And, this is especially as true if you are planning on overclocking. While most CPU cooler manufacturers produce their coolers in such a way that they will fit with most CPU sockets usually by offering different brackets for various common sockets , there are certain CPU coolers out there that will only fit with a specific CPU socket.
Some CPU Coolers are too tall to fit inside of certain cases. Most high-end air coolers out there can have clearance issues because of how bulky they are.
Their bulkiness can get in the way of the DIMM slots on the motherboard you have chosen and interfere with taller memory kits , or they can also hang over the top PCIe lane, thus forcing you to install your GPU in a lower lane. AIO cooler radiators come in a lot of different sizes. However, not all cases can accommodate each radiator size. So, again, before you choose an AIO cooler, you need to check the spec sheet of the computer case you are considering and make sure it can accommodate the radiator size of the AIO cooler you want to get.
Aesthetics are a big part of choosing a CPU cooler. Some builders prefer the sleek low-profile look of AIO coolers. Other builders like the extreme look of custom liquid cooling setups. While others prefer the look of a big bulky high-end air cooler. And, if everything else about that cooler style fits with your needs, go with that style.
There are a lot of builders out there that put a lot of emphasis on building as quiet of a PC as possible. One of the loudest components in a computer is the CPU cooler… and more specifically, the fans associated with the CPU cooler. Coolers with larger fans are typically quieter than coolers with smaller fans. So, coolers with mm fans will generally perform quieter than coolers with mm fans. Coolers with multiple fans can also spin at lower speeds since there are more fans working to keep the cooler cool.
There are a ton of different factors that go into choosing the right CPU cooler for your needs. Hopefully, the information above helps you in finding the right option for your system.
Your email address will not be published. For a bit more, one of the best air coolers on the market is the be quiet! However, if you want a quieter PC with lower CPU temperatures, a water-based cooler is probably for you. Just plan to spend more money.
But unless your case is quite large, a three-fan radiator may not fit in your PC anyway. Key differences mostly come down to aesthetics and pricing. Whatever cooler you're considering, check the TDP rating. In a lot of cases, air and AIO cooler specifications will also list the TDP rating how much heat the cooler can dissipate , which is a good way to determine the capacity of the chosen unit.
If the TDP of your processor is higher than what your cooler lists, chances are your CPU will throttle or your fan will run loud all the time or both. Whether you're looking to overclock your PC to its highest potential or just prevent throttling at stock speeds, you need to pay close attention to your CPU cooler. If you don't have huge ambitions and you're using a Ryzen chip, you may be able to save money by sticking with the stock cooler that came in your box.
But otherwise, you should make sure you check the space and TDP requirements before choosing the right solution for your system. Whether you're shopping for one of the products that made our best CPU coolers list or one that didn't, you may find some savings by checking out our list of Newegg promo codes , Best Buy promo codes or Corsair coupon codes. Topics Cooling.
He's a content creator by day and a hardcore gamer by night. In his free time, you can find him on a number of World of Warcraft servers or capturing epic landscapes with his mini drone. OK for general info, useless for specific recommendations. The section on CPU pastes was very good. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All rights reserved. Close Search. Cons Air coolers are not small. C-Type Air Coolers A top-down air cooler with c-shaped heat pipes curving from the heat fin stacks.
Pros Liquid coolers have lower RPMs, making them much quieter than air coolers because heat is passed through a liquid that never leaves the unit. Cons Considering water is a liquid agent, being around electrical units is a potential hazard. Examples Closed-Loop Closed-loop systems are factory assembled and ready-to-be-installed units that are sealed. DIY The ultimate in cooling tech and flair is a custom-made liquid cooling system , specially designed to the needs and style of the customer or builder.
Metal-based A highly electrically conductive paste, containing either silver or aluminum. Diamond-based A costly variant of a carbon-based paste consisting of refined diamond particles and grease. Silicone-based An inexpensive material not ideal for conductivity, but efficient as a filling agent. Ceramic-based A non-conductive thermal paste that has one of the most extensive lifespans of known thermal pastes.
CPU Cooler component terms to know Heat Pipes Copper or aluminum pipes full of a liquid substance that allows heat energy to transfer to heat fins and fans. Author Christian Galvez Christian is a tech enthusiast with a strong background in computer systems and smart devices. Join the discussion One Comment. LWJ2 says:. July 3, at am. If you don't, you may find yourself remounting the HSF, after rubbing off its thermal paste. Step two , if you don't have thermal paste already applied to your heat sink, you will need to add it.
Application requires several steps:. Optimally, it's best applied before you screw the motherboard into the PC chassis. If this isn't an option, you take the risk of damaging your board.
Fortunately, many aftermarket Intel HSF use push-pins that actually work. There's also back plate-equipped alternatives that dispense with the pins mechanism, pictured below. This method offers the easiest and most error-free way of attaching a CPU cooler. AMD CPUs have the distinct advantage of ease of installation and a total lower cost of ownership, since you can reuse heat sinks on later builds.
To attach your AMD heat sink:. Out of the two, I prefer AMD heat sinks because they are tremendously easy to use. Intel's, on the other hand, don't mount as advertised. I've spent many hours fiddling with getting the Intel HSF snugly fitted to the board because I refuse to detach my motherboard every time I decide to work on the fan. As someone who has built and rebuilt computers countless times, Intel push-pins give me nightmares.
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