Consider picking out the best CPU cooler first before you go out to find exciting PC components like the best graphics cards to soup up your rig. After all, having the best gaming PC you can build is more than just about getting the most powerful components out there. You’ll also require those parts that can support all that power, including a capable CPU cooler and the best motherboard.
Before you go out and get the priciest CPU cooler you can find, remember that the best CPU cooler for your build depends on a number of things. Even if budget is not a concern, you have to take a good look at your processor and your overclocking demands, to start. Though if you are on the budget, you’ll be happy to know that many air coolers are extremely cheap these days.
Since CPU coolers come in every shape, size and even price point in 2020, we want to help you find the most ideal one for your setup. Here are our top picks of the best CPU coolers on the market, alongside our price comparison tool so you can also get the best price available, whichever one you end up buying.
The best CPU cooler at a glance
Noctua NH-D15
Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition
Noctua NH-L9
NZXT Kraken Z-3
Corsair H100i Pro
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB
Arctic Liquid Freezer 120
Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF
NoFan CR-95C
Image Credit: Noctua
1. Noctua NH-D15
Best CPU cooler
Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM3+, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 1500 RPM | Noise volume: 19.20dbA – 24.60dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 160 x 150 x 135mm | Weight: 2.91 pounds (1.32kg)
Whisper quiet
Six-year manufacturer’s warranty
Too big for some PC builds
The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best CPU coolers you can buy in 2019 simply because it performs just as well as – if not better – than some liquid coolers, while costing a fraction of the price. You might not be too familiar with Noctua’s name, as they’re relatively small in the CPU cooler world, but its business is revolves around designing coolers, so you know that when you buy one of their products, you’re getting a product by people who really know their craft. On top of delivering a fantastic cooling performance, the NH-D15 is nearly silent as well.
(Image credit: Cooler Master)
2. Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition
Better than ever before
Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1150 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: 650 - 2,000 RPM | Noise volume: 8 - 30 dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 120 x 79.6 x 158.8 mm | Weight: 1.54 pounds (700g)
Improved performance
Easy installation
Quiet fan
RGB lighting just ok
Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 CPU RGB cooler is back with a vengeance, and sporting a sleek gun-metal black brushed aluminum finish to boot. It’s not only jet black look that’s upping this CPU cooler’s cool factor – though it does help what with that aluminum top cover and nickel plated jet black fins to complete the look. It’s also easily one of the best CPU coolers on the market with its stacked fin array that ensures least airflow resistance, four heat pipes that boast Direct Contact Technology to better battle the heat, and a wide speed range for fine-tuning cooling performance and silent operation.
Image Credit: Noctua
3. Noctua NH-L9
Best low-profile CPU cooler
Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1156/1155/1151; AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/FM1/FM2 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2500 RPM | Noise volume: 14.8dbA – 23.6dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 206 x 184 x 37mm | Weight: 1.03 pounds (0.47kg)
Ultra compact
Six-year manufacturer’s warranty
Only 92mm fan
Noctua is an Austrian manufacturer that does one thing, and one thing only: make the best CPU coolers and fans. What this means is that even though the Noctua NH-L9 is tiny, it is still more than capable of insane cooling with no compromises. This is a fantastic cooler for anyone with a smaller build, or even if you’re using a ton of large components, and you’re not comfortable with liquid cooling.
(Image credit: NZXT)
4. NZXT Kraken Z-3
Personalize your all-in-one liquid cooler
Type: Fan and heatsink | Compatibility: Intel Socket LGA 1151 – 2066, Intel Core i9 / Core i3 – i7, AMD Socket AM4, TR4, AMD Ryzen 3 – Ryzen Threadripper | Rotation frequency: 500-1,800 + 300 RPM | Noise volume: 21-38dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 143 x 315 x 30mm
Total customization
Superior performance
Premium price
Whether you’re going for 360MM or 280MM, the NZXT Kraken Z-3 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for liquid cooling. First of all, thanks to its vibrant 2.36-inch LCD screen that’s capable of displaying 24-bit color, this liquid cooler allows total customization so you can fine-tune settings as well as display your favorite images and animated gifs. More importantly, it delivers impressive liquid cooling performance and is easy to install.
Image Credit: Corsair
5. Corsair H100i Pro
Best CPU liquid-cooler
Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel 2011 – 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4 | Rotation frequency: Up to 2,400 | Noise volume: 44dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 315 x 143 x 29mm | Weight: 4.4 pounds (1.98kg)
Insane performance
Powerful fans
Gets loud
Corsair has enjoyed a position at the top of the liquid cooling game for a while now, and the H100i Pro continues the trend. Not only is this thing obviously strapped in RGB lighting, but it also boasts impressive cooling performance, thanks to Corsair’s unique and powerful fans, which you can control through the iCue software. All these combined, and you’ve got among the few best CPU coolers that not only performs well, but that is also completely customizable.
(Image credit: Cooler Master)
6. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage
Cool and hypnotic
Type: Liquid cooling | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: up to 2000 ±10% RPM | Noise volume: 27dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 277 x 120 x 27 mm | Weight: 2.11 pounds (1,237g)
Threadripper support
Gorgeous RGB lighting
Pricey
With the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage in your gaming rig, you won’t only end up playing for hours on end without worrying about thermal throttling or overheating. You might just an hour or so admiring your CPU, especially if you have one of those glass-window cases, as this CPU cooler is indeed hypnotically pretty. It’s mostly thanks to its transparent pump design that lets you see the impeller spinning while bathed in different RGB lighting, like a colorful spinning wheel at a funhouse. Performance-wise, it definitely deserves a spot in our best CPU coolers list, with its PPS+ glass fiber housing and nozzle that provides temperature and liquid resistance, EPDM rubber O-Ring that helps eliminate liquid emission, and a low-resistance radiator that increases flow rate, heat exchange efficiency and cooling performance.
Image Credit: Cooler Master
7. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120R RGB
The best compact liquid cooler
Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – LGA 2066; AMD AM2 – AM4, FM1 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 2000 RPM | Noise volume: 6dbA – 30dbA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 83.6 x 71.8 x 52.7mm
Luminous RGB lighting
Premium build
A little expensive
There isn’t a single component that can’t be improved through RGB, and Cooler Master is well aware – jumping on the RGB bandwagon with the MasterLIquid ML 120R RGB. What’s more, it integrates some of the first addressable LEDs seen on a liquid cooler. This all-in-one liquid cooling solution isn’t just about aesthetics – it features an oxidation free pump and an efficient radiator. This means that not only will it last longer – but it’ll keep your CPU cooler, and all without giving up too much case real estate, which is why it’s made our best CPU coolers list.
Image Credit: Arctic
8. Arctic Liquid Freezer 120
Best budget liquid-cooler
Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 2011 – 2066; AMD AM2 – AM3+, FM1 – FM2 | Rotation frequency: Up to 1350 RPM | Noise volume: 22.5dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 120 x 120 x 25mm | Weight: 2.65 pounds (1.2kg)
Strong performance
Inexpensive
Somewhat noisey
Few features
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 makes our best CPU coolers list as it will keep your system refrigerated at a (mostly) quiet volume.
This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF
Image Credit: Corsair
9. Corsair Hydro Series H5 SF
Best low-profile CPU liquid-cooler
Type: Liquid cooling system | Compatibility: Intel LGA 115x; AMD FM2 – FM2+ | Rotation frequency: Up to 1,800 RPM | Noise volume: 36dBA – 42dBA | Dimensions (W x D x H): 167 x 57 x 84mm | Weight: 2 pounds (0.91kg)
Guaranteed leak-free tubing
Compact, all-in-one form factor
Blower style cooler
Even if your budget will allow you to really go all-out on a serious liquid cooling solutions, if you have a smaller PC case, you’ll likely not have enough space. That’s where something like the Corsair Hydro H5 SF comes into play. Even on the smallest PC cases, you’re able to use this CPU cooler to keep your CPU chilled, even if you have some beastly overclocks happening. Plus, because it’s a closed loop, you don’t even need to worry about maintenance. Set it up, and let it do its thing – you won’t be disappointed.
Image Credit: NoFan
10. NoFan CR-95C
Best fanless CPU cooler
Type: Passively cooled heatsink | Compatibility: Intel LGA 775 – 1156; AMD AM2 – AM3+; FM1 | Noise volume: 0dBA | Dimensions (W x H x D): 180 x 148 x 180mm | Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.73kg)
You won’t hear a peep
Works well with low-power CPUs
Exorbitantly massive
95W TDP limitation
Rounding out our best CPU coolers list is the NoFan CR-95C. You’ve probably never heard of NoFan – unless you’re already neck deep into the rabbit hole that is silent PC assembly. The South Korean component company specializes in helping enthusiasts reach that 0dBA silent sweet spot. In doing so, of course, will severely limit your set-up 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 if you want to build a low-power computer that completely blends into the background.
This Product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Noctua NH-L9
Your co-workers have probably been involved in a data breach
Businesses are being left open to cyberattacks as a result of employees failing to take proper precautions, a new report has warned.
Data from Impero found one in five employees in the UK have been directly involved in a security breach or loss of sensitive data, showing the sheer scale of risk for companies of all sizes.
The report also found that more than half (56%) use personal devices to access company data and systems - on average, three times a week - opening the door to threat actors.
Data breach risk
Worryingly, nearly half (42%) of those workers using personal devices to access workplace data claimed their employer had no security policies controlling how these items devices can interact with sensitive information.
This could be an incredibly dangerous move, as 91% of the employees who had been involved in a security incident said that they used personal devices to access sensitive data while at work, with half of that group (51%) doing so without adhering to a robust device security policy.
“Despite the abundance of internet-connected devices used by employees in the modern businesses, especially in the new hybrid working world, many feel their employers are not equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to work securely, particularly when interacting with sensitive data," noted Justin Reilly, CEO of Impero.
“Employees shouldn’t need to be worried or threatened by the prospect of security breaches – their employers should provide the tools and training they need to feel secure. This is especially important at a time when the competition for talent is intense and ‘The Great Resignation’ looms large. A truly secure, connected working environment can only be achieved by harmonising people, processes and technology."
The research also found a quarter (24%) of employees said they weren't confident in recognizing cybersecurity threats while at work, while a similar number (26%) agree that their company could improve the quality of its cybersecurity training.
Three is throwing in amazing free gifts with its cheap 4G and 5G home broadband deals
Three has been leading the way for a while now when it comes to 5G and 4G home broadband deals. Look around at the likes of EE and Vodafone, and they just can't get anywhere near the pricing that Three can.
And yet, the numerical network has gone and launched a new offer that solidifies its place at the top of the podium even further, which is available on its website now.
Depending on what plan you opt for - either 4G or 5G home broadband - you stand to get either a free Samsung Chromebook or LG TV thrown in with your new internet plan absolutely free.
Not only that, but most of its available tariffs also benefit from having half-price bills for the first six months of the contract, too, delivering additional savings of up to £90.
We have details of all four offers below, including the freebie you'll get and the bills you'll be paying. Pick the one that appeals most to you, head through to the website to check availability, and you could be up and running as early as tomorrow...
Three 5G Hub + FREE Chromebook | 24 months | Avg speed 100Mb | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | £30 a month This 5G home broadband deal includes Three's most generous free gift - a Samsung Chromebook 4 with a claimed RRP of almost £400. If 5G is available where you live, you're promised a rapid 100Mb speed on average, which should be more than enough for households with lots of people streaming, gaming, and surfing the web.
Three 5G Hub + FREE TV | 24 months | Avg speed 100Mb | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | £15/pm for first 6 months, then £30 The freebie here may be worth less, but if you like the idea of saving £90 and you have a spot in your house screaming out for a new 32-inch LED TV, then this is the better option. Like the deal above (and below, for that matter) this Three home broadband deal comes with completely unlimited data use, too.
Three's bargain 4G home broadband deals:
Three 4G Hub + FREE TV | 24 months | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | £11.50/pm for first 6 months, then £23 The cheapest of Three's home broadband deals in this sale, you can get a 4G Hub with unlimited data for just £23 a month - and even those are slashed by half for the first six months. That's the cheapest price out there for a 4G Hub, which makes the unlimited cap and free gift especially impressive.
Three 4G Plus Hub + FREE TV | 24 months | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | £13/pm for first 6 months, then £26 For a few quid more a month, you can upgrade to 4G Plus. Three calls this "our best 4G Home Broadband Hub", and so will be the choice to go for if you want the best possible internet connection but don't yet have 5G where you live.
How does 4G and 5G home broadband work?
These home broadband plans work by putting a SIM card into a router, allowing you to connect through SIM data. In this way, it is a lot like tethering onto a phone plan like you can with most phones these days.
These routers can be connected to a number of devices while still providing strong speeds - plenty for streaming, gaming, using social media, and working from home.
Plus, unlike 'normal' fibre broadband plans, you can get connected in next-to-no time and without the help of an engineer coming to your home/
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
What other broadband plans are available?
Obviously, mobile broadband isn't the only option out there for people needing home internet. You can always go for the more traditional broadband plans with cables and phone lines. Or another portable option is mobile broadband, or if you live in the right areas, 5G home broadband.
However, going for traditional broadband deals right now will require you to have a phone line already.
