Top 5 Best CPU Coolers for Gaming in 2025

You should choose your CPU cooler carefully, regardless of whether you want to build a PC that is silent under load or achieve the maximum CPU overclock. The temperature and fan noise of your system will significantly change depending on which CPU cooler is best for your setup. By maintaining higher boost clocks for longer periods of time, it can even provide better performance in high-end systems. Every year, we test dozens of models of all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers and PC air coolers. Our recommendations for the top coolers to control CPU temperatures are listed below.

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Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best CPU Coolers for Gaming in 2025

1.Noctua NH-D15

Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Intel’s i7-14700K will reach its maximum temperature (TJ Max) and thermally throttle with even the most powerful air coolers if power limits are not enforced. In order to compare their performance, I measured the CPU package power when the CPU reached its maximum temperature. This allowed me to calculate the maximum wattage cooled.

The strongest AIOs available on the market are the exception to this rule, allowing Intel’s i7-14700K to remain below TJ Max. This is a difficult task because a lot of liquid coolers, such as Arctic’s Liquid Freezer III 360, fail this test, which causes the CPU to throttle somewhat.

The NH-D15 G2 from Noctua performs admirably in this test, averaging 240W of cooling. With a cooling capacity of 10W more than the original NH-D15, that is a significant improvement.

The NH-D15 G2 manages 234 watts on AMD compared to the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO at 231, indicating a similar difference when the coolers are limited to 45 dBA in the noise-normalized tests. But on Intel, where power consumption is much greater, the difference between them grows, with the Noctua cooler outperforming it by 12 watts. This means that the NH-D15 G2 is at least 1-3°C ahead of its nearest rivals, such as DeepCool’s Assassin IV and be quiet!’s Dark Rock Elite. Let’s just say that Noctua regains the throne, but only in its most pristine form.

Observing performance per dollar, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 is abysmal value. Priced at it gets completely dominated by ID-Cooling’s FROZN A620 PRO SE, along with Thermalright’s Phantom Spirit 120 EVO and Peerless Assassin. All three of these cometitors can regularly be found for under with the FROZN A620 PRO SE being priced ultra-competitively at $30. The more affordable competition makes far more sense from a value standpoint, and there is no way to ignore that fact.

The overall noise profile is where the NH-D15 G2 does have a competitive advantage. The noise output is a deeper sound of air rushing through the heatsink, but it is not the quietest cooler at maximum RPM. No rattling, odd tonal hums, or other peculiarities that might distract silence-lovers were audible to me. In essence, the cooler’s overall noise level is much more tolerable throughout the whole PWM range, despite being noticeable. Additionally, our manual 45 dBA testing is nearly identical to using the Noctua low noise adapters.

Compared to liquid coolers, I don’t think long warranties are as beneficial for air coolers. Even though it isn’t strictly required, Noctua’s six-year warranty is still impressive. But their assistance is something that sets them apart. It is top-notch, and knowing that this cooler will be compatible with future sockets as Noctua creates new mounting hardware means it is not uncommon for a Noctua cooler to last through many builds, consistently performing well. One such example is the NH-U12S, which I reviewed 11 years ago and now has updated mounting hardware for use with the latest mainstream sockets. That support does come at a price, though, and only you can decide if it’s worth it or not.

2.Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo White

Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The original Hyper 212 Cooler was introduced, as those of us who have been around for a while will remember. In addition to competing with some of the more well-known companies in the CPU cooling market at the time, Cooler Master introduced a product that was unbeatable in terms of price. The Hyper 212, which debuted at created a new market niche that few had previously investigated. Since then, numerous businesses have attempted to produce a low-cost, reasonably well-performing product, some with varying degrees of success, but none have ever achieved the level of recognition that Cooler Master achieved thanks to the Hyper 212.

Several years have gone by since we first saw this cooler when we first acquired TweakTown. The Hyper 212 cooler has undergone numerous revisions over the years, including the introduction of the EVO, the Plus, and numerous other ideas. Today is no exception, as we examine the Hyper 212’s most appealing iteration. But it raises a question that we can’t shake. In contrast to the LGA775 processor era, when this cooler was just getting started, can the Hyper 212 still compete in the current market, especially given the newer ways boost operates?

When the ARGB lighting is off, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black is a very affordable cooler that is somewhat covert. The cooler will blend in quite well with the rest of the build thanks to its all-black design, although the fan blades provide some contrast. Additionally, I like Cooler Master’s choice to make their logo simpler on the fan sticker and top cover. The shape identifies it as a CM product, but I wish more brands would take into account the fact that there isn’t any extra fluff that would take away from the cooler’s aesthetic appeal.

I don’t really have any complaints about the Hyper 212 Halo Black’s setup, but some people love it and others hate it when it comes to ARGB. The cooler can be the center of attention in any system because of the uniform and bright lighting that results from the LEDs that are used in the fan hub and frame. If you don’t like the lighting, however, you can turn it off to create a somewhat covert cooler. The fan blades and white diffusers provide a slight contrast, but the entire setup will still blend in with the other parts of the system.

3.ARCTIC Freezer 7 X

Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Even heatsinks with heatpipes were still relatively new, and AIO liquid coolers were nonexistent when the original ARCTIC Freezer 7 Pro was first on the market. The original Freezer 7 Pro was fantastic; it provided good cooling for the underside and allowed users to bin their CPU’s stock cooler for better cooling and reduced noise.

It’s interesting to note that ARCTIC now only uses two 6mm heatpipes instead of the three it once used on its low-cost coolers, but they are now directly in contact with the CPU’s heatspreader on the contact plate. Even when operating at its maximum speed of 2,000 rpm, the 92mm PWM fan is incredibly quiet thanks to its fluid dynamic bearing.

The installation process is blissfully easy, as two clips attach straight to the existing mounting brackets found on AMD Socket AM4 motherboards. A sturdy push-pin-secured bracket compensates for the different alignments needed for Intel LGA sockets, but it uses the same clips on the cooler, which are tightened using screws once you’ve hooked them into place. I was up and running in under a minute on both my Intel and AMD systems without a sore finger in sight.

The contact plate is conveniently pre-applied with a square of ARCTIC’s superior MX-2 thermal paste, saving you time (and mess) compared to using a tube of paste yourself. But, if you decide to switch CPUs, you’ll also need to purchase more paste.

See how to apply thermal paste in our comprehensive guide if you haven’t done it before. The cooler is also compatible with a wide variety of sockets, including modern motherboards with socket AM5 and LGA1700 as well as older AMD and Intel sockets.

Thermal paste is the solution to all of these problems. When mounting your cooler to the CPU’s heatspreader, for instance, it creates a flexible layer between the two surfaces that expands under pressure. It smoothes out any other flaws by filling in those tiny peaks and troughs. Because the paste itself conducts heat, it makes the ideal filler for this sandwich of components.

This microscopic environment informs the creation of thermal paste, which uses sub-micron particles to fill in even the smallest spaces in these surfaces with thermally conductive substances. Pastes differ in the actual materials they use. Compared to today’s ceramic-infused material, the original thermal pastes, which were primarily made of silicone grease, performed rather poorly.

4.Corsair iCue H60x RGB Elite

Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The fan on top of the CPU block of Enermax’s LiqMaxFlo sets it apart from the competition and can help reduce the temperatures of the VRM and RAM. In my opinion, this could be particularly helpful in an SFF system with limited space. It has a user-accessible refill port and low noise levels.As implied by its name, Be Quiet’s Pure Loop 120 has an external liquid pump and reasonably low noise levels. Be Quiet goes above and beyond by providing 100 ml of extra coolant for those who might want to refill their coolers in the future, in addition to a user-accessible refill port.The quietest of all the units tested in this study, the Corsair H60x Elite’s best feature is its incredibly low maximum noise levels of just 38.2 dBA.

The fans that are included are the primary distinction between the ML120L V2 and the 120L Core. The 120L Core’s solid black fan has a noise level in the middle. The ML120L V2 comes with a fan that is quieter and has RGB lighting.

The most powerful CPUs available today, whether AMD or Intel, are challenging to cool during demanding workloads. In the past, a desktop CPU’s ability to reach 95 degrees Celsius or higher might have raised concerns. However, this is regarded as standard operation for the most powerful CPUs available today. Laptops have exhibited similar behavior for years because of cooling constraints in confined spaces.

5.Noctua NH-L9 series

Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Because it is more difficult to cool more power-hungry components in a small chassis, enthusiasts interested in small form factor PCs are typically sensitive to power consumption. In that sense, Intel’s CPUs are superior from a purely physical standpoint. However, they are usually more costly as well, which is why we especially like heat sinks that work with host processors made by AMD and Intel.

Regretfully, the NH-L9i from Noctua can only be used with Intel-based systems. Fortunately, Noctua also offers an AMD-compatible NH-L9a. The cooling performance results you’ll see from it differ from what we’re reporting here today because of its different physical design.The NH-L9i’s first surprise is in the heat sink’s sheer weight. Despite a height of just 1.46 inches, it registers 14oz including the fan (but without mounting brackets). This makes it heavier than some of the coolers in the >2-inch category.

Two 6mm U-shaped pipes embedded in the metal block facing the CPU are used to remove heat from the CPU.Intel’s LGA 115x interface mounting brackets are pre-installed in the factory. The CPU contact surface is nickel-plated and fine-grit sanded, as is common with Noctua coolers. Excellent manufacturing quality is another characteristic of Noctua’s products. This thermal solution would be difficult to overlook.

A 9.2cm low-profile fan with the brand’s recognizable colors is part of the Noctua package. Rubber pads that are intended to help isolate vibrations are attached to the corners of the fan. From zero (if the PWM signal sets a speed that is too low) to 2540 RPM, the rotational speed can vary. Despite being among the quietest fans in our roundup, we did choose up on a faint grinding sound at 1000 RPM. Once the NH-L9i is up and running inside of a case, however, the noise is completely inaudible.

up on a faint grinding sound at 1000 RPM. Once the NH-L9i is up and running inside of a case, however, the noise is completely inaudible.There’s not much to say, and we mean that in a positive way. Thanks to the factory-installed mounting brackets, all you need to do is to put the heat sink on the CPU and attach it from the back of the motherboard with four screws.

Liquid CPU Cooler vs Air CPU Cooler

Air CPU coolers are more affordable than liquid coolers and are a better option if you’re not running a high-powered gaming PC. They also tend to be easier to install, making air CPU coolers a beginner-friendly solution. However, unless you invest in near-silent air cooling (which is hard to achieve), you’re going to notice the difference in noise between air and liquid cooling.

Liquid cooling, on the other hand, is very quiet. It’s also more efficient for high-performance builds like gaming PCs. Since more power is required, and high temperatures can be achieved, liquid cooling can bring temperatures down more effectively and quickly. And, with the option to invest in an RGB liquid cooler, they look pretty cool too.

The only real drawbacks of liquid cooling are the cost and hassle of installation. If you’re a beginner PC builder, you may feel more confident installing an air cooler than liquid cooling.

CPU Cooler FAQs

Which CPU cooler is best for gaming?

Gaming setups often have things in common; high-performance rigs and RGB lighting. For this reason, the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT is an ideal liquid CPU cooler for your gaming PC. Not only does it look the part, but it also boasts the latest socket support for AMD and Intel processors and keeps things quiet and cool.

You can use Corsair’s iCUE software to manage the fan, pump speeds, CPU temperature, and of course the all-important RGBs.

Is a CPU cooler necessary?

Yes, you need a CPU cooler. Some CPUs ship with a stock cooler, which usually works fine for lighter workloads. But it’s still best to buy an aftermarket cooler like the options in this guide to keep your CPU running efficiently. If you’re planning to do any overclocking, an aftermarket CPU cooler is an absolute necessity. Just be sure your case has proper airflow and ventilation, too.