The Best Air Coolers Under $40

At 148mm tall it is a cheap step up from a stock cooler. Its TL-C12C fan is a 120mm PWM unit rated up to 1550rpm, 66.17CFM and 25.6dB(A) or less. The four 6mm heat pipes use Thermalright's AGHP technique, which the maker says handles vertical or horizontal mounting.

It weighs 0.645kg and mounts on AM4, AM5 and Intel sockets up to LGA1851. It matches the AXP90-X47 and the Freezer 36 on heat pipe count (4). It matches the Freezer 36, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE and the IS-55 on fan size (120mm).

Its 148mm height is the tallest in this group; the AXP90-X47 leads at 47mm. Check that your case offers at least 148mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the AXP90-X47 the next step up.

It is the slimmest option here with an AM5 listing. It matches the Assassin X120 Refined SE and the Freezer 36 on heat pipe count (4). Its 92mm fan size is the smallest in this group; the Assassin X120 Refined SE leads at 120mm.

Nothing else here matches its 47mm height; the IS-55 comes closest at 57mm. It also comes with a 22.4dB(A) noise rating. At 47mm tall it suits slim and small form factor cases, but a cooler this low sits close to the memory, so check your RAM height against the maker's clearance figure.

The maker names AM5 but not Intel LGA1851, so check the maker's site if you are building on Core Ultra. When we checked, only the Assassin X120 Refined SE cost less, and the Freezer 36 cost more.

Its six-year warranty matches Noctua's. Its four offset heat pipes run in a single tower with two fans in push-pull. The click-in fan mounts make fan swaps easy, and it takes most 120mm fans.

Its side-flow heatsink lets the rear fan pull air through the fins and out of the case, and ARCTIC backs it with a six-year warranty. Its pressure-optimised fans push air through four offset heat pipes, which suits high-end CPUs in a single tower. It matches the Assassin X120 Refined SE and the AXP90-X47 on heat pipe count (4).

When we checked, only the AXP90-X47 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE cost more. Heat pipe count is its weakest area, and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE covers it better at 6.

Thermalright does not list its height on Amazon, so check the spec page before buying for a narrow case. At 155mm tall it fits most mid-towers, and its six heat pipes and two PWM fans handle mainstream CPUs. It is one of the best-known budget dual towers.

Nothing else here matches its 6 heat pipe count; the IS-55 comes closest at 5. On fan size it ties with the Assassin X120 Refined SE, the Freezer 36 and the IS-55 at 120mm. It also offers a 25.6dB(A) noise rating.

The maker names AM5 but not Intel LGA1851, so check the maker's site if you are building on Core Ultra. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Freezer 36 and the pricier IS-55, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its height; if that figure matters, the AXP90-X47 comes in at 47mm.

It fits cases too short for the 67mm to 70mm coolers. Its 5 heat pipe count ranks second of 5 here, behind the Peerless Assassin 120 SE (6) and ahead of the Freezer 36 (4). Its 57mm height ranks second of 3 here, behind the AXP90-X47 (47mm) and ahead of the Assassin X120 Refined SE (148mm).

It also offers a 15mm-thick 120mm fan. At 57mm tall it suits slim and small form factor cases, but a cooler this low sits close to the memory, so check your RAM height against the maker's clearance figure. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Peerless Assassin 120 SE the nearest cheaper option.