Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-14600K
Six 240mm and 360mm AIO coolers for the Core i5-14600K, compared on pumps, fans, cabling and LGA1700 support.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
The Core i5-14600K is an unlocked fourteen-core chip. At stock limits a 240mm AIO holds it, but overclocking pushes power well beyond that.
We compared six AIOs on radiator size, pump, fans and LGA1700 support, using the makers' specifications.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best for the i5-14600K
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGBA thick 360mm radiator with a VRM fan and lighting.
Best for: Tuned 14600K builds.
Check price for ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Slim-Block Pick
MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360A pump in the radiator.
Best for: Builders who want a small CPU block.
Check price for MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget 240
Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 V2A 5,300 RPM pump at a low price.
Best for: Stock settings on a budget.
Check price for Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 V2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Solid Alternative
ID-COOLING FX360 PROThe FX360 PRO is ID-COOLING's budget 360 rated at 350W.
Best for: Buyers who want mounts on both am5 and intel lga1851.
Check price for ID-COOLING FX360 PRO on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Single-Cable 240
CORSAIR iCUE LINK H100i RGBICUE LINK wiring with a zero RPM mode.
Best for: Corsair ecosystems.
Check price for CORSAIR iCUE LINK H100i RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best for the i5-14600K1 of 5
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB is the lit version of ARCTIC's thick-radiator 360, with the same VRM fan and offset mounting.
Best for
- Tuned 14600K builds.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Frozen Notte 240 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
An integrated VRM fan cools the motherboard power stage, and the offset cold plate targets the CPU hotspot. The A-RGB P12 PRO fans add lighting without losing airflow. The contact frame spreads pressure evenly on Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700 chips.
Its fan cables run inside the tube sleeve, so only one cable reaches the motherboard. The P12 PRO fans spin faster than the standard P12 when needed. The VRM fan is PWM-controlled, and the contact frame is aimed at longer CPU life on Intel LGA1851 and LGA1700.
Check that your case offers 360mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks. It supports both AM5 and Intel LGA1851. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper FX360 PRO and the pricier Coreliquid A13 360, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- VRM fan
- Yes
- Cabling
- Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Built-in fan that cools the motherboard's power stages
- Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- P12 PRO A-RGB fans
Cons
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its maximum fan speed; if that figure matters, the H100i RGB offers 2400 RPM.
Best Slim-Block Pick2 of 5
MSI MAG CORELIQUID A13 360
The Coreliquid A13 360 moves the pump into the radiator, leaving a slim block on the CPU.
Best for
- Builders who want a small CPU block.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Frozen Notte 240 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its 390mm tubes use a triple-layer, evaporation-proof design, and the mount fits AM5, AM4 and LGA1700 with paste included. Its split-flow radiator has the pump built in, which keeps the CPU block slim. It also comes with ceramic pump bearings.
Check that your case offers 360mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks. It supports both AM5 and Intel LGA1851. The nearest alternative on pump speed is the Frozen Notte 240 at 5300 RPM, against 3800 RPM here. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and the pricier H100i RGB, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Max pump speed
- 3800 RPM
- Tube length
- 390mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Split-flow radiator with the pump built into it
- Ceramic pump bearings
Cons
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its maximum fan speed; if that figure matters, the H100i RGB offers 2400 RPM.
Best Budget 2403 of 5
Thermalright Frozen Notte 240 V2
The Frozen Notte 240 is a budget 240mm AIO with a 5,300 RPM pump and braided tubing.
Best for
- Stock settings on a budget.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: maximum fan speed of 2000 RPM, behind the H100i RGB (2400 RPM).
Why we like it
Its two fans reach 2,000 RPM at under 27.7dBA, and the ARGB syncs to a 5V header. You also get a pump rated for 40,000 hours. Check that your case offers 240mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks.
The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. Worth noting: highest pump speed of the picks (5300 RPM). Before buying, weigh one limit: maximum fan speed of 2000 RPM, behind the H100i RGB (2400 RPM). It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the FX360 PRO was the next step up.
Key specs
- Max fan speed
- 2000 RPM
- Max pump speed
- 5300 RPM
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Pump rated for 40,000 hours
- Braided tubing
- Highest pump speed of the picks (5300 RPM)
- A 5,300 RPM pump at a low price
Cons
- Maximum fan speed of 2000 RPM, behind the H100i RGB (2400 RPM)
The catch
The main gap: maximum fan speed of 2000 RPM, behind the H100i RGB (2400 RPM). If that matters, the H100i RGB offers 2400 RPM.
Solid Alternative4 of 5
ID-COOLING FX360 PRO
The FX360 PRO is ID-COOLING's budget 360 rated at 350W.
Best for
- Buyers who want mounts on both am5 and intel lga1851.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Frozen Notte 240, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
ID-COOLING rates it for 350W, and its three 120mm fans move up to 82.5 CFM. The all-black finish suits dark cases. Its fans daisy-chain to each other, which cuts down on cables to the motherboard.
The fans are rated at 2.55mmH2O static pressure. It also offers simple fan cable management. Check that your case offers 360mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks.
It supports both AM5 and Intel LGA1851. It was priced above the Frozen Notte 240 and below the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB at the time of writing. There is no published maximum fan speed figure, whereas the H100i RGB offers 2400 RPM.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- 350W rating
- Simple fan cable management
Cons
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 at the time of writing
Best Single-Cable 2405 of 5
CORSAIR iCUE LINK H100i RGB
The H100i RGB runs pump and fans through one iCUE LINK cable and supports a zero RPM mode.
Best for
- Corsair ecosystems.
Skip if
- Pass on it if lighting and display control need iCUE rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Check that your case offers 240mm radiator support at the front or top, and allow for the radiator's thickness plus fans above the motherboard's heatsinks. The maker doesn't spell out LGA1851 mounting, so confirm it on the maker's site for a Core Ultra build. Plan to install iCUE for lighting control; fan and pump speed can also run from the motherboard's headers.
It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Coreliquid A13 360. Buyers who need a confirmed pump speed should compare it with the Frozen Notte 240, which offers 5300 RPM.
Key specs
- Max fan speed
- 2400 RPM
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Zero RPM mode
- Yes
- Cabling
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- Software
- iCUE
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1700
Pros
- Zero RPM mode stops the fans at light load
- One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans
- QX120 RGB fans
- 20-LED pump cap
Cons
- Lighting and display control need iCUE
- Costs more than the Frozen Notte 240 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Coolers for i5-14600K
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 compared five AIO coolers on maximum fan speed, pump speed, fan size and cabling from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 1 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick, while maximum fan speed and pump speed have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB to the H100i RGB, state sockets named.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the Coreliquid A13 360 and the FX360 PRO give no maximum fan speed; the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the FX360 PRO and the H100i RGB give no pump speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Frozen Notte 240 (under $50) to the H100i RGB ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Cooler for i5-14600K
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Maximum fan speed
The H100i RGB tops maximum fan speed at 2400 RPM and the Frozen Notte 240 sits lowest at 2000 RPM. The H100i RGB is the pick for maximum fan speed. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the Coreliquid A13 360 and the FX360 PRO give no maximum fan speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Pump speed across these picks
Here pump speed runs from 3800 RPM on the Coreliquid A13 360 to 5300 RPM on the Frozen Notte 240, a 39% spread. Start with the Frozen Notte 240 if pump speed decides it. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the FX360 PRO and the H100i RGB give no pump speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Extras that separate them
The Frozen Notte 240: braided tubing. The FX360 PRO: simple fan cable management. The H100i RGB: a 20-LED pump cap.
How much to spend
Under $50 buys the Frozen Notte 240; $50 to $100 buys the FX360 PRO, the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and the Coreliquid A13 360; $100 to $150 buys the H100i RGB at our last check.
A tower air cooler in a case with red-lit fans Start from what matters most
Tuned 14600K builds: the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB. Builders who want a small CPU block: the Coreliquid A13 360. Stock settings on a budget: the Frozen Notte 240.
How to Choose a Cooler for i5-14600K
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tuned 14600K builds | Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | A thick 360mm radiator with a VRM fan and lighting |
| Builders who want a small CPU block | Coreliquid A13 360 | A pump in the radiator |
| Stock settings on a budget | Frozen Notte 240 | A 5,300 RPM pump at a low price |
| Corsair ecosystems | H100i RGB | ICUE LINK wiring with a zero RPM mode |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The H100i RGB leads on maximum fan speed at 2400 RPM, ahead of the Frozen Notte 240 at 2000 RPM. "Not listed" marks maximum fan speed where the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the Coreliquid A13 360 and the FX360 PRO leave the figure out.
| AIO cooler | Max fan speed | Max pump speed | Fan size | Cabling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB | Not listed | Not listed | 120mm | Fan cables routed inside the tube sleeving |
| Coreliquid A13 360 | Not listed | 3800 RPM | Not listed | Not listed |
| Frozen Notte 240 | 2000 RPM | 5300 RPM | 120mm | Not listed |
| FX360 PRO | Not listed | Not listed | 120mm | Not listed |
| H100i RGB | 2400 RPM | Not listed | 120mm | One-cable iCUE LINK hub for pump and fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Frozen Notte 240 was the lowest-priced pick (under $50) and the H100i RGB the highest ($100 to $150) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | AIO coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Frozen Notte 240 |
| About $50 to $100 | FX360 PRO, Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, Coreliquid A13 360 |
| About $100 to $150 | H100i RGB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest maximum fan speed: the H100i RGB or the Frozen Notte 240?
Between the top two, it is 2400 RPM on the H100i RGB against 2000 RPM on the Frozen Notte 240, a 20% difference. The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the Coreliquid A13 360 and the FX360 PRO are left out of this ranking because their maximum fan speed isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Frozen Notte 240 ahead of the Coreliquid A13 360 on pump speed?
The Frozen Notte 240 tops pump speed at 5300 RPM; the Coreliquid A13 360 follows at 3800 RPM, 39% apart. No pump speed figure is published for the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB, the FX360 PRO and the H100i RGB, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the H100i RGB add over the Frozen Notte 240?
The spec sheets show maximum fan speed (2400 RPM against 2000 RPM) in its favour. On our last price check the Frozen Notte 240 was in the under $50 tier and the H100i RGB in the $100 to $150 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if maximum fan speed decides your purchase.
Why is the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB our Best for the i5-14600K pick?
It earns the label for a thick 360mm radiator with a VRM fan and lighting. The Frozen Notte 240, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $50 to $100 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at tuned 14600K builds.
What extras do the Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB and the Coreliquid A13 360 include?
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB: P12 PRO A-RGB fans. The Coreliquid A13 360: a split-flow radiator with the pump built into it. The Frozen Notte 240: a pump rated for 40,000 hours.
Bottom Line
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB is the pick for a 14600K you plan to tune. The Frozen Notte 240 is enough at stock, and the H100i RGB suits Corsair builds.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best 240mm AIO Liquid Coolers
- Related guideThe Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-13600K
- Related guideThe Best CPU Coolers for Overclocking
- Lower budgetThe Best CPU Coolers Under $30
- Similar guideThe Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5-13400F
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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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