The Ultimate Guide to CPU Coolers: Stay Frosty in 2025

The Noctua NH-D15 is a massive air cooler, featuring two 140mm fans and dual heatsinks compatible with both AMD and Intel sockets. Despite its distinct brown and beige aesthetic—Noctua’s signature—it remains the unrivaled champion of air cooling. It delivers whisper-quiet operation and temperatures that nearly mirror high-end custom water cooling setups, even under heavy loads.

The primary considerations with this cooler are its price, which is on the higher side for an air cooler (though still more affordable than premium AIOs), and its substantial size. Before purchasing, verify your PC case’s CPU cooler height clearance and ensure your memory modules have enough room. Be prepared for it to dominate your PC’s interior, as it certainly won’t contribute to a clean, RGB-focused aesthetic.

Nevertheless, if your case can accommodate it and you appreciate its unique look (or your PC lacks a side window), the NH-D15 is an exceptional piece of hardware. It builds upon a long legacy of acclaimed Noctua coolers. Its included cable splitter helps keep things tidy, and installation is straightforward. This cooler truly earns its top spot, consistently handling extended multi-threaded workloads on even the most demanding CPUs.

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is our top recommendation for a CPU cooler that will perfectly suit most mid to high-end gaming PCs. If you’re running a six to 12-core gaming CPU, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Intel Core i5-14600K, this is an excellent choice. While the Cooler Master Hyper 212 is suitable for lower and mid-range chips, the Peerless Assassin offers superior cooling power for more demanding CPUs.

This dual-fan and dual-heatsink cooler can manage a rated heat output of 265W, which is more than sufficient for many powerful CPUs, though it can’t quite handle the 300W+ demands of an Intel Core i9 14900K. Nonetheless, for the CPUs it’s designed for, it delivers ample cooling with low noise during normal use. It isn’t the absolute quietest cooler available—for that, you’d look to the Noctua NH-D15—but it’s still quiet enough for most systems.

Despite its simple, affordable nature, this cooler looks reasonably sleek thanks to the black top plates on its heatsinks and the inclusion of ARGB fans. Installing the four cables (two for each fan) and reaching between the heatsinks with a long screwdriver for attachment isn’t the easiest process, but it’s comparable to similar dual-stack designs.

The main reasons to consider an alternative are if you have an extremely high-end CPU or prefer the open aesthetic of an AIO cooler. Dual-fan air coolers like this inherently occupy a significant amount of space in your case and can look somewhat conventional (RGB elements notwithstanding). If these factors don’t deter you, however, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB offers incredible value as a CPU cooler.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White is an ideal CPU cooler for those building on a budget. If your system features a sensible four to eight-core CPU with a TDP of 105W or less, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, this cooler provides ample power to keep these mid-range chips in check. It remains quiet and is very affordable. Installation is exceptionally easy, and it’s compatible with all current AMD and Intel systems, plus a wide array of older models.

You’ll often find its fan spinning at up to 2,000rpm during gaming sessions, but the good news is that it maintains a surprisingly quiet profile, even when pushed. Its single 4-pin PWM cable powers both the lighting and the fan simultaneously, simplifying cable management if you appreciate a touch of RGB. However, if RGB lighting isn’t your preference, its inclusion does increase the cost (though cheaper, non-RGB alternatives are available).

All things considered, if you’re looking for a cooler that’s compact, inexpensive, quiet, and gets the job done efficiently, this is an excellent choice. Just be mindful of its 180W max TDP, which won’t be sufficient for higher-end CPUs.

If you’re on a tight budget, the Arctic Freezer 7 X is an excellent CPU cooler offered at a very affordable price. Despite its modest cost, we found it capable of handling a surprising amount of CPU heat.

For those simply seeking a basic CPU cooler for a Core i5 / Core Ultra 5 or Ryzen 5 system, or looking to replace a noisy stock cooler with a quieter, more powerful alternative, the Freezer 7 X is an ideal choice.

PC hardware enthusiasts might recognize this cooler’s lineage; the original Arctic Freezer 7 Pro was a classic, and the Freezer 7 X continues to impress. It operates remarkably quietly, even when its fan spins at its maximum speed of 2,000rpm. In our tests, it even managed to handle our overclocked eight-core Ryzen 7 CPU.

While this isn’t the cooler for a 16-core behemoth CPU, and you’ll certainly achieve greater cooling power by spending more, this budget-friendly option is perfect for CPUs with a 65W TDP. With the Freezer 7 X, you can bid farewell to your loud stock cooler and build a quiet PC, all without breaking the bank.

First, we should clarify why a specific model isn’t listed here, unlike our other recommendations. The NH-L9 series includes several versions: the NH-L9i for Intel sockets and the NH-L9a for AMD sockets. Both, however, share the same fundamental heatsink and fan design.

We thoroughly tested the NH-L9a model and were genuinely impressed by the cooling power of this miniature heatsink and fan setup. It effortlessly kept a 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 7900 in check, which is a remarkable accomplishment for a low-profile cooler of this size.

It features a single 92mm Noctua fan, which typically runs quietly. However, if you push your CPU to its absolute limits on all cores, it can produce a noticeable amount of noise. A low-noise adapter is included, allowing the fan to spin at a reduced speed. In our tests, even with this adapter, the cooler provided sufficient power for our Ryzen 9 7900 to reach its full boost speed.

Its primary limitation is that it’s not suitable for serious overclocking or for running a top-tier CPU, such as a Ryzen 9 7950X, under continuous full load. For those scenarios, you’ll require a more powerful cooler. Nevertheless, this remains an absolutely fantastic choice for most individuals looking to build a powerful yet compact mini gaming PC.

Proving you don’t need to spend an exorbitant amount for top-tier CPU cooling, the colossal Thermaltake TH420 V2 ARGB Sync delivers immense cooling power for a remarkably low price. It also boasts an attractive design, with vibrant RGB lighting on both the fans and the pump unit, adding a sophisticated touch to your build. The pump even features an infinity mirror effect that looks quite fancy when illuminated.

However, the sheer size of this cooler is undeniable. With three 140mm fans on its radiator, it spans a massive 456mm in width. You’ll absolutely need to measure your case meticulously to ensure it has enough room.

The impressive results are worth it if you have a high-end CPU. Even under full load, our Core i7 13700K test chip only reached 76°C, which is approximately 5°C cooler than most other coolers we’ve tested. It supports a wide range of CPU sockets, from older AMD Socket AM2 all the way to Intel’s LGA1700 and AMD’s latest Socket AM5 chips. If you desire superb CPU cooling at an accessible price and possess a generously sized case, this is the AIO cooler for you.

While an LCD screen on your AIO cooler’s pump block may not directly improve CPU temperatures, much like RGB lighting, it adds an undeniably appealing feature. The display on the NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB is incredibly sharp and vibrant, making it a truly striking visual upgrade over mere flashing lights. You can customize the displayed content using NZXT’s CAM software, which connects via a USB cable to your motherboard.

Naturally, this sizable cooler also excels at its core function. It not only achieved the best temperature result we’ve ever recorded on our Intel LGA1700 test rig but also effortlessly kept our AMD Ryzen 9 7900X in check.

Furthermore, this cooler operates exceptionally quietly, thanks to its three 120mm fans having sufficient capacity to cool a high-end CPU without needing to spin at full speed. It also features one of the quietest pumps we’ve ever tested, and the RGB lighting on the fans is visually impressive.

The only drawbacks are the sheer number of cables you’ll need to manage and, of course, the price. However, if you’re seeking the absolute best 360mm AIO cooler available, this is it, and you can often find it discounted during online sales.

There’s no reason you can’t be serious about your cooling while also wanting to add a vibrant splash of color to your gaming PC. After all, modern gaming keyboards and headsets frequently feature RGB, so why shouldn’t your CPU cooler match?

Cooler Master’s MasterLiquid series achieves this beautifully with its bright CPU block, and it comes in various sizes to facilitate your next CPU upgrade. The MasterLiquid ML360L offers ample surface area and three 120mm fans to dissipate heat across its large radiator. However, if your case lacks space for that, the MasterLiquid ML240L, with its dual 120mm fans, might be a more suitable option.

While its performance is consistently top-notch, you might encounter some initial setup challenges. It comes with numerous cables that can be tricky to integrate smoothly into your build, and its size can make mounting somewhat difficult. Despite these minor hurdles, it delivers admirable performance and aesthetics.

If you’re seriously considering overclocking your CPU, a large AIO water cooler is one of the best choices. This 240mm liquid cooler from NZXT is our top pick. Its virtually silent fans on the radiator feature fluid-dynamic bearings, offering a longer lifespan and quieter operation compared to many other fan technologies. Naturally, the pump cover boasts RGB lighting, ensuring your build stands out from any generic stock solution.

With this cooler, you’ll observe idle and load temperatures in a different league compared to air coolers. If you are overclocking, make sure you pair it with a suitable gaming motherboard and a PC case that can accommodate the 240mm radiator.

In terms of aesthetics, while it may not have RGB lighting on the fans themselves, finding a cheaper option with that feature would be challenging. If integrated RGB is crucial for you, consider our next recommendation.

Generally, we don’t recommend 120mm AIO CPU coolers over air coolers if cooling capacity, noise levels, and overall value are your primary concerns. The additional pump noise and the modest cooling performance of a 120mm radiator often mean they fall short compared to air solutions. However, the significant advantage of 120mm AIO coolers lies in their ability to fit into tighter spaces and provide an aesthetically pleasing look while doing so. If you have a small form-factor case or simply desire an open, airy PC interior but lack the space or budget for a larger AIO, this is where they shine.

If that describes your needs, the NZXT Kraken 120 RGB is the cooler to choose. It looks incredibly smart with its infinite mirror pump and vibrant RGB lighting, and its cooling performance is solid. While it’s still a bit louder than a good mid-range air cooler, its aesthetic appeal is a notable plus.

For a very reasonable price, this cooler strikes an ideal balance of style, cooling efficiency, and value.