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Compare CPU Coolers

Compare air and AIO liquid CPU coolers by size, socket support and performance.

Updated October 10, 2026

110 CPU coolers from 27 brands.

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Showing 110 CPU Coolers found

About CPU Coolers

Compare air and AIO liquid CPU coolers by size, socket support and performance.

Coolers listed by type, physical height or radiator size, supported sockets, rated TDP capacity and noise level.

Height against your case clearance is the check that decides it. Our case clearance guide covers the margins to leave.

Choosing between air and liquid? See air cooling vs AIO. For small builds read best coolers for small form factor cases, and for AIOs check radiator stack height. Popular comparisons: Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 vs Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 and Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 vs Phanteks Glacier One 360D30.

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Guides for CPU Coolers

Popular comparisons

Guides

How to choose a CPU cooler

Clearance decides this before performance does. Measure the distance from your motherboard tray to the side panel, then compare it to the cooler's height. An air cooler that is 5mm too tall is simply the wrong cooler however good it is.

Air or liquid

A good dual tower air cooler matches a 240mm AIO on most chips and has nothing to fail. Liquid makes sense when you need to move the heat away from a cramped area, when clearance rules out a tall tower, or on high wattage parts where a 360mm radiator genuinely pulls ahead.

Match capacity to the chip, not to the marketing

A cooler rated for 150W on a 250W processor will not stop the machine working. It will make the chip hold lower clocks. Check the CPU's sustained power draw, not its base TDP, which manufacturers define differently.

Radiator fit for AIOs

Radiator length is only half of it. Total stack height is radiator plus fans, usually 27mm plus 25mm, and that has to clear the motherboard heatsinks and memory when top mounted. Front mounting avoids that but puts warm air into the case.

Socket support and mounting

Confirm the bracket covers your socket. Some coolers need a separate kit for AM5 or LGA1851. A cooler that overhangs the first memory slot forces low profile modules.

Noise

Noise figures mean nothing without the speed they were measured at. The quietest fan in a list is often just the slowest. Compare noise at a matched airflow figure instead.

Common mistakes

  • Buying a 360mm AIO for a case that only takes 280mm, or that only takes it in the front.
  • Reusing the pre applied paste after a remount. Clean and reapply.
  • Assuming the stock cooler is fine on a chip that boosts hard. Many are, some very much are not.

FAQs

Will this cooler fit my case?

Compare the cooler height against your case CPU cooler clearance and leave at least 5mm. A cooler that clears by 2mm will press against a side panel that bows slightly.

Does it support my processor socket?

Check the socket list on the product. Most modern coolers ship with mounts for several sockets, but AM5 and LGA1851 support varies, and some older coolers need a separate bracket.

Air or liquid, which should I buy?

A good dual-tower air cooler matches a 240mm AIO for most processors and has nothing to fail. Liquid wins on high-TDP chips and when you want the heat moved away from the board.

Will a large cooler block my memory?

It can. Check the cooler RAM clearance figure against your memory height. Where the maker does not publish one, choose low profile memory.

How do I choose a CPU cooler?

Check three things in order: it supports your socket, it fits your case (cooler height or radiator position), and its rated TDP covers your processor with some headroom. After that, compare noise and price.