New coolers for the processor. Choosing a cooler for the processor

Have you ever wondered what the performance and speed of modern processors is? This is actually very important. Every modern processor must be cooled. This need arises due to the fact that it constantly heats up, due to the huge number of information flows that it has to process. Certainly the most important role The cooler plays during the cooling process of the processor. This device constantly supplies cool air to the core of the processor, allowing it to work for many years. However, not every processor cooling system is capable of coping with such a complex task. There are a huge number of models on the computer equipment market in 2018, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s easy to get confused in such diversity. How to choose a cooler for AMD processor and Intel we will talk about in this article.

A socket is a connector on the motherboard into which you can insert CPU. Sockets have different distance mounts for coolers, so the first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a good cooling system is the socket. The design features of modern sockets are such that they differ for each specific processor. The method of mounting the device will be different, and it is necessary to decide on the model in advance before visiting the store. Modern processor manufacturers, AMD and Intel, produce completely different architectures for these sockets, each of which is suitable only for one type of processor. The main thing is to know what kind of hardware your computer has, then everything will fall into place.

CPU Cooler Size

Once the socket is determined, you need to choose one of the hundreds of models of cool processor cooling systems that are offered modern market. Cost is not always the most important factor here. The main thing is that the fan fits easily inside system unit. Some home computers have undergone repeated upgrades over many years of operation, and this leads to the fact that certain problems may arise when installing a cooling system. There may simply not be enough space for the cooler. That is why its geometric parameters must be treated extremely carefully. The size of the fan blades directly determines the amount of air that will be supplied to cool the processor. The stronger this flow, the better for the computer. The best cooler has geometric parameters of 92 by 92 by 25 mm. This standard is primarily used by people in private home settings. For a processor that is not the fastest, this is quite enough. If a person purchases a fan for a computer that he uses for games and complex tasks, then this size may not be enough. Here it is worth paying attention to models with a geometry of 120 by 120 by 25 mm. This is a more powerful device that creates more intense airflow. By the way, it has been noted that larger fans for cooling the processor are less noisy.

Expert video advice on choosing a cooling system for a processor

Cooler rotation speed

A reliable cooler should provide high enough rotation speeds to ensure maximum cooling efficiency. This parameter is measured in revolutions per minute. The most “advanced” models are considered intelligent, that is, they independently change the rotation speed depending on the load on the system. For example, a person just surfs the Internet, while the processor runs on a minimum of resources. In this situation, the rotation speed will be approximately 1100 rpm. If he suddenly decided to play some modern “shooter” game, then the fan begins to navigate according to the state of the processor, that is, it picks up speed, which can rise up to 2000 rpm. For those who purchased a fan large size, you don't have to worry about overheating at all, it will easily maintain optimal temperature processor.

Types of CPU Cooling Systems

There are several types of processor cooling systems.

Box cooling systems

A cooler that comes with a processor in one box for one price is called boxed, from the word BOX (box). They are not the most powerful and are quite noisy. But for a low-power household computer, it is better to buy this system, which is very convenient. It's easier and cheaper than buying these devices separately.

Cooling systems without heat pipes

The simplest and cheap systems CPU cooling consists of a cooler and a radiator, which is a block of copper or aluminum plates that act as heat reflectors. They are easy to install and easy to use. Such cooling is quite sufficient for a low-power computer; in addition, this system has a low price. Its significant feature is the fairly high noise from the fan, which increases with increasing load on the computer.

Multi-cooler cooling system

Many processor cooling systems are equipped with two or even three coolers. Of course, the more fans there are, the more powerful the air flow and, accordingly, the stronger the cooling of the processor. But such units are massive and weigh quite a lot. It is clear that it is not advisable to install this expensive type of cooling system in an ordinary low-power computer.

Liquid Cooled Systems

Systems with liquid processor cooling have copper and aluminum heat pipes through which a liquid circulates, intensively removing heat. These systems are extremely efficient and quiet. But the price of such systems is quite high. In addition, they have specific fastenings, which make the coolers difficult to install; The devices are quite bulky and take up a lot of space. And it’s not a fact that in a system with liquid cooled there will be a high-quality fan.

Radiator designs for processor cooling systems

To choose the right cooler For Intel processor and AMD, it is important to take into account the design of its heatsink, which determines the direction of outgoing air flows inside the system unit.

Coolers with tower radiators

Tower cooling systems do an excellent job of cooling the fastest processors. They remove heat well, thereby providing long work computer. The only disadvantage of this type of radiator is the narrow direction of the outgoing air flow, which does not reach other parts motherboard. Outgoing air from tower systems flows either upward or to the rear of the system unit.

C-type coolers

C-type cooling systems, with their curved tubes over the processor with a radiator with a cooler attached to them, resemble the letter C. In addition to high-quality cooling of the processor, these systems provide much better airflow to the motherboard.

Combined

Combined processor cooling systems are quite rare. They are equipped with powerful, expensive system units. This aims to combine the two above-mentioned types of cooling. But devices of this type are not much more effective, but they are expensive. And are they needed? personal question everyone.

Top CPU coolers of 2018

The main characteristics were listed above good coolers, but besides them you need to pay attention to the specific company that produced this device, and released it into the world. The most popular and high-quality products on the computer market in 2018 are considered to be the products of the companies Thermaltake and Cooler Master. It is these two companies that are most widely known today. This does not mean that there are no other manufacturers on the market similar devices. Of course, they are present, and even produce products that are distinguished by high quality indicators. Only Thermaltake and Cooler Master cover their devices additional protection which prevents dust from falling out. After all, dust is also destructive for any microprocessor technology. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the products of the companies - DeepCool, Zalman and Thermalright, and in order not to get lost in this huge number of models, we have compiled a rating of the best coolers for all types of processors and sockets, which took the entire Top of the coolest magazines and won the respect of gamers, so here they are.

The best CPU coolers of 2018

This Top includes universal models of processor cooling systems that became sales leaders throughout 2017-2018, that is, they are suitable for both Intel and AMD.

1. ZALMAN CNPS10X PERFORMA
2. DEEPCOOL ASSASSIN II
3. Cooler Master Hyper 412S
4. THERMALRIGHT MACHO REV.A
5. Noctua NH-D15
6. Cryorig H5 Ultimate
7. Arctic Freezer i32

The best coolers for Intel i5, i7 processor

Here we have collected the Top 7 most best systems cooling of Intel processors in 2018.

1. Deepcool Lucifer V2
2. Master Hyper 101
3. Cooler Scythe Katana 3
4. Thermalright HR-22
5. Thermaltake Contac 30
6. Cooler Master X6 Elite
7. ZALMAN CNPS10X OPTIMA

Best CPU coolers for AMD

— Almost silent and quite efficient processor cooler with two fans; 2 — Three-fan model with eye-catching design; 3 — Budget model with two fans providing high-quality cooling of the computer. 1 - Practically silent system cooling; 2 - Simple and stable system; 3 — A model that has no analogues in its price segment in terms of cooling level.

Computer components become hot during operation. The temperature of some parts increases slightly, while others become very hot. Most of all this applies to the video card and processor. And if the first one was initially equipped with a cooling system, then the situation with the CPU is different. A working cooler protects the processor from overheating. Due to the rotation of the fan blades, an air flow is created, and heat can be removed by them. This is how the processor is cooled.

Without a cooler, the temperature on the CPU can reach critical values, and it runs the risk of failure. Liquid can also be used to cool the processor. Water systems are more expensive, but they are also more efficient.

When choosing cooling for your computer, there are many parameters to consider. And not only its effectiveness, but also its compatibility with computer components. These parameters will be discussed in more detail in the list of the best cooling systems for the processor.

Top CPU coolers with one fan

Score (2018): 4.5

Advantages: Popular cooler from a world famous company

Country of origin: China

In third place in the top coolers is the Zalman CNPS10X Optima. This is very popular model with one fan. She found it due to the low cost and quite high quality. Supports a large number of processors.

Due to the material used, the radiator provides high thermal conductivity. The fan has wide blades and can produce more than 1500 revolutions per minute. The noise level at maximum rotation reaches 28 decibels. The weight of the assembled product is 630 g.

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Very reliable model

Country of origin: China

The Noctua NH-U14S cooler takes second place in the rating. According to the creators, the model is capable of working trouble-free for more than one hundred thousand hours. The cooler is compatible with sockets: LGA2011-3, LGA1150, AM2+, FM2+ and many others. Simply put, this model is suitable for cooling processors of the latest and previous generations.

The cooler is equipped with six heat pipes. This increases its effectiveness. The rotation speed can reach 1500 rpm. The noise level produced by the fan does not exceed 25 decibels at its peak. The cooler is quite large in size, it weighs 935 g.

Block of useful information

When choosing a quality CPU cooler, you first need to consider several significant characteristics. Not only the efficiency of the cooling system, but also its compatibility, as well as the overall reliability of the computer will depend on them. Thanks to the right choice of cooler, you will be able to fully unleash the potential of the central processor, bringing its performance to the maximum level.

1. Socket. It must be taken into account that processors from Intel companies and AMD have different connectors for connecting to the motherboard. Moreover, from the same company, depending on model range, the sockets will be different. This is very important point with the right choice of cooling system. After all, connectors differ in the structure of the fastenings. And a cooler is already connected to them. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a cooling system compatible with the socket on the motherboard. Otherwise, its installation is significantly complicated or becomes completely impossible. And attempts can lead to damage to the motherboard.
2. Cooler dimensions. When a socket is selected, all that remains is to decide on the cooler model that is compatible with it. There are a huge variety of cooling systems on the market. They can differ in many characteristics, including dimensions. And here it should be taken into account that the dimensions of the product vary depending on the purpose of the system. If you are equipping a gaming computer, then a large cooler is preferable. When the system is intended to office work, then a smaller cooling system is installed.
3. Rotation speed. The quality of the cooler is determined by the final cooling of the processor. And the higher the rotation speed of the blades, the better the heat dissipation. This parameter calculated in the number of blade revolutions per unit of time (usually per minute). IN modern systems The cooler rotation speed is adjusted automatically. It will depend on the computer load. Therefore, the processor temperature will be maintained at the same level.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: Quiet and high-quality computer cooling

Country of origin: China

And the first place in the rating is occupied by the Thermalright Macho Rev.A model. Reviews large quantity users say that this is the best single-fan cooler in its price segment. This is also confirmed by numerous reviews.

The model is suitable for the latest processor lines. It provides excellent cooling even in gaming computers. The rotation speed is adaptively selected by the system from 900 to 1300 rpm. And at peak load the noise produced is below 21 dB. The weight of the model is 870g.

Top CPU coolers with multiple fans

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Budget model with two fans

Country of origin: China

Opens the top best CPU coolers with multiple fans Deepcool Maelstrom 240T. This is a very serious water cooling system with an aluminum radiator. This model Compatible with the most powerful new generation processors.

The cooling system is equipped with two fans, the rotation speed of which can reach 1600 rpm. At peak load the noise level reaches 34 dB, it will be clearly audible. According to a Deepcool company representative, the cooler will be able to operate without failure for 50 thousand hours.

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Three-fan model with eye-catching design

Country of origin: China

The cooler received second place due to a special system for changing the rotation speed, depending on the load on the processor. This way it is possible to maintain a constant temperature. This cooler weighs one kilogram.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: Almost silent and quite efficient processor cooler

Country of origin: China

The “heart of the system,” as the central processor is often called, needs cooling. The fact is that it consists of a huge number of transistors, each of which needs power. Energy, as we know, does not disappear anywhere, but passes from electrical to thermal. Of course, this energy must be removed from the processor. Cooling devices can be found in stores various types, size and shape. Today's article will help you choose a CPU cooler.

The word “Cooler” comes from the English cooler - cooler. Applicable to computer technology, refers to an air cooling system, which most often consists of a radiator and a fan, and is used to cool computer components whose heat output is greater than 5W.
Initially, processors made do with their own surface to dissipate the required amount of heat, then simple aluminum radiators were attached to them. With the increase in power, and therefore heat dissipation, this became not enough. Fans began to be installed on radiators. Naturally, manufacturers sought to improve design and materials, which ultimately led to a variety of cooling system options.

Types of processor cooling systems based on heat removal method.

2) Liquid cooling systems .
Heat is removed using liquid. There is a water block on the processor that removes heat. The pump, which is included in the circuit, pumps this liquid through tubes to a remote radiator. There the heat is removed and the liquid returns to the water block. This cycle is continuous. There are unattended systems and serviced ones. In the first case, the liquid is collected and filled at the factory. The latter are purchased as a set and assembled for a specific system.

Advantages compared to most air systems:

Less noise
+Higher efficiency
+ Installation flexibility
+Interesting appearance.

Cons:

Higher price
-Risk of leaks
-Difficulty of installation
-Blowing around the socket space is required.

3) Extreme cooling systems.
These are systems based on the principle of phase change, open evaporation systems, as well as so-called “chillers”. This kind of system is used only by enthusiasts to achieve results in overclocking computer components.

Is it always necessary to select a cooler? BOX and OEM processors.

It makes sense that OEM processors require a cooler. However, it is often purchased for the BOX version. The supplied cooler will naturally cope with cooling, but only under ideal conditions. If the case is poorly ventilated, in case of heat, or overclocking the processor, best case scenario the fan will make a lot of noise and temperatures will be extreme. At worst, the processor will overheat and slow down, skipping cycles. In the case of an office system unit, you can use a complete, boxed cooler, but a combination of an OEM version and a cooler from a third-party manufacturer will cost less.

Selection of a cooler depending on the socket.

Once the processor is selected, you need to look at which socket it is intended for. This is the first point in choosing a cooler. A socket is a slot on the motherboard into which the processor is installed. Processor manufacturers change sockets quite often. Replacement of standards for fastening processor cooling systems occurs less frequently.
Typically, simple coolers with low cost are suitable for only one processor socket. Manufacturers make powerful cooling systems universal, which allows their products to be used for various platforms, even those that are no longer in production.
To choose the cooler that suits us, we simply select the socket we need in the configurator, for example, AM3+, and so on.

Selection of cooler depending on power dissipation.

Conventionally, several groups can be distinguished CPU coolers depending on power dissipation:

Up to 45W – for office PCs
45-65W – for multimedia PCs
65-80W – for mid-range gaming PCs
80-120W – for high-end gaming PCs
More than 120W – powerful gaming or professional PCs, also overclocked processors.

Selection of a cooler depending on the design.

The height should be taken into account in coolers of any design - it should be less than what is indicated in the parameters computer case. Otherwise, the wall will not be able to close.

Heat pipes, due to the liquid boiling in them, transfer heat from one place to another almost instantly. In case computer coolers– from the base of the cooler to the radiator. The more tubes, the more efficient the cooling device will be. Also, the diameter of the heat pipes also affects the performance of the cooler - the thicker they are, the faster the pipes can remove heat.

Choice of materials for the radiator and cooler base.

Parameters of complete fans.

Hi all. Let's talk about how to choose cooling for a computer, more precisely for a processor.

In general, any weather (in winter - batteries, in summer - sun) is a difficult time for our computer, because the temperature of the environment (and, as a result, the computer components) increases significantly, and therefore the cooling systems have to work at full capacity, trying to to cool the ardent character of our iron friends.

However, standard coolers do not always cope with their task successfully, which leads to constant reboots, shutdowns and other problems that follow overheating of the computer.

As you probably remember, the article “” will help you identify overheating (and find out the temperatures of components in general), and today I will tell you how to choose the right cooler for, which, as a rule, has the hardest time of all.

Why do you need a separate CPU cooling system?

To begin with, I would like to explain a little why the processor needs cooling and why the cooler that is usually given in addition to the crystal (that is, to this very processor) is bad. No, seriously, there was no way to do without this part, because I am very often asked why the option that comes with the processor is so bad, because, they say, they are not fools and know what to put in the kit. Of course, I don’t argue that the computer works with such a cooling system, but there are a number of nuances here.

To put it very simply, the processor consists of a huge number of small electrical conductors, each of which requires energy. And, as you know from a school physics course, energy does not disappear from the conductor - it goes from electrical to thermal.

Considering that a modern processor has more than half a billion transistors, the question of the need for cooling disappears by itself: the heat from them is enough to heat a small room. The processor cannot independently dissipate such an amount of energy: the area is too small, and the materials are not the same.

Therefore, with each crystal, manufacturers supply a simple cooler (if, of course, you buy BOX processor version, not OEM). For operation at standard frequencies and at normal temperature it is enough, but for extreme situations (long warm-up, i.e., for example, working with a full-fledged processor-dependent application or game, high temperature environment (summer), overclocking, etc.) it is better to look for a more powerful model.

The fact is that under this very simple cooler supplied in the kit, the processor still gets noticeably very hot. No, the temperature does not reach critical, but it is still stable is high, and because of it, some chemical processes that continuously occur in the crystal are accelerated, as a result of which, firstly, it can simply fail faster, and secondly, it slows down and skips cycles. The main problem lies precisely in the fact that when weak system CPU cooling.. mmm.. small performance margin. Look at all sorts of results tables on the Internet.

Even in an air-conditioned room, the temperature of the crystal under a standard knob rises to 73 degrees (and this is with the stand open, i.e. without the case). In the building where they live next door hard drives, video cards, disk drives, etc., the air can heat up under 60 degrees and the higher this temperature, the more difficult it is for the cooler, and the hotter the surrounding air, the more performance drops.

However, it’s also not worth going to the store and buying the first cooler you come across. In the world of cooling, sometimes a device is 3000 rubles may well be worse than the model for 1000 rubles and this is due to many factors, which we will talk about now.

Part 1: Cooler Base

Well, let's get started.

The work of any cooler begins... at its base, namely, at the place where it comes into contact with the processor. Here the cooler takes heat from it and transfers it to the cooling area. This process is called heat transfer, and its efficiency depends on two variables - area and surface material.

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Coming up with something superb here is usually unrealistic, because the dimensions of the processor are fixed, that is, the contact area cannot be increased, and there is only one material that is affordable and has high-quality thermal conductivity - copper (there is, of course, also aluminum, but it is less efficient).

It turns out that the maximum that the manufacturer can do is to make sure that, with all other components, heat transfer is carried out as efficiently as possible, namely... the base must be ideally polished.

Therefore, one of the first selection criteria is the “specularity” of the metal in the area of ​​​​contact with the processor, that is, ideally you should see your reflection on the surface, or at least not observe any significant irregularities or, especially, scratches, because they reduce contact area and reduce work efficiency.

Also beware of heat pipes “tearing” the base of the cooler (see photo above), as they also reduce the useful contact area. If you see that the tubes protrude from the total surface area, then it is better to put such a cooler aside and look for something else.

But what you rarely need to pay attention to ( common mistake beginners who believe that color always determines the material), this is the color, because copper is often plated with nickel.

Part 2: Heat Pipes

The next stage of work is the transfer of heat to the cooling surfaces. When the processors were weak and cold, this stage did not exist: the radiator was attached directly to the base and dissipated heat into the air. With the increase in productivity and the amount of energy released, heat transfer began to be taken more seriously - heat-conducting tubes appeared on coolers.

This invention is old and well known to many. One end of a copper pipe is sealed, liquid is poured into it, the air is pumped out and the other end is sealed. When heated, water absorbs energy and turns into steam, which rises to the upper (cold) part of the pipe, cools, condenses, releasing stored energy, and flows down. And so on ad infinitum.

Everything is the same in coolers, but with one caveat. When installed in the case, the cooling system is in horizontal position, and water cannot flow into the heating zone on its own. Therefore, the tubes are filled with porous material. Due to the capillary effect, liquid can move against the forces of gravity and move in any direction.

It is also difficult to come up with anything new at this stage, because the operation of heat pipes practically does not depend on their physical parameters, and therefore, as a criterion, one must rely on the number of heat pipes. Globally, the more, the better, but in general, three or four will do as a minimum (less is doubtful).

Part 3: body and components

The next phase of the cooler's operation is heat dissipation. This action takes place on the fins of the radiator, namely dozens of plates strung on heat pipes. It is here that the heat taken from the processor will be given to the air and it will be able to breathe more freely. The radiator can look whatever you want - developers are not shy about experimenting with shapes, angles of inclination, materials, and so on, but all this joy is subject to a number of rules, which are the next criteria for selection.

Firstly, the dissipation area should be maximum, that is, there should be as many radiator plates as possible, and the radiator itself should be as massive as possible. Secondly, the thinner the plates, the better, because the heat will be retained less. The requirements for the material of this whole thing are the same - high thermal conductivity, that is, copper should act as it. Some say that copper is not necessary in this phase and it is important to use it exclusively in the base and heat pipes, because given the high dissipation area, the radiator can also be made of aluminum. However, I do not really agree with this statement and I think that even here it is better to choose copper as the material. But see for yourself.

Part 4: active cooling, namely the fan itself

Well, the last stage of the cooling system for the processor is active cooling, i.e. the spinner itself. Whatever the manufacturers say, a radiator with powerful processor If you can’t handle it, the limitation of available space and high thermal resistance (temperature drop per watt of heat dissipated) will not allow it.

Again, the use of a heatsink alone is questionable due to the weak release of dissipated heat from the case, which leads to an increase in temperature in the case and heating of other elements inside it.

Naturally, a fan helps overcome such problems: the powerful air flow created reduces the resistance of the radiator and increases the amount of heat removed.

The rule for turntables is simple: you need to look for the largest ones in size (and not, contrary to the opinion of beginners, in the number of revolutions). The larger the diameter of the impeller, the more air is taken in per revolution, which means the required rotation speed and, as a result, the noise decreases.

Tobish, taking the turntable 120 mm With 1200 revs and turntable 80 mm With 2400 and having compared them, we find that the first one is, firstly, more efficient, and secondly, much quieter.

By the way, in addition to the size and speed, you also need to monitor the type of bearing. If it says " Ball bearing"(swings) - we take them because they are quiet and last a long time. If " Slide bearing"(slips) - we put it off, because they make noise and quickly turn sour.

Part 5: choosing thermal paste

When buying a cooler, do not forget about thermal paste. Expensive and good coolers usually have it included in the kit or already applied to the surface, but for the rest it’s worth buying separately.

What is thermal paste? This is a layer of paste (just like toothpaste), the purpose of which, when applied to the surface between the processor and the base of the cooler, is to eliminate the unevenness of the contacting surfaces and remove all the air between them. Good thermal paste may well bring the temperature down 5-10 degrees.

Unfortunately, smart comparative tests There are almost no pastes, and those that are made do not correspond to reality. The fact is that to get into working mode, the paste needs about 200 hours, and as you understand, no one will spend that much time on each tube. So you need to choose it according technical specifications. Most important parameter- thermal conductivity. The higher the better.

Globally, it seems that he covered all the main points and did not forget anything. It’s probably impossible to be more detailed :)
As always, if you have any questions, want to add or say something, then write in the comments to this article.

By the way, do not forget that dust often accumulates between the fins of the radiator and it needs to be cleaned, which I wrote about in the article ". By the way, there are also a few words about choosing the right case.

As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, additions, etc., then welcome to comment on this article.

• PS2: I wrote a few words about cooling video cards.
• PS3: Thanks to my favorite magazine for help in writing the article “ Gambling addiction”.

Long gone are the days when processors could be cooled passively, without coolers or even radiators - modern processors, except perhaps the Pentium and Celeron J-lines, require at least active air cooling, and at most - water. And we will look at what is best for specific processors in this article.

Processor heat dissipation

This is the most important parameter; it is worth paying attention to first. You can find out the thermal dissipation (TDP) of your Intel processor on the website ark.intel.com, AMD - products.amd.com. Most coolers also indicate how many watts they can dissipate, and this figure should be greater than the heat dissipation of the processor.

Processors with TDP up to 35 W (Intel Core T-Rulers or AMD Pro A-series)

Processors from Intel here represent essentially mobile Intel Core - a fairly low native frequency, about 2.5-3 GHz, and significant Turbo Boost up to 3.5-4 GHz. As a result, such processors are well suited for compact systems where it's hard to do good cooling, but you need relatively good performance. AMD here presents the so-called APUs - that is, a processor with fairly powerful integrated graphics: perfect solution for multimedia PC. In both cases, the heat release does not exceed 35 W, so here you can get by with the simplest cooler with an aluminum radiator without any heat pipes:

Processors with heat dissipation up to 50 W ( Intel Celeron and Pentium G-lines, Core i3)

These are simple dual-core processors, some of which have hyperthreading enabled. Frequencies can reach 4 GHz, but even in this case, the heat dissipation of 50 W is very excessive for them (not to mention the Celeron without hyperthreading with a frequency of 3 GHz - there are 30 W of the eye). As a result, the same cooling system as in the previous case will suffice - a simple aluminum radiator and fan.

Processors with heat dissipation up to 65 W ( Intel Core i5 and i7, AMD Ryzen without X index)

The Intel processors here are all quad-core, some with hyper-threading. Frequencies can reach 4 GHz, but there is no overclocking. As a result, 65 W is a reasonable figure for them, and even under a stressful load the heat dissipation is unlikely to be higher. In the case of AMD, everything is somewhat better - the processors have up to 8 cores, but the frequencies are low, 3-3.5 GHz, so such processors fit into a thermal package of 65 W. However, they can be overclocked, so if you are interested in it, see the item with overclocked processors.

As a result, for such processors a regular radiator with a simple fan will no longer be suitable - it makes sense to take a tower cooler with 1-2 heat pipes and a 72-90 mm cooler, like this:

Processors with heat dissipation up to 95 W (Intel Core i5 and i7 with index K, AMD Ryzen with index X)

These processors are considered the top of the user segment - in the case of Intel, native frequencies can reach as much as 4.5 GHz, in the case of AMD - up to 4 GHz. Alas - in modern realities An increase in frequency above 3.5-4 GHz leads to an avalanche-like increase in heat dissipation, so at stock frequencies the same i7-7700K is faster than the i7-7700 by only 10%, when the difference in heat dissipation is 30 W - almost half of the thermal package of the i7-7700!

As a result, if you take such processors and do not overclock them, then you need to take simple representatives of super-coolers, with 3-4 copper heat pipes and a 90-120 mm fan:

Processors with TDP up to 200 W (overclocked processors, or Intel Core i7 and i9 X-series lines, AMR Ryzen Threadripper)

As I said above, every hundred megahertz above 4 GHz is given with a fight, and as a result, the i7-7700K at a frequency of 5 GHz can have a heat dissipation of as much as 150-170 W. The heat dissipation of AMD Ryzen 7 when overclocked to 4-4.2 GHz on all cores can even go beyond the psychological level of 200 W. This also includes X-line processors from Intel (6-18 core processors) and 16 core processors from AMD - they have a heat dissipation of about 150 W.

As a result, such processors require either a top-end super cooler like this:

Or a water cooling system, preferably with two coolers.

Nuances of choosing a cooler

So, with heat generation and appearance We sorted out the cooler, but some important nuances remain:

• Cooler height: if you take a tower cooler, make sure that it fits into the case. Otherwise, it will simply not allow the lid to close.
• Cooler dimensions: super coolers can be so large that they will overlap the first RAM slots and the PCI slot, so either take a cooler of a different shape, or take a motherboard where the RAM slots are far from the socket, and the first PCI slot has x1 speed.
• Cooler noise: coolers that look identical can make completely different noises, so if silence is important to you, you should look at reviews and find out how loud a particular cooler is.
• Compatibility of the cooler with the socket: perhaps the most banal thing, but they forget about it - the cooler must have a mount for your processor socket, otherwise you will have to make the mount yourself, which is not always possible to do.
• Cooler weight: super coolers often weigh more than a kilogram - such a load can cause sagging and failure of the motherboard. So if you have a heavy cooler, think about the fact that it needs to be additionally attached to the case in order to reduce the load on the motherboard.
• Space for the CBO radiator: if you want to get a water cooling system, then make sure that there is space on the case for it.
• Using liquid metal: If you decide to use liquid metal as a thermal interface, then choose a cooler with a base that is not made of aluminum (otherwise it will corrode). Liquid metal also conducts current - make sure that it does not get on the motherboard.