Buying Guide
The Best Gaming CPU Coolers
Five air coolers for gaming CPUs, from Noctua's NH-D15 to a low-cost Pure Rock Pro 3, compared on heatpipes, fans and warranty.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Gaming CPUs vary widely in heat: a 65W six-core needs far less than a 120W X3D chip. Match the cooler to the chip, then check height and RAM clearance.
We compared heatpipes, fans, height and warranty from each listing; we did not test these coolers.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Gaming CPU Cooler
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVOSeven heatpipes and two fans with a digital display.
Best for: Most gaming builds.
Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best 140mm Dual-Tower
Noctua NH-D15Two 140mm fans with a six-year warranty.
Best for: Hot eight-core and larger chips.
Check price for Noctua NH-D15 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Premium Quiet Pick
be quiet! Dark Rock EliteSeven heatpipes with two 135mm fans.
Best for: Quiet high-end builds.
Check price for be quiet! Dark Rock Elite on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Single-Tower Noctua
Noctua NH-U12S reduxA single 120mm fan at 158mm tall.
Best for: Mid-towers with tight clearance.
Check price for Noctua NH-U12S redux on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Cooler
be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 BlackSix heatpipes with a 120mm fan.
Best for: Budget gaming PCs.
Check price for be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seven heatpipes and two fans with a digital display. | Most gaming builds. | Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Two 140mm fans with a six-year warranty. | Hot eight-core and larger chips. | Check price for Noctua NH-D15 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Seven heatpipes with two 135mm fans. | Quiet high-end builds. | Check price for be quiet! Dark Rock Elite on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A single 120mm fan at 158mm tall. | Mid-towers with tight clearance. | Check price for Noctua NH-U12S redux on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Six heatpipes with a 120mm fan. | Budget gaming PCs. | Check price for be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Gaming CPU Cooler1 of 5
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO adds a magnetic display panel that shows CPU temperature to the Phantom Spirit's seven-pipe design.
Best for
- Most gaming builds.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Pure Rock Pro 3 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
At 160mm tall it fits mainstream ATX cases, and its fans spin to 2,150 RPM. It ships with mounting kits for AM4/AM5 and Intel sockets from LGA1150 to LGA1851. Thin ARGB lines frame the fans.
The magnetic ARGB top panel displays CPU temperature and load, and the fan runs up to 2150RPM. On heat pipe count it ties with the Dark Rock Elite at 7. On fan size it ties with the NH-U12S redux and the Pure Rock Pro 3 at 120mm.
It also offers TRCC control software. Check that your case offers at least 160mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Its price falls between the Pure Rock Pro 3 and the NH-U12S redux, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 7
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 160mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Magnetic ARGB display panel that shows CPU temperature
Cons
- Costs more than the Pure Rock Pro 3 at the time of writing
Best 140mm Dual-Tower2 of 5
Noctua NH-D15
The original NH-D15 remains a capable dual tower with two 140mm fans, now priced below its G2 successor.
Best for
- Hot eight-core and larger chips.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Pure Rock Pro 3 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It includes NT-H1 paste and the SecuFirm2 mount for Intel LGA1851 to AMD AM5, and it carries a six-year warranty. It succeeds the classic NH-D14. On heat pipe count it ties with the Pure Rock Pro 3 at 6.
Nothing else here matches its 140mm fan size; the Dark Rock Elite comes closest at 135mm. You also get this: 140mm fans that can spin slower for the same airflow. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Dark Rock Elite. Buyers who need a confirmed height should compare it with the NH-U12S redux, which comes in at 158mm.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Warranty
- 6-year
- Fans included
- 2
Pros
- 140mm fans that can spin slower for the same airflow
- 6-year warranty
- Two fans included
- Two NF-A15 140mm fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Pure Rock Pro 3 at the time of writing
Best Premium Quiet Pick3 of 5
be quiet! Dark Rock Elite
The Dark Rock Elite has seven heat pipes and two 135mm Silent Wings fans.
Best for
- Quiet high-end builds.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Pure Rock Pro 3 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its front fan slides up to clear tall RAM. ARGB LEDs light the top cover, and the front fan slides on rails for tall RAM. On heat pipe count it ties with the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO at 7.
On fan size it sits mid-pack at 135mm: the NH-D15 comes in at 140mm, and the Pure Rock Pro 3 comes in at 120mm. It also offers a Speed Switch for quiet or performance modes and a 25.8dB(A) maximum noise rating. Its price falls between the NH-U12S redux and the NH-D15, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed height should compare it with the NH-U12S redux, which comes in at 158mm.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 7
- Fan size
- 135mm
- Fans included
- 2
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Height-adjustable front fan for tall RAM
- Speed Switch for quiet or performance modes
Cons
- Costs more than the Pure Rock Pro 3 at the time of writing
Best Single-Tower Noctua4 of 5
Noctua NH-U12S redux
The NH-U12S redux is a slim single tower with one 120mm fan.
Best for
- Mid-towers with tight clearance.
Skip if
- Pass if a published heat pipe count matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It sits clear of the RAM slots and suits 65W to mid-range CPUs in narrower cases. It is a lower-cost redux version of the NH-U12S, with an NF-P12 redux fan that is near silent at idle. It ships with an NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan, NT-H1 thermal paste and the SecuFirm2 mounting system, and it covers Intel LGA1700 and LGA1200 as well as AMD AM4.
It matches the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO and the Pure Rock Pro 3 on fan size (120mm). Check that your case offers at least 158mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. It was priced above the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO and below the Dark Rock Elite at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 158mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots
- Lowest height of the picks (158mm)
- A single 120mm fan at 158mm tall
Cons
- No published heat pipe count
- Costs more than the Pure Rock Pro 3 at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published heat pipe count figure, whereas the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO offers 7.
Best Budget Cooler5 of 5
be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 Black
The Pure Rock Pro 3 is a black single-fan tower rated at 250W.
Best for
- Budget gaming PCs.
Skip if
- Skip it if heat pipe count matters most to you; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO offers 7.
Why we like it
It is easy to mount and leaves room around the socket. Six black copper heat pipes and a nickel-plated base sit under a Pure Wings 3 PWM fan. It is rated for 250W.
Its compact offset design improves RAM and VRM clearance, and the fan height can be adjusted. On heat pipe count it ties with the NH-D15 at 6. On fan size it ties with the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO and the NH-U12S redux at 120mm.
It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO was the next step up. If heat pipe count is your priority, the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO (7) is the stronger choice.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Fans included
- 1
Pros
- 250W TDP rating
- Pure Wings 3 PWM fan
- Six black-coated heat pipes
- Six heatpipes with a 120mm fan
Cons
- Heat pipe count trails the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO (7)
- Fan size trails the NH-D15 (140mm)
How We Chose These Gaming CPU Coolers
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, height and fans included as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 5 picks leave out heat pipe count.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO to the Pure Rock Pro 3, state fan size and fans included.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The NH-U12S redux gives no heat pipe count; the NH-D15, the Dark Rock Elite and the Pure Rock Pro 3 give no height.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Pure Rock Pro 3 ($50 to $100) to the NH-D15 ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Gaming CPU Cooler
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Fan size across these picks
Here fan size runs from 120mm on the Pure Rock Pro 3 to 140mm on the NH-D15, a 17% spread. The Dark Rock Elite comes second at 135mm, in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 for the NH-D15.
How much heat pipe count you need
Across these 4 picks heat pipe count spans 6 (the Pure Rock Pro 3) to 7 (the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO). The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO is the pick for heat pipe count. The NH-U12S redux gives no heat pipe count figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC How much height you need
The NH-U12S redux tops height at 158mm and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO sits lowest at 160mm. The NH-U12S redux is the pick for height. The NH-D15, the Dark Rock Elite and the Pure Rock Pro 3 give no height figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The Dark Rock Elite: a Speed Switch for quiet or performance modes. The NH-U12S redux: a slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots. The Pure Rock Pro 3: a Pure Wings 3 PWM fan.
A tower air cooler in a case with red-lit fans Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the Pure Rock Pro 3, the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO, the NH-U12S redux and the Dark Rock Elite; $100 to $150 buys the NH-D15 at our last check.
How to Choose a Gaming CPU Cooler
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most gaming builds | Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO | Seven heatpipes and two fans with a digital display |
| Hot eight-core and larger chips | NH-D15 | Two 140mm fans with a six-year warranty |
| Quiet high-end builds | Dark Rock Elite | Seven heatpipes with two 135mm fans |
| Mid-towers with tight clearance | NH-U12S redux | A single 120mm fan at 158mm tall |
| Budget gaming PCs | Pure Rock Pro 3 | Six heatpipes with a 120mm fan |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NH-D15 leads on fan size at 140mm, ahead of the Dark Rock Elite at 135mm. "Not listed" marks heat pipe count where the NH-U12S redux leaves the figure out.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO | 7 | 120mm | 160mm | 2 |
| NH-D15 | 6 | 140mm | Not listed | 2 |
| Dark Rock Elite | 7 | 135mm | Not listed | 2 |
| NH-U12S redux | Not listed | 120mm | 158mm | 1 |
| Pure Rock Pro 3 | 6 | 120mm | Not listed | 1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Pure Rock Pro 3 was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the NH-D15 the highest ($100 to $150) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Coolers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Pure Rock Pro 3, Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO, NH-U12S redux, Dark Rock Elite |
| About $100 to $150 | NH-D15 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Dark Rock Elite compare with the NH-D15 on fan size?
The NH-D15 leads at 140mm, with the Dark Rock Elite at 135mm. The Pure Rock Pro 3 is at the other end of this group with 120mm.
Which has the lowest height: the NH-U12S redux or the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO?
Between the top two, it is 158mm on the NH-U12S redux against 160mm on the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO, a 1% difference. The NH-D15, the Dark Rock Elite and the Pure Rock Pro 3 don't state a height figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the NH-D15 add over the Pure Rock Pro 3?
What it brings is fan size (140mm against 120mm). On our last price check the Pure Rock Pro 3 was in the $50 to $100 tier and the NH-D15 in the $100 to $150 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if fan size decides your purchase.
Why is the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO our Best Gaming CPU Cooler pick?
The label rests on seven heatpipes and two fans with a digital display. It makes sense for most gaming builds.
What extras do the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO and the NH-D15 include?
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO: a magnetic ARGB display panel that shows CPU temperature. The NH-D15: two NF-A15 140mm fans. The Dark Rock Elite: a height-adjustable front fan for tall RAM.
Bottom Line
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital EVO is the best gaming cooler for most builds, and the NH-D15 suits the hottest chips. The Dark Rock Elite is the premium quiet pick, the NH-U12S redux fits tighter cases, and the Pure Rock Pro 3 is the budget choice.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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