Comparative test: 46 Cool Coolers

Introduction

No doubt the average computer user will not think of it for a second, but to the readers of Hardware.Info it is one of the most important decisions when purchasing a new pc: the CPU cooler. Manufacturers come up with the most extreme creations to keep the processor as cool as possible. We compared 46 new models.

Can it yet be more extreme, we asked ourselves during our last big comparison test of CPU-coolers. The answer unequivocally is: yes. After requesting all our suppliers to send us their latest models, we received some very exotic creations. Gone are the times of the “plain vanilla” thermal block with fan. When you presently shop for a CPU-cooler, you can choose from some bizarre products.

The market for CPU-coolers consists almost exclusively out of the typical readers of Hardware.Info: namely those who are prepared to shell out some extra cash in order to overclock to the max - or to build an as quiet as possible pc. To build standard pc´s the systembuilders normally use the bundled coolers from Intel and AMD. Actually this is not a bad choice as the boxed coolers nowadays are quite good. People who will settle for nothing else but the best however use extra powerful- and/or quiet coolers. Because of this demand manufacturers feel challenged and try to beat each other to the punch.