Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for Intel
We weighed five air coolers on heat pipe count and fan size; the IS-55 has the lowest height, and the Freezer 36 costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Intel's LGA1700 and LGA1851 sockets share cooler mounting, and a contact frame helps with bending. Every pick names LGA1851 support, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects heat pipes, fan size and height from maker specifications; we did not test these air coolers ourselves, and a missing heat pipes is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ARCTIC Freezer 36
Undercutting the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for ARCTIC Freezer 36 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
A dual-tower heatsink.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Height
ID-COOLING IS-55
The lowest height here (57mm).
Best for: Buyers who put height first.
Our take Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW
An all-white finish.
Best for: Buyers who want all-white finish.
Our take Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Noctua NH-L12S
An NF-A12x15 slim fan that can mount above or below the fins at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for Noctua NH-L12S (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on price when we checked. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for ARCTIC Freezer 36 (opens in a new tab) |
| A dual-tower heatsink. | Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink. | Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest height here (57mm). | Buyers who put height first. | Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 (opens in a new tab) |
| An all-white finish. | Buyers who want all-white finish. | Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW (opens in a new tab) |
| An NF-A12x15 slim fan that can mount above or below the fins at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor. | Check price for Noctua NH-L12S (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ARCTIC Freezer 36 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Freezer 36 is a single tower with fans in push-pull and a contact frame for Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Skip it if heat pipe count matters most to you; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers 7.
Why we like it
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. On heat pipe count it trails the group at 4, while the Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers 7. It undercut the Phantom Spirit 120 SE and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Heat pipes: 4
- Fan size: 120mm
- Warranty: 6-year
- Fans included: 2
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 6-year warranty
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Push-pull single tower
Cons
- Heat pipe count trails the Phantom Spirit 120 SE (7)
- No published height
Also Consider2 of 5
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 want dual-tower heatsink.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Freezer 36, which cost less when we checked.
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. It matches the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW on heat pipe count (7).
Its 154mm height ranks third of 4 here, behind the IS-55 (57mm) and ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW (160mm). Check that your case offers at least 154mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. It was priced above the Freezer 36 and below the IS-55 at the time of writing. There is no published warranty figure, whereas the Freezer 36 offers 6-year.
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
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
Lowest Height3 of 5
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 put height first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Freezer 36, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It fits cases too short for the 67mm to 70mm coolers. On heat pipe count it sits mid-pack at 5: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers 7, and the Freezer 36 comes in at 4. Nothing else here matches its 57mm height; the NH-L12S comes closest at 70mm.
It also comes with 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. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Phantom Spirit 120 SE and the pricier Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its warranty; if that figure matters, the Freezer 36 offers 6-year.
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
- Heat pipe count of 5, ahead of the Freezer 36
- Lowest height of the picks (57mm)
Cons
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW is the all-white version of the Digital EVO, with a temperature display on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want all-white finish.
Skip if
- Skip it if height matters most to you; the IS-55 offers 57mm.
Why we like it
TRCC software shows CPU and GPU temperatures on the display, and the text colour can be changed. On heat pipe count it ties with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 7. On height it trails the group at 160mm, while the IS-55 comes in at 57mm.
It also offers a magnetic ARGB display panel that shows CPU temperature. Check that your case offers at least 160mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Another plus is two fans included.
Its price falls between the IS-55 and the NH-L12S, based on our last check. If height is your priority, the IS-55 (57mm) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & 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
- All-white finish
Cons
- Height trails the IS-55 (57mm)
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Noctua NH-L12S on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NH-L12S fits a slim 120mm fan onto a 70mm cooler, and the fan can sit above or below the fins to clear tall RAM.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its heat pipe count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It covers AM5 and LGA1851 with a six-year warranty. Its 70mm height ranks second of 4 here, behind the IS-55 (57mm) and ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW (160mm). At 70mm 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 Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed heat pipe count, look to the Phantom Spirit 120 SE instead: it offers 7, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Fan size: 120mm
- Height: 70mm
- Warranty: 6-year
- Fans included: 1
- Sockets named: AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 6-year warranty
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- NF-A12x15 slim fan that can mount above or below the fins
- Height of 70mm, ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 SE
Cons
- No published heat pipe count
- Costs more than the Freezer 36 at the time of writing
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for Intel
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Fit
- We compared listed heights and footprints, since case and RAM clearance decide what fits.
- Cooling hardware
- We noted heat pipes, fan size and fan count from each listing.
- Support
- We recorded warranty length where the maker states it.
- Sockets
- We checked that each maker names current AM5 and Intel LGA1851 support.
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for Intel
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Decide on heat pipe count first
Among these picks, heat pipe count runs from 4 on the Freezer 36 to 7 on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE. Settle how much you need before comparing prices, since paying for more rarely helps if your use never reaches it.
Watch RAM clearance
Large towers and low-profile coolers can overhang the memory slots. Tall RAM heatsinks may force you to raise a fan or pick a slimmer cooler.
Makers publish RAM clearance figures; check them against your memory's height.
Confirm the mounting kit
Check that the cooler lists your socket: AM5 and AM4 share mounting, while Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 share hole spacing. Older coolers may need a free or paid adapter.
Warranty reflects fan life
Coolers have few failure points besides the fans. Longer warranties, such as Noctua's and Arctic's six years, cover the parts most likely to wear.
Size the cooler to the CPU
A 65W chip runs well on a single tower or a good low-profile cooler. Chips rated at 120W to 170W need a dual tower or an AIO to hold their boost clocks without loud fans.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for Intel
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | Freezer 36 | Undercutting the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want dual-tower heatsink | Phantom Spirit 120 SE | A dual-tower heatsink |
| Buyers who put height first | IS-55 | The lowest height here (57mm) |
| Buyers who want all-white finish | Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW | An all-white finish |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | NH-L12S | An NF-A12x15 slim fan that can mount above or below the fins at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freezer 36 | 4 | 120mm | Not listed | 6-year |
| Phantom Spirit 120 SE | 7 | 120mm | 154mm | Not listed |
| IS-55 | 5 | 120mm | 57mm | Not listed |
| Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW | 7 | 120mm | 160mm | Not listed |
| NH-L12S | Not listed | 120mm | 70mm | 6-year |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Freezer 36, Phantom Spirit 120 SE, IS-55 |
| About $50 to $100 | Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW, NH-L12S |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these air coolers has the lowest height?
The IS-55, at 57mm. The NH-L12S follows at 70mm, while the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW has 160mm.
What is the least I can spend on one of these air coolers?
At our last price check the Freezer 36 was the cheapest pick and the NH-L12S the most expensive; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE was the next step up from the Freezer 36.
Do I need to buy thermal paste?
Most coolers include paste, and some ship it pre-applied. Buy a tube only if you plan to remount the cooler.
Do AM4 coolers fit AM5?
Yes, AM5 keeps AM4's mounting, so most AM4 coolers fit. Check the maker's compatibility list to be sure.
Is an air cooler as good as an AIO?
A large dual-tower cooler matches many 240mm AIOs and has no pump to fail. AIOs help with very hot CPUs and free up space around the socket.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Freezer 36, chosen for undercutting the Phantom Spirit 120 SE on price when we checked. Look at the Phantom Spirit 120 SE for a dual-tower heatsink, the IS-55 for the lowest height here (57mm) and the Phantom Spirit 120 Digital SNOW for an all-white finish if those matter more to you.
Check the mounting kit version; older LGA1200 kits don't fit.