When you’re looking to cool a more demanding CPU like the Ryzen 7 5800X or 5900X, or the Intel i7 or K series variants, you might want to consider a high-end air cooler. These CPU coolers offer the advantage of lower noise and increased reliability over ‘all in one’ liquid cooling systems thanks to their […]
CPU Coolers
Liquid vs Air Cooling: Which is Best for You?
With so many different CPU coolers on the market, choosing the right one can feel like navigating a minefield. Choosing between an all-in-one liquid cooler and an air cooler is one of the first decisions to make, but it can be a time-consuming one. Knowing the main differences between each, as well as their benefits […]
6 Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-11600K
The new generation of Intel microprocessors is upon us, and this 11th iteration of Intel CPUs has variants that show promise in providing some much-needed competition against AMD’s Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 series. One such Comet Lake variant is the highly anticipated i5-11600K. This processor is made to compete against AMD’s Ryzen 5600X (see our […]
6 Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i7-11700K
Rocket Lake is here! Pre-orders are flying out the door, and many consumers are eagerly awaiting their new CPU to send the performance of their gaming battle station to the moon. From all of Rocket Lake’s new series of processors, the i7-11700K stands out as an incredibly affordable enthusiast-level option that even outdoes its more […]
Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-10400 & i5-10400F
The Intel Core i5-10400 and 10400F have undergone price cuts recently. These 6-core, 12-thread Intel CPUs are a direct competitor to AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600 but are available at around $150-$160 making them significantly cheaper. Both the i5-10400 and i5-10400F are 65W TDP CPUs and have identical performance to one another, but the F variant […]
NZXT Kraken X63 vs Kraken Z63: What Are The Key Differences?
The American PC hardware manufacturer, NZXT, is know for making some of the best performing – and stylish – AIO liquid CPU coolers in the market. They are easy to install, keep CPU temperatures and noise levels at a minimum, and are built with quality materials for a respectable level of durability. Their two latest […]
Corsair H115i RGB Platinum vs H150i RGB Pro: What Are The Differences?
If you’re in the market for an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler to chill your new CPU, then you most likely know that Corsair is one of the best brands for the task – especially give how they have gained immense popularity with their ‘Hydro Series’ CPU coolers. Not only do these products perform, thermally and […]
Noctua NH-U12S VS NH-U12A: What Are The Key Differences?
Choosing a CPU cooler can be a daunting task, especially with so many quality products available in the market. Still, one brand does rise against the rest, and that is Noctua. This Austrian cooling component manufacturer is known as one of the best in the industry, and for good reason. Not only do their coolers […]
Noctua NH-D15 vs NH-D15S: What Are The Key Differences?
When it comes to airflow cooling for PC cases and CPUs, few can compete with the quality, performance, and reliability of Noctua products. This Austrian brand is known for its incredibly quiet, high-performance case fans and CPU coolers that are devoid of any RGB fluff; as they focus solely on achieving the best performance possible. […]
6 Best 240mm AIO Liquid Coolers for 2021
Choosing a 240mm AIO is becoming harder and harder, but that’s because of how many great options have been produced in recent years. As liquid cooling has become popular due to the aesthetics of a small block on the CPU vs the big air coolers, more and more companies are putting strong options into the […]
5 Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X
AMD has announced the new Zen 3 CPUs and at the top of the tree sit the Ryzen 5900X, which they tout as their high-performance Gaming CPU, and the 5950X which with 16 cores is the ultimate consumer productivity CPU. In this article we’ll recommend the best CPU coolers to ensure that these two CPUs […]
5 Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 7 5800X Builds
With AMD launching the new Ryzen 5000 series last week, we came to the realization that AMD is not going to include stock coolers with most of their new CPUs. This is a shame since almost all of the Ryzen 3000 CPUs came with a suitable included cooler that could be used daily at specification […]
4 Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 5 5600X
We’ve made it folks! AMD’s initial Zen 3 lineup has been revealed, and it’s a doozy. The long and short of it is: Zen 3 has the same or lower TDP than Zen 2, a new architecture, and the benefit of their new unified eight-core CCXs (core complexes) with shared 32MG L3 caches which all […]
Ryzen CPU Cooler Performance Analysis: Which Cooler is Best for Ryzen?
Why you need a CPU cooler, even for Ryzen. We’ve been busy putting the Premiumbuild test rig through its paces and one of the first test series we ran was to compare a variety of cooling solutions for AMD Ryzen systems. Why? Because common knowledge has it that the Wraith Stealth cooler that ships with […]
Best 280mm AIO Liquid Coolers
Recent CPU releases have seen the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and 3950X sweep the board for productivity performance, whilst Intels new Comet Lake CPUs the i5-10600K, i7-10700K and i9-10900K all give outstanding performance in gaming. This performance comes at a cost though: Intels chips, in particular, run hot and can dissipate over 200W of heat […]
4 Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 5 3600XT
AMD’s Zen 2 Matisse Refresh CPUs are upon us, including the new Ryzen 5 3600XT. Now, unlike its bigger brothers, the Ryzen 7 3800XT and Ryzen 9 3900XT, the 3600XT still comes bundled with a stock Wraith cooler, the Spire v2. The included Wraith cooler is sufficient for the existing 3600X; thus, it should be […]
4 Best Airflow CPU Coolers for Maximum Cooling
There are two main options when it comes to cooling your CPU: liquid AIO coolers, and airflow coolers. The former type will usually provide superior cooling, though may output a considerable amount of noise, due to the fans and pump of the cooler; not to mention, they can be far more expensive when compared to […]
4 Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i7-10700K
As users start to get their hands on Intel’s new Comet Lake CPUs, many are bound to have questions regarding which cooling solutions are best for their new systems. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Core i7-10700K and the best cooling options available for it. With the 10th Gen Core i7, Intel has […]
4 Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-10600K
The new generation of Intel ‘Comet Lake‘ processors has recently come out, and with them comes the opportunity to build a brand-new PC. The i5-10600K, Intel’s mid-range option, offers up to 4.8 GHz of overclocking speeds, together with hyperthreading capabilities which are new to the i5 series. This makes the i5-10600K a top-notch gaming CPU, […]
3 Best CPU Coolers (Air/AIO) for Intel Core i9-10900K Builds
Intels newest 10th generation range of desktop processors are almost upon us, including the flagship Core i9-10900K – set to take on AMD’s hugely popular Ryzen 9 3900X. Built on the existing 14nm process, early benchmark tests are showing that the Ryzen 9 3900X and 3950X are outperforming the i9-10900K in synthetic tests, although the […]
4 Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 3 3300X and 3100
With the release of AMD’s two new entry-level Ryzen CPUs, namely the Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X, AMD aims to please the demographic looking for a budget CPU that can sufficiently handle entry to mid-end gaming needs, 4K streaming for HTPCs, and light workstation loads, at the $99 and $120 marks respectively. Suffice […]
4 Quietest CPU Coolers for Silent PC Builds in 2021
Whether you’re in a studio and don’t want to be hearing several loud computers running at the same time, or just generally hate that constant buzzing noise emanating from your PC, there are several solid options for near-silent, yet still effective, CPU coolers for building that ultra-quiet PC. If you’re looking to use the stock […]
4 Best Low Profile CPU Coolers for SFF Builds
If you’re in the market for a low-profile CPU cooler to fit in your small form factor PC, you know that you are looking for four main factors in terms of specifications, and these are the size of the cooler, its cooling performance, the noise output, and, of course, the price. If you have a […]
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 3950X
The flagship Ryzen 3000 processor has finally been released, and boy is it a beast. The Ryzen 9 3950x, the top of the line Zen2 processor that was promised as the peak of the 7nm AMD implementation but released months after the rest of the lineup, has finally hit shelves. And it is making waves! […]
Best RGB CPU Coolers for 2021 (Air, Liquid, Budget Options)
Keeping your components cool is a concern for any builder as it impacts performance and longevity of many of the parts of a PC. Different style coolers at different budgets provide different levels of cooling performance, and depending on the power/heat output of a rig and any plans for overclocking, different types of coolers may […]
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 3900X Builds
With the release of the Zen 2 Ryzen 3900X AMD has made workstation core counts available to enthusiasts and gamers, yet this 12 core 24 thread CPU retains the AM4 socket fitment and a relatively tame 105W TDP (Thermal Design Power). In order to maintain performance in heavy workloads, the CPU requires adequate cooling and […]
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 5 3600 Builds
Many PC builders are beginning to spec out their upcoming Ryzen 5 3600X build come its release on July 7th. To get the most out of the Ryzen 5 3600, its important to choose the right CPU cooler, as well as motherboard and graphics card, to maximise performance through cooling and power delivery (VRM). Although […]
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 7 3700X / 3800X Builds in 2021
Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 7 3800X are set to hit shelves across the country on July 7th, and with this release many AMD builders, first time or seasoned, will be looking to build their Ryzen 7 3700X/3800X system – whether it be a high-end, mid-level, mini-ITX, micro-ATX or ATX 3700X build. Whatever your type […]
Best Parts (CPU Cooler, PSU, Case Fans) for Node 202 Builds
The Fractal Design Node 202 is a fantastic entry level small form factor (SFF) case for PC builders who want to enter the SFF space and try out their hands at an ITX build. Designed in shoebox-style, the Node 202 also makes a great case for those looking to do a console-style or HTPC build […]
Best CPU Coolers for Threadripper 2 (2950X/2920X/2990WX)
AMD’s latest version of their Threadripper lineup, Threadripper 2 (TR2), is their lineup of enthusiast-grade processors that pack a serious punch. If you’re reading this article, you probably know exactly what they’re capable of and that their blisteringly fast performance, thanks to its 12 (2920X) to 32 cores (2990WX), also results in very highly rated […]
Recommended CPU Cooler, Case Fans, PSU for Cougar QBX builds
If you’re looking to enter the small form factor (SFF) PC community of builders, or perhaps looking to build a budget mini ITX PC – then the Cougar QBX case is a great option for you to embark on your next SFF journey. The Cougar QBX mini-ITX case comes in at just 19.9L and below […]
PC part recommendations (CPU cooler, case fans, PSU) for NCASE M1 builds
The NCASE M1 is one of the most popular case options for those looking to enter the world of small form factor (SFF) builds. Used by hundreds, if not thousands of SFF builders, there has been much trial and error by the community on which components fit, don’t fit; work and don’t work effectively with […]
Best CPU Coolers for i7-9700K
Intel introduced their 9th generation of processors in October 2018, and are currently the most up-to-date and powerful processors Intel offers. In their lineup, the i7-9700K and i9-9900K are the fastest processors for gaming in the lineup, and whilst the i9-9900K is the most powerful it is far more expensive for most PC builders. The […]
Best CPU Coolers for i9-9900K/9900KS in 2021
The intel core i9-9900K is one of the fastest and most extreme CPUs available for PC builders in 2020 and is the processor to opt for (on Intel’s side) if building a top-of-the-range PC rig, with impressive performance. It’s important to get the most out of the processor, and this can be achieved by overclocking […]
Noctua NH-D15 vs Dark Rock Pro 4
The Noctua NH-D15 and the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 are the top 2 air CPU coolers on the market in 2019, and offer the absolute best cooling performance from an air cooled setup – with performance on par with most AIO systems. These two extremely popular CPU coolers for enthusiast level builds are […]
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 7 2700X Builds
If you are planning to overclock your new Ryzen 7 2700X processor or want to run a quieter system, you might consider buying an aftermarket CPU cooler to achieve your goals. Even though the stock cooler that comes with the Ryzen 7 2700X, the ‘Wraith Prism‘ cooler, is actually a decent stock cooler. In no way an inadequate or […]