What a cooler does
A cooler carries heat away from the processor. Modern processors boost as high as their temperature allows, so a cooler that keeps up lets the processor hold its speed for longer, and does it more quietly. A cooler that cannot keep up does not usually damage anything: the processor slows itself down to stay safe, and you lose performance you paid for.
Air or all-in-one liquid
The Type spec says which kind a cooler is.
- Air tower: a metal heatsink with one or two fans. Simple, nothing to leak, and the only moving part is the fan, which is cheap to replace. Large towers cool very well.
- Low-profile air: a short cooler for small cases. Fine for modest processors, not for hot high-end ones.
- All-in-one liquid (AIO): a pump on the processor carries heat to a radiator with fans, usually at the top or front of the case. It leaves space around the socket and looks tidy.
Careful: An all-in-one is sealed and cannot be refilled or repaired. When the pump eventually fails, the whole unit is replaced, so a long warranty matters more here than on an air cooler.
How much cooling you need
Start with the processor's TDP as a rough guide to its heat. Many processors draw more than their TDP while boosting, and cooler makers rate their coolers in different ways, so neither figure is exact. Leave plenty of headroom.
- Low-power and entry processors: a modest single-tower cooler is plenty, and an included box cooler often works.
- Mid-range processors: a good single tower with a 120 mm fan, or a 240 mm all-in-one.
- High-end processors under long, heavy loads: a large dual-tower air cooler or a 280 mm or 360 mm all-in-one.
Tip: Spending more than your processor needs mostly buys quieter running, not more speed. That can still be worth it if the PC sits on your desk.
Socket and mounting
The Socket spec on a cooler lists every socket it fits. Check yours is there.
- AMD AM5 uses the same mounting as AM4, so most AM4 coolers fit AM5 boards.
- Intel LGA1851 uses the same mounting as LGA1700, so coolers listing LGA1700 generally fit, but check the cooler maker's support list.
- An older cooler may need a new mounting bracket for a newer socket. Some makers supply one on request.
Will it fit?
For an air cooler, compare its Height with the case's Max CPU Cooler Height. Large towers are tall, and a few millimetres too many means the side panel will not close.
For an all-in-one, compare its Radiator Size (240, 280, 360 mm) with the case's Radiator Support, and check the position you want. A radiator in the front can take length from the graphics card; one at the top can clash with tall memory or motherboard heatsinks.
Careful: Big tower coolers can overhang the memory slots. Memory with tall heatsinks may not fit underneath, though the front fan can often be raised a little to clear it. The cooler maker usually publishes its memory clearance.
Noise
Noise Level is given in dBA, and RPM is how fast the fans spin. Makers measure noise in different ways, so the figures are most useful for comparing coolers from the same maker, and reviews are better for comparing across brands.
As a rule, bigger fans move the same air at lower speed, so they are quieter. All-in-ones add a pump, which some people can hear at idle. Whatever you buy, setting a fan curve in the BIOS stops the fans racing at light loads; our first boot guide shows where.
Fitting it the right way round
On an air tower, point the fans so they blow from the front of the case towards the rear exhaust fan. The air then flows straight through the heatsink and out of the case, instead of fighting the case fans.
On an all-in-one, makers usually advise that the pump should not be the highest point of the loop, because any air in the system rises and collects there, which makes noise and wears the pump. A radiator at the top of the case avoids this. On a front radiator, mounting it with the tubes at the bottom keeps the air in the radiator, away from the pump. Check the cooler's manual, which shows the layouts its maker supports.
Tip: Remove the plastic film from the base of the cooler before fitting it. It is easy to miss, and it stops the cooler working properly.
Thermal paste
Thermal paste fills the tiny gaps between the processor and the cooler. Most coolers come with it already applied or include a small tube. If it is pre-applied, do not add more.
If you take a cooler off, clean the old paste from both surfaces and apply fresh paste before refitting it. A pea-sized amount in the centre is enough for most processors. You can find paste in the thermal paste category.
Careful: Liquid metal conducts electricity and can damage parts if it spreads. Leave it to experienced builders.
How much to spend
- Entry level: a single-tower air cooler, which beats most included coolers on both temperature and noise.
- Mid-range: a larger single or dual tower, or a 240 mm or 280 mm all-in-one, for mid to upper processors.
- High end: a top dual-tower or a 360 mm all-in-one, for the hottest processors or the quietest build.
Using VantaSpec to choose
- The coolers category can be filtered by Type, Socket and Radiator Size.
- Will it fit? checks a cooler's height or radiator against a case. Where the case's listing does not state its clearance, it says unknown rather than guessing.
- Case fans for replacing a cooler's fans or adding airflow.
- Compare puts two coolers side by side.
Each product page shows the price at the shops we track and its price history, with a bell to set a price alert.