Whats known as the best air CPU cooler?

Soldato
Joined
25 May 2011
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Just wondered what is known to be the best air cooler for CPU

One last question would the one you list, provide that much greater temps than this kit - Alphacool NexXxoS Cool Answer 240 DDC/XT WaterCooling Ki

???????????

:)
 
I don't believe there is a "best" air cooler.

Here's a list of many of the top coolers and their sizes.
Several are new like the Cryorig R1 Ultimate and Universal off-center to the rear 18mm (38mm center of CPU to fron of radiator). Ultimate has 13mm thick front fan. Also the new Dark Rock Pro 3 and Silver Arrow IB-E (off-center 9.5mm for better PCI-E clearance; 67.8mm center of CPU to edge of cooler) and TRUE Spirit 140 Power (as good as NH-D14 and quieter).


Code:
Cooler size comparison 
(Width x Depth x Height looking from front of case with motherboard laying flat)

    Cooler	 Heatpipes     Size W/O Fans	  	    Fans	       RAM Clearance*   CPU to Frt**  CPU to PCI-E****
			   Width x Depth x Height

Archon SB-E	8x 6mm OD  155  x   53.6 x 170.2mm	+ fans			   42.35mm	   26.8mm	77.5mm
Archon IB-E	8x 6mm OD  155  x   53.6 x 165.2mm	+ fans			   48.2mm	   26.5mm	69mm 8.5mm***
Akasa Medusa	8x 6mm OD  144  x  129.5 x 163mm	140mm & 120mm PWM fans     54.6mm	   64.3mm	72mm
Cryorig R1 
  Ultimate	7x 6mm OD  140  x  117.4 x 165.3mm	XF140(140x25) fans	   45mm		   40mm *2*	70mm
Cryorig R1 
  Universal	7x 6mm OD  140  x  115  x  165.3mm	SF140(25mm) & XT140(13mm)  45mm		   35.5mm *2*	70mm

K2 / Assassin 	8x 6mm OD  140  x  128  x  158mm	120mm & 140mm PWM fans     48.2mM	   64mm		70mm
Dark Rock Pro 2	7x 6mm OD  124  x  122  x  166mm	120mm & 135mm PWM fans     49.5mm			62mm
Dark Rock Pro 3	7x 6mm OD  133  x  123  x  163mm	120mm & 135mm PWM fans     44mm				66.5mm
HR-22		8x 6mm OD  150  x  120  x  159mm	+ fan			   41mm				70mm***	   	   
NH-D14		6x 6mm OD  140  x  130  x  160mm	120mm & 140mm fans         49mm		   62mm		70mm

NH-U14S		6x 6mm OD  150  x   52  x  165mm     	+ fans		   	   46mm		   26mm		75mm
NH-D15		6x 6mm OD  150  x  136  x  165mm	2x 140mm fans		    *1*		   67.5mm	75mm
Macho rev.B	6x 6mm OD  140  x  102  x  162mm	1x 140mm PWM fan	   45.1mm	   0.0mm	70mm
Megahalem	6x 6mm OD  130  x   74  x  158.7mm	+ fans			   39.45mm	   37MM		70mm
PH-TC14PE	5x 8mm OD  140  x  159  x  160mm	2x 140mm fans, PWM adaptor 45-50mm	   72mm		65mm

SS HE01		6x 6mm OD  140  x  119  x  160mm	1x 140x38mm PWM fan	   47mm		   47.5mm *2*	70mm
Silver Arrow	4x 8mm OD  147  x  123  x  163mm	2x 140mm Fans		   45.87mm	   61.4mm	73.5mm
Silver Arrow
  SB-E		8x 6mm OD  155  x  105  x  164mm	mid 150mm/frt 140mm PWM	   36.9/44/51mm*3* 51mm		77.5mm
Silver Arrow
  SB-E Extreme	8x 6mm OD  155  x  105  x  164mm	mid 140mm/frt 140mm PWM	   36.9/44/51mm*3* 51mm		77.6mm
Silver Arrow
  IB-E		8x 6mm OD  154.6 x 103  x  164mm***	2x 140mm 1300rpm fans	   46.95mm	   51.5mm	67.8mm 9.5mm***

Silver Arrow
  IB-E Extreme	8x 6mm OD  154.6 x 103  x  164mm***	2x 140mm 2500rpm fans	   46.95mm	   51.5mm	67.8mm 9.5mm***
TRUE Spirit 
  140 Power	6x 8mm OD  155  x   53.4 x 170mm	TY-147 1300rpm		   49.3mm	   25.5mm *2*	70mm 5mm***
TRUE Spirit
  140 rev. A 	6x 6mm OD  155  x   53.4 x 165mm	TY-147 1300rpm		   37mm		   26.7mm	69mm***


* Add 3mm for motherboard to bottom fin
** Center CpU to front of cooler W/O fan
*** Center CPU to PCIe side (base is off-center for better PCI-E slot clearance)
**** Center CPU to PCIe side is half of total cooler width
*1* Recessed lower fins, the NH-D15 provide 64mm RAM clearance
*2* Offest back for better RAM clearance
*3* Fins are at 3 different levels
If you notice any errors, please let me know.
 
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And here is temps based on 117-345watt of CPU heat.

Code:
CPU Cooler Temperature Database

	Cooler			Fans 	Fan Model	RPM/CFM		345.1W 	289.9W	232.1W	175.4W	117.1W	 dBA*
									  Temperatures	  in	   Celcius 
Cooler Master Nepton 280L 	2x JetFlo 140 		2000 / 122.5 	17.1 	14.6 	11.9 	9.2 	6.2 	55.8
Cooler Master Seidon 240M 	2x DF1202512RFUN 	2400 / 86  	20.2 	17.1 	14.1 	10.4 	7.9 	50.7
Silverstone Tundra TD02 	2x AS1225H12 		2500 / 92.5  	20.6 	17.6 	14.6 	10.7 	6.9 	49.6
Corsair H105 			2x SP120L 		2700 / 3  	21.5 	18.5 	15.8 	11.9 	8.5 	54.3
Corsair H110 			2x 	? 		1500 / 94  	22.5 	19.3 	16.0 	12.1 	8.8 	48.7

Corsair H100i 			2x SP120L 		2700 / 73  	23.8 	20.5 	17.0 	13.0 	9.9 	54.3
NZXT 	Kraken X60 		2x FX-140 		2000 / 98.3  	23.9 	20.8 	17.3 	12.9 	9.0 	51.2
Corsair H100 			2x 	? 		2500 / 92  	24.4 	20.6 	16.7 	12.9 	9.0 	51.2
Noctua 	NH-D15 			2x NF-A15		1500 / 82.5  	24.0 	21.1 	18.0 	13.7 	10.1 	41.5
Cooler Master Seidon 120XL 	2x DF1202512RFUN 	2400 / 86  	25.5 	21.2 	17.2 	13.2 	9.0 	53.2

Akasa 	Medusa 			1x AK-FN059 		1900 / 84  	26.7 	22.5 	18.7 	13.7 	10.1 	48.1
				1x AK-FN073 		1600 / 110
Thermalright SilverArrow SB-E 	1x TY-150 		1100 / 84  	26.9 	22.8 	18.7 	14.1 	9.5 	37.4
				1x TY-141 		1300 / 74
Noctua 	NH-U14S 		1x NF-A15		1500 / 82.5  	27.0 	22.9 	19.4 	14.9 	10.6 	35.8
Phanteks PH-TC14PE Black 	2x PH-F140 		1300 / 88.6  	27.4 	23.5 	19.2 	14.1 	9.9 	41.3
Antec 	KÜHLER 1250 		2x 	? 		2400 / 98  	27.4 	22.9 	18.9 	14.9 	10.9 	54.4

Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 	1x T12025-MF-PWM 	1500 / 67.8 	28.2 	25.9 	20.2 	16.4 	11.2 	38.2
				1x T13525-MF-PWM 	1700 / 57.2
Cooler Master Eisberg 240L 	2x SA12025SA2 		1600 / 60.2  	28.9 	23.6 	19.6 	15.0 	10.3 	48.5
Thermaltake Frio Extreme 	2x PLA14025S12H 	1800 / 106.2 	29.3 	24.8 	20.4 	15.9 	10.7 	48.7
Enermax Liqtech 240 		2x ELC-LT120HP 		2500 / 111  	29.6 	25.2 	21.2 	15.9 	11.4 	57.4
Silverstone Tundra TD03 	2x AS1225H12 		2500 / 92.5  	29.7 	24.9 	19.8 	15.5 	10.7 	51.4

Prolimatech Megahalems BlkViper	2x AK-FN059 		1900 / 83.6  	30.4 	25.8 	23.4 	16.0 	11.5 	46.5
Noctua 	NH-D14 			1x NF-P14 		1200 / 64.9  	30.6 	26.2 	21.3 	16.3 	11.8 	38.2
				1x NF-P12 		1300 / 54.3
Antec 	KÜHLER 920 		2x 	? 		2400 / 110  	30.8 	27.0 	22.8 	18.6 	14.0 	60.5
Scythe 	Mugen 3 		1x SY1225SL12M-P 	1200 / 68.54  	31.0 	25.6 	21.3 	14.8 	10.8 	42.7
Xigmatek Aegir (SD128264) 	1x PLA12025S12M-4 	2200 / 89.45  	31.1 	26.0 	20.5 	15.2 	10.3 	45.9

Thermaltake Frio OCK 		2x EF RB14025SH 	2100 / 121  	31.3 	26.7 	22.1 	18.1 	13.1 	41.1
Corsair H90 			1x SP140 		1500 / 94  	31.5 	26.3 	21.8 	16.5 	11.9 	59.3
Silverstone Argon AR01 		1x AS1225H12 		2200 / 81.40  	31.7 	26.9 	22.3 	17.4 	12.1 	42.8
Thermalright Ultra 120 eXTreme 	1x PLA12025S12M-4 	2200 / 89.45  	32.1 	27.0 	22.5 	17.0 	12.0 	45.9
Enermax Liqtech 120X 		2x ELC-LT120HP 		2500 / 111  	32.4 	26.9 	22.3 	16.9 	12.2 	57.3
ELC-LT120HP 	2500 /111

Prolimatech Genesis Black 	2x PH-F140 		1300 / 88.6  	33.1 	24.4 	19.3 	14.2 	9.7 	41.7
Xigmatek Dark Knight SD1283  	1x A1225H12S 		2200 / 89.45  	34.4 	28.8 	23.5 	18.1 	12.8 	42.8
(Night Hawk Edition)
Alpenfohn Matterhorn Pure 	1x 	? 		1500 / 108  	34.5 	29.1 	23.8 	17.9 	12.6 	39.8
Noctua 	NH-U12S 		1x NF-F1		1500 / 55	35.3 	29.9 	24.9 	19.0 	13.7 	37.3	
Corsair H75 			2x AF120L 		2000 / 54 	35.4 	29.6 	24.9 	19.0 	14 	44.8

Antec 	KÜHLER 650 		1x 	? 		2400 / 98  	36.2 	30.5 	24.9 	20.1 	14.9 	47.4
Scythe 	Mine 2 			2x SM1425SL12H		1700 / 92.4  	37.7 	31.7 	25.9 	19.7 	13.8 	38.0**
Cooler Master TPC 800 		2x PLA12025S12M-4	2200 / 89.45  	38.6 	30.1 	22.6 	15.8 	10.6 	43.1
Prolimatech Panther 		1x RL4R S1202512LNP-4M 	1600 / 72.7  	42.0 	35.9 	29.6 	21.8 	16.5 	41.5

Antec KÜHLER 620 		1x 	? 		2000 / ?  	42.0 	35.5 	29.4 	22.6 	16.1 	43.1

NZXT HAVIK 140 			2x 	? 		1200 / 90.3  	42.3 	35.7 	29.0 	22.7 	14.7 	42.5
Be Quiet! Shadow Rock 2 	1 BQ PUW2-12025-MR-PWM 	1600 / 51  	45.4 	39.7 	32.8 	25.7 	19.4 	38.3


* Measured at 0.5m distance
** Measured with old db meter (not accurate)

http://www.thelab.gr/heatsinks-coolers-watercooling-reviews/cpu-cooler-review-database-89014.html

Should keep you busy for a few minutes. :D

If you find any errors please let me know.
 
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For value for money the k2 takes a lot of beating, can be had much cheaper now than when it was released. Due to how it angles out though, it does come close to pci slots on a few boards.
 
Out of the box the Silver Arrow SB-E Extreme and Silver Arrow IB-E Extreme have the best cooling... but only because they use TY-143 fans with 130cfm and 2500rpm. The nice thing is if these fans are 1300rpm or below they are as quiet as most other fans.

The next is probably the HE01 with it's FHP140 fan's with 170cfm and 2000rpm.

But these are the best cooling because of their fans. Put similar fans on NH-D14, TC14PE, etc and they will perform very similar.
 
The Deepcool Lucifer is worth a mention, great reviews and cheap.

Definitely it seems to compete with the £50+ coolers, not many people are aware of this cooler yet, it's only £30 and should be back in stock soon! Only thing is they've done a Noctua and chosen an ugly fan colour

What is the Phanteks PH-TC14PE like to fit?

Apparently the tricky part is screwing it into place as it requires an allen key. To be fair it's only a one off thing anyway, how often are you going to be removing the cooler?:p
 
The Deepcool Lucifer is worth a mention, great reviews and cheap.
Think I need to add it to the list. :o

What is the Phanteks PH-TC14PE like to fit?
My Phanteks' (have installed 5 now) have been a breeze to install. I always test fit before applying TIM to be sure all threads work and everything lines up as it should. But have never had a problem.

Definitely it seems to compete with the £50+ coolers, not many people are aware of this cooler yet, it's only £30 and should be back in stock soon! Only thing is they've done a Noctua and chosen an ugly fan colour

Apparently the tricky part is screwing it into place as it requires an allen key. To be fair it's only a one off thing anyway, how often are you going to be removing the cooler?:p
Had heard of Lucifer but reviews I'd seen only compared it to mid-range coolers, so didn't pay it much attention. :o
 
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Big fan (no pun intended) of the Prolimatech Black Genesis.
Not the best, according to the list above, but the split design looks great in a windowed case, and gives airflow over the mobo and RAM slots too.
Got two 140mm Bitfenix Spectre Pro PWMs strapped to mine, and at 4.6GHz a 'high' IBT pass maxes out at 72-ish C. Which I don't think is too shabby...
 
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