5 Best Budget CPU Coolers in 2024

Affordable and high-quality CPU coolers.

If you are on the lookout for the best budget CPU cooler, pay attention to its specifications before parting with any cash. Even if money isn’t a concern, you should choose a cooler compatible with your processor. Moreover, a particular model should meet your overclocking needs. However, if you have a limited budget, you should know that the modern market offers a rich array of affordable tools for processor heat dissipation.

CPU coolers come in different sizes, shapes and price brackets. This article allows you to choose the best budget CPU cooler that will work for your computer setup. Read on to learn everything about the most popular options available on the market. Compare their specs and prices to pick the most suitable model.

Type: Air | Compatibility: LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, AM4 | Rotation frequency: 2000 RPM | Noise volume: 16.2–31.5 dbA

ID-Cooling SE-224-xt CPU cooler is a great cooling solution for laptops. It's all about getting the right airflow to your system, especially when you use your computer in a crowded area. With a typical computer case, getting the proper amount of air flow is extremely difficult. There is not enough room, and you would have to either place some vents in your system, or get a bigger cooler. This isn't necessary with this case.

When you have this cooler, you don't need to worry about any vents. All that is needed is an external flap that seals against the front of your system. This allows any warm air from the bottom of your computer to escape and keeps your system cool. This feature helps your system run more efficiently, without sacrificing any temperature. Because the fan is attached to the exterior flap, there is also no noise generated from this system.

Type: Air | Compatibility: Intel LGA 1156/1155/1151 & AMD AM4/FM2/FM1/AM3 | Rotation frequency: 1800 RPM | Noise volume: 16–31 dbA

The Thermaltake UX100 CPU cooler is really worth checking out especially if you want to get the maximum performance out of your PC. The cooler from Thermaltake is very quiet, which allows for an increase in the speed with which you can operate your PC. This specific cooler comes with dual fans, which ensure that the temperature is evenly distributed across the motherboard. This is a great feature because it allows one fan to push warm air towards the bottom of the laptop while the other cools off the top. This helps to keep your CPU and tower from overheating and makes it run much smoother for longer periods of time.

This specific cooler from Thermaltake also features a high end cooling system which is made up of two aluminum alloy heat sinks which are placed on either side of the aluminum base. This cooler has two fan speeds, which are all controlled by a single control dial which enables you to easily change the speed.

Type: Air | Compatibility: Intel: LGA2066, LGA2011, LGA2011, LGA1151, LGA1150, AMD: AM4, AM3+, AM2, FM2 | Rotation frequency: 1600 RPM | Noise volume: 26.0 dbA

Hyper 212 is the ultimate liquid cooling system. The best in cooling technology that can cool multiple processor cores and graphics cards simultaneously. It is also considered to be the best AM5 CPU cooler available on the market. It has an excellent dual-speed fan control and is equipped with four fans for better cooling results.

Hyper 212 Evo V2 - Latest version of the Coolermaster fan series, the Hyper 212 EVO v2 offers a high-quality air cooling solution perfect for chassis and CPU enthusiasts. Optimized dual-speed blade fan with updated fan curve that improves air circulation and overall air pressure. The newest vortex tube technology offers improved flow control, minimal noise and optimized heat transfer rate. This is the optimal solution if you are looking to cool your rig and make it whisper quiet while doing it.

Type: Air | Compatibility: Intel: LGA2066/2011/1151/1150/1155/1156/1200 and AMD AM4 | Rotation frequency: 2000 RPM | Noise volume: 16.2–31.5 dbA

The ID-Cooling SE-234-ARGB ID Cooler is a high performance cooler that provides an effective dual function cooling system with the use of argon and krypton gases. It is an energy saving device that helps keep your computer, laptop or tablet cool while providing extended battery life. The system is designed with a one quart aluminum case that is constructed from anodized aluminum which is then finished with a black silicone sleeve to help dissipate heat. This cooler is very effective in its ability to cool an area that is as large as seven square feet and works well with the latest micro processors.

Using a high-performance motherboard, the ID-Cooling SE-234-ARGB provides up to eight hours of battery life and a boost in desktop performance. You can operate your laptop or tablet with the confidence that you are protected from overheating. The dual-function coolers come standard with one fan and one dual-axis bearing. These coolers also use two fans and two dual-axis bearings for greater cooling efficiency.

Type: Air | Compatibility: Intel LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA2011, LGA2066, AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM1, FM2(+) | Rotation frequency: 1500 RPM | Noise volume: 22.4 dbA

Made on the principle of the famed NH-D14, the new flagship model of Noctua is an air-cooled dual core cooler for the ultimate quiet computing performance. Built on the latest framework of the acclaimed NH-D14, its enlarged heatpipe design and dual premium grade NF-A 15 140mm fans with PPM function enable it to further amplify the award winning efficiency of the NH-D14. Using high quality aluminum fins, the Noctua NH-U12S fan has been optimized for better agitation of air within the CPU and its chambered side panels for optimal sound output. Utilizing the standard voltage rating for all the cores, the Noctua NH-U12S uses six of them for its dual core cooling functions.

Unlike the older dual fan cooler models from Noctua, the new version has upgraded Noctua NH-U12S fans. These fans are able to operate at a faster speed, and with a better noise output. In addition to that, the Noctua NH-U12S is also optimized for static pressure savings. The Noctua cooler ensures that your processor will be kept cool even when under extreme conditions.

Liquid immersion and air cooling are two ways to reduce the temperature of your processor. While the latter method is more affordable, liquid-based cooling is more effective. Unless you are going to heavily overclock your CPU, it is senseless to purchase a liquid cooler. Although liquid coolers tend to generate less sound, they still produce noise since they incorporate fans to cool down the radiator. That is why the majority of users opt for air cooling. Aside from being more compact, air CPU coolers boast streamlined installation, are cheaper and more flexible. Moreover, they tend to be easier to fix, and you don’t need to worry about accidental leakage.

RPM stands for Revolutions Per Minute and refers to how fast a fan is rotating. However, it doesn’t mean that the higher RPM, the more improved cooling you will achieve. The speed of fan rotation affects the airflow, but you should also pay attention to additional aspects, such as the fan and heatsink sizes. The larger the fan is, the better airflow it will produce, even if it has a lower RPM. A larger heatsink will also better reduce the temperature. Moreover, fans with lower RPM produce less noise. That is why it is advisable to opt for a fan with lower RPM since it operates more silently, while other aspects will contribute to temperature reduction. However, it’s wrong to consider only RPM when shopping for the best budget CPU cooler. Also, you shouldn’t rely only on on-paper specifications to estimate the durability of a device.