CPU Coolers

The best CPU coolers for your gaming PC

CPUs, also known as processors, consume a lot of energy and without a cooler will overheat and shut down or could even be damaged. Although many Intel and AMD processors do ship with a cooler included in the box, they only do an average job, and can be pretty noisy. It’s therefore a good idea to consider buying a third-party CPU cooler as it should provide better cooling and be quieter. There are two options - air coolers and hydrocoolers - to choose from.

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Air Coolers

Air coolers are the traditional and lowest cost way of keeping a CPU cool. While you’ll find air coolers in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they all comprise two main elements, a large metal heatsink that conducts heat up and away from the CPU and one or more fans that blow air across the heatsink, transferring the heat into the air inside the case.

Hydrocoolers

A hydrocooler comprises several elements: a waterblock with an integrated pump which conducts heat away from the CPU into a fluid which passes through a tube into a radiator, which is in turn cooled by one or more fans. Finally the cooled water passes pack through another tube back to the waterblock to start the process again.

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Cooling

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120mm to 140mm Single Fan AIO Hydro Coolers

These hydro-coolers allow anyone to water-cool their processor. They combine the pump, tubing, radiator and fans into a single, sealed unit that's simple to install and doesn't require maintenance or filling, and they're compatible with most Intel and AMD processors. Hydro-coolers provide superior cooling to a budget air-cooler, helping you reduce unwanted system noise and potentially enabling you to overclock the processor for added performance.

These particular hydro-coolers attach to a free 120 or 140mm fan mount in your case, and also require sufficient space to install the radiator.

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240mm to 280mm Dual Fan AIO Hydro Coolers

These hydro-coolers allow anyone to water-cool their processor. They combine the pump, tubing, radiator and fans into a single, sealed unit that's simple to install and doesn't require maintenance or filling, and they're compatible with most Intel and AMD processors. Hydro-coolers provide superior cooling to a budget air-cooler, helping you reduce unwanted system noise and potentially enabling you to overclock the processor for added performance.

These large hydro-coolers require attachment to a pair of free 120 or 140mm fan mounts side by side in your case, and also require sufficient space to install the radiator.

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360mm to 420mm Triple Fan AIO Hydro Coolers

These hydro-coolers allow anyone to water-cool their processor. They combine the pump, tubing, radiator and fans into a single, sealed unit that's simple to install and doesn't require maintenance or filling, and they're compatible with most Intel and AMD processors. Hydro-coolers provide superior cooling to a budget air-cooler, helping you reduce unwanted system noise and potentially enabling you to overclock the processor for added performance.

These extra-large hydro-coolers attach to three free 120 or 140mm fan mounts side by side in your case, and also require sufficient space to install the radiator.

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Hydro Cooler Accessories

Why have a black hydrocooler like everybody else when you can customise the appearance with one of these accessory packs. Choose from a wide variety of colours and finish.

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Intel CPU Air Coolers

From compact units that fit in the tightest confines to larger towers that offer better CPU temperatures and reduced noise there is a broad range of air coolers to choose from. Given the diversity, the air coolers here have at least one thing in common - they are all compatible with Intel CPUs.

As always, check that your chosen cooler is compatible with your specific CPUs socket, that it won't interfere with other components on your motherboard like RAM or heatsinks and that it will fit inside your case.

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AMD CPU Air Coolers

From compact units that fit in the tightest confines to larger towers that offer better CPU temperatures and reduced noise, there is a broad range of air coolers to choose from. Given the diversity, the air coolers here have at least one thing in common - they are all compatible with AMD CPUs.

As always, check that your chosen cooler is compatible with your specific CPUs socket, that it won't interfere with other components on your motherboard like RAM or heatsinks and that it will fit inside your case.

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Low Profile CPU Air Coolers

These air coolers are the most compact around, and are ideal for systems where space is at a premium, such as with mini-ITX builds or Home-Theatre PCs (HTPCs). Given that these coolers prioritise small size over performance, most are not suitable for high-end, overclocked CPUs.

Ensure you check that your selected cooler offers the cooling performance necessary to cool your processor, and whilst most provide multi-socket support, as always, check that your motherboard socket is supported.

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Passive Silent CPU Coolers

These heatsinks can cool processors passively, utilising existing case airflow rather than their own fans, although some can also have fans attached for added performance. They're unsuitable for high-end, overclocked CPUs but are perfect for building silent PCs.

Be sure to check motherboard and case clearance first, as while they often offer multi-socket compatibility they're usually pretty large.

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Thermal Paste

Thermal paste is used to create a heat conducting medium between your heatsink and processor/chip. This aids in the maximum possible heat transfer away from your chip and into the heat sink. Allowing your chip to run as cool as possible and hence allows your heat sink to do what it is meant to do.

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Thermal Pads

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Thermal Cleaning Solutions

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High Performance Complete Water Cooling Kits

These pre-selected kits are designed to make the transition to water-cooling easier, and contain all the blocks, pumps, radiators, reservoirs, tubing and fittings you need to create a fully functional water-cooling system, and many are supplied with coolant as well. You can be sure that each of the bits are compatible, and there's a range of kits to cater for systems with different requirements.

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80mm to 92mm System & Case Fans

These coolers are designed to be used with today's systems which can output quite a large amount of heat. Ranging in a wide varying styles and performance levels you will find the right fans here to keep your system cooler or quiet, whatever you desire.

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