquid cooling. NZXT Kraken X62
Unless you’re already neck deep in the rabbit hole that is silent PC assembly, you’ve probably never heard of NoFan, a South Korean component company that specializes in helping enthusiasts reach that 0dBA silent sweet spot. In doing so, of course, you can count on severely limiting yourself 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 for those sporting low-power rigs that prioritize tranquility over raw horsepower.
- We’ve also ranked and reviewed the best gaming keyboards of 2017
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/news/best-cpu-coolers
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