CPU Coolers
If your processor comes with a cooling solution, you should be fine and won't need to go to this page. You'll know if it has an included cooling solution, since it should say it next to the processor you selected. If you don't have a cooler, you'll want to pick one here. We offer heatsinks and liquid coolers. Which one is right for you?
Heatsinks offer reliability, since they're basically metal fins with fans strapped to them. If a fan fails, you simply need to replace it (about a $5 fix if you do it yourself) and you're good to go. Fan replacements are usually pretty easy too, you just need a philips head screwdriver and some dexterous hands. The biggest drawback is that heatsinks are giant metal blocks, and may not be as pretty as liquid coolers to look at. Plus, heatsinks are not as good at extracting heat over long, heavy use as liquid coolers. So if your use is going to be gaming or video editing for several hours a day, heatsinks may not be the best option.
Liquid coolers are quieter than heatsinks and are best for users who will be pushing their systems for hours on end, like streamers, hardcore gamers, and video editors. They can efficiently remove a lot of heat from your processor with little noise, or kick into high gear when your processor starts maxing out its potential. The biggest drawbacks are that you need a mounting spot for the radiator, and if the pump dies, you need to replace the entire liquid cooler (this usually takes 3-8 years to happen, depending on how hard it is pushed). The fans can probably be reused if they're still good.
Heatsinks offer reliability, since they're basically metal fins with fans strapped to them. If a fan fails, you simply need to replace it (about a $5 fix if you do it yourself) and you're good to go. Fan replacements are usually pretty easy too, you just need a philips head screwdriver and some dexterous hands. The biggest drawback is that heatsinks are giant metal blocks, and may not be as pretty as liquid coolers to look at. Plus, heatsinks are not as good at extracting heat over long, heavy use as liquid coolers. So if your use is going to be gaming or video editing for several hours a day, heatsinks may not be the best option.
Liquid coolers are quieter than heatsinks and are best for users who will be pushing their systems for hours on end, like streamers, hardcore gamers, and video editors. They can efficiently remove a lot of heat from your processor with little noise, or kick into high gear when your processor starts maxing out its potential. The biggest drawbacks are that you need a mounting spot for the radiator, and if the pump dies, you need to replace the entire liquid cooler (this usually takes 3-8 years to happen, depending on how hard it is pushed). The fans can probably be reused if they're still good.
