• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
PremiumBuilds.com Logo Update 2
  • PC Builds
    • Budget Builds
      • $300
      • $500
      • $600
      • $700
    • Mid Range Builds
      • $1000
      • $1500
    • High End Builds
      • $2500
    • View All
    • Custom PC Build Database
  • Databases
    • PC Builds
    • Graphics Cards
    • Motherboards
  • Prebuilts
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $500
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $800
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $1000
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $1500
    • Best Prebuilt ITX Gaming PCs
    • Best Custom PC Builder Websites
  • Components
    • CPU
    • CPU Coolers
    • Motherboards
    • Memory
    • Storage
    • Graphics Cards
    • PC Cases
    • Power Supplies
    • Case Fans
  • Peripherals
    • Monitors
    • Mice
    • Keyboards
    • Chairs
    • Laptops
    • Televisions
    • VR
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
Menu
  • PC Builds
    • Budget Builds
      • $300
      • $500
      • $600
      • $700
    • Mid Range Builds
      • $1000
      • $1500
    • High End Builds
      • $2500
    • View All
    • Custom PC Build Database
  • Databases
    • PC Builds
    • Graphics Cards
    • Motherboards
  • Prebuilts
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $500
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $800
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $1000
    • Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs under $1500
    • Best Prebuilt ITX Gaming PCs
    • Best Custom PC Builder Websites
  • Components
    • CPU
    • CPU Coolers
    • Motherboards
    • Memory
    • Storage
    • Graphics Cards
    • PC Cases
    • Power Supplies
    • Case Fans
  • Peripherals
    • Monitors
    • Mice
    • Keyboards
    • Chairs
    • Laptops
    • Televisions
    • VR
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
Search
Close

Best CPU Coolers for i7-9700K

January 17, 2020 by PremiumBuilds Leave a Comment

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 i7-9700K, like its predecessors (the i7-8700K, i7-7700K), presents excellent value for money for its gaming performance and specifications, and opting for this chip is a great way to save $150 by not going for the illusive Core i9 brand.

I won’t go into much detail about the performance of the i7-9700K, as given the topic of this article you are reading, you probably have done enough research and know enough already of what the Core i7-9700K processor is capable of.

In this guide, we will show you how to get the most out of the i7-9700K and make it run cooler by upgrading this processors stock cooling with an aftermarket air, AIO or liquid cooler. Some CPU coolers perform far better than others with the i7-9700K and based on user experiences, testings and reviews we will show you the absolute best CPU coolers for the 9700K in 2019. With the right cooler, you could see a 4-12% reduction (at least) in i7-9700K temperatures. Without further ado, here are the top air coolers, as well as AIO options and custom loop options for those looking to liquid cool the i7-9700K.

I would also like to mention that if you are looking to build an i7-9700K system in 2019, we have also produced a series of guides recommending parts for i7-9700K builds – including the best power supplies pairings, RAM and motherboards to pair with the i7-9700K processor.


Our recommendations

AwardDesignModelRetailer
Best Air Cooler for i7-9700KNoctua-NH-D15 best cooler for i9 9900kNoctua NH-D15price check
Best Budget Cooler for i7-9700KCRYORIG-H5-UltimateCRYORIG H5 Ultimateprice check
Best AIO Cooler for i7-9700KCorsair-H150I-i9-9700KCorsair H150i Proprice check
Best Low Profile Cooler for i7-9700Knoctua_nh_12_9700kNoctua NH-L12price check

Noctua NH-D15 – Best Air Cooler for 9700K

Noctua-NH-D15

The Noctua NH-D15 really needs no introduction, it is hands down the best air cooler on the market, and if you’re looking for a CPU cooler to keep a high-end rig as cool as possible, with similar if not better performance than 240mm AIOs, then look no further than this air cooler for the i7-9700K.

For those looking to overclock the i7-9700K to 5GHz, the D15 is the best air cooler that should give you the best chance – but this will also depend on other factors such as case design, thermals and general airflow, as well as the overclock itself and amount of voltage needed will vary per chip.

If you do not plan on overclocking the i7-9700K and keeping it at stock then you can get away with going for a cheaper Noctua cooler (NH-D14) or the Dark Rock Pro 4 – without sacrifice in performance and saving a few dollars. The NH-D15 is so impressive that it performs on par with any 240MM AIO cooler for the i7-9700K and actually after a few hours of usage it performs better!

View on Amazon

Best Budget Air Cooler for 9700K

CRYORIG-H5-Ultimate

For those looking to get an air cooler under $50 for the i7-9700K, whilst retaining high-end performance, we recommend the CRYORIG H5 Ultimate for budget air cooling the 9700K. The H5 Ultimate is similar to the H5 Universal with the only difference being the inclusion of a full depth 140mm fan.

One Reddit user that is running an i7-9700K with the Cryorig H5 ultimate has reported ‘ridiculously low’ gaming temps at stock clocks, and at 5GHz with all core voltages at 1.3V, gaming temperatures are at mid-50s to low 60s – which is pretty impressive. This CPU cooler, despite its relatively low price, does a great job of keeping the i7-9700K temperatures down, at idle and under load.

This cooler is one of the easiest air coolers to install and is super user-friendly, with 160mm height and 30-35mm of RAM tolerance height, this cooler should fit into most mid-tower and ATX builds.

View on Amazon

Best AIO cooler for i7-9700K

Corsair-H150I-i9-9700K

When it comes to AIO coolers and the 9700K, it is hard to go wrong with any one from a top brand – since they are essentially Asetek components with the same pump – however some AIO coolers do marginally perform better than others despite this. Aesthetics, reliability price are also important to consider, as well as size of the radiator that will fit in your PC case.

Given all of this, and reading many user reviews and experiences, we would recommend the Corsair H150i Pro as the best AIO cooler for the i7 9700K in 2019. This product has excellent build quality (extremely large radiator) and offers impressive thermals and quiet performance. The H150i Pro has very similar (albeit worse) performance to the Kraken X72 but comes in about $40 cheaper – which for an AIO cooler is quite a considerable amount. In addition, the software Corsair provides is far better (in my opinion) than the NZXT software included with the X72 cooler.

Sure, the H150i Pro isn’t cheap when compared to an air cooler, but if you’re set on liquid cooling the i7-9700K, then the H150i Pro is probably your best bet.

View on Amazon

Best Low Profile Cooler for i7-9700K (SFFPC builds)

noctua_nh_12_9700k

In ITX builds where internal space is limited, you really have to think about what components will fit in your small form factor (SFF) build. Likewise with CPU coolers, then you are limited on the available cooling options for your i7-9700K, and you can’t necessarily go for the best performing such as the NH-D15 since it won’t actually fit in the build. It is important to get a well performing cooler in ITX 9700K builds since airflow is so restricted – the CPU cooler performance will therefore influence case thermals and temperatures the most.

The absolute top low profile CPU cooler for ITX builds we recommend for the i7-9700K is the Noctua NH-L12, which offers fantastic TDP performance given its tiny size, and coupled with the A12x25 fan below the heatsink, it also offers great noise performance too.

It is important to take note for some builds with the Noctua NH-L12 cooler, you may need to go for very low profile (VLP) ram to allow for enough clearance for the A12x25 fan.

If you’re looking to build an i7-9700K SFFPC build – then we recommending checking out our other guides such as the best mITX cases and SFX-L power supplies for SFF builds.

View on Amazon

Summary

AwardDesignModelRetailer
Best Air Cooler for i7-9700KNoctua-NH-D15 best cooler for i9 9900kNoctua NH-D15price check
Best Budget Cooler for i7-9700KCRYORIG-H5-UltimateCRYORIG H5 Ultimateprice check
Best AIO Cooler for i7-9700KCorsair-H150I-i9-9700KCorsair H150i Proprice check
Best Low Profile Cooler for i7-9700Knoctua_nh_12_9700kNoctua NH-L12price check

You may also like..

Filed Under: CPU Coolers, Guides, i7-9700k

Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

PremiumBuilds is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more here.

Recommended Builds – By Budget

  • $300 Office/Light Gaming PC Build
  • $500 1080p Gaming PC Build
  • $700 1080p 144hz Gaming PC Build
  • $1000 1440p Gaming PC Build
  • $1500 Stellar 1440p, entry-level 4K Gaming PC Build
  • $2500 Ultimate 1440p, 4k Gaming PC Build

Trending

6 Best 1440p 240Hz Monitors for 2021

$3000 Intel Core i9-10900K + RTX 2080 Ti Enthusiast Gaming PC Build

Best RAM Timings for Ryzen 3000 CPUs (3600 / 3700X / 3800X / 3900X)

4 Best Gaming Monitors under $200

4 Best M.2 Solid State Drives for 2020

6 Best 140mm Case Fans for 2021

Popular Builds

  • Best Gaming PC Build under $600
  • $1100 Ryzen 5 3600XT + 5700XT 1440p Gaming Build
  • $1400 Ryzen 5 5600X Gaming Build
  • $1500 RTX 3070 Build for 1440p High FPS Gaming
  • $2100 Ryzen 7 5800X + 6800 XT Gaming Build 
  • $2600 Ryzen 9 5900X Gaming Build
  • Ultimate $5000 Ryzen 9 5950X + RTX 3090 Command Center

Copyright © by PremiumBuilds · All rights reserved

wpDiscuz