CPU cooler is the next fundamental internal peripheral that should be chosen along with the GPU,CPU. Essentially there are two modes of cooling namely liquid and air. It is a common fact that as more internal peripherals increase in performance users tend to choose liquid cooling over air cooling. But let’s see if it’s crucial to implement liquid cooling in this post of CPU Coolers Comparison.
Aesthetics has also been a popular fact for people turning towards liquid cooling. But liquid cooling is another topic for a separate post. What we need as budget PC gamers with fewer internal peripherals is professionally referred to as Aftermarket air coolers. And in this post we will first recommend the best budget CPU Coolers through a CPU Coolers Comparison.
Then let’s hop on the best regardless of budget. However this post is not fully intended for the extreme user that overclocks the processor to squeeze all of it along with multiple graphics cards. That is not the definition of budget PC gaming, meaning a system comprising of budget air coolers should more than fulfill your purpose of having decent CPU/GPU temps. Nonetheless we will talk about the best CPU air cooler as well.
Pros and cons of Air Coolers- Pre CPU Coolers Comparison
| Pros | Cons |
| Using copper based plates to spread more heat | could be a little loud |
| Carries hot air from CPU through special designed fins | accommodation issues if the right PC case is not chosen |
| compatibility is not as complicated as liquid cooling | |
| risk-free performance unlike liquid cooling, for a cheaper price |
Thoughts before selection
- CPU– Is it Intel or Ryzen? Compatibility starts here. Don’t worry in post we have suggestions that are operational by both processors. Most Ryzen chips ship with the fan though. And these can perfectly handle moderate overclocking.
- Space– Big coolers can have issues with tall RAM sticks and other peripherals. Which is why dimensional analysis of both the cooler and case is necessary.
- Sound-Select a cooler that balances both the jobs well. As in having the least possible noise whilst removing the heat.
- RGB– make sure there is a way to control it, either by the motherboard or something in-built in the cooler itself.
Most of the coolers offer a wide range of support for both intel and AMD. Read the PC Case specifications and compare with your chosen air-cooling preference.
This means it will be easy to fit the radiator, cooler size. PC Case manufacturers will definitely include the supported cooling. Alright then let’s jump to the CPU Coolers Comparison For PC Gaming now that we are aware what affects our choice.
1.Cooler Master Hyper 212 LED– Best budget CPU Coolers Comparison
| CPU SOCKET | Intel(LGA2066, LGA2011-v3, LGA2011, LGA1366, LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA775, LGA1150,)AMD (AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, FM2+, FM2, FM1) |
| Dimensions | 120 x 84 x 160 mm |
| Heat Sink Dimensions | 116 x 60 x 160 mm |
| Fan Dimensions | 120 x 120 x 25mm |
| Fan Speed | 600-1,600 RPM ± 10% |
| Fan Life Expectancy | 280,000 hrs |
| Fan Rated Voltage | 12 VDC |
| Fan Weight | 166g |
- Four direct contact heat pipes for continuous contact between CPU and cooler; Air flow: 66.3 CFM; Noise level:31.0 decibels
- Upgradable to Dual fans with quick snap fan bracket;
- Quiet Spin exclusive technology stabilizes the driver that spins the blades, reducing clicks and noisy vibrations
- Wide range PWM fan with unique blade design and Red LEDs
- Versatile all in 1 mounting solution for Intel and AMD Sockets, and optimized bracket design for Easy installation
This is the ultimate cheapest CPU air cooler available in the market for less than $50 and hence top inclusion in CPU Coolers Comparison For PC Gaming. There are many features which makes the hyper 212 LED unique in performance, build and cost.
To start off the material used in heat sinks are Aluminium sinks and copper for heat pipes. Needless to say these provide highly efficient heat dissipation keeping your insides cool.
Installation however could be fiddly given your experience in handling these types of peripherals, however the instructions are pretty clear both on AMD and Intel. The fan built here is such that it maintains a good balance in static pressure and airflow.
Even if you are planning to overclock the CPU, whilst having 4 sticks of RAM running hyper LED will certainly not disappoint in handling the internal temps.
It even rivals coolers like the NZXT Kraken X42 in performance tests. This fan provides exceptional value for such a small amount, kinda like the Lian Li PC Case. You can only face issues while mounting in which case an expert’s help may come in handy.
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2. DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400– 2nd best budget CPU Coolers Comparison
- Supports Intel Socket 130W LGA20XX/LGA1366/LGA115X/LGA775 and AMD Socket 125W AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1
- 120x120x25mm PWM fan with blue LED
- 4 sintered powder heat pipes directly touch the CPU surface
- Extra fan clips provided allow adding a second fan
We mentioned that with the hyper LED you might face some issues with installation. Next in CPU Coolers Comparison lies your solution. This CPU cooler is well known for its minimal thermal resistance.
Extreme high capacity of 4 copper heat pipes is installed with direct CPU contact for rapid heat transfer eliminating thermal resistance. Same as the hyper 212 Aluminium and copper are the materials used for maximum efficiency and reliability.
Also the fan clips allow the fan and the heatsink to combine tightly. In addition, the clips make assembly and dismantling easier when installed. What you need to remember is that removal of the motherboard is unnecessary for the cooler installation.
The cooling fan combines high static pressure and large air flow with LED lighting. Wide-range PWM function gives you complete control between low noise and high performance.
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3.Cooler Master MasterAir G100M
- CPU socket support: Intel LGA2066, LGA2011 v3, LGA2011, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1366, AMD AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1
- Custom Cooper Heat Column technology increases the direct contact surface area for exceptional heat transfer and cooling performance; Air flow, 22.63 CFM; Noise level: 30.0 decibels
- Low profile aluminum stack fins for excellent heat dissipation.
- RGB ring and Fan which are both Certified compatible to motherboard vendors RGB software
- Low profile: 74; 5mm in height, perfect for small form factors and HTPC
The MasterAir CPU cooler presents you with the choice of having different configurations for heat columns. Also the special feature about the MasterAir is that its built for small form factor cases hence making it low profile.
The illumination of the RGB LED ring and fan allows for full color customization which is easily controlled by the wired RGB LED Controller. The heat columns are 7 times larger than the traditional heat pipes.
The only downside here is that many users have complained about the lack of clear installation instructions. It cannot be installed with the motherboard inside the case, and you will face issues with motherboards having big VRM heatsinks.
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4.be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black
Next on our list of CPU Coolers is the be quiet! and as the name implies it really does execute a noiseless operation of perfect heat management.
With 150W TDP it offers an excellent cooling capacity for multimedia and graphics systems, as well as entry level computers of all types. Pure Rock 2 Black is equipped with four 6mm heat pipes that have aluminum caps. This is key to its great cooling performance, because they transport the heat to optimum locations on the cooling fins.
Only 26.8dB(A) even at 100% PWM function: The Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan with high-quality rifle bearing facilitates the best balance between cooling performance and silent operation. The nine blades of the fan are airflow-optimized to reduce noise-generating turbulence.
Its elegant black surface, The asymmetrical construction does not block memory slots, saves space and makes Pure Rock 2 Black compatible with a full set of RAM modules. It will definitely run a mid-range high end processor even while overclocked.
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5.ARCTIC Freezer Xtreme
- It enables high performance and improves heat transfer from the CPU
- The heatsink design consisting of 102 fins and 4 double-sided heat pipes offers excellent cooling performance and improves heat transfer from the CPU. Tested by Hinnavaatlus, the Freezer Xtreme outperformed the stock cooler in reducing the CPU temperature by 18 degrees
- Complimented by Hardware Secrets for being the quietest cooler ever tested, the Freezer Xtreme features a central-mounted 120 mm fan with low noise impeller and patented fan holder to achieve quiet operation. Thanks to the PWM control, the fan speed adjusts according to the CPU temperature and thus the noise level remains at an absolute minimum which qualifies it as a silent cooler
- The Freezer Xtreme is compatible with AMD Sockets AMD: AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+), FM1; Intel Sockets 115x, 1366, 775
Final stop on CPU Coolers is the Arctic freezer xtreme. It has three versions and this been the one with ultimate output. Installation is quite user-friendly. The push-pin mounting system provides excellent stability and it merely takes a few minutes to mount the cooler to the motherboard.
The fiber reinforced retention module is sturdy and solid to support the cooler’s weight during the installation process. Thanks to the pre-applied MX-2 thermal compound. This company specializes in cooling both GPU and CPU. You can easily overclock your processors without fear with this one.
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All the recommendations in this post are below $50 and deliver excellent performance. Some common “setup” issues can be prevented with the proper guidance. All of them support the latest Intel and AMD processors and have earned their reputation throughout the gaming arena.
Best CPU Cooler For i9 9900k– Bonus Tip
Noctua NH-D15
- LGA2066 / LGA2011-0 / LGA2011-3 (Square ILM) / LGA1156 / LGA1155 / LGA1151 / LGA1150 Intel compatibility
- AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / AM3+ / FM1 / FM2 / FM2+ (backplate required) / AM4 with NM-AM4 AMD compatibility
- 300 – 1500 RPM fan speed
- 24.6 dbA Noise intensity
- 140x150x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 140x140x25 (with 120mm mounting holes), 120x120x25 fan compatibility
- Copper for base and heat-pipes, aluminum made cooling fins
Noctua NH-D15 without a denial is a great cooler for the i9-9900K. Even during intense processing times and overclocking this CPU cooler maintains good cooling performance.
Good quiet operation with the dual tower design with 6 heatpipes and 2 fans. The 2 fans offer PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptors for automatic speed control. Has the best airflow management for optimal operation.
Another positive attribute is the offered RAM compatibility. Standard height RAM can be used with this particular cooler. The heatsinks provide ample space for the RAM sticks. And setting up the fan is pretty simple.
