Best Low Profile CPU Cooler 2023
Introduction
This is a small cooling device for your PC that gives an ultimate cooling performance to maintain optimal power efficiency. How this small unit provides so much cooling? We have compiled a list of the best low profile CPU Cooler in this article.
Well, it incorporates tiny heatsinks with smaller fans installed on them that runs generally at higher speeds. These small CPU coolers prove to be the most efficient as they produce much less noise and consume much less power.
It is highly recommended to use a low-profile CPU cooler if you are using a compact mini ITX case for your PC where you will likely face clearance issues on your motherboard. Well, a low-profile cooler is most suitable for a low-power CPU, with TDP up to 65W. But you can also use a beefy low-profile cooler for a high-performance CPU.
So, if you are building an ITX gaming PC then getting a good cooler is a must. I have selected some best low-profile coolers which are mentioned below:
Best Low Profile CPU Coolers 2023
ARCTIC Alpine 12 LP
Cooler Master MasterAir G200P RGB
Noctua NH-L9i
be quiet! Dark Rock 4
Be Quiet CPU Cooler
Scythe Big Shuriken 3 CPU Air Cooler
Thermaltake UX100 CPU Cooler
Silverstone CPU Cooler
ID-COOLING CPU Cooler
From entry-level CPU coolers to high-end CPU coolers, “Arctic” is a very popular brand in the market that offers great performance at a reasonable price.
I have mentioned it at the top of the list because it is the cheapest and offers great performance. You will get a pretty large 92mm PWM fan that can offer a cooling performance of up to 75W.
It is only 77 mm tall, so it can easily fit in most ITX cases. The amazing thing is that it only draws less than 1W of power and provides fan speed of up to 2000 RPM. The only drawback is that it is made for Intel sockets and not for AMD.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Fan Size: | 92 mm |
| Fan noise level: | 35.8 dBA |
| Fan speed: | 2000 RPM |
| Socket compatibility: | Intel LGA1151/1150/1155/1156/1200 |
| Warranty: | 1 year |
| Dimensions: | (L X W X H): 95 x 95 x 53.5 mm/3.74 x 3.74 x 2.10 inch |
Cooler Master is well known for its computer cases and other accessories. They also offer some really good CPU coolers.
If you want a compact CPU cooler with RGB 92 mm fan, then this is surely the best option you will get. It is the most customizable option unlike others available. You can change the color of the fan to any of your choices.
The amazing thing is that it is quite low in height which is just 39.4mm and its width is only 92mm. So, you can easily install it in almost any SFF case. The noise level is also pretty low, even under heavy load this cooler is pretty silent.
But for high-end CPUs, I would not recommend it, you have to combine it with something that spends 65W of power and is not too hot. It is compatible with both Intel and AMD motherboards.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) With Fan: | 39.4mm x 92mm x 92mm |
| Fan speed: | 2600 RPM |
| Fan size: | 92 mm |
| Fan noise level: | 28 dBA |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA1151/ 1150/ 1155/ 1156/ 1200/ 1366/ 2011/ 2066 and AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| Warranty: | 2 year |
Noctua has a good reputation among the PC community for offering one of the best low-profile CPU coolers at a reasonable price. This cooler offers everything that you need, it is well-built, quiet, and efficient.
It is a bit pricey but still, it is a good option you will get. It is only 37mm in height which makes it ideal for ITx, HTPCs, and small form factor builds. It has a 92mm fan with PWM support and a low-noise adaptor that provides ultra-quiet operation.
The SecuFirm2 mounting system makes it easy to install.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions: | 95x95x37mm |
| Socket compatibility: | Intel (LGA1156, 1555, 1151, 1150, 1200), AMD (AM4 with NM-AM4-L9aL9i) |
| Fan Size: | 92 mm |
| RPM: | 600-2500 RPM |
| Noise Generation: | 14.8-23.6 dBA |
As the name suggests that they are excellent in producing low-noise CPU fans, coolers, and even cases. It delivers powerful performance with minimal noise. It has a very unique and compact look, so it looks great in any PC case without any RGB.
It is one of the most powerful coolers mentioned in this list when it comes to performance. The heat sink of this CPU cooler has a two-tier design that incorporates six heat pipes. It just produces only 26.7 dBA of noise which is pretty low.
You cannot install it in mini casings because of its size. It has a height of about 130mm which is pretty large for a low-profile CPU cooler.
Be Quiet is well known for its high-performing PC fans and CPU coolers. It is a high-performing CPU cooler and has a very large fan of about 120 mm which is able to provide maximum TDP support of 130 watts.
The amazing thing is that it is very quiet with a fan speed of about 1500 RPM. It is compatible with both Intel and AMD motherboards because it supports the most popular socket types.
They are super reliable and the company offers a 3-year long warranty.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Fan speed: | 1500 RPM |
| Fan size: | 120 mm |
| Fan noise level: | 25.5 dBA |
| Power Consumption: | 1.1 watts |
| Dimensions (L X W X H): | 160 x 140 x 170 mm/6.3 x 5.51 x 6.69 inch |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA775/ 1151/ 1150/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366/ 2011 and AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| Warranty: | 3 year |
This compact CPU cooler provides high performance even for high-end CPUs such as i9-9900K or even i9-10900K.
It has fairly a large fan of about 120 mm in size. It has fairly a high CPU cooler height of about 69 mm which combines with the 120mm fan to give optimum cooling for your high-end system.
The amazing thing about this CPU cooler is that at even 100 percent RPM, it reaches only 35 decibels. If you are looking to build a high-end gaming PC, then this is surely the best option you will get in the market.
The only drawback is that it does not fit in tight mini ITx cases.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) With Fan: | 69mm x 122mm x 122mm |
| Fan speed: | 1800 RPM |
| Fan size: | 120 mm |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA775/ 1151/ 1150/ 1155/ 1156/ 1200/ 1366/ 2011/ 2066 and AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
If you are an RGB lover, then this is surely the best option for you. The Thermaltake is a perfect choice as it has both a low profile and RGB. It supports 5V RGB syn with your motherboard.
It has a built-in ARGB LED which makes it easy to control the lighting of the CPU cooler.
It has an aluminum sink that combines with a fan that provides high airflow to lower the temperature of your CPU.
It features a hydraulic bearing that makes the fan relatively silent and it runs at 1800 RPM. The good thing is that it is compatible with most Intel and AMD sockets.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Fan speed: | 1800 RPM |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA 1200/ 1156/ 1155/ 1151/ 1150/ 775 & AMD AM4/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
This cooler is best for fairly large mini ITx cases, it can be a good option for you with a great high performance. It has a 92 mm fan size which is pretty enough to provide good cooling.
The height is comparably higher than others which is 58 mm. Well, the larger size is worth it because it has a pretty high TDP rating of 95 watts or even more.
The fan speed with such high TDP can go up to 2500 RPM which is pretty amazing. The good thing is that you can use it with both Intel and AMD CPUs. It offers a 2-year warranty.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Fan speed: | 2500 RPM |
| Fan size: | 92 mm |
| Fan noise level: | 28.3 dBA |
| Dimensions (L X W X H): | 165 x 140 x 69 mm/6.5 x 5.5 x 2.7 inch |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA1151/ 1150/ 1155/ 1156 and AMD FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| Warranty: | 2 year |
It is budget-friendly yet still a fairly high-performance CPU cooler. It is a compact and small option that can deliver decent cooling performance.
It has a common 92 mm fan with a cooler height of only 30mm. The amazing thing is that you will get a high fan speed of 3600 RPM with this low-profile CPU cooler. but the only drawback is the noise it produces.
You can use it with both Intel and AMD CPUs. It comes with a 2-year long warranty.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Fan speed: | 3600 RPM |
| Fan size: | 92 mm |
| Fan noise level: | 35.8 dBA |
| Socket Compatibility: | Intel LGA1151/ 1150/ 1155/ 1156/ 1200 and AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| Warranty: | 2 year |
| Dimensions (L X W X H): | 93 x 100 x 30 mm/3.66 x 3.93 x 1.18 inch |
Best Low Profile CPU Coolers Buying Guide
If you are buying high-end components for your PC then you surely consider keeping them cool with a good cooler for your PC, especially when you are using a compact casing.
So, for compact casings, you need one of the best low-profile CPU coolers which we have mentioned above. To choose the right option for you we have collected significant details and features of the above-mentioned CPU Coolers.
You can consider the following points mentioned below in the buying guide before purchasing a low-profile CPU Cooler.
Power Consumption
The cooler made for your computer processor draws some power for operating its fan. Usually, the low-profile CPU coolers draw a very less amount of power between 2 to 5 watts, so this should not be your main concern at all.
Fan Speed
Well, CPU coolers have a fan speed rating in RPM which are usually 1500 RPM, 2000 RPM, etc. The more RPM the better cooling performance it will give. But the higher RPM means results in higher noise which could be frustrating at times.
Fan Size
The fan size also greatly affects the cooling performance of your low-profile CPU cooler. the larger the fan size the larger airflow it will produce which results in better performance. The most common fan size is 92mm but you will also find 60mm, and 120mm fan sizes. The 92mm is the best option to get because it offers perfect balance between form factor and cooling performance.
Fan Noise Level
Checking the noise level is also important because it can be very annoying. Commonly the high fan speed produces a high level of noise. If you want a silent CPU cooler then its fan noise level is quite important for you. A rating below 30dBA of your CPU cooler will be the best to get.
Cooler Height
Well, if you are looking for a low-profile CPU cooler, then it means that you are using a mini case. So, in that case, you surely need to check the height of the cooler unit, so it can easily fit inside your mini ITx case. Mostly low performance coolers may have a height of 30mm while high-performance ones have a height of around 65mm.
Supported Sockets
You should first check the compatibility of the low-profile CPU cooler with the motherboard and of your PC. Just make sure that it matches the socket compatibility list of your PC.
Maximum TDP
There are many CPU coolers that also include a maximum TDP rating besides fan size and fan speed. This tells you about the maximum heat output they can handle. TDP ratings are similar to CPUs like 60W, 75W, 90W, and even higher in some cases. So, for a higher-performance low-profile CPU cooler, you will need a higher maximum TDP rating support.
Warranty
Well, it is not that important to notice, but still, if you want a reliable one then you should check the warranty period of the CPU cooler. The longer the warranty period the more reliable it would be.
Which Low-Profile CPU Cooler Should You Get?
Well, if your PC has an ultra-slim case, then I would recommend you to go for Noctua Nh-L9i or ID-COOLING CPU cooler. But if you have more room in your PC case, then I would suggest you go for Big Shuriken 3 or Alpine 12 CPU cooler.
