Top rated CPU coolers
Here's a ranking of the top rated products in this category. To give you a quick overview, we've also added some key information about the products.
1. be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
The Dark Rock Pro 4 offers an immense cooling performance of 250W TDP and operates almost silently. It is perfect for demanding systems and overclocked CPUs. The two Silent Wings PWM fans are equipped with durable fluid-dynamic bearings, quiet 6-pole motors, and airflow-optimized fan blades. The front fan is a Silent Wings 3, which provides extremely high air pressure with its funnel-shaped frame. Vibration-damping elements attached to the heatsink allow for decoupled fan mounting. The Dark Rock Pro 4 delivers massive performance with an impressive 250W TDP and ensures low system temperatures, even when the CPU is running at full speed.
2. be quiet! Pure Rock 2
Pure Rock 2 is be quiet!'s CPU cooler designed for quiet multimedia and graphics applications. With a cooling capacity of 150W TDP, four 6mm high-performance heat pipes, a Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan, and the ability to install the cooler effortlessly from above, the Pure Rock 2 is an essential category CPU cooler. Offering excellent cooling performance for graphics, multimedia, and entry-level systems of all kinds, the Pure Rock 2 features four 6mm heat pipes with aluminum caps. These are key to its high cooling efficiency, as they optimally transport heat to the cooling fins. The Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan, equipped with a high-quality rifle bearing, provides the perfect balance between necessary cooling and quiet operation. The 9 fan blades are aerodynamically optimized to reduce noise-generating turbulence.
3. be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX
The Pure Rock 2 FX Black combines impressive ARGB lighting with strong cooling, making it perfect for quiet multimedia and graphics applications. The Pure Rock 2 FX Black is a CPU cooler from the Essential category. With a TDP of 150W, it provides excellent cooling performance for graphics, multimedia, and entry-level systems of all kinds. The Light Wings 120mm PWM High Speed features ARGB lighting with 18 LEDs on both the front and back. The lavish lighting ensures outstanding aesthetics from every angle. An optimally designed fan frame and impeller enable the quiet operation that be quiet! is known for.
4. Noctua NH-D15 Chromax
The NH-D15 chromax.black is a completely black version of Noctua's award-winning flagship model, the NH-D15. The secret to the premium cooler's success remains unchanged thanks to the same dual-tower design and the proven NF-A15 PWM fans: the CPU cooler offers excellent quiet operation combined with cooling performance that can compete with complete water cooling systems. The chromax.black version, with its black fans and black-coated heatsink, additionally combines these advantages with a sleek stealth design. The overall high-quality package is completed by the renowned multi-socket mounting system SecuFirm2 and Noctua's popular NT-H1 thermal paste. Whether for overclockers or silent enthusiasts, the NH-D15 chromax.black is a true premium solution that looks as good as it cools.
5. Noctua Nh-D15
The Noctua flagship model NH-D15 is a dual-tower cooler of elite class, based on the legendary NH-D14, and continues its pursuit of ultimate cooling performance with maximum quietness. With its wider heat pipe layout and two NF-A15 140 mm premium fans featuring PWM support for fully automatic speed control, the NH-D15 can further improve the award-winning efficiency of the NH-D14. The high-quality overall package of the NH-D15 is completed by the proven SecuFirm2™ professional mounting system and Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal paste. Whether for overclockers or silent enthusiasts, the NH-D15 is a premium solution for the highest demands.
Based on the award-winning NH-D14, which has received over 350 recommendations and awards from leading international hardware websites and magazines, the NH-D14 is one of the most successful premium coolers of all time. The NH-D15 achieves an even better silent cooling performance compared to the NH-D14, thanks to the wider arrangement of the heat pipes and the two NF-A15 fans.
The dual-tower construction with 6 heat pipes offers more cooling surface area, better heat distribution, and superior airflow efficiency in dual-fan operation compared to conventional single-tower coolers. The width of the cooling fins has been increased from 140 mm to 150 mm compared to the NH-D14, and the distance between the heat pipes has been increased. The improved heat distribution over a larger surface area achieved through these measures significantly contributes to the superior efficiency of the NH-D15.
Thanks to the recessed lower cooling fins, the NH-D15 provides 62 mm of clearance for tall memory modules in single-fan operation—most current high-end modules can be used without any issues.
6. Noctua Nh-D15 Se-Am4
The Noctua flagship model NH-D15 is a dual-tower cooler of elite class, based on the legendary NH-D14, and it consistently continues the pursuit of ultimate cooling performance with the highest level of quiet operation. With its wider heat pipe layout and two NF-A15 140 mm premium fans featuring PWM support for fully automatic speed control, the NH-D15 can further enhance the award-winning efficiency of the NH-D14.
In cases that allow for CPU coolers with a height of over 165 mm, the front fan can be mounted higher to create space for memory modules taller than 32 mm.
7. Noctua NH-U12S Chromax Black
Noctua is one of the well-known names in the silent and high-end cooling sector, particularly renowned for its CPU coolers, which enjoy an excellent reputation. These coolers combine outstanding build quality with high cooling performance and minimal noise levels. The self-developed fans from Noctua play a crucial role in this, and they are also available separately to serve as case, CPU, or radiator fans.
The NH-U12S is the latest 12 cm single-tower CPU cooler in Noctua's classic U-series, which has received over 400 awards and recommendations from international specialist publications. The 45 mm slim design of the S-version not only guarantees 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules but also enables an even further optimized design in conjunction with the fully automatic PWM-controlled NF-F12 FocusedFlow fan, resulting in improved silent cooling performance compared to its predecessor.
8. Noctua NH-U12S redux CPU Cooler
The Noctua NH-U12S redux CPU cooler offers excellent cooling performance with its 120 mm fan and four copper heat pipes. Thanks to PWM control, the fan speed is dynamically adjusted according to the required performance, creating a balanced compromise between cooling efficiency and noise levels. The CPU cooler is compatible with almost all common processors from Intel and AMD. Installation is easy and quick.
9. Noctua Nh-U12s
The NH-U12S is the latest 12 cm single-tower CPU cooler in Noctua's classic U-series, which has received over 400 awards and recommendations from international specialist publications. The 45 mm slim design of the S version not only guarantees 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules but also enables a further optimized design in conjunction with the fully automatic PWM-controlled NF-F12 FocusedFlow fan, resulting in an improved silent cooling performance compared to the previous version. This high-quality overall package is completed by the proven SecuFirm2 mounting system, Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal paste, and a 6-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its excellent cooling performance, outstanding quiet operation, and exceptional compatibility make the NH-U12S a premium solution for the highest demands.
10. Noctua NH-U12S CPU Cooler
The Noctua NH-U12S is a high-quality CPU cooler designed for efficient processor cooling with minimal operating noise. This successor model of Noctua's classic U-series features a single-tower design with a 120 mm cooling fan, providing optimal thermal performance for various processor configurations. The cooler utilizes six heat pipes with direct contact technology to maximize heat transfer from the CPU to the aluminum fins. With dimensions of 158 mm in height, 125 mm in width, and 71 mm in depth, the NH-U12S offers excellent compatibility with most computer cases while allowing space for RAM modules. The included NF-F12 premium fan operates at speeds between 300 and 1500 RPM, generating an airflow of up to 93.4 m³/h with noise emissions of only 22.4 dB(A). The cooler supports a wide range of socket types, including Intel LGA 1700, 1200, 115x, and AMD AM5, AM4 platforms. Constructed with high-quality materials, the NH-U12S features a nickel-plated copper base and aluminum fins for durable, corrosion-resistant performance. The SecuFirm2 mounting system ensures easy installation with secure pressure across all supported sockets. The cooler maintains compatibility with high RAM modules up to 48 mm in height and can be set up for push-pull configurations with an optional second fan. It supports thermal design power for processors up to 180 W, making it suitable for high-performance computing applications. The NH-U12S includes NT-H1 thermal paste and comes with a 6-year manufacturer's warranty, reflecting the product's reliability and long-term performance consistency.
