PC Analytics - Best Air Cooler Overall
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Thermalright |
| Cooler Name | Phantom Spirit 120 SE |
| Stated dBa | 25.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 7 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 125x154x135 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 7.3 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 7.9 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 6.0 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | Phantom Spirit 120 SE Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is a stylish and high-performing cooler with a sleek design featuring a large aluminum heatsink, all-black fans, and a black top radiator. It has two 120mm fans that ensure your computer stays cool and runs smoothly, and it's compatible with various types of processors. With its seven heat pipes and ability to handle tough tasks and overclocking, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE is an attractive choice for computer enthusiasts of all ages who want a top-notch cooler without spending a fortune. Plus, it's available in different styles to match your preference.
Installation Insights
This cooler installation is very similar to Noctua's typical installation, which is one of the easier installation setups. However, it also faces similar issues regarding uninstalling this cooler, where the cooler is unable to slide/twist off the cooler to break the thermal paste seal. This might be necessary if the thermal paste has a strong hold between the cooler and the CPU.
Thermalright Frost Spirit 140
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Thermalright |
| Cooler Name | Frost Spirit 140 |
| Stated dBa | 25.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 4 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 121x158x140 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 7.2 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 8.1 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 5.1 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 7 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | Frost Spirit 140 Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Frost Spirit CPU cooler offers a sleek design resembling the Frost Commander and Peerless Assassin 120. It requires extra effort to secure the fans to the heatsink due to the metal's firm placement. Despite its larger radiator, the Frost Spirit maintains a compact size with a single 120mm front fan and a 140mm fan between the heatsinks. It delivers impressive performance, rivaling Noctua's offerings, and is capable of effectively cooling powerful CPUs and managing overclocking. Notably, it stands out for its remarkably quiet operation, surpassing the noise levels of the Frost Commander 140, with a noise profile similar to the NH-D15. Overall, the Frost Spirit is a stylish, powerful, and quiet CPU cooler suitable for various computer setups.
Installation Insights
The cooler installation is quite similar to Noctua's easy setup and is identical to the Frost Commander's setup. However, during installation, securing the fans to the heatsink requires more effort (relative to the Phantom Spirit or Peerless Assassin), which is due to the metal securing the fans requiring much more effort to place. For this reason, it's also a lot easier to slightly bend the heatsink fins, but this can be fixed by bending it back with a credit card. </p><p> Additionally, like Noctua coolers, the Frost Spirit faces challenges in uninstalling when trying to break the thermal paste seal between the cooler and CPU, as it doesn't easily slide or twist off. This can be an issue if the thermal paste forms a strong bond.
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Be Quiet! |
| Cooler Name | Dark Rock Pro 4 |
| Stated dBa | 24.3 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 7 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 136x162x145 mm |
| Radiator 1 (WxHxD) | 136x106x47 mm |
| Radiator 2 (WxHxD) | 136x106x47 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 7.1 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 6.6 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 8.9 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 2 (Difficult) |
| Manufacture's Link | Dark Rock Pro 4 Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler is perfect if you want a powerful, good-looking, and really quiet cooler for your computer. It's great at keeping your computer cool and is easy to put in, so it's a top choice for all kinds of people who build computers, whether for work or gaming. Just keep in mind that the installation can be a bit more challenging than other coolers, especially for beginners.
Installation Insights
Putting together the Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler can be tough, especially since it's a premium cooler. There are a few things that make it harder to install. First, it uses a metal bar to attach to the computer's motherboard, and it can be tricky to get it in the right spot. Second, the system for attaching the fan to the cooler isn't very easy to use because it doesn't have a helpful spot to lift the metal. You might need to use your nails or other tools to put the fan on, which makes it more complicated. Lastly, there's a metal plate at the top of the cooler that makes it look nice and helps with noise, but it also blocks your view of the middle fan and makes it harder to attach the cooler to the mount. </p><p> Because of its design, the Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler might be a better choice for people who have built computers before. If you're new to building computers, it could be pretty challenging. But there is a good thing about this cooler: it doesn't cause problems with fitting your computer's memory (RAM) in most setups, which is an issue with some other coolers.
Noctua NH-D15
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Noctua |
| Cooler Name | NH-D15 |
| Stated dBa | 22.4 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 6 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 150x165x161 mm |
| Radiator 1 (WxHxD) | 150x102x50 mm |
| Radiator 2 (WxHxD) | 150x102x50 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 7.0 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 8.2 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 4.6 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 7 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | NH-D15 Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The NH-D15 is a dual-tower cooler with two aluminum heatsinks and a pair of Noctua's 140mm NF-A15 PWM fans, ensuring superior heat dissipation for a wide range of processors, even those with high TDPs. Its six heat pipes efficiently transfer heat, making it suitable for high levels of overclocking and demanding situations. With its signature beige and brown color scheme, the NH-D15 is not only known for its performance but also its quiet operation, thanks to the fans' design and included Low-Noise Adaptors for further noise reduction during intense workloads or gaming sessions.
Installation Insights
The NH-D15 features Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system, ensuring compatibility with numerous Intel and AMD sockets. The installation process is made easy with the help of clear instructions and top-notch components. Additionally, Noctua includes a tube of their high-quality NT-H1 thermal compound for optimal heat transfer between the CPU and heatsink. However, the cooler's large size may make it challenging to maneuver around when installed within the case.
Noctua NH-U14S
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Noctua |
| Cooler Name | NH-U14S |
| Stated dBa | 24.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 6 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 150x165x52 mm |
| Radiator (WxHxD) | 150x115x52 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.9 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 6.3 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 8.0 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | NH-U14S Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Noctua NH-U14S stands out as an excellent cooler, offering a simple yet attractive design, top-notch cooling performance, hassle-free installation, and impressively low noise levels. It is the perfect choice for those looking for a reliable and quiet cooling solution for their PC.
Installation Insights
The NH-U14S boasts a user-friendly mounting system that is compatible with a wide array of Intel and AMD sockets. Its straightforward installation process is facilitated by clear instructions and high-quality components.
Noctua NH-D12L
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Noctua |
| Cooler Name | NH-D12L |
| Stated dBa | 22.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 5 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 125x145x113 mm |
| Radiator 1 (WxHxD) | 125x95x50 mm |
| Radiator 2 (WxHxD) | 125x95x32 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.8 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 5.7 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 9.1 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | NH-D12L Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Noctua NH-D12L is a top-tier air cooler that offers excellent cooling capabilities and quiet operation. Its dual-tower design and exceptional build quality make it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and efficient cooling solution for moderate-performance systems.
Installation Insights
The NH-C14S features Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets and offering a straightforward installation process, typical of Noctua coolers. Clear instructions, high-quality components, and a tube of their premium NT-H1 thermal compound make it an easy and user-friendly experience, even for beginners. The cooler uses the original AMD backplate for AMD installations. However, one downside is that the cooler may stick to your CPU, and due to the screw setup, you can't slide the cooler off the CPU like with some other brands. Overall, the NH-C14S offers a relatively hassle-free installation process.
Noctua NH-U12A chromax.Black
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Noctua |
| Cooler Name | NH-U12A chromax.Black |
| Stated dBa | 22.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 7 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 125x158x112 mm |
| Radiator (WxHxD) | 125x105x58 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.8 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 7.4 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 5.4 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | NH-U12A chromax.Black Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
Overall, the Noctua NH-U12A is a high-performance air cooler that offers excellent cooling capabilities and quiet operation. Its single-tower design and exceptional build quality make it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and efficient cooling solution for high-performance systems.
Installation Insights
The NH-U12A features Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets and offering a straightforward installation process, typical of Noctua coolers. Clear instructions, high-quality components, and a tube of their premium NT-H1 thermal compound make it an easy and user-friendly experience, even for beginners. The cooler uses the original AMD backplate for AMD installations. However, one downside is that the cooler may stick to your CPU, and due to the screw setup, you can't slide the cooler off the CPU like with some other brands. Overall, the NH-U12A offers a relatively hassle-free installation process.
DeepCool AK500
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | DeepCool |
| Cooler Name | AK500 |
| Stated dBa | 25.9 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 5 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 127x158x117 mm |
| Radiator (WxHxD) | 127x105x89 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.6 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 6.4 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 6.7 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 9 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | AK500 Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
This cooler has a moderately difficult installation, especially for AMD CPUs, due to its unique mounting setup. The installation process is similar to the AK400. The AK500 has a compact design, moderate cooling performance, and above-average noise levels. With a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, the cooler is suitable for various PC builds, offering a balance between cooling efficiency and acoustic performance for users seeking cost-effective solutions without top-tier cooling or silent operation.
Installation Insights
The AK500 has DeepCool's more modern installation designs as of 2023, which has more components than most for an easy install. The backplates are held down by single hand screwed nuts that also serve to hold the mount from the other side. This makes it easy to place the backplate correctly during the installation. The remaining portion of the install is similar to that of Noctua's typical installation, which makes it easy, but also can make the uninstallation challenging if the thermal paste sticks well to the CPU.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Thermalright |
| Cooler Name | Peerless Assassin 120 |
| Stated dBa | 25.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 6 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 125x157x135 mm |
| Radiator 1 (WxHxD) | 125x115x40 mm |
| Radiator 2 (WxHxD) | 125x115x40 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.6 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 6.8 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 5.9 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | Peerless Assassin 120 Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
A notable feature of the Peerless Assassin 120 is its comparatively quiet performance. The cooler comes equipped with two 120mm TL-C12 PWM fans, engineered for optimal airflow and reduced noise levels. While it may be slightly louder than other coolers of a similar size, its impressive cooling capabilities make the Peerless Assassin 120 a strong contender for your PC setup.
Installation Insights
This cooler installation is very similar to Noctua's typical installation, which is one of the easier installation setups. However, it also faces similar issues regarding uninstalling this cooler, where the cooler is unable to slide/twist off the cooler to break the thermal paste seal. This might be necessary if the thermal paste has a strong hold between the cooler and the CPU.
Noctua NH-D15S
Get more cooler details| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Noctua |
| Cooler Name | NH-D15S |
| Stated dBa | 24.6 |
| Number of Heat Pipes | 6 |
| Full Size (WxHxD): | 150x160x135 mm |
| Air Cooler Rating: Overall | 6.5 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Temperature | 6.5 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Noise | 6.3 |
| Air Cooler Rating: Install | 8 (Easy) |
| Manufacture's Link | NH-D15S Manufacture's Link |
Product Links
General Comments
The Noctua NH-D15S is a versatile, high-performance air cooler that offers excellent cooling capabilities and quiet operation. Its asymmetrical, dual-tower design makes it suitable for various system configurations, and its exceptional build quality ensures long-lasting performance. For users seeking a reliable and efficient cooling solution, the NH-D15S is a top choice.
Installation Insights
The NH-D15S comes with Noctua's SecuFirm2 mounting system, which provides compatibility with a wide range of Intel and AMD sockets. The installation process is straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions and high-quality components provided. Noctua also includes a tube of their premium NT-H1 thermal compound to ensure optimal thermal transfer between the CPU and heatsink.
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