CPU Coolers for Gaming PCs
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Air and liquid CPU coolers to keep temperatures in check.
What to look at before you buy
Size the cooler to the heat your processor puts out. The TDP on the processor's spec sheet is the starting point: a 65 W chip runs well under a single-tower air cooler, while a 120 W chip, or an unlocked processor you plan to push, calls for a dual tower or a liquid cooler with a 240 or 360 mm radiator.
Then check that it fits. Air coolers on our list stand 148 to 159 mm tall, and every case lists the tallest cooler it accepts; liquid coolers need room for the radiator, at the front or the top. Confirm the socket as well: the models we compare support AM4, AM5 and current Intel sockets. The Will it fit? tool on this page checks the height against your case.
Last come noise and upkeep. The noise figures here sit around 25 to 28 dB, measured by each maker under its own conditions. An air cooler has no pump to wear out; a liquid cooler moves heat to the radiator and frees space around the memory, at a higher cost.
Tools that help you choose
Guides for this category
- Safe CPU and GPU Temps in 2026: What Is Normal, What to Fix
- Which CPU Cooler Do You Need? A TDP-Based Guide (2026)
Frequently asked questions
Which CPU cooler do I need for my processor?
Start from the processor's TDP. Around 65 W, a single-tower air cooler is enough; around 120 W, or if you plan to overclock, choose a dual tower or a 240 to 360 mm liquid cooler. Then check the cooler's height against your case and its supported sockets. Our TDP-based cooler guide walks through each case.
Is liquid cooling better than air cooling for gaming?
Not automatically. A good dual-tower air cooler handles most gaming processors, has no pump that can wear out and costs less. A liquid cooler makes sense for hot unlocked chips, for cases where a tall tower does not fit, or if you want more room around the memory. Check radiator mounts before buying one.
Does the stock cooler work for gaming?
For a 65 W processor that comes with one, it works; an aftermarket tower mainly adds headroom and lets the fans spin slower. Many unlocked and high-end processors ship without a cooler at all, so check the box contents on the maker's page before you count on one.