Buying Guide
The Best Low-Profile Gaming CPU Coolers
From the AXP90-X47 to the IS-55: three air coolers ranked on heat pipe count and fan size, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
Low-profile coolers fit slim and small cases. Every pick is 70mm tall or less, 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; nothing here was tested in-house, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Highest Heat Pipe Count
Thermalright AXP120-X67The highest heat pipe count here (6).
Best for: Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Check price for Thermalright AXP120-X67 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ID-COOLING IS-55The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 15mm-thick 120mm fan.
Best for: Buyers who want a 15mm-thick 120mm fan and can spend more than the AXP120-X67 costs.
Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Height
Thermalright AXP90-X47The lowest height here (47mm).
Best for: Buyers who put height first.
Check price for Thermalright AXP90-X47 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest heat pipe count here (6). | Buyers who put heat pipe count first. | Check price for Thermalright AXP120-X67 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 15mm-thick 120mm fan. | Buyers who want a 15mm-thick 120mm fan and can spend more than the AXP120-X67 costs. | Check price for ID-COOLING IS-55 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest height here (47mm). | Buyers who put height first. | Check price for Thermalright AXP90-X47 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Highest Heat Pipe Count1 of 3
Thermalright AXP120-X67
The AXP120-X67 fits six heat pipes and a 15mm-thick 120mm fan into 67mm.
Best for
- Buyers who put heat pipe count first.
Skip if
- Skip it if height matters most to you; the AXP90-X47 offers 47mm.
Why we like it
It is the value choice for small cases with a 65W or mid-range CPU. Nothing else here matches its 6 heat pipe count; the IS-55 comes closest at 5. It matches the IS-55 on fan size (120mm).
Its 67mm height is the tallest in this group; the AXP90-X47 leads at 47mm. It also comes with a 26.1dB(A) noise rating. At 67mm 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 AXP90-X47 cost less, and the IS-55 cost more.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 67mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- 15mm-thick 120mm fan
- 26.1dB(A) noise rating
- Highest heat pipe count of the picks (6)
- Fan size of 120mm, ahead of the AXP90-X47
Cons
- Height trails the AXP90-X47 (47mm)
- Costs more than the AXP90-X47 at the time of writing
The catch
Height is its weakest area, and the AXP90-X47 covers it better at 47mm.
Premium Pick2 of 3
ID-COOLING IS-55
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 a 15mm-thick 120mm fan and can spend more than the AXP120-X67 costs.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the AXP90-X47, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It fits cases too short for the 67mm to 70mm coolers. Its 5 heat pipe count ranks second of 3 here, behind the AXP120-X67 (6) and ahead of the AXP90-X47 (4). It matches the AXP120-X67 on fan size (120mm).
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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the AXP120-X67 the nearest cheaper option.
Key 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 AXP90-X47
- Fan size of 120mm, ahead of the AXP90-X47
Cons
- Costs more than the AXP90-X47 at the time of writing
Lowest Height3 of 3
Thermalright AXP90-X47
The AXP90-X47 is 47mm tall with four heat pipes and a 92mm fan.
Best for
- Buyers who put height first.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 92mm fan limits how much heat it can move quietly rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the slimmest option here with an AM5 listing. Its 4 heat pipe count is the lowest in this group; the AXP120-X67 leads at 6. Its 92mm fan size is the smallest in this group; the AXP120-X67 leads at 120mm.
On height it leads this guide at 47mm, ahead of the IS-55 (57mm). It also offers 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the AXP120-X67 was closest.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 4
- Fan size
- 92mm
- Height
- 47mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Very low 47mm height for slim cases
- 22.4dB(A) noise rating
- The lowest height here (47mm)
Cons
- 92mm fan limits how much heat it can move quietly
- Heat pipe count trails the AXP120-X67 (6)
- Fan size trails the AXP120-X67 (120mm)
The catch
Heat pipe count is its weakest area, and the AXP120-X67 covers it better at 6.
How We Chose These Low-Profile 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 set side by side three coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, height and fans included as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 5 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the AXP120-X67 to the AXP90-X47, state heat pipe count, fan size and height.
- Who each pick suits
- The AXP120-X67 for the highest heat pipe count here (6); the IS-55 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 15mm-thick 120mm fan; the AXP90-X47 for the lowest height here (47mm).
- Price range
- From the AXP90-X47 to the IS-55, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Low-Profile Gaming CPU Cooler
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Heat pipe count
Across these 3 picks heat pipe count spans 4 (the AXP90-X47) to 6 (the AXP120-X67). If heat pipe count is your first filter, the AXP120-X67 sets the ceiling at 6.
How much fan size you need
Here fan size runs from 92mm on the AXP90-X47 to 120mm on the AXP120-X67, a 30% spread. Start with the AXP120-X67 if fan size decides it.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them How much height you need
The AXP90-X47 tops height at 47mm and the AXP120-X67 sits lowest at 67mm. Start with the AXP90-X47 if height decides it.
Features beyond the spec table
The AXP120-X67: a 26.1dB(A) noise rating. The IS-55: a 15mm-thick 120mm fan. The AXP90-X47: a 22.4dB(A) noise rating.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC Where your budget lands
Price does little to separate these 3: the AXP90-X47 through the IS-55 all landed in the under $50 tier, which leaves heat pipe count to decide it.
How to Choose a Low-Profile Gaming CPU Cooler
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put heat pipe count first | AXP120-X67 | The highest heat pipe count here (6) |
| Buyers who want a 15mm-thick 120mm fan and can spend more than the AXP120-X67 costs | IS-55 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 15mm-thick 120mm fan |
| Buyers who put height first | AXP90-X47 | The lowest height here (47mm) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The AXP120-X67 leads on heat pipe count at 6, ahead of the IS-55 at 5.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXP120-X67 | 6 | 120mm | 67mm | 1 |
| IS-55 | 5 | 120mm | 57mm | 1 |
| AXP90-X47 | 4 | 92mm | 47mm | 1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the IS-55 compare with the AXP120-X67 on heat pipe count?
Between the top two, it is 6 on the AXP120-X67 against 5 on the IS-55, a 20% difference. The spread runs down to the AXP90-X47 at 4.
Is the AXP90-X47 ahead of the IS-55 on height?
The AXP90-X47 comes out best at 47mm, with the IS-55 at 57mm. The AXP120-X67 is at the other end of this group with 67mm.
Is the IS-55 worth paying more than the AXP90-X47?
On paper it adds heat pipe count (5 against 4) and fan size (120mm against 92mm). It does not win everywhere: the AXP90-X47 still leads on height (47mm). Both sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, so the gains in heat pipe count and fan size cost little extra by tier.
What makes the AXP120-X67 the Highest Heat Pipe Count?
It carries the badge for the highest heat pipe count here (6). The IS-55 is next on heat pipe count at 5, so this pick's 6 is 20% further out. It gives up height (67mm against 47mm) to the AXP90-X47, the cheapest pick. It is aimed at anyone who puts heat pipe count first.
Beyond the specs, what sets the AXP120-X67 and the IS-55 apart?
The AXP120-X67: a 15mm-thick 120mm fan. The IS-55: a 15mm-thick 120mm fan. The AXP90-X47: a 22.4dB(A) noise rating.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the AXP120-X67, chosen for the highest heat pipe count here (6). Look at the IS-55 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 15mm-thick 120mm fan and the AXP90-X47 for the lowest height here (47mm) if those matter more to you.
Check RAM clearance under the heatsink.
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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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