Best CPU Coolers 2021: Air Coolers & Liquid Coolers for AMD and Intel CPUs

This round-up shows benchmarks for the Best CPU Coolers of 2021, including the best air coolers vs. water coolers (AIOs), best coolers for AMD Ryzen, and best for Intel desktop CPUs.
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Watch our Best CPUs of 2021 round-up here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ZAdsAUN7s

This flyover round-up for the end of 2021 looks at the best coolers available right now. That means we’re looking for coolers in various categories, following a year of in-depth, intensive reviews of each of the coolers we’re evaluating (and more that we haven’t published yet). The best CPU coolers for Intel Alder Lake (e.g. 12900K, 12600K, 12700K) and AMD Ryzen (R9 5950X, R9 5900X, R5 5600X) mostly follow the same parameters, and so we’ll be looking at noise-normalized thermals, flat-out thermals at full fan speed, mechanical design, and value (budget pricing). If you’re upgrading an existing system with a new cooler, this is a great way to reduce the noise level and improve the thermal performance of something like an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel i5-10600K (or similar) CPU. Remember that CPU cooler upgrades often carry forward to new builds, as long as mounting is compatible, and so the metal is rarely wasted if planned right. That means you could benefit from lower noise levels (and more OC headroom) today, then pull it forward to a new build. Testing includes some data on AMD stock coolers to help determine if they’re worth using or upgrading.

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Check out our Cooler Review Playlist to see full reviews of these coolers and more:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsuVSmND84QtyyYcalFch402w3ypcp1TQ

RELATED PRODUCTS [Affiliate Links]

Best Overall CPU Cooler 2021: Scythe FUMA 2 on Amazon – https://geni.us/5qM0v
Our Scythe FUMA 2 full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0UtQQ1rEo

Best Noise-Normalized Thermals 2021: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420 on Amazon – https://geni.us/PpbWg
Our Arctic Liquid Freezer II 420 review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCxqITPtXXA

Best Flat-Out Thermals 2021:
Lian Li Galahad AIO 360 on Amazon – https://geni.us/L54S
Review of the Lian Li Galahad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FTtBHKMOAM
EK AIO Elite D-RGB (Tied with Lian Li) on Amazon – https://geni.us/BLoSrXY
Review of EK AIO Elite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTRFkYJMf9Y

Best Budget CPU Cooler 2021: Vetroo V5 on Amazon – https://geni.us/9IAQF9
Review of the Vetroo V5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GXNgPSBq8g

Best Mechanical Design 2021 – EK AIO D-RGB Elite (linked above)

Worst CPU Cooler 2021 – Golden Field Initiate (review coming soon)

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Best & Worst CPU Coolers of 2021
03:07 – Best Overall CPU Cooler 2021
05:10 – Best Noise-Normalized Thermals (Liquid Cooler)
07:03 – Best Flat-Out Thermals
08:27 – Best Budget Cooler 2021
10:41 – Best Mechanical Design (CPU Cooler)
13:15 – Worst CPU Cooler
13:48 – Worst Trends & Conclusion

(FYI – the note at about 9 minutes for the pressure map is mislabeled; it should be the Vetroo)

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Host, Writing, Test Lead: Steve Burke
Testing, Additional Research: Mike Gaglione
Video: Keegan Gallick