Summary
- You rarely need an overkill CPU cooler; modern chips run high temps by design.
- AIOs look cool but cost more and introduce potential pump/leak failure risk.
- Sub-$50 air coolers often match pricier models in performance and are the ones worth buying.
PC builders love to grab the best-in-class components when assembling their beloved machines. While that approach makes sense for a graphics card or CPU, spending three digits on a CPU cooler usually doesn’t make sense. Here’s why.
Most people don’t need overpowered CPU coolers
If you have a mid- to high-end CPU that tends to run uncomfortably hot, frequently approaching its Tj Max, you might think it needs an extreme cooler to prevent overheating. However, most modern CPUs are designed to operate near their thermal limits to sustain higher clock speeds and maximize performance. This applies to processors like AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series, as well as Intel’s 14th-gen and Core Ultra CPUs.
This is actually a good thing, but many PC owners get concerned when they see their CPUs constantly pushing north of 80°C or even higher, depending on the chip. Just to give you a point of reference, my overclocked Ryzen 7 7700 regularly hits over 70°C in Google Chrome and sustains temps of around 80°C under a full load, despite the beefy DeepCool AK620 Digital and relatively aggressive fan curve that I’ve set up for it.
Of course, it’s not good for a CPU to run super hot all the time, which is exactly why CPUs can lower the boost clock and even thermal throttle if necessary to preserve themselves.
It’s also worth pointing out that you shouldn’t rely on synthetic benchmark tests for CPU temps, as those are designed to provide an unrealistically high load for the CPU. If you’re concerned about your CPU’s lifespan, you really shouldn’t be. Well, for the most part anyway, as it will very likely outlive its usefulness.
The simple truth is that unless you have a seriously powerful CPU, such as a Ryzen 9, Intel Core Ultra 9, or perhaps a workstation Threadripper or Xeon, you don’t need an overkill CPU cooler. Even in instances where you buy a CPU without a cooler, it’s just the manufacturer passing the savings onto you so that you can invest in something better than the stock cooler.
I’ve seen time and time again people pairing their Intel/Ryzen 5s and 7s with $100+ liquid and air coolers, when they could have allocated that extra cash toward something that would make far more sense in their build, such as a higher-tier GPU, a better power supply, faster RAM, or maybe even a nicer motherboard.
AIOs look cool, but usually aren’t worth the cash
Let’s be honest: AIO coolers look insanely cool. From the transparent, industrial-looking CPU blocks and OLEDs to those alien-looking tubes that connect to an enormous radiator with RGB fans, there’s just nothing quite like them. The performance can also be pretty decent.
However, a good AIO that provides a real thermal advantage, such as the be quiet! Light Loop 360mm will set you back a pretty penny, and its advantages often don’t outweigh the cost and the many drawbacks of AIOs.
First, if you want a meaningful advantage from liquid cooling, you have to at least spring for a 360mm radiator. The 240mm and especially the 120mm options generally fall short compared to good air coolers, making them poor value for money.
Another disadvantage of AIOs is the added failure points. Liquid cooling uses, well, a liquid, to cool the CPU. As you might know, liquids and computers don’t mix, and there’s always a tiny possibility that something could go wrong with the closed loop, causing it to leak. Plus, the pump can fail at any time, which usually means replacing the whole cooler immediately.
Why I’ll Never Use an AIO CPU Cooler
Air supremacy.
Even big fancy air coolers are often more than you need
Okay, so you’re probably thinking you’d never use a liquid cooler when something like the Noctua NH-D15 G2 exists, which is one of the most powerful and quietest air coolers on the market. However, it costs as much as a high-end liquid cooler and almost as much as my AliExpress CPU. The question is, are you really getting your money’s worth with these $100+ air coolers?
In my opinion, not really. There are a few advantages that expensive air coolers have over cheap ones: they’re a bit quieter, a few degrees cooler under full load, generally have higher-quality finishes and better installation designs with more RAM clearance, the fans may last longer, and they may use more premium cooling materials like copper.
They’re absolute overkill for consumer-grade CPUs, especially if your workload rarely pushes the CPU to its absolute limit for long periods of time. I suppose it’s nice to know that your CPU is the top-dog in noise-normalized tests, but that’s it.
Cheap CPU coolers are shockingly capable
You’re probably thinking that I’m some sort of contrarian who’s going to tell you that aftermarket cooling is a gimmick, but that’s absolutely not the case. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t spend so much money on CPU cooling, especially if you have a set budget and could instead allocate it to more useful components.
That said, you probably should buy something to replace the stock cooler. The good news is that there’s a long list of excellent CPU coolers that cost less than $50 but can closely match the performance of models twice the price.
Some examples include the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, and my personal recommendation, the $30 ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE. If you want to spend a little more, you could spring for the ID-COOLING FROZN A720, though even that is already overkill for most CPUs. They might not look as flashy as premium models, but trust me, they’re just as cool.
- Brand
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ID-COOLING
- Cooling Method
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Air
The ID‑COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE is a dual-tower air CPU cooler with six 6mm heat pipes and two quiet 120mm PWM fans, offering efficient cooling for Intel and AMD processors. Its 157mm height and blackout design make it compatible with most cases while blending seamlessly into darker builds.
If you insist on getting an AIO, consider the Thermalright Frozen Prism 360. I personally wouldn’t, because of the aforementioned drawbacks of AIOs, but you do you.
All of these coolers will do an excellent job of keeping your CPU cool without breaking the bank. If you have some space above your motherboard’s I/O, you could potentially add an extra fan to these coolers for even more cooling. You can also create a custom fan curve in the BIOS if you need more performance. The important thing is to save your money for parts that actually matter.