
Top rated CPU coolers
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1. Noctua NH-D15 Chromax
The NH-D15 chromax.black is a completely black version of Noctua's award-winning flagship model, the NH-D15. The recipe for success of this premium cooler remains unchanged thanks to the same dual-tower design and the proven NF-A15 PWM fans: the CPU cooler offers excellent quiet operation combined with cooling performance that can compete with complete water cooling systems. The chromax.black version, with its black fans and black-coated heatsink, additionally combines these advantages with a sleek stealth design. The overall high-quality package is completed by the renowned multi-socket mounting system SecuFirm2 and Noctua's popular NT-H1 thermal paste. Whether for overclockers or silent enthusiasts: the NH-D15 chromax.black is a true premium solution that looks just as good as it cools.
Pro
- Quiet like YouTube cats that sneak up on you or ghosts of deceased guinea pigs
- Extremely good cooling performance
- Easy to install despite its size
Contra
- Possibly too large for some PC cases
- The part is huge, can lead to assembly compromises
- Hanging the fans could be made easier with markings or similar.

2. be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2
Be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 2 is particularly suitable for quiet and compact multimedia systems. Thanks to its compact dimensions, Pure Rock Slim 2 is the perfect choice for PC cases with limited space. The asymmetrical design allows for complete configuration of RAM slots. For this reason, the cooler is compatible with a wide range of components and offers many configuration options. The Pure Rock Slim 2 features three heat pipes with aluminum caps. These are key to its high cooling performance, as they efficiently transfer heat to the cooling fins.
Pro
- runs well and quietly
- Cools well even with high heat loads
- Super easy assembly
Contra
- Thermal compound already applied
- Mounting with standard push pins
- very quiet, but the fan cools far too little for my liking

3. Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black
If you are passionate about IT and electronics, want to stay up to date with technology, and don't want to miss even the tiniest details, purchase the Noctua NH-U12ACH.BK laptop fan.
Voltage: 12 V
Color: Black
Material: Aluminum, Copper, Nickel
Width: 12.5 cm
Speed: 2000 rpm, 450 rpm
Airflow: 102.1 m³/h
Diameter: 12 cm
Compatible: AMD AM4, LGA 1200, LGA 1700, LGA 2066, LGA 1150, LGA 1151, LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA 2011, AMD AM5
Fan: 2
Included: Mounting kit
Dimensions approx.: 12 x 12 x 2.5 cm
Noise level: 22 dB
Quantity: 1 piece.
Pro
- Very quiet (5/5)
- High cooling capacity
- Cools my Ryzen 9 7900 well
Contra
- Very large
- A little noisy when used without silent adapter
- ugly colour of the fans, nogo

4. Noctua Nh-U9s
The asymmetric design with 5 heat pipes allows for both increased cooling performance and better compatibility. With a footprint of 95 x 95 mm, the cooler does not overhang the memory slots or PCIe slots on all Intel and most AMD-based motherboards (including µATX and ITX). Combined with a compact height of 125 mm, this makes the NH-U9S a versatile solution with excellent case, RAM, and PCIe compatibility. The included NF-A9 premium fan ensures outstanding quiet operation, with its speed being fully automated via PWM control. With a second NF-A9 fan, available separately, cooling performance can be further enhanced in a dual-fan setup.
Pro
- Quiet when the fan curve is set
- Super cooling performance for my purposes
- Assembly, operating instructions unambiguous
Contra
- A little expensive
- Large and heavy
- (colour)

5. Noctua NH-U12S Chromax Black
Noctua is one of the well-known names in the silent and high-end cooling sector, particularly renowned for its CPU coolers, which enjoy an excellent reputation. These coolers combine outstanding build quality with high cooling performance and minimal noise levels. The self-developed fans from Noctua play a significant role in this, and they are also available separately to serve as case, CPU, or radiator fans.
The NH-U12S is the latest 12 cm single-tower CPU cooler in Noctua's classic U-series, which has received over 400 awards and recommendations from international specialist publications. The 45 mm slim design of the S-version not only guarantees 100% compatibility with tall RAM modules but also enables, through a further optimized design in conjunction with the fully automatic PWM-controlled NF-F12 FocusedFlow fan, an even better silent cooling performance compared to the previous version.
Pro
- Cools quietly and efficiently
- Very simple installation (AM4)
- Good cooling capacity
Contra
- Price (a little expensive for some)
- nothing negative
- not very good value

6. Alpenföhn "Ben Nevis" Rev.C
Thanks to its volume flow of 95.14 m³/hour, the Alpenföhn "Ben Nevis" offers an excellent performance ratio for all price-conscious users. The speed of the fan can be regulated from 400 - 1600 rpm via the PWM connection, achieving a noise level of 8 - 20.2 dB. The Shock KILLER POLE absorbs shocks during the transport of a PC system.
Pro
- Cools (not so) well and is quiet
- Good cooling capacity
- Very simple installation
Contra
- Thermal paste is difficult to get out of the bag
- no RGB ;D
- Large against performance

7. be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5
The Dark Rock Pro 5 features seven high-performance copper heat pipes and a special black coating with ceramic particles. The two Silent Wings PWM fans are equipped with durable fluid-dynamic bearings, quiet 6-pole motors, and airflow-optimized fan blades. With a speed switch, you can choose between two modes, each affecting the maximum speed and PWM curve. The "Quiet" mode offers a maximum fan speed of up to 1500 RPM and is the perfect choice for everyday applications. The "Performance" mode allows the Silent Wings fans to spin at up to 2000 RPM, unleashing the full power of the Dark Rock Pro 5. The removable mesh cover with an integrated middle fan is installed from the top. A completely black mounting kit with a pre-installed mounting bridge and fastening screws perfectly matches the black design of the cooler. Thanks to a nickel-plated cooling plate, the Dark Rock Pro 5 is compatible with liquid metal thermal paste like the DC2 Pro. The properties of the liquid metal compound, combined with the Dark Rock Pro 5, enable high-end CPUs to achieve even higher performance.
Pro
- Very quiet even under high load
- High cooling capacity for powerful CPUs
- Easy assembly
Contra
- Very large
- Quite large, be careful with the RAM height and housing size
- Is very huge

8. be quiet! Dark Rock Slim
Uncompromisingly quiet cooling of superlatives
The Dark Rock Slim offers an exceptionally high cooling performance of 180W TDP and is nearly inaudibly quiet. Perfect for high-end systems with limited space.
Space-saving design
Powerful cooling in small PCs
The compact design and excellent heat dissipation, even in small PCs, make the Dark Rock Slim the perfect choice for high-end systems with limited space. Thanks to its space-saving construction, no memory slots are blocked.
Nearly inaudible operation
Only 23.6 dB(A) even at 100% load
The Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM fan is equipped with seven airflow-optimized fan blades, a quiet 6-pole motor, and a durable fluid-dynamic bearing. Vibration-isolating elements attached to the heatsink allow for decoupled fan mounting.
Especially high cooling performance
The perfect balance of performance and noise
The Dark Rock Slim achieves an impressive performance of 180W TDP and ensures low system temperatures even when the CPU is running at full speed. For exceptional cooling requirements, there is also the option to install an additional 120mm retail fan.
Advanced design
The key to high-end cooling
The Dark Rock Slim features four advanced 6mm high-performance copper heat pipes that ensure maximum thermal conductivity. Airflow-optimized, wave-shaped cooling fins with small surface dots enhance air circulation. A special coating with ceramic particles ensures perfect heat transfer.
Pro
- Very quiet
- Good cooling capacity
- beautiful design
Contra
- Compatibility table from Be quiet!
- Very large
- somewhat loud

9. Noctua Nh-U14s
Thanks to the larger format, six heatpipes and the NF-A15 140mm fan with PWM support for fully automatic speed control, the silent cooling performance of the NH-U14S surpasses all other coolers in the U series. At the same time, the 52mm slim design guarantees full compatibility with high memory modules on LGA2011. The all-round high-quality package is completed by the proven SecuFirm2 mounting system, Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal compound and a 6-year manufacturer's warranty. Its outstanding cooling performance, good compatibility and excellent quietness make the NH-U14S a premium solution for the highest demands.
Mounting brackets for older models are available from the manufacturer.
Pro
- Quietly does what it should
- Good cooling performance!
- Simple installation
Contra
- Very large (clarify compatibility with housing)
- Is the size

10. Xilence I250PWM
The I250 PWM from Xilence, known for its quiet PC components, provides efficient cooling for powerful CPUs with its high airflow. The red 92mm fan is extremely quiet thanks to its Hydro Bearing and PWM control. The cooler is compatible with Core i7/i5/i3 and Pentium G9650 processors. Additionally, it features a secure and stable mounting system with a backplate.
Pro
- Very quiet with a 65 watt CPU
- Easy assembly
- Cools my 5.2ghz i3-8350k
Contra
- No installation instructions
- Not too loud but audible when PC is open
- cools insufficiently
