The Five Best CPU Coolers
Whether you want to overclock, build a silent PC, or just get your rig to run at peak performance, you may need more than the standard cooling for your processor. However, there are many aftermarket CPU coolers and choosing a good one can be tricky. We asked you, and here are the top five based on your nominations.
Earlier this week, we asked you which CPU coolers you think are best for cooling your CPU without wasting space or money – the ones you would buy for yourself or recommend to others. You have given us many options, but we only have room for the top 5. Here they are, in no particular order.
Zalman CNPS9500A
The Zalman CNPS9500A may be a little older, but many of you have praised it for its efficient cooling, quiet sound, good looks (if you like LED fans in your case) and compact size. It has a large but quiet 92mm fan, three heatpipes (although Zalman says its design provides heat transfer equal to six heatpipes), and an ultra-quiet “silent mode” in which the fan is almost completely silent and does not run. vibrate. The heatsink is made of pure copper and the entire unit is designed to be as space-saving as possible, so you can install it without interfering with your components. It’s also affordable – on Amazon it ‘ll set you back about $ 58 .
Those of you who nominated the CNPS9500A highlighted the fact that it is nearly silent and can keep your processor nice and cool even if the room gets unpleasantly warm. One of you mentioned that the fan on your graphics card is making more noise, and another of you pointed out that while the model may be a little dated these days, a few years ago these were the coolers you had to buy regardless of the type of processor you had. on your system. Another of you mentioned that if you don’t mind the noise, you can turn on these babes and keep them really cold. Read more in the nomination thread here .
Swiftech H220-X
The Swiftech H220-X liquid cooling system is a self-contained, versatile processor cooling system that includes a 120mm copper radiator, water pump and water block, all in one, easy to install and easy to fill and configure. package. The entire rig is engineered to be silent, nearly inaudible to most people, and keep your processor nice and cool, whether you’re just looking for a beautiful, quiet PC or planning to overclock and run this processor like crazy. Swiftech designed the system to be easy to install, with a water block and fans at the top of the case and a closed loop directly above the processor to minimize space and avoid other components. If you like light in your case, the reservoir has an LED light that looks pretty cool but also allows you to check the coolant level to make sure everything is in order. If you need it, you can get it for $ 140 directly from Swiftech .
Those of you who nominated it praised it for its easy-to-install and relatively affordable all-in-one CPU cooler that can also be expanded if you want to add additional components. For example, if you later decide to add a GPU to a cooling loop or other heatsink, you can do so easily without tearing it all up and replacing it with another model. One of you noticed that it’s exceptionally quiet and definitely lives up to its noise promises – and that it’s even quieter than the similar Swiftech, which is supposedly a higher-end version. You can read all about this in the thread of his nominations here .
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
If you’re not into sophisticated cooling kits or water cooling, but want to calm down a bit or cool it down a bit without spending a lot of money, Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 EVO is a great kit for you. Even if you’re buying a standard processor and want a little more, this kit is small, efficient, affordable and will keep your processor cool and happy no matter what you do with it. It’s not as advanced as some of the other kits in the review, but that’s okay – plus it’s not as expensive. It features four copper heatpipes and huge aluminum dissipation fins, a huge 120mm PWM fan to maintain constant airflow (which can be manually controlled), and a compact design that looks impressive in images (and will sit on top of your CPU), but still leaves enough room for components in your chassis. Best of all, it is a mounting solution that works with just about any type of processor. If you want one, $ 35 at Amazon is all it takes to add it to your system.
The Hyper 212 EVO was popular in a round of nominations, and many of you pointed out that you even offer it to new computer builders – people for whom standard cooling would probably be enough, but for the price it is an incredible “thermal insurance policy.” “for the expensive processor it is on. Others of you, including our own Whitson Gordon, have commented that it is worth the money and is nearly silent, especially when compared to a standard processor cooler. Nearly all of you said the price / performance ratio was it was exceptionally high in this model, and many of you shared your own stories about switching to it compared to a regular cooler and admiring its difference – both in temperature and noise. Read more in the thread of its nominations here .
Noctua NH-D15
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler is an impressive beast, complete with six aluminum heatpipes leading to a dual-aluminum heatsink design with a pair of huge 140mm fans keeping air flowing through those heatsinks at a constant rate. Noctua builds its coolers optimized for low noise and low temperatures, so whether you plan to overclock or just want your computer to run quietly, no matter what you do with it, this is a reliable cooling option. Both fans are PWM capable, so you can manually control them if you want, and there is enough airflow through the cooler to keep the other components of your computer nice and cool, as well as your processor. If you need one, it will set you back $ 110 on Amazon .
Those of you who have nominated the NH-D15 noted that in some cases it can keep processors as cool as liquid coolers without worrying about leaking circuits or damaged components. Some of you have pointed out that the only thing that could perform better than such a cooler is a dedicated cooling circuit – which is controversial, but undeniably impressive temperature that you can get from such a device. The others of you have pointed out that you use this to keep your overclocked processors looking cool and cool. Some of you noted that it takes up a lot of space in your case (and your case should have something like this), but you all agreed that it was worth it. Read more in the thread of his nominations here .
Waterblock Corsair H-110
Corsair’s Hydro series is pretty well known here , and for good reason. They are easy to install, easy to set up, get the job done and are relatively maintenance-free. The H-110 is one of the more popular options in the Hydro range and many of you have mentioned it specifically as a reliable and affordable option for people looking to use water cooling without spending a ton of money. The H-110 is a versatile liquid cooler that features a pair of 140mm fans that fit comfortably into a 280mm radiator mount, as well as a closed loop that’s small enough to stay in direct contact with your processor while still it is easy to install. mount and install without risk of leakage (thanks to easily bendable tubes leading to and from the copper cold plate). The fans are low-flow, but have large blades, so they can run slower and quieter while keeping everything nice and cool. Best of all, it installs on just about any processor. If you want, $ 128 on Amazon is all you need .
Those of you who have nominated the H-110 commented on its reliability and ease of installation, and the fact that you never have to worry about leaks. Some of you have mentioned that this setup is ideal for keeping an overclocked processor as cool as it would if it was running at standard speeds, while others of you have pointed out that you have had multiple models, including the H-110, on different setups. and they have always worked well for you. In addition, it is a reliable and affordable water cooling system that is beginner friendly and easy to use. Read more in the nomination thread here .
Now that you’ve seen the top 5, it’s time to put them up for a general vote to determine the Lifehacker community favorite:
An honorable mention this week is the Custom Water Cooling system , which many of you have named and called a great option if you have the know-how or can afford it. Our own Whitson Gordon has put together a beginner’s guide to water cooling based on our own experience in developing our own water cooling circuit. It even has a guide on what to do if this custom loop fails . This solution isn’t for everyone, but if you’re curious, it could be a great, quiet solution for the enthusiast. Read more in the thread of his nominations here .
Do you have anything to say about one of the applicants? Want to substantiate your personal favorite even if it wasn’t on the list? Remember, the Top 5 is based on your most popular nominations from the Call for Applicants thread earlier this week . Don’t just complain about the top 5, let us know which option you like best and justify it in the discussions below.