CPU Cooler Performance Tier List

[WoodenMarker]

45 minutes ago, Energycore said:

Are you going for a Tier 1+?

Nah, Tier 1 will turn into Tier 1 and Tier 2 and everything else will 'move down'. Hopefully, that isn't too confusing for anyone who may have gotten used to the old labels. 

1 hour ago, Geezer000 said:

Any thoughts on the Be Quiet Pure Loop 240/280/360?

Added to the list. Performance seems similar to the Silent Loops. 

https://lanoc.org/review/cooling/8155-be-quiet-pure-loop-240mm?start=4

https://www.eteknix.com/be-quiet-pure-loop-240mm-aio-liquid-cooler-review/6/

https://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/wasserkuehlung/be_quiet_pure_loop/s03.php

https://www.cowcotland.com/articles/3048-4/test-watercooling-aio-be-quiet-pure-loop-du-tres-joli-et-tres-bon.html

https://overclocking.com/test-be-quiet-pure-loop-240/6/

https://www.modding.fr/test-aio-bequiet-pure-loop-240/6/

https://www.enostech.com/be-quiet-pure-loop-240-cpu-liquid-cooler-review/

 

https://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/be_quiet_pure_loop_280mm_lcs_review,9.html

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/be-quiet-pure-loop-280-aio-liquid-cpu-cooler/6.html

https://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cooling/145924-quiet-pure-loop-280mm/?page=3

https://www.hardware-journal.de/testberichte/watercooling/4941-test-be-quiet-pure-loop-280?showall=&start=3

https://www.ginjfo.com/dossiers/tests-materiel/composants/refroidissement/pure-loop-280-le-test-complet-20201006/4

https://pcper.com/2020/10/be-quiet-pure-loop-280-mm-liquid-cpu-cooler-review/#ftoc-heading-4

 

https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/be-quiet-pure-loop-360-aio-cpu-cooler-review/5/

https://www.nikktech.com/main/articles/pc-hardware/cpu-cooling/liquid-cpu-coolers/11301-be-quiet-pure-loop-360mm-aio-liquid-cpu-cooler-review?start=5

https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/kuehlung/54271-be-quiet-pure-loop-360mm-im-test-aio-kuehlung-mit-serioeser-optik.html?start=5

https://www.pcmasters.de/testbericht/133711277-be-quiet-pure-loop-360-im-test.html

https://www.purepc.pl/test-chlodzenia-be-quiet-pure-loop-360-gustowne-i-ciche-aio?page=0,4

https://youtu.be/MppnYhUqhm4?t=199

https://youtu.be/YUT6PjGURuc?t=463

https://youtu.be/2o_0ScOlOHE?t=159

[Energycore]

4 minutes ago, WoodenMarker said:

Nah, Tier 1 will turn into Tier 1 and Tier 2 and everything else will 'move down'. Hopefully, that isn't too confusing for anyone who may have gotten used to the old labels. 

Added to the list. Performance seems similar to the Silent Loops. 

https://lanoc.org/review/cooling/8155-be-quiet-pure-loop-240mm?start=4

https://www.eteknix.com/be-quiet-pure-loop-240mm-aio-liquid-cooler-review/6/

https://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/wasserkuehlung/be_quiet_pure_loop/s03.php

https://www.cowcotland.com/articles/3048-4/test-watercooling-aio-be-quiet-pure-loop-du-tres-joli-et-tres-bon.html

https://overclocking.com/test-be-quiet-pure-loop-240/6/

https://www.modding.fr/test-aio-bequiet-pure-loop-240/6/

https://www.enostech.com/be-quiet-pure-loop-240-cpu-liquid-cooler-review/

 

https://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/be_quiet_pure_loop_280mm_lcs_review,9.html

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/be-quiet-pure-loop-280-aio-liquid-cpu-cooler/6.html

https://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cooling/145924-quiet-pure-loop-280mm/?page=3

https://www.hardware-journal.de/testberichte/watercooling/4941-test-be-quiet-pure-loop-280?showall=&start=3

https://www.ginjfo.com/dossiers/tests-materiel/composants/refroidissement/pure-loop-280-le-test-complet-20201006/4

https://pcper.com/2020/10/be-quiet-pure-loop-280-mm-liquid-cpu-cooler-review/#ftoc-heading-4

 

https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/be-quiet-pure-loop-360-aio-cpu-cooler-review/5/

https://www.nikktech.com/main/articles/pc-hardware/cpu-cooling/liquid-cpu-coolers/11301-be-quiet-pure-loop-360mm-aio-liquid-cpu-cooler-review?start=5

https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/kuehlung/54271-be-quiet-pure-loop-360mm-im-test-aio-kuehlung-mit-serioeser-optik.html?start=5

https://www.pcmasters.de/testbericht/133711277-be-quiet-pure-loop-360-im-test.html

https://www.purepc.pl/test-chlodzenia-be-quiet-pure-loop-360-gustowne-i-ciche-aio?page=0,4

https://youtu.be/MppnYhUqhm4?t=199

https://youtu.be/YUT6PjGURuc?t=463

https://youtu.be/2o_0ScOlOHE?t=159

Thank you for all the work you do for this man, it's awesome

[BTGbullseye]

6 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

Nah, Tier 1 will turn into Tier 1 and Tier 2 and everything else will 'move down'.

That is a good idea. The Liquid Freezer II 120 is great, but really shouldn't be a "T2" item.

[Geezer000]

16 hours ago, BTGbullseye said:

That is a good idea. The Liquid Freezer II 120 is great, but really shouldn't be a "T2" item.

What temps do you get on your 3600 with it?

[BTGbullseye]

1 hour ago, Geezer000 said:

What temps do you get on your 3600 with it?

Tops out at about 75°c when I'm massively pushing the limits of the CPU. Usually gets around the 65°-70°c mark when under load. (a little better than the GAMMAXX 400 that I used to use on it, but MUCH quieter)

[Geezer000]

13 hours ago, BTGbullseye said:

Tops out at about 75°c when I'm massively pushing the limits of the CPU. Usually gets around the 65°-70°c mark when under load. (a little better than the GAMMAXX 400 that I used to use on it, but MUCH quieter)

My stock 3600 under the Pure Loop 240 does 66C using CPUZ stress and Prime95 Small TFT non AVX. Just  didn't know if it was performing correctly.

[BTGbullseye]

7 hours ago, Geezer000 said:

My stock 3600 under the Pure Loop 240 does 66C using CPUZ stress and Prime95 Small TFT non AVX. Just  didn't know if it was performing correctly.

I got around 70° under that workload, until I messed something up with my settings, and now it's 72° average.

[Azuth]

What about this one? Any idea where this belongs to? Asus TUF Gaming LC240 RGB

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Cooling/TUF-Gaming/TUF-Gaming-LC-240-RGB/

[csolols]

I recently upgrade my build to ryzen 5 3600 with a stock fan and a new phanteks eclipse p300 case with it. The case itself has really poor airflow which it only have top and bottom air able to flow through on the front panel. The front face of the panel was totally blocked. The CPU gets very hot like 70-80 degree sometime while I'm gaming. There was someone suggesting I should get a high static pressure fan to replace my both front panel fan so that it could suck air better from the front to the cpu. 

 

Can someone suggest should I get a static pressure fan or I should get a cpu cooler instead. I don't want to waste too much money for unnecessary things.

 

If a cooler should be purchase. Should I buy an AIO or Air cooler and which model should I picked (70 USD lower would be great)?

 

Ambient temperature here was 30-33 degree.

[WoodenMarker]

On 11/29/2020 at 4:11 AM, Azuth said:

What about this one? Any idea where this belongs to? Asus TUF Gaming LC240 RGB

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Cooling/TUF-Gaming/TUF-Gaming-LC-240-RGB/

Seems like the ROG Strix LC 240 but with worse fans -- added to the list.

https://techgaming.nl/review-asus-tuf-gaming-lc-240-rgb/

https://www.cowcotland.com/articles/3015-4/test-watercooling-asus-tuf-gaming-lc-240-rgb-de-l-eau-tuf-c-est-mieux.html

https://youtu.be/bGlzT-M8jKo?t=1422

On 11/30/2020 at 1:25 AM, csolols said:

I recently upgrade my build to ryzen 5 3600 with a stock fan and a new phanteks eclipse p300 case with it. The case itself has really poor airflow which it only have top and bottom air able to flow through on the front panel. The front face of the panel was totally blocked. The CPU gets very hot like 70-80 degree sometime while I'm gaming. There was someone suggesting I should get a high static pressure fan to replace my both front panel fan so that it could suck air better from the front to the cpu. 

Can someone suggest should I get a static pressure fan or I should get a cpu cooler instead. I don't want to waste too much money for unnecessary things.

What are temps under synthetic load? 70-80c is perfectly fine. 

If you're mainly concerned with lowering cpu temps, a cpu cooler would be more efficient. 

[csolols]

15 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

Seems like the ROG Strix LC 240 but with worse fans -- added to the list.

https://techgaming.nl/review-asus-tuf-gaming-lc-240-rgb/

https://www.cowcotland.com/articles/3015-4/test-watercooling-asus-tuf-gaming-lc-240-rgb-de-l-eau-tuf-c-est-mieux.html

https://youtu.be/bGlzT-M8jKo?t=1422

What are temps under synthetic load? 70-80c is perfectly fine. 

If you're mainly concerned with lowering cpu temps, a cpu cooler would be more efficient. 

After trying with Prime 95 for a stress test, not even 10 minutes, the temperature of CPU achieve 95 degree.

 

Could you suggest a cpu cooler that can overcome this problem? I hope the budget could be 75USD or lower.

[WoodenMarker]

8 hours ago, csolols said:

After trying with Prime 95 for a stress test, not even 10 minutes, the temperature of CPU achieve 95 degree.

Could you suggest a cpu cooler that can overcome this problem? I hope the budget could be 75USD or lower.

If you're just looking for an upgrade over the stock cooler, the Gammaxx 400 V2 is hard to go wrong with: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x2JmP6/deepcool-gammaxx-400-v2-645-cfm-cpu-cooler-dp-mch4-gmx400v2-bl

[Moonzy]

On 11/30/2020 at 5:25 PM, csolols said:

The case itself has really poor airflow which it only have top and bottom air able to flow through on the front panel. The front face of the panel was totally blocked.

get a new case, if this is your issue

 

or run with side panel off, if that's an option for you (no kids or pets)

 

there are some decent cheap chinese cases out there, just have to find one with mesh front and decent internals

i recently bought a case for $40, it's meshed and does pretty well

[csolols]

18 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

If you're just looking for an upgrade over the stock cooler, the Gammaxx 400 V2 is hard to go wrong with: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/x2JmP6/deepcool-gammaxx-400-v2-645-cfm-cpu-cooler-dp-mch4-gmx400v2-bl

The cooler seems like a tier 6 cooler, does it done a pretty good job for my system? Do I need to buy a better thermal paste with it?

[csolols]

18 hours ago, Moonzy said:

get a new case, if this is your issue

 

or run with side panel off, if that's an option for you (no kids or pets)

 

there are some decent cheap chinese cases out there, just have to find one with mesh front and decent internals

i recently bought a case for $40, it's meshed and does pretty well

Actually I'm planning to make some holes on the front panel and apply mesh filter on it. Just don't want to waste extra money since I already bought it. BTW, your choice was great just I'm a stingy guy haha.

[WoodenMarker]

3 hours ago, csolols said:

The cooler seems like a tier 6 cooler, does it done a pretty good job for my system? Do I need to buy a better thermal paste with it?

The Gammaxx 400 V2 is plenty for cooling the 3600 and the included thermal paste is fine. 

Here are similar examples with the similar, original Gammax 400: https://pcpartpicker.com/builds/by_part/9nm323#h=32770,244118,120134

[Slazyel]

Hi, would the XPG Levante be considered Tier 1 if it was a bit cheaper? 

 

Where i live i can get one for $100. The other option would be the h100i pro xt for $120, but is it $20 better?

[WoodenMarker]

Just now, Slazyel said:

Hi, would the XPG Levante be considered Tier 1 if it was a bit cheaper? 

Where i live i can get one for $100. The other option would be the h100i pro xt for $120, but is it $20 better?

The coolers are ranked by performance alone. Other factors like price, ease of use, or any other important factors to selecting a cooler aren't accounted for. 

What cpu, case, and ram are you using and what kind of features are you looking for in a cooler? Where are you shopping / located?

[Slazyel]

3 minutes ago, WoodenMarker said:

The coolers are ranked by performance alone. Other factors like price, ease of use, or any other important factors to selecting a cooler aren't accounted for. 

What cpu, case, and ram are you using and what kind of features are you looking for in a cooler? Where are you shopping / located?

Hi, thanks for your response!

 

I will be using a Ryzen 5800x + x570 tuf + 4x8gb hyperx fury 3466mhz cl16 ram and a NZXT H710 case.

 

Basically i am looking for the best bang for the buck cooler. I could get a hyper 212 black rgb for $34 too but for $100 the levante looks really good.

 

I am shopping from Brazil. Pc parts prices here are a mess. Some costs the same as in US (hyper 212), some less (xpg levante) and the other 90% costs way more, haha.

[WoodenMarker]

9 minutes ago, Slazyel said:

Basically i am looking for the best bang for the buck cooler. I could get a hyper 212 black rgb for $34 too but for $100 the levante looks really good.

I am shopping from Brazil. Pc parts prices here are a mess. Some costs the same as in US (hyper 212), some less (xpg levante) and the other 90% costs way more, haha.

You mentioned that a Hyper 212 RGB BE was already ordered here and is fine:

If you're after value, getting a cooler that's several times more expensive isn't the way to do it since it doesn't make a huge difference in performance.

[Slazyel]

11 minutes ago, WoodenMarker said:

You mentioned that a Hyper 212 RGB BE was already ordered here and is fine:

If you're after value, getting a cooler that's several times more expensive isn't the way to do it since it doesn't make a huge difference in performance.

Oh yes, it is ordered but i did not pay yet. We have a system here called boleto where we can order an item to "reserve" it for that price for some days until we decide to pay or not.

 

About the value thing, not just value, i would like performance and a little bit of looks too. My main concern about using the hyper 212 is that the top of my case will be with no fans as it only comes with 3 in the front and one at the back. With an AIO like the levante i would use that space and make the air circulate a little more.

Price x performance the levante looks like a good deal but i really dont know.

[WoodenMarker]

1 minute ago, Slazyel said:

About the value thing, not just value, i would like performance and a little bit of looks too. My main concern about using the hyper 212 is that the top of my case will be with no fans as it only comes with 3 in the front and one at the back. With an AIO like the levante i would use that space and make the air circulate a little more.

Price x performance the levante looks like a good deal but i really dont know.

If you value the aesthetics, the Levante 240 is a decent option and far from a bad deal. Using it as a top exhaust is a good idea and the extra cooling does allow for a bit more performance especially with oc'ing. 

[Slazyel]

3 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

If you value the aesthetics, the Levante 240 is a decent option and far from a bad deal. Using it as a top exhaust is a good idea and the extra cooling does allow for a bit more performance especially with oc'ing. 

Thank you!

[csolols]

20 hours ago, WoodenMarker said:

The Gammaxx 400 V2 is plenty for cooling the 3600 and the included thermal paste is fine. 

Here are similar examples with the similar, original Gammax 400: https://pcpartpicker.com/builds/by_part/9nm323#h=32770,244118,120134

Just found out that in my country it was not available. Could you suggest any other cooler that has similar performance or better?

[Nomade]

Hi,

 

So after a long time of having my CPU(i5-3570k), I decided i was going to overclock it to get the best out of it before DDR5 come on the market and become not overprice (maybe 1 years after the release) . I plan on overclocking it to 4.4, 4.5 GHz if possible.

I think nh-u14s (70$) or nh-u12s wich is 10$ cheaper (nh-d15 seems overkill) are the best option but i found that AIO like masterliquid ml240L V2 at 65$ (i don't care about RGB but it's cheaper)   could be a better choice according to this tier list (ml240: Tier 2/ nh-u14s: Tier 4/ nh-u12s: Tier 5) and some other reviews. But i aslo found reviews who say that Noctua are much better compared with AIO of the same price.

 

So i'm a bit confused. What do you think about this? Maybe non-mentioned cooler are better choice ?

 

Another criteria is to buy a cooler wich can be re-used if possible into my next config (I think in 3 years).

 

Used of my PC: Gaming / Wants to be able to play at AC valhalla or Cyberpunk for example (not with 120fps or 4K ofc)

 

Curent config :

GPU: Sapphire Radeon RX 590 Nitro+ OC 8 Go

Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45

RAM: 2*4G + 2*2G / 1333mhz