The ideal CPU cooler makes no compromise on silence or performance.
Those with poorly designed components installed will know how just how annoying that can be!
In this post, we will cover the best CPU coolers that achieve an excellent performance-to-noise ratio.
Contents:
5 Quietest AIO coolers5 Quietest air coolers2 Passive coolers
What is the quietest CPU cooler?
Even at the highest speeds possible, they only crank out 32 dBA.
At just 20 decibels, the low pump noise is also very competitive.
A unique thing about this pump is that it comes with two removable, magnetic metal caps.
Thanks to the native software, its possible to sync the RGB lighting to your motherboard.
Alternatively, choose from several preset profiles, ranging from static colors to rainbow effects.
Impressively, the max decibel levels hover at around 30 dB or so.
The included software gives you the keys to the castle for it to look just the way you like.
Thats about as quiet as it gets from a modern AIO CPU cooler.
Thanks to DEEPCOOL optimizing the flow root, the dual-chamber pump is whisper quiet too.
It puts out just 17.8 dB, during max pump speeds of 2550 RPM.
Providing theres just a little bit of ambient noise in the background.
Its likely that you wont even notice when its operating.
Exhausting the heat are three 120 mm magnetic levitation fans.
As for the pump, this is one of the quietest around, even when in Extreme Mode.
In Extreme, it runs at 2800 RPM, which intuitively seems high for longevity purposes.
It also doesnt hurt that its the quietest AIO coolers that money can buy.
The high-static pressure fans run at speeds between 500 RPM and 1400 RPM.
Although this isnt necessarily the fastest fan-speeds, it still moves plenty of air to keep things cold.
More importantly, the slower fan speeds facilitate quieter operation, maxing out at around 25 dB or so.
With this hardware, youll have almost unlimited freedom to customize the RGB lighting.
The patented Ring Plus software allows you to change modes like the colors, speeds, and brightness.
Its compatible with chipsets from Intel and AMD and works with all popular motherboards.
Moreover, the asymmetrical design makes it easy to fit into any space without blocking the memory slots.
Operating at 1600 RPM, the high-speed fans produce effortless cooling power.
The fans pitch creates lower air resistance levels, improving cooling capabilities without adding a lot of noise.
This results is an impressive cooling performance of up to (190W TDP).
Overall, the Shadow Rock 3 is a quiet and effective solution for most medium-powered CPUs.
Two high air pressure fans handle the temperature control by creating extra air pressure.
Both fans only produce 24.3 dB running at full power and operate even quieter at normal speeds.
To improve cooling efficiency further, the fans work alongside 6mm copper heat pipes.
Gamers are going to love the Dark Rock CPU cooler.
The twin fans maintain fridge-like temperatures even when the CPU starts to spike.
This makes it a versatile choice for a wide range of systems.
Operating noise levels can be anywhere between 5 10 dB.
At peak performance, though, the fan can reach 22 dB.
Apart from that, there is no noise coming from the heatsink itself.
Those with mini-PCs, compact builds, and home servers will like this cooler the most.
Measuring 3.74 x 3.74 x 4.33 inches, its not quite optimized for larger builds.
Minimalist, featuring a lot of nickel and chrome, it fits perfectly in any case design and configuration.
Combine that with the numerous customizable color-heatsink covers and its effortless to match this cooler to your build.
A 120mm cooling fan moves air efficiently through the box without adding a lot of noise, too.
This is thanks to the fans focused flow technology that eliminates static pressure.
Gamers, looking to get the most out of their computer will love the NH-U12S.
The automatic speed controls kick in promptly before approaching maximum temperatures.
That keeps your components nice and frosty, stopping heat degradation before it can do any damage.
The Noctua NH-U12S is ideal for mid-range CPUs with moderate power e.g.
the 6-core Ryzen 5 3600x or 8-core Ryzen 7 5800x.
As you might see, the design features an oversized heatsink with dual 120mm fans stuck back to back.
This creates a push/ pull kind of configuration that successfully keeps temps low without adding a lot of noise.
In terms of the design, the heatsink consists of six copper pipes and a huge copper base.
The cut-out provides 2.1 of extra clearance under the heatsink so theres no overhang above the memory slots.
With the fans installed, the clearance stays the same because its possible to raise them up.
Keep in mind that its specific for Intel sockets (1200), meaning it wont work with AMD.
Thermal paste is also directly applied.
The beautiful thing about this passive cooler is that it requires zero maintenance whatsoever.
It doesnt have to be checked on, unplugged, or touched up.
Instead, it just does its thing without any trouble.
All while working 100% fanless for an inaudible operation.
Everything about the design of this unit has been custom-engineered from the ground up.
Clearly, this is not your average heatsink.
The thicker, more widely spaced cooling fins achieve extra thermal cooling mass while minimizing airflow and resistance.
The result is effortless, natural, convection-cooling capabilities that have no problems keeping a CPU chilly.
In terms of performance, the NH P1 is suitable for processors with low to moderate heat dissipation.
Its worth noting that like most passive coolers, its not intended for overclocking.
Overall, you wont find a better quiet CPU cooler than this innovative passive option from Noctua.
Are Liquid CPU Coolers Quieter?
Liquid CPU coolers arent always quieter than their air counterparts.
you could usually achieve a quieter build with an air CPU cooler that has optimized fan blades.
Consider two popular CPU cooling options like the EK-AIO 120 D-RGB and theScythe Ninja 5.
Moreover, higher RPM equates to higher power usage, which can reduce the lifespan of your fan.
An alternative to this dilemma is choosing a fan with higher RPM but capping it at a lower speed.
you might adjust this if you find it does not cool your CPU properly.
Youre better off looking for reviews that test the max volume of the fan (n decibels).
Passive CPU cooling is not recommended for high-performance CPUs or overclocking.
Compatibility
confirm your quiet CPU cooler is compatible with the size of your CPU and case.
Pay attention to connection details such as sockets.
For a cooling system to operate efficiently, it should have a TDP higher than the CPU.
Instead of a one-for-one match, compatibility requires more juice.
Size
Coolers come in a variety of sizes.
Consider that larger fans rotate more air at slower speeds than smaller fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are liquid CPU coolers quieter?
Are air coolers loud?
Air coolers are known for being loud, especially when running at faster revolutions per minute (RPM).
This is because high airflow generates noise and there are moving parts.
Not all air coolers are the same, though.
Those with poor designs/ aerodynamics will get louder than others.
Are CPU coolers loud?
Some CPU coolers are loud, some are completely silent.
For instance, AIO CPU coolers that cool by pumping coolant tend to be quiet.
On the whole, air CPU coolers that use a high-speed fan generate more noise.
Passive CPU coolers that use heat pipes however produce no noise.
We hope you found a quiet CPU cooler on this list.
