Best CPU Coolers
Top cpu coolers ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
Affiliate Disclosure: PickClarity earns commissions from qualifying purchases through our partner links. Our rankings are editorially independent — they are never influenced by affiliate relationships or commission rates. Learn more about our methodology.
Find the best for your needs:
Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Noctua NH-D15
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Rivals 240mm AIO performance
- Near-silent operation
- 6-year warranty
Cons
- Massive size blocks RAM slots
- Beige-brown color polarizes
Don't buy this if…
- At 165mm tall, this cooler will not fit in many mid-tower cases; verify your case supports coolers over 160mm.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Incredible value for performance
- Dual 120mm fans included
- Wide socket compatibility
Cons
- Fiddly mounting hardware
- No premium accessories
Don't buy this if…
- The mounting process is more involved than competitors; watch an installation video for your specific socket before starting.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Extremely quiet under load
- Attractive all-black design
- 250W TDP rating
Cons
- Tall at 168mm
- Heavy at over 1.1 kg
Don't buy this if…
- At 168mm tall, this is even taller than the NH-D15; check case clearance specifications carefully.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Compact 158mm height
- No RAM clearance issues
- Neutral gray color
Cons
- Single fan limits peak cooling
- Not ideal for high-TDP CPUs
Don't buy this if…
- Best suited for CPUs under 150W TDP; high-end Ryzen 9 or Core i9 processors will push this cooler to its limits.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Strong thermal performance
- Good RAM clearance
- Competitive price
Cons
- Mounting can be tricky
- Fan clips feel flimsy
Don't buy this if…
- The front fan may need to be raised on some motherboards to clear tall RAM heatsinks; test fit before final assembly.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Time-tested reliable design
- Very affordable
- Easy installation
Cons
- Limited cooling for high-TDP CPUs
- Single fan only
Don't buy this if…
- Sufficient for stock-speed Ryzen 5 or Core i5 processors, but will struggle with overclocked or high-core-count CPUs.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Excellent RAM clearance design
- Quiet Kaze Flex II fans
- Strong thermal performance
Cons
- Slightly lower peak cooling than NH-D15
- Limited retail availability
Don't buy this if…
- Availability varies by region; check stock before planning your build around this specific cooler.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Only 37mm tall
- Nearly silent operation
- Perfect for SFF builds
Cons
- Limited to 65W TDP CPUs
- Cannot cool high-performance chips
Don't buy this if…
- Strictly for low-power CPUs like the i5-12400 or Ryzen 5 5600; do not pair with unlocked or high-TDP processors.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
Discussion (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience!
AI Shopping Assistant
Ask questions about products in this category. Answers are grounded in our evidence data.
Try asking:
Get Alerts
Stay updated when rankings change or prices drop in CPU Coolers.