When it comes to how to choose a CPU cooler, there are many factors to consider. How much space do you have in your case? What type of CPU cooler is best for your needs? So, in this blog post, we will discuss how to choose a CPU cooler.
We will also provide some recommendations for the best CPU coolers on the market. So, whether you are looking for a high-end air cooler or a low-profile water cooler, we have you covered!
One of the most important parts of your system is the computer’s processor. You need to make sure that it doesn’t get too hot in order for it to run properly. We are possible to ensure that your processor operates at appropriate temperatures if you choose the right processor cooler.
In this guide, we are going to show you how to choose a cooler that works with your processor. We broke the guide down into eight different factors to consider when choosing a cooler for your system.
Contents
How To Choose The Right CPU Cooler
One of the most important decisions you need to make when building a PC is choosing the best cooler for your processor. Under sustained loads, the cooler is a limiting factor to your overclocking potential.
We are possible that your cooler choice can make a difference in noise output. Buying a cooler that can handle your best CPU’s thermal output/heat is critical to avoiding throttling and achieving your system’s full potential while keeping the whole system silent.
We already know what you’re looking for, check out the tested list of the Best CPUs Coolers. We will help you figure out what type of cooler you need for your desktop PC, depending on what you do with it.
Do you prefer silent operation or do you prefer a heavy overclocker? Are you a fan of a plain appearance or lots of lights? Most air, closed-loop, or all-in-one (AIO) coolers fall into one of three primary categories: air, closed-loop, or all-in-one (AIO) coolers, or custom / open-loop cooling setups.
Open-loop coolers are the most complex and expensive choice, and they can deliver unparalleled cooling results and looks. A prime example of what can be achieved with a custom loop is our mirror maze build, which has a clear coolant and many mirrored surfaces.
We’re looking to build an open-loop setup for the first time, Corsair’s HydroX lineup is a good place to start. It simplifies the process by walking you through selecting the right parts for your case and provides video instructions to help with installation. Don’t expect a HydroX set up to be as cheap as a closed-loop or air cooler, no matter who you buy.
Air coolers, made of some combination of metal heatsinks and fans, come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Over the past several years, many all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers have become popular in the market, but high-end air coolers are now more popular.
AIO or closed-loop coolers can be quieter than air coolers without the need for cutting and fitting custom tubes and maintaining levels after setup. Artificial intelligence has become more resistant to leaks over the years and is easier to install. They need room for a radiator, so may need a larger case than some air coolers.
If a high-end air cooler or AIO isn’t sufficient for the clock speeds you’re trying to achieve, the next step would be to go for a fully custom cooling loop with larger radiators able to remove even more heat from the system.
The bigger the cooling system on the AIO or custom-loop cooler, the better it will perform. It’s not practical to use a cooler with a massive three-fan radiator if you’re not aiming for the best possible overclocks with powerful high-end desktop (HEDT) CPUs. The only thing that will suffice for most mainstream platforms is something more modest.
Performance isn’t the only reason people look into buying a new cooling device for their PC. If you are building or upgrading a media PC for the living room or an office PC in an environment where fan noise would be disruptive, a quiet operation is often a key consideration. A quiet system is preferred by a lot of enthusiasts.
The included coolers will generally do an adequate job, but the included Intel stock coolers may not be as quiet as you would like.
The included coolers will generally do an adequate job, but Intel stock coolers, in particular, may not be as quiet as you would expect.
Quick Shopping Tips
Is it possible to own a recent Ryzen computer? You don’t need to buy a cooler for moderate overclocks with most of the Ryzen 300 and 2000-series and older models. If you want the best clock speed possible, you will want to buy an aftermarket cooler, but for many Ryzen owners that won’t be necessary.
Don’t buy big air coolers and low-profile models unless you know the clearances. Tall coolers cannot butt up against your case door or window. Before buying a cooler or case, be sure to check the dimensions and clearances advertised.
The coolers that do the best job of moving warm air away from your processor and out of your case are often the loudest. If fan noise is a problem for you, a cooler that does a good job of balancing noise and cooling is a good choice.
Make sure you turn off the fans and lighting in your cooler. This can be a fun way to modify the look of your computer. There is a way to turn off the lights without turning off the PC, either via a built-in controller or when plugging the cooler into a compatible rugs board.
Your Budget
It might seem obvious, but your budget is the first thing you should think about. If you are just upgrading your cooler, your budget is straightforward. The amount of money you have to spend is what you have to spend.
This is important to allocate the appropriate amount of your budget to your cooler. You don’t want to underspend on your cooler and end up with something that isn’t cut out to cool the CPU you’ve chosen and you don’t want to overspend and waste money that could have gone towards upgrading more essential components.
Your Specific Use Case
Do you want to push the performance of your processor to extreme levels? If that is the case, then you need to spend more in order to get a higher-end cooler.
Are you building a budget-oriented gaming computer and not planning on increasing the price of the computer? If you can’t afford an entry-level cooler, you can either stick with the stock cooler that comes with the processor or get by with an entry-level cooler.
Generally, stock coolers are good enough for average users and the stock coolers on certain processors are even good enough for mild overclocking. In the case of the new stock coolers that come on some of the new Ryzen CPUs, they are good enough to mimic the performance of the entry-level third-party coolers.
If you are budget-oriented, you don’t have to spend extra money on a high-end cooler you won’t be using it in a way that requires extra cooling. If you want to get as much performance out of your processor as possible, you should upgrade your cooler.
TDP Rating
One of the most important factors in determining whether or not a specific cooler is right for your system is the cooler’s TDP rating.
The thermal design power (TDP), sometimes called thermal design point, is the maximum amount of heat generated by a computer chip or component that the cooling system in a computer is designed to dissipate under any workload.
The components that make up the processor and cooler will have a rating. If you purchase a cooler that has a lower rating than your processor, it will not do an adequate job of cooling your processor.
Even though your processor won’t hit the actual maximum heat generated all the time, it still might do an okay job if your cooler is slightly lower than your processor’s rating.
As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to make sure that the cooler you buy has a rating that surpasses your processor’s. This is also true if you are planning on increasing the performance of your computer.
CPU Socket
Most CPU cooler manufacturers produce their coolers in such a way that they will fit with most of the sockets, but there are a few that will only fit a specific type of sockets.
So, make sure that the cooler you are considering is compatible with the combo you have or are planning on getting. This information can be found on the spec sheet of both your processor and your board.
Clearance
Some of the coolers are too tall to fit inside of the case. Make sure to check the spec sheet of the case you are considering to make sure the cooler will fit inside of it, and also make sure you check the height of the cooler on the spec sheet.
A lot of high-end air coolers have clearance issues because they are so bulky. They can get in the way of the DIMM slots on the motherboards you have chosen and interfere with taller memory kits, or they can also hang over the top PCIe lane, thus forcing you to install your graphics card in a lower lane. It is a good idea to check if choosing a bulky air cooler will interfere with your other parts.
The biggest factor in clearance will be the size of the cooler. There are a lot of different sizes of AIO coolers. Not every case can accommodate each size.
Before buying an AIO cooler, you need to check the spec sheet of the computer case you are considering and make sure it can fit the AIO cooler you want.
Aesthetics
There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a cooler. The sleek low-profile look of AIO coolers is preferred by some builders. The look of a custom liquid cooling setup is liked by other builders. Some people prefer the look of a large air cooler.
If you don’t know what you want, my advice is to check out some pictures of finished builds that other people have done and see which style of cooler looks the best. If everything else is compatible with your needs, then go with that style.
Sound Levels
A lot of builders place a lot of importance on building as quiet of a PC as possible. The fans associated with the CPU cooler are one of the loudest components in a computer. Smaller fans are quieter than larger fans in coolers.
Smaller fans produce the same level of cooling as larger fans, but they don’t have to spin as fast, which means they will be quieter. Since there are more fans working to keep the cooler cool, coolers with multiple fans can spin at a slower speed.
Bottom Line
You need to pay close attention to your cooler if you want to increase your PC’s potential or we want to prevent stock speeds from slowing down. You can save money by sticking with the stock cooler that came in your box,
We don’t have a lot of ambitions and you’re using a Ryzen chip. Before choosing a solution for your system, you should make sure you check the space and requirements of the system.
Conclusion
The best way to find the right CPU cooler for your PC is by understanding what it will be used for, how much space you have available in your computer case, and your budget.
We hope this blog post has helped you narrow down your options so that you can make an informed decision about which air or liquid cooling system works well with your needs! Thanks for reading!
From early on, Charley showed a keen interest in all things technical. He would spend hours taking apart and rebuilding computers- much to the dismay of his parents! But this early passion would eventually lead him to a successful career in tech.
Today, Charley uses his expertise to help companies large and small achieve their goals. He enjoys working with teams to develop innovative solutions that solve real-world problems.
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