Best CPU Cooler for i9 9900K
Five Coolers perfect for the i9 9900K
The octa-core i9 9900K may be pushing three now, but it’s still considered one of the best CPUs for gaming on the market. Boasting incredible single-core performance and backed up with 16 threads for seamless multi-tasking, it’s a formidable processor capable of challenging most other top-tier CPUs for gaming superiority.
It’s also renowned for that desired 5GHz overclocked rate, but this kind of boosting potential comes at a cost. When pushed, the i9 9900K can build up some pretty spicy temperatures that you’ll need to eliminate if you want to maximize performance and service life.
That’s why we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to the best CPU coolers for the i9 9900K. Whether you’re on a budget, looking for liquid, craving RGBs, or just need to fill in on some cooler basics, you’re in the right place.
Our Top Picks
In-depth Review
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Dual Tower CPU Cooler
The Noctua NH-D15 is an awesome air thermal solution capable of providing liquid level cooling. Featuring two 140mm PWM fans with 7 wide blades a piece, you can dial in their performance to suit your needs exactly. Combining those two wind warriors with their award-winning heatsink, Noctua ensures running volume rarely exceeds 24dBA. That’s literally whisper-quiet, nothing to distract you from winning.
The beautiful thing is that it doesn’t sacrifice potency to achieve such a hushed performance. This fan is powerful enough to keep even the most volcanic CPUs running cool as a river no matter how adventurous you get while overclocking.
The problem with these big dual-tower coolers is that they can block your RAM expansion slots, but thanks to low-profile fin architecture, in single fan mode, you have 64mm clearance space to play with. Even with both fans whirring away, your mobo will be able to accommodate 32mm sticks.
It can be kind of tricky to install, but offering unparalleled air cooling for a fraction of the cost of an AIO system, the stealth-styled Noctua NH-D15 is the best in the biz!
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix Liquid CPU Cooler
The Corsair H150i thermal solution is a match made in heaven for high-end i9 9900K builds. Boasting three 120mm PWM fans, you can adjust output via iCUE between 400 and 2400 RPM, ensuring you’ll rarely hear their 36dBA maximum volume. When their service isn’t required, they automatically stop, amounting to a very zen gaming experience.
They’re also packed full of RGBs, 33 to be precise, and they’re incredibly bright too. Even in a sunlit room, they really pop, which is a rare achievement.
If you disassemble the pump, you’ll find what’s known as a split-flow copper cold plate for dissipating heat from the liquid as efficiently as possible. Peering deeper into the design, you’ll discover a high-density stack of micro-skived fins that kill off any residual warmth the plate misses.
The fans aren’t the easiest thing to screw into the radiator as the drill holes aren’t well threaded, but performance-wise, this is the best liquid thermal solution for the i9 9900K by a country mile.
NZXT Kraken Z73 RGB AIO CPU Cooler
NZXT Kraken Z73 RGB AIO CPU Cooler
Featuring three 360mm fans, this AIO cooler isn’t for the faint of heart and small of case. You’re going to need a lot of surface area to install these, but if you’ve got it spare, we highly recommend the NZXT Kraken.
The fans can be adjusted to run between 500 and 2100 RPM, enabling a brilliantly dynamic performance, saving energy, and keeping volumes below 21dBA. That’s right, folks, you read that correctly. This is one of the quietest coolers in the world.
They also feature chamfered intakes, an enclosure shaping that maximizes airflow, which is perfect as you’re gonna need all the help you can get to keep the 9900K’s fiery temperament at bay.
Plain as the fans may be, the pump features an awesome 3.36” LCD screen that you can customize along with fan RPM via the user-friendly CAM software. It’s guaranteed to have your friends gawking in awe. We know we were.
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 BK022
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 BK022
Here’s another dual-tower cooling solution with an almost unbelievably quiet performance for those that wish to steer clear from liquid. be quiet’s proprietary Silent Wing fans are built on fluid dynamic bearings and never breach 24.3dBA. If you’ve got a case with a sound dampening tempered glass panel, you won’t even be able to hear if they’re working.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have all that much clearance for tall RAM sticks with large heat spreaders, but if you’re rocking the shorter sticks, there shouldn’t be any problems at all. The airflow optimized fins feature cutouts in order to reduce the Dark Rock’s footprint.
It does struggle a little bit when you push the i9 9900K with intensive overclocking, allowing it to near the 90°C zone, but seeing as the i9 9900K doesn’t even start throttling until it reaches 100°C, you’re within spec and fine to continue pushing.
We’d describe this as a high-performing mid-level cooler. It’s not quite as efficient as the big money options, but it’s capable of keeping the i9 9900K under control which is the name of the game here.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 may only have a single fan, but the expansive heatsink with four direct-contact copper heat pipes ensures it devours plenty of heat, giving your CPU the chance to spread its silicone wings.
Another benefit of dropping a fan is that you have more clearance for tall RAM, so if your system is already stacked with sticks, this should be a good fit.
It’s a 4-pin PWM fan, so you can adjust the RPM for a nuanced performance, but it maxes out at 42 CFM with a running volume of 26dBA. It’s nice and quiet, but not quite strong enough to handle extreme overclocking.
The 212 is considered somewhat of a controversial option considering the wallet-friendly price tag, but if you’re a little light of pocket after forking out for the i9 9900K, this is the best budget option to hold you over for the time being.
Final Word
In our humble opinion, the NH-D15 is not just the best air cooler for the job, but the best cooler in general, but don’t just take our word for it. It only takes a quick Google search to find out just how revolutionary this fan has been. It’s quite literally a game-changer.
That said, if all you like to hear are the screams of your vanquished foes when you game, the Kraken is a little pricey, but so quiet, if it wasn’t for the LCD screen, you’d forget it was even there.
For those looking for liquid at a lower price, get the Corsair Elite. There’s no question about it. It’s quiet, incredibly effective, and satisfies the RGB sweet tooth to the fullest extent.
We’d say the Dark Rock is the minimum requirement for pushing the i9 9900K, but if you just want to be able to get by and enjoy your CPUs stock settings, you can’t go wrong with our budget-friendly Hyper 212.