Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for Core Ultra 7 265K
Three air coolers compared, from the Phantom Spirit 120 SE to the NH-D15 G2, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
The Core Ultra 7 265K uses the LGA1851 socket, and its 20 cores give a cooler real work. Every pick lists LGA1851 support and at least five heat pipes, ordered by heat pipe count.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: heat pipes, fan size and height come from each maker's published specs; a missing height is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Highest Heat Pipe Count
Noctua NH-D15 G2
The highest heat pipe count here (8).
Best for: Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Our take Check price for Noctua NH-D15 G2 (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Undercutting the IS-55 on price when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the IS-55.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ID-COOLING IS-55
A 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
Best for: Buyers who want 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
Our take Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest heat pipe count here (8). | Buyers who put heat pipe count first. | Check price for Noctua NH-D15 G2 (opens in a new tab) |
| Undercutting the IS-55 on price when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the IS-55. | Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE (opens in a new tab) |
| A 15mm-thick 120mm fan. | Buyers who want 15mm-thick 120mm fan. | Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Highest Heat Pipe Count1 of 3
Noctua NH-D15 G2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NH-D15 G2 is Noctua's flagship: eight heat pipes, two 140mm fans and a six-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Skip if
- Its height is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
Its offset design keeps the top PCIe slot clear, but it is a large cooler, so check your case first. Its fans have a speed offset for acoustic fine-tuning, and there is 20% more fin area than the original NH-D15. Its 8 heat pipe count is the highest here; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE comes next at 7.
Its 140mm fan size is the largest here; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE comes next at 120mm. You also get 59mm RAM clearance with one fan fitted and NT-H2 paste in the box. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the IS-55 and the rest. The maker doesn't give its height; if that figure matters, the IS-55 comes in at 57mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Heat pipes: 8
- Fan size: 140mm
- Warranty: 6-year
- Fans included: 2
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 8 heat pipes
- 140mm fans that can spin slower for the same airflow
- 6-year warranty
- Two fans included
Cons
- No published height
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 3
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE packs seven heat pipes and two 120mm fans into a 154mm-tall dual tower.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the IS-55.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: heat pipe count of 7, behind the NH-D15 G2 (8).
Why we like it
Thermalright rates it for CPUs up to 280W, which covers most gaming chips with room to spare. Thermalright rates it for CPUs from 105W to 280W, and mounting kits cover AM4, AM5 and Intel up to LGA1851. On heat pipe count it sits mid-pack at 7: the NH-D15 G2 offers 8, and the IS-55 comes in at 5.
On fan size it ties with the IS-55 at 120mm. Check that your case offers at least 154mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. It makes the most sense for buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the IS-55, since it offers undercutting the IS-55 on price when we checked. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the IS-55 was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Heat pipes: 7
- Fan size: 120mm
- Height: 154mm
- Fans included: 2
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Dual-tower heatsink
Cons
- Heat pipe count of 7, behind the NH-D15 G2 (8)
Also Consider3 of 3
ID-COOLING IS-55 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The IS-55 is a 57mm cooler with five heat pipes and a slim 120mm fan, listed for AM5 and LGA1851.
Best for
- Buyers who want 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
Skip if
- Skip it if heat pipe count matters most to you; the NH-D15 G2 offers 8.
Why we like it
It fits cases too short for the 67mm to 70mm coolers. Its 5 heat pipe count is the lowest in this group; the NH-D15 G2 leads at 8. It matches the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on fan size (120mm).
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. When we checked, only the Phantom Spirit 120 SE cost less, and the NH-D15 G2 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Heat pipes: 5
- Fan size: 120mm
- Height: 57mm
- Fans included: 1
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- 15mm-thick 120mm fan
- Lowest height of the picks (57mm)
Cons
- Heat pipe count trails the NH-D15 G2 (8)
- Fan size trails the NH-D15 G2 (140mm)
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for Core Ultra 7 265K
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, height and fans included, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out height.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the NH-D15 G2 to the IS-55, state heat pipe count, fan size and fans included.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The NH-D15 G2 gives no height.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Phantom Spirit 120 SE (under $50) to the NH-D15 G2 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for Core Ultra 7 265K
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Heat pipe count across these picks
Here heat pipe count runs from 5 on the IS-55 to 8 on the NH-D15 G2, a 60% spread. For less, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE is the runner-up at 7 (under $50 tier).
Fan size
The NH-D15 G2 tops fan size at 140mm and the IS-55 sits lowest at 120mm. If fan size is your first filter, the NH-D15 G2 sets the ceiling at 140mm.
Height
Across these 2 picks height spans 154mm (the Phantom Spirit 120 SE) to 57mm (the IS-55). If height is your first filter, the IS-55 sets the ceiling at 57mm. The NH-D15 G2 gives no height figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The NH-D15 G2: 59mm RAM clearance with one fan fitted. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE: a rating of 105W to 280W. The IS-55: a 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
How much to spend
Under $50 buys the Phantom Spirit 120 SE and the IS-55; $150 to $250 buys the NH-D15 G2 at our last check.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for Core Ultra 7 265K
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put heat pipe count first | NH-D15 G2 | The highest heat pipe count here (8) |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the IS-55 | Phantom Spirit 120 SE | Undercutting the IS-55 on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want 15mm-thick 120mm fan | IS-55 | A 15mm-thick 120mm fan |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NH-D15 G2 leads on heat pipe count at 8, ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 7. "Not listed" marks height where the NH-D15 G2 leaves the figure out.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NH-D15 G2 | 8 | 140mm | Not listed | 2 |
| Phantom Spirit 120 SE | 7 | 120mm | 154mm | 2 |
| IS-55 | 5 | 120mm | 57mm | 1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, sat in the under $50 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the NH-D15 G2 at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Phantom Spirit 120 SE, IS-55 |
| About $150 to $250 | NH-D15 G2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest heat pipe count: the NH-D15 G2 or the Phantom Spirit 120 SE?
Between the top two, it is 8 on the NH-D15 G2 against 7 on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, a 14% difference. The spread runs down to the IS-55 at 5.
How does the Phantom Spirit 120 SE compare with the NH-D15 G2 on fan size?
The NH-D15 G2 leads at 140mm, with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 120mm.
Is the IS-55 ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on height?
The IS-55 is lowest on height at 57mm; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE follows at 154mm, 63% apart. The NH-D15 G2 is left out of this ranking because its height isn't stated; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the NH-D15 G2 worth paying more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE?
What it brings is heat pipe count (8 against 7) and fan size (140mm against 120mm). The Phantom Spirit 120 SE sat in the under $50 tier and the NH-D15 G2 in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if heat pipe count and fan size decide your purchase.
What makes the NH-D15 G2 the Highest Heat Pipe Count?
It carries the badge for the highest heat pipe count here (8). The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is next on heat pipe count at 7, so this pick's 8 is 14% further out. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who puts heat pipe count first.
Beyond the specs, what sets the NH-D15 G2 and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE apart?
The NH-D15 G2: an offset design whose recessed lower fins clear the top PCIe slot. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE: a dual-tower heatsink. The IS-55: a 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NH-D15 G2, chosen for the highest heat pipe count here (8). Look at the Phantom Spirit 120 SE for undercutting the IS-55 on price when we checked and the IS-55 for a 15mm-thick 120mm fan if those matter more to you.
Check that the cooler ships with the LGA1851 mounting kit.