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! Pure Rock 2
Pure Rock 2 Black is be quiet!'s CPU cooler designed for quiet multimedia and graphics applications. With a cooling performance of 150W TDP, four 6mm high-performance heat pipes, a Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan, and the ability to install the cooler easily from above, the Pure Rock 2 Black is an essential category CPU cooler. With 150W TDP, it offers excellent cooling performance for graphics, multimedia, and entry-level systems of all kinds. The Pure Rock 2 Black features four 6mm heat pipes with aluminum caps, which are key to its high cooling performance as they efficiently transfer heat to the cooling fins. The Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM fan with high-quality rifle bearings provides the optimal balance between necessary cooling and quiet operation. The 9 fan blades are designed for airflow optimization to reduce noise-generating turbulence.
2. be quiet! Dark Rock 4
The Dark Rock 4 offers an extremely high cooling capacity of 200W TDP and is almost inaudibly quiet in operation. Perfect for demanding systems and overclocked CPUs. The Silent Wings 135mm PWM fan is equipped with nine airflow-optimised fan blades, a smooth-running 6-pole motor and a durable Fluid Dynamic bearing. Vibration-isolating elements attached to the heat sink enable decoupled fan mounting. Uncompromisingly quiet cooling of superlatives for demanding, overclocked systems. The Dark Rock 4 achieves a performance of an impressive 200W TDP and ensures low system temperatures even when the CPU is running at full speed.
3. be quiet! Pure Rock
The Pure Rock cooler series offers single-tower and slim coolers in the "Essential" segment. The coolers provide quiet and effective cooling. Additionally, the slim cooler can be perfectly integrated into tight spaces due to its compact design. Equipped with award-winning be quiet! technology, the Pure Rock coolers deliver powerful cooling for pleasantly quiet multimedia and graphics systems.
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. be quiet! Pure Rock Slim
The Pure Rock Slim CPU cooler from be quiet! is compatible with both AMD and Intel sockets. Despite its compact design, the fan reliably cools the CPU and protects sensitive components from overheating. Its space-saving fit allows for easy installation in small cases. It offers high cooling performance with low operating noise. Thanks to be quiet! technology, the cooler produces minimal operational noise. It is particularly suitable for multimedia and demanding graphics applications, such as gaming, with a cooling capacity of 120 W TDP. The high cooling performance is facilitated by three 6-mm heat pipes that efficiently transfer heat to the cooling fins.
7. be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2
Be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2 is particularly suitable for quiet and compact multimedia systems. Thanks to its compact dimensions, Pure Rock Slim 2 is the perfect choice for PC cases with limited space. The asymmetrical design allows for full configuration of RAM slots. For this reason, the cooler is compatible with a wide range of components and offers many configuration options. The Pure Rock Slim 2 features three heat pipes with aluminum caps. These are key to its high cooling performance, as they optimally transfer heat to the cooling fins.
8. Alpenföhn Ben Nevis
The Alpenföhn Ben Nevis Rev B offers excellent value for money for all price-conscious users. The included Cone PWM fan has sufficient airflow to achieve the perfect balance between volume and performance. The further improved mounting system enables easy and secure installation on 1700 (UpgradeKit), 1200, 115X, AM5, AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+) and FM1 sockets.
9. 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.
10. Noctua Nh-U9s
The asymmetrical design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including µATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automatically regulated via PWM. Adding a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, can further enhance cooling performance in a dual-fan setup.
