5 Best CPU Coolers in 2022 for Gaming & Overclocking: Air & Liquid Cooling Systems
We take a look at the best fan and AIO CPU coolers on the market for a range of different budgets and needs
While the best CPU cooler will certainly help to keep your gaming PC running at its best, it is not always a crucial part of the equation. There are a number of factors that contribute to a gaming PC’s performance, and the best CPU cooler is an important factor. Whether you just want to push your gaming rig further and gain a performance boost or do serious overclocking, you are going to need a CPU cooler that suits your needs and meets those demands. Poor cooling will lead to subpar performance.
CPU coolers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Air coolers, for example, use fans to move air across the CPU; water coolers, on the other hand, employ a closed-loop system to do so. In general, air coolers are more affordable than water coolers, but they are also less effective at cooling down the CPU. Water coolers are more expensive, but they are also more effective at keeping the CPU cool. As a result, it is important to consider both the cost and the performance of a CPU cooler before making a purchase.
You can always get by on the stock cooler that comes with your CPU but in any case, cooling this component is vital to its longevity and performance.
Our Top Picks
The 5 Best CPU Coolers In 2021
In-depth Review
Noctua NH-D15
Noctua NH-D15
Noctua is a very popular brand in this industry thanks to its proficiency in cooling products, and the Noctua NH-D15 is a proven cooling master. It performs just as well as a handful of liquid CPU coolers in the mid-range category, which also makes it one of the best CPU coolers not just for gaming but in general too.
Looking at what comes with the package, you have two 140mm fans. These fans were remarkably quiet even when running at max while playing games. With a 24.6 dbA sound level, it’s unlikely you’ll hear it running. While the performance isn’t massively different to the D14, this does seem to perform better acoustically.
A negative for some is going to be the excessive size, the heatsinks are rather large, meaning your RAM might not fit depending on your setup and there could be clearance issues in certain cases. While it’s true that you can move the front fan up to give more RAM clearance and the positives of its size definitely outway the negatives as long as it fits into your setup.
Noctua has accounted for this with a second, smaller version: The NH-D15S. However, the performance was noticeably worse than this model meaning you could find a better solution outside of these two products.
Some regard the color as hit and miss but it’s hardly noticeable once in your system and I personally quite liked the aesthetics. Despite what you make of the design this CPU is a serious bit of kit and one of the few air coolers that can keep a modern overclocked CPU cool.
NZXT Kraken Z63
NZXT Kraken Z63
NZXT’s Kraken line has been growing in popularity in recent years and it isn’t just down to their high-end build quality and dazzling design. The NZXT Kraken Z63 is the latest iteration to the already impressive X63, only this features an LCD panel on the pump. While the panel offers nothing more than an aesthetic touch, it’s unique and a step forward for those who want more than just raw performance.
Now, there are 360mm options out there that are better suited to higher TDP overclocks but we feel the Z63 offers the perfect balance of aesthetics, cooling performance, acoustic performance, and compatibility, with this likely to fit in a wider range of PC cases.
The two 140mm fans really do a great job of dissipating that heat and the included CAM software is one of the better ones out there, with impressive customization and intuitive controls.
If the extra cost for the LCD panel is too much, we understand and the X63 performs just as well but for supreme aesthetics and cooling performance, the Kraken Z63 is easily one of the best AIO coolers out there at the moment.
Scythe Ninja 5 CPU Air Cooler
Scythe Ninja 5 CPU Air Cooler
The Scythe Ninja 5 CPU cooler is one that many consider rivaling the impressive Noctua D15 when you factor in the price. This is nearly half the price of the Noctua and offers similar levels of thermal performance and solid acoustic performance too.
This is one of the quietest fan coolers on the market and is by no means little, as we see a large heat sink and two 120mm fans. the heatsink is fed by six heat pipes, distributing the heat across the large heatsink. The fans may not be as effective as Noctua’s but these do a great job of circulating cool air through the fins and produce top-notch results.
The cooler features 2 x PWM fans with fluid dynamic bearings and they only go up to 800RPM so noise is always kept below a maximum of 14.5 dBa. As you would expect from a cooler marketed as quiet it features rubber corners to limit noise from vibrations which is a nice touch.
This cooler supports a wide range of sockets from both Intel and AMD and will keep a top of the line CPU at a reasonable temperature. Installation is actually relatively straight forward it is just the sheer mass of this cooler that makes it a bit trickier than a normal-sized one. This is being recommended as it is truly one of the quietest coolers on the market and the fact it comes in at a budget price is superb.
Thermaltake Floe
Thermaltake Floe
Our top RGB CPU cooler comes in the form of the massive Thermaltake Floe Triple Riing RGB 360 TT. This cooler features some of the best RGB lighting you can find on this list and comes with Thermaltake’s “Riing” fans as standard, which have three lighting loops.
This cooler is a 360mm rad size; so you will need a case big enough for that, but it’s worth noting that the extra cables for the lighting add clutter.
The CPU blocks lighting can sync up with your trio of fans, giving you quite an impressive display. The product comes with Thermaltake’s fan controller, allowing you to add extra Thermaltake Riing fans to your case.
The cooling performance may not be as good as some of the coolers on this list, but with the quality aesthetics, we can allow for a few degrees here or there. This AIO is surprisingly quiet though with the fans max RPM only going to 1400.
While this may not be ideal for a powerful overclocked CPU, it still offers good enough thermal performance to make it into this list!
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
For those looking to cool their CPU on a budget, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is one of the best budget PCU coolers on the market. This model is a successor to the incredibly popular EVO and does so with impressive performance considering its price.
This “no-thrills” cooler utilizes four heat pipes and aluminum fins in an effective way and only produces a max fan noise level of 26 dBa, which is actually relatively quiet but largely depends on the RPM you set this to. Other features include precise airflow with a CFM of 42, a smart fan sensor to stop any cable snagging, and a wide array of CPU socket support.
The performance is technically the worst in the roundup but that is only if you have this going head to head with some of the best coolers in the game. The fact remains, not everyone needs huge heatsinks or liquid cooling and a steady performer like this can be a perfect fit for many.
Final Word
That concludes the best CPU coolers currently on the market. We have included several air and liquid options, with coolers to suit various budgets and needs.
Hopefully, this article will assist you in your quest for a new CPU cooling solution. Did you find this helpful? Do you have any personal recommendations to share? Comment down below or head over to the WePC Community and we will get back to you!