Market Leading CPU Coolers
There is not a one solution fits all product when it comes to CPU coolers. A large spacious full tower PC will not have an issue using a massive 160mm tower style cooler such as the Noctua NH-D15, while those who are more cost conscious might lean toward more affordable options such as the Cryorig H7.
Even if their is space available, some users prioritise operating volume over temperatures in which case the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 offers a fine balance. If any level of fan noise is an issue, then a big passive cooler such as the Thermalright Le Grand Macho will be in order.
Those with a limited headroom will want to check out the ever growing range of compact CPU coolers, such as the Thermalright's AXP-200R.
If air cooling comes off as unadventurous, an all-in-one liquid cooler may be of interest. This category has a wide range of options now such as the Corsair Hydro Series H115i GTX (renamed H110i GTX).
Performance Air-Cooler
Noctua NH-D15
The NH-D15 is not outrageously expensive and yet it seems to make no compromises. This is an air-cooler that is designed to deliver the best performance while generating as little noise as possible.
Despite the NH-D15's massive size, compatibility generally isn't an issue though you will need at least 165mm of clearance for it. Conveniently, Noctua also proves an extensive motherboard compatibility list on their website covering several hundred models.
Out of the box the NH-D15 is a universal product supporting all current AMD and Intel platforms as well as older sockets such as AMD's FM1 or Intel's LGA1156.
Value Air-Cooler
Cryorig H7 Universal
Cooler Master 212 products have been recommended for low cost cooling for a long time. The CM Hyper 212 Evo remains a favorite for overclocking on a budget simply because it delivers exceptional performance without sounding like a leaf blower at low cost.
However the Cryorig H7 has gained a lot of followers recently and for good reason. For a little extra money it provides superior cooling performance and generates less noise than the CM 212. The Cryorig's H7 also has a better installation process and arguably looks better with its hive-fin design.
Compatibility shouldn't be an issue either as the Cryorig H7 measures just 145mm tall making it one of the smallest tower coolers on the market to support a 120mm fan. In other words, the H7 will fit in most mid-tower PC chassis.
The 98mm depth also means that there is no limitation on memory module height as the Cryorig H7 does not cover the DIMM slots. Out of the box it will support mainstream Intel LGA1150, 1151, 1155 and 1156 platforms as well as all current AMD platforms.
Low Noise Cooler
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
Those who prioritize operating volume over performance will be more interested in the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 than Noctua's NH-D15.
Like the NH-D15, the Dark Rock Pro 3 touts top-notch build quality and that's to be expected considering it matches the Noctua in cost.
It is thought the Dark Rock Pro 3 would perform similarly to the NH-D15 using the same fans at the same operating speed. However, as a package the Dark Rock Pro 3 has more of a bias towards operating volume.
The Dark Rock Pro 3 comes with a 135mm fan sandwiched between the towers while a 120mm can be found on the front forcing air though the heatsink.
Passive Cooler
Thermalright Le Grand Macho CPU Cooler
If you find the whisper quiet operating volume of the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 too much then perhaps a completely passive solution is the solution. One of the best opinions for a passive passive heatsink is the massive Thermalright Le Grand Macho.
Despite its truly epic size the Le Grand Macho is not expensive for such a massive lump of neatly crafted metal. While it has a passive design, the Le Grand Macho is intended to be used with high-end desktop processors such as the Core i7-5960X as it can actively dissipate up to 300W. Boasting an enlarged copper base, the Le Grand Macho covers the entire surface area of large Haswell-E (2011-3) processors.
Measuring 140mm x 125mm and 159mm tall, the heatsink tips the scales at 900g without a fan thanks to 35 0.4mm aluminium fins spaced 3.1mm apart and six 6mm heatpipes.
The Le Grand Macho is to be offered in a silver finish with black-anodised lid, and will be supplied without fans but including mounting parts and a long-neck screwdriver for installation. Thermalright is also selling an optional 120mm or 140mm fan duct that allows users to better direct airflow from their case fans over the heatsink.
Low-Profile Cooler
Thermalright AXP-200R
There is a good range of low-profile HTPC type coolers now because of the ever popular Mini-ITX platform. Stand out low-profile coolers include the Silverstone NT06-Pro, Noctua NH-L12, Raijintek Pallas and the one featured here the Thermalright AXP-200.
The Thermalright AXP-200 is probably the market leader in this category, but there is also the considerably cheaper Raijintek Pallas. If the focus is on cost then the Pallas is probably the option as it is essentially a clone of the AXP-200.
As with all clones, the quality of the Pallas isn't as good as that of the more expensive AXP-200 and the installation process is not as refined. Still, it is hard to ignore that at just half the price it delivers a similar level of performance.
With the AXP-200, Thermalright has also introduced the AXP-200R and AXP-200 Muscle. The AXP-200R is designed to match the Asus ROG series and as expected, the fan is red and black. The AXP-200 Muscle is a black and white version.
AIO Liquid Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H115i
All-in-one liquid coolers are extremely popular these days as they generally outperform air coolers and do so while generating less noise. With most units costing just a little more than a high-end air cooler such as the Noctua NH-D15, going liquid is a viable option.
Adding to the appeal of liquid cooling is the ease of installation of all-in-one kits as they come pre-assembled and ready to mount in the system. There are no hoses to connect, no reservoirs to fill and no leaks to check for. These units allow typical users to get in on the benefits of liquid cooling with almost none of the pitfalls.
With dozens of AIO liquid coolers to choose from, narrowing it down to a single one is no easy task and perhaps not even possible. The H115i product is priced competitively, performs well, installs easy and features an excellent build quality along with impeccable reliability.
Other products such as the Predator series as are hideously expensive and do not manage to outperform the Corsair H115i. The Predator 240 is more flexible as additional parts can be added into the loop without any trouble, but for the extra cost it is hard to justify. Not just that, but so far reliability has proven to be a real issue for EK's Predator range.
The Corsair Hydro Series H115i provides the very best performance in its class and thus far has proven to be extremely reliable.