Corsair A500
Expert rating8.1 / 10
- Cooler Type:
- Air Tower
- Height:
- 165 mm
- Fan Count:
- 2
- Socket Compatibility:
- AMD AM4
- Noise Level:
- 37 dBA
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Manufacturer: Corsair Last updated: September 12, 2026
Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) Review
If you're researching the Corsair A500, it was Corsair's first serious flagship air cooler, a dual-tower design with dual 120mm AF120 fans and six heatpipes rated for 250W, built to compete directly with Noctua and be quiet!'s top-tier air coolers.
We think it still holds up as a genuinely strong performance-first air cooler, especially since Corsair skipped RGB entirely here in favor of raw cooling capacity, unlike a lot of its other product lines.
Thermal Performance and TDP Rating
Rated for 250W, the A500 competes credibly with other flagship-tier air coolers, though independent testing generally places it a step behind Noctua's NH-D15 line in absolute peak performance.
Fan Design and Noise
Dual 120mm AF120 fans run at up to 26dBA, and the fans are swappable for Corsair's other AF120 or ML120 lines if you want to tune the acoustic profile yourself.
Socket Compatibility and Installation
AM4/AM5 and LGA1700/1200 are supported, and Corsair's mounting kit is solid if not quite as refined as Noctua's SecuFirm2 system.
Design and Build
At 165mm tall with a dual-tower design and swappable fans, the A500 is a genuinely large, no-RGB performance cooler aimed at builders who care more about thermals than looks.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against Corsair's own A115, covered elsewhere on this site, the A500's dual-tower six-heatpipe design gives it a real thermal edge over the A115's single-tower layout, worth the extra height if your case allows it. Against Noctua's NH-D15 G2, also on this site, independent testing consistently puts the D15 G2 a few degrees ahead at a similar price, making it the better pick if pure performance is the only consideration.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | Corsair |
|---|---|
| Series | Corsair A500 |
| Model Number | CT-9010003-WW |
Design
| Cooler Type | Air Tower |
|---|---|
| Tower Type | Single-Tower |
| Height | 165 mm |
| Socket Compatibility | AMD AM4, Intel LGA115X/2066/2011-3 |
Performance
| Fan Count | 2 |
|---|---|
| Noise Level | 37 dBA |
| RGB Lighting | No |
Cooler class
| Tower Layout | Single-Tower |
|---|
Thermal capability
| Heatpipe Count | 4 |
|---|---|
| Base Material | Nickel-Plated Copper |
Fans
| Fan Size | 120 mm |
|---|---|
| Max Speed | 2400 RPM |
| Airflow | 75 CFM |
| Static Pressure | 4.2 mmH2O |
| Bearing Type | Magnetic Levitation |
| PWM Control | Yes |
Ownership
| Warranty | 5 years |
|---|
| Fans | 2x CORSAIR ML120, 120mm |
|---|---|
| Source URL | https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/cpu-coolers/ct-9010003-ww/a500-high-performance-dual-fan-cpu-cooler-ct-9010003-ww |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating8.1 / 10
A genuinely strong flagship-tier air cooler that trades a few degrees against Noctua's best for a lower price and Corsair's ecosystem familiarity.
Best for
- High-TDP builds wanting flagship air cooling without RGB
- Builders already in Corsair's fan and case ecosystem
- Anyone who wants swappable AF120/ML120 fans on their cooler
Not for
- Anyone chasing the absolute best air cooling result, where Noctua's NH-D15 G2 tests slightly ahead
- Small cases without room for a 165mm-tall dual-tower cooler
- Builders who want RGB lighting
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP)?
The Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) is a CPU cooler from Corsair. Key specs: Cooler Type Air, Dual-Tower, Tower Type Dual-Tower, Height 165mm, Socket Compatibility AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200, Fan Count 2.
Will the Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) work with my current setup?
The Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) lists Socket Compatibility is AMD AM4/AM5, Intel LGA1700/1200. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) best suited to?
It suits high-tdp builds wanting flagship air cooling without rgb, builders already in corsair's fan and case ecosystem, anyone who wants swappable af120/ml120 fans on their cooler.
What are the drawbacks of the Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP)?
It is a poor fit for anyone chasing the absolute best air cooling result, where noctua's nh-d15 g2 tests slightly ahead, small cases without room for a 165mm-tall dual-tower cooler, builders who want rgb lighting.
Compare and read more
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- be quiet! Light Loop 360 (360mm AIO Liquid/ARGB Pump and Fans/3x Light Wings 120mm Fans/Illuminated Radiator Accent) vs Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP)
- Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) vs Enermax LIQTECH TR4 (360mm AIO Liquid/Full IHS Coverage Cold Plate/3x ARGB Fans/AMD Threadripper sTRX4-TR4 Specific)
- Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP) vs Noctua NH-P1 (Passive Single-Tower Air/7 Heatpipes/Fanless Cooling/158mm Height/Silent Workstation Design)
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360 Sub-Zero (360mm AIO Liquid/Integrated TEC Thermoelectric Cooling/3x ARGB Fans/Extreme Cooling Tier) vs Corsair A500 (Dual-Tower Air/6 Heatpipes/Dual 120mm AF120 Fans/165mm Height/250W TDP)