Best CPU Coolers We've Tested (2024): Thermals, Noise Levels, & Value
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This Best Of round-up recaps the best coolers we've tested in the past year or so. There are seemingly endless coolers, and we know we haven't gotten to all of them this (or any) year, so we're basing this off of what we've tested for 2024. The round-up includes the best CPU coolers for value, budget, noise-normalized thermals in both air and liquid categories (since they are in different classes), best mechanical design, and best overall. Thermalright took the industry by storm in the past few years with its onslaught of cheap (but good) air coolers, and now, multiple others are trying to get in on the party. That includes Arctic with its Freezer 36 and ID-Cooling with its A720 and SE-214-XT coolers. On the higher-end side, Noctua finally released its long-awaited NH-D15 G2 in three variations, taking victories in best noise-normalized thermals for air cooling and best mechanical design.
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RELATED PRODUCTS [Affiliate Links]
BEST OVERALL
ID-Cooling A720 & Arctic Freezer 36 (Intel)
ID-Cooling A720 on Amazon: https://geni.us/4BUEy3N
Arctic Freezer 36 on Amazon: https://geni.us/HakRiQ9
Arctic Freezer 36 on Newegg (Amazon is often a better deal for this one): https://howl.link/mya178v3dj8ze
GN review of Arctic Freezer 36: • Arctic's New $28* Freezer 36 Air Cool...
BEST VALUE
Thermalright Frozen Prism 360
Thermalright Frozen Prism 360 on Amazon: https://geni.us/FUqbQC
GN review of Thermalright Frozen Prism 360: • Thermalright Strikes Again: $56.90 36...
BEST BUDGET
ID-Cooling SE-214-XT ARGB
ID-Cooling SE-214-XT ARGB on Amazon: https://geni.us/kFBDMw
BEST NOISE-NORMALIZED THERMALS
(Liquid) Arctic Liquid Freezer III and (Air) Noctua NH-D15 G2
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 on Amazon: https://geni.us/5N1BRr9
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 on Newegg: https://howl.link/8k9nmchk4lgzt
Noctua NH-D15 G2 on Amazon (there are 3 models - linking standard): https://geni.us/gqI4
Noctua NH-D15 G2 Standard on Newegg: https://howl.link/ojlu2sgztnfqc
GN review of Arctic Liquid Freezer III: • The New Best: Arctic Liquid Freezer I...
GN review of Noctua NH-D15 G2: • Noctua NH-D15 G2 Review & Benchmarks,...
BEST MECHANICAL DESIGN
Noctua NH-D15 G2
Noctua NH-D15 G2 Standard on Amazon: https://geni.us/gqI4
Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC on Amazon: https://geni.us/uXCi
Noctua NH-D15 G2 HBC on Amazon: https://geni.us/ZSX0
Noctua NH-D15 G2 Standard on Newegg: https://howl.link/ojlu2sgztnfqc
Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC on Newegg: https://howl.link/9ckpx1v7taz0s
Noctua NH-D15 G2 HBC on Newegg: https://howl.link/mxd30bjy223qk
GN article review of the cooler (video review above): https://gamersnexus.net/coolers/noctua-nh-d15-g2-review-benchmarks-hbc-lbc-comparison-best-cpu-coolers
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Best Coolers We've Tested in 2024
03:04 - Setting Expectations
04:57 - Best Overall
09:44 - Best Value
13:09 - Best Budget
16:34 - Best Noise-Normalized Thermals
20:42 - Best Mechanical Design
24:36 - Conclusion
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Vitalii Makhnovets: Editing
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