When building a new PC, one often overlooked component is your CPU cooler as many new CPUs come with an included model that's guaranteed to fit. However, if you're planning on building a computer for gaming, or a mini PC, you'll want a dedicated system to keep everything cool while you work or play.
We've done the research and found the best CPU coolers in the UK from top brands like Cooler Master, Corsair and Noctua. Whether you're looking for a budget fan cooler for a low-cost build, or a powerful liquid cooling system for your high-end gaming rig, read on for our tips and advice!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of CPU coolers available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Cooler Master | 2 ![]() Noctua | 3 ![]() Corsair | 4 ![]() Cooler Master | 5 ![]() Cooler Master | 6 ![]() Cooler Master | 7 ![]() Noctua | 8 ![]() Corsair | 9 ![]() Be Quiet | 10 ![]() ARCTIC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition | Premium Dual-Tower CPU Cooler | Hydro H60 Liquid Cooler | MasterLiquid ML360 Illusion Liquid Cooler | MasterAir Stealth | MasterLiquid ML120L V2 RGB Liquid Cooler | Premium Low-Profile CPU Cooler | iCUE H115i Elite Capellix | Pure Rock 2 | Liquid Freezer II 120 |
Features | An Affordable and Effective Cooler from the Best Brand in the Business | An Award Wining Fan That Performs as Well as a Liquid Cooler | An Easy to Install Option for Your First Liquid Cooled Build | High-Performance Liquid Cooling With Stunning ARGB Lighting Effects | A Whisper Quiet Fan Cooler for Those Worried About Noise | Liquid CPU Cooling That Offers Great Value for Money | The Perfect Cooler for Mini-ITX Builds | Powerful Cooling for Gaming Rigs | The Cheapest CPU Cooler for Budget Builds | A Cost Effective Option for Liquid Cooling an LGA 1700 CPU |
Price | £39.89 | £89.99 | £59.95 | £97.99 | £68.00 | £49.49 | £39.99 | £149.98 | £34.86 | £79.99 |
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan | Fan | Liquid | Liquid | Fan | Liquid | Fan | Liquid | Fan | Liquid |
Socket Compatibility | Universal | AM4 | Universal | Universal | Universal | Universal | Intel | Universal | Universal | Universal (CPU specific brackets needed) |
Dimensions | 12 x 7.9 x 15.8 cm | 16.1 x 15 x 16.5 cm | 36 x 16 x 12 cm | 39.4 x 12 x 2.7 cm | 12.9 x 11.2 x 15.8 cm | 23.9 x 20.7 x 13.7 cm | 9.5 x 9.5 x 6.5 cm | 39.7 x 12 x 12 cm | 12 x 12 x 2.5 cm | 22.7 x 12 x 3.8 cm |
Best For | Budget builds, mid-range gaming PCs | Mid-range AMD gaming PCs | Beginners, mid/high-end gaming PCs | High-end gaming PCs | Silent workstations, mid-range gaming PCs | Mid/high-end gaming PCs | mini-ITX | High-end gaming PCs | Budget builds | Mid-range gaming PCs |
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Fan coolers are usually a cheaper and more convenient option for your CPU than liquid cooling. This is because the fan is already attached to the heatsink, which you then place over the CPU and screw into place with the included bracket. Most builds outside of high-end gaming rigs with the most modern hardware won't require liquid cooling, so you won't have to worry about overheating, especially with the UK's temperatures!
The main drawback of an entirely fan-cooled PC is that it can be noticeably, and surprisingly, loud. If you're someone that likes to work in silence or not disturb your household, it can be distracting to have a computer that sounds like it could take off in flight at any moment. Some even find it relaxing, with the fans acting like a white noise machine.
For more resource-intensive, high-end gaming rigs, video editing computers, and 3D rendering PCs, you'll want to consider a liquid cooler. These are much more efficient than fan coolers and can keep even the hottest running rigs at safe temperatures without issue.
However, the extra cooling power does usually come at aconsiderably higher cost, so they're best suited for those looking to invest in a long-term work or gaming computer rather than a budget build. They can also be fiddly to install, so we'd recommend you get professional assistance if you're not confident in your abilities as a falsely installed liquid cooler can cause a lot of damage.
Just as with other components of your PC, making sure your cooler is compatible with your build is crucial. While some coolers are specifically designed for certain CPU socket types, the majority of coolers are universally compatible. However, this shouldn't be taken as a given due to the different bracket types that can cause issues.
We recommend checking everything with PCPartPicker to make sure there aren't any issues as each cooler has a list of socket types they are compatible with. This can be as broad as being compatible with both Intel and AMD, only one chipset type, or even a specific socket like an AM4 or LGA 1700.
Check out some of the best Intel and AMD CPUs on the market today!
One issue that can potentially crop up is the physical size of some of the larger fan coolers, or the radiators of liquid coolers. It may seem obvious, but you'll want to make sure the dimensions actually fit physically into your case, while having enough room around it to dissipate heat effectively.
Large coolers can cause issues with certain motherboards by getting in the way of other ports and sockets. If you opt for a cooler with a large heatsink and it overhangs the RAM ports, you're going to have a big problem when putting together your build for the first time. If in doubt, double-check with PCPartPicker!
Make sure everything fits with a gaming motherboard if you're building a gaming PC!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
SF120R
£39.89
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 12 x 7.9 x 15.8 cm |
Best For | Budget builds, mid-range gaming PCs |
NH-D15
£89.99
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | AM4 |
Dimensions | 16.1 x 15 x 16.5 cm |
Best For | Mid-range AMD gaming PCs |
£59.95
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Liquid |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 36 x 16 x 12 cm |
Best For | Beginners, mid/high-end gaming PCs |
£97.99
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Liquid |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 39.4 x 12 x 2.7 cm |
Best For | High-end gaming PCs |
MA612
£68.00
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 12.9 x 11.2 x 15.8 cm |
Best For | Silent workstations, mid-range gaming PCs |
£49.49
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Liquid |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 23.9 x 20.7 x 13.7 cm |
Best For | Mid/high-end gaming PCs |
NH-L9i
£39.99
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Intel |
Dimensions | 9.5 x 9.5 x 6.5 cm |
Best For | mini-ITX |
£149.98
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Liquid |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 39.7 x 12 x 12 cm |
Best For | High-end gaming PCs |
BK007
£34.86
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Fan |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal |
Dimensions | 12 x 12 x 2.5 cm |
Best For | Budget builds |
£79.99
Fan / Liquid Cooling | Liquid |
---|---|
Socket Compatibility | Universal (CPU specific brackets needed) |
Dimensions | 22.7 x 12 x 3.8 cm |
Best For | Mid-range gaming PCs |
Written and researched by David Sexton
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