Proper thermal management ensures impressive overclocking, which ultimately helps us get optimal performance from a computer. When you are fully overclocking the motherboard, graphics cards, or especially the processor, the heat goes out of the safe zone and often damages the rig’s elements. But don’t worry since there is a solution. You can control the damaging thermal issues with the help of the best AM4 CPU cooler and keep up getting adequate output. The AM4 is a specific type of socket on the motherboard that connects the CPU and cooler to the board.
The AM4 was introduced by AMD back in 2016 and came with all the latest boards and chips by the brand. So, in this post, we will look at numerous famous coolers with AM4 sockets for AMD processors–be with us until the end. If you have already dipped yourself into the wild world of overclocking, picking up a good-quality cooler becomes essential for you. However, the market is filled with hundreds of products from tens of brands that often make you confused. Therefore, we have tested and reviewed several coolers in this post with a simple but helpful guide. Let’s read it.
Quick Shopping Tips
Air vs. liquid cooler: The first thing you must decide is which CPU cooler type you need to go for: air or liquid cooler. Air coolers are perfect for those enthusiasts whose system doesn’t produce much heat plus has enough space to accommodate a cooler. While on the other hand, liquid-based coolers or AIOs are expensive and are made to tackle severe thermal mismanagement. In addition, these are small in size so that they can be fit into compact spaces.
Compatibility: Like all the other computer elements, the CPU cooler’s size-wise compatibility is also crucial. It defines the overall fitting of the rig together with the performance of a system. While choosing a cooler, make sure to buy one according to the socket available in the PC case. If there is a small volume, you can go for the liquid-based cooler since it’s compact in size. In contrast, you can go for the air-based cooler if there is enough space in the system.
Fan count: Each cooler uses some fans to push the hot air away from the processor and boost heat dissipation. Most of the time, coolers are available with single-fan to up to three-fan setups. Generally, a cooler with more fans performs better than one with fewer fans but may also produce more noise. The rule of thumb is to go for a cooler with adequate fans while keeping the noise as low as possible. You can choose a dual-fan cooler since it provides a mid-ground.
TDP value: Each CPU comes with a particular TDP or thermal design power value, which is the overall power consumption of the processor. A processor with a higher TDP value produces more heat and ultimately needs a compatible cooler. In contrast, the cooler’s TDP value means the heat it can manage. In short, when purchasing a CPU cooler, match its power rating with the processor—it must be either greater or at least equal to what the CPU offers.
Noise: As I mentioned earlier, more fans in a cooler produces more noise, depending on the rest of the conditions. Those conditions include fan speeds, structure, aerodynamics, the presence of low-noise adaptors, and more. The rule of thumb for noise is to not cross the 30dBA barrier; again, less is better. An even higher noise level is okay for some users who don’t do focused or productivity-related tasks. After all, it’s your personal choice but consider this factor.
Why should you trust us?
At GamingDairy, one thing that we know better than anything else is that transparency is key. We’re entirely focused on truthful knowledge in every experiment we conduct, every bit of information we collect, or interview some tech industry experts. Although we reviewed several tech products from tens of brands, we try our best to showcase whether those marketing lines are genuine or just a rumor. Therefore, presenting practical experience regarding any product is our priority.
We test processors, graphics cards, motherboards, RAM kits, CPU coolers, laptops, and other PC peripherals to ensure that every tech enthusiast gets what he needs. No brand can buy our recommendations. Instead, we have a team of expert testers and reviewers whose duties are to practically test every item that we get from the brands or purchase from the market and test to prove its validity and utility. In addition, we also mention the ideal users’ spot for every item, along with all possible pros and cons.
Moreover, we don’t forget modern inventions too. This is why we have created a separate news category to ensure that the readers are up-to-date with everything happening in the tech field. Suppose you’re a guy who is related to the tech field and wants to know everything before creating their next computer. In such a case, you must scroll to the latest news to carry on things. We also know that everybody often faces some issues with their computing machines. All types of guides are on this platform.
As I mentioned, we test all types of PC components and peripherals to give the users some truthful information. You can see the same thing in this article. We tested several but reviewed a few perfect products that met our standards. If you want a high-end CPU Cooler with all the current-era features, we have the Corsair Hydro Series H60 V2 for you. On the other hand, you can go for the Noctua NH-D15, which is a satisfying staff choice. But the Noctua NH-U14S is for budget-conscious users.
The Best AM4 CPU Cooler You Can Buy Today
Corsair Hydro Series H60 V2
Best value AM4 liquid CPU cooler
The Corsair Hydro Series H60 has been around us for a long time, but the brand has kept changing its structure and came up with its updated V2 or volume 2 version. It has updated tubing, a fan pump, and an upgraded mounting system to the original version. Overall, it offers all the hydro series essentials packed in a value pack that makes it the best value AM4 liquid CPU cooler for enthusiasts. It lacks proper RGB lighting, but some white lighting is around the head.
The Hydro Series H60 is an all-in-one liquid cooler with a 120mm radiator. The given 120mm Corsair SP Series PWM fan can automatically vary its speed between 600 rpm to 1700 rpm depending upon the requirement. It is inaudible at lower speeds, but when you take it to its peak pace, it starts producing 28.3dBA noise that is quite audible. Overall, this best AM4 CPU cooler can outperform the air-based cooler being a water cooler at any cost.
No doubt, it’s made for small-volume ITX builds since it’s compact. Its multi-socket mounting system provides a wide range of compatibility options with most of Intel’s sockets and AMD’s AM4 and AM3 sockets. Remember, if you want something for high core counts and an overclocking processor where high-end cooling is required, this may not be a perfect option. In addition, it can work appropriately with all the processors with below 95W TDP value.
REASONS TO BUY
✓Perfect for mid-range cooling
✓Easy to install and socket versatility
✓Low noise working
✓Quite affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Not for high-end cooling performance
✗No second fan
Noctua NH-D15
Best famous AM4 CPU cooler
The second product is from Noctua, a renowned brand in the field and among enthusiasts for manufacturing impressive CPU coolers. The Noctua NH-D15 is an excellent air-based cooler with sound-less performance, flagship features, and many inspirations from the legendary ancestor, NH-D14. We have tried to ask our users to suggest which cooler is the best for them. Most users suggested the name NH-D15, which became the best famous AM4 CPU cooler on this list.
The liquid-based cooler is more efficient than the air-based cooler, but this one gives solid competition to the famous AIOs. Its dual 140mm premium-class fans can run at 1500 rpm speed. Interestingly, the well-calculated aerodynamics and low-noise adaptors work together to keep the noise level at 24.6 dBA and sort out the sound-related issues. In short, it’s a perfect combination of low-noise cooling performance, features, and value for money.
No doubt, it’s the best AM4 CPU cooler, but there are some downsides as well. Firstly, it’s 165mm tall and 150mm wide, so it may cause clearance issues with some memory modules. The aesthetics depend a lot, but its brown and beige color combination doesn’t attract my eyes–it may not be an issue for you. Other than that, its high-quality build, properly soldered joints, nickel-plated structure, and excellent thermal performance won my heart.
REASONS TO BUY
✓Excellent performance
✓SecuFirm2 mounting system
✓Two Low-Noise Adaptors
✓PWM support
✓NT-H1 thermal compound included
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No RGB
✗Taller
Noctua NH-U14S
Best value AM4 CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Excellent cooling performance
✓Operates silently
✓Extremely effective
✓Slim body
✓Compatible with all the kits
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Unattractive color combination
We have already seen Noctua’s NH-D15, a great product with excellent value for money. Once again, we have the NH-U14S from Noctua, an improved variant in the U-series from the original NH-U14 cooler. In addition, it gives you a complete bang for your bucks, and its excellent price-to-performance ratio makes it the best value AM4 CPU cooler for you. This is the perfect option for you if you want a single-tower compact and high-quality cooler.
It’s a one-fan cooler with an NF-A15 140mm with an excellent aerodynamic structure to help the fan boost the airflow. In addition, the PWM support can help the fan automatically vary its speed according to the temperature. The speed can go between 1200-1500 rpm with a 24.6 dBA maximum acoustical noise. But when you put the low-noise adaptors on, the noise reduces to 19.2 dBA, making it so low that it becomes hard to hear.
Interestingly, the brand has given the NT-H1 high-grade thermal compound that improves heat transfer and cooling performance. Overall, it’s a compact solution and can accommodate all the RAM kits without issues. In addition, the pro-grade SecuFirm 2 multi-socket mounting system provides a wide range of compatibility. Some anti-vibration pads and fan clips are given so you can mount another NF-A15 fan, but it’s optional.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition
Best iconic AM4 CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Improved performance
✓Easy installation
✓Quiet fan movements
✓Attractive black design
✓In-fan RGB lighting
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Competitively underperforming
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 is the most used air-based CPU cooler since it’s inexpensive, small in size, and has excellent cooling performance. The brand has redesigned the older cooler into a Hyper 212 RGB Black edition to bring life back. It offers easy installations, outstanding performance, and excellent value for money. I like its in-fan RGB lighting, which makes it the best iconic AM4 CPU cooler with an eye-catching build and design.
It’s a single-fan air-based CPU cooling solution and uses the all-new SF120R RGB fan with a wide range of fine-tuned speeds. This 120mm fan can rotate between 650rpm to 2000rpm depending upon the temperature and produces 8 – 30 dBA noise. Additionally, since it’s a PWM-based fan, it can automatically adjust the speed to meet the needs. Those who want to take things up to the next level can use an optional additional fan in a push-pull configuration.
The cooler has a 158.8mm profile height which falls in the higher category. So, ensure it doesn’t cause any compatibility issues with the volatile memory modules. If we look at its design, it looks excellent with an aluminum-made top cover, nickel-plated fins with a jet-black color combination, and a sleek finish. Regarding the cooling matters, the stack fin array and four heat pipes with direct contact technology help the cooler dissipate the heat faster and maintain enough cooling.
Noctua NH-L9i Chromax-black
Best compact AM4 CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Highly compact
✓Easy to install
✓Excellent performance
✓Thermal paste included
✓Quiet operations
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Incompatible with Intel’s 65+ TDP chips
✗Price
The trend of building small compact systems is increasing daily, and every user wants a compact computer. If you’re aiming to follow this trend, you can invest in the Noctua NH-L9i chromax.black, the best compact AM4 CPU cooler, to build such a system. It’s based on the original NH-L9i but with some incredible improvements. The brown and beige combination is replaced by an all-black theme that looks impressive in the system.
A PWM-based NF-A9x14 fan inside the cooler can automatically vary its speed according to the load and requirements. In addition, its speed can vary between 2500rpm to 1800rpm without producing much noise. The low-noise adaptors won’t let you hear this sound even when the fan runs at full pace. Other than that, NT-H1 thermal compound is given in this cooler which is a pro-grade TIM solution to enhance the overall heat dissipation.
With only 37mm profile height and 95mm footprint diameter, it won’t be wrong to call it the best compact AM4 CPU cooler than the other air-based coolers on this list. It offers 100% RAM compatibility and is the perfect match for SSF and HTPC builds with a mini-ITX motherboard. Look-wise, it has all elements in black color like black heat pipes and black fans. The fan’s fins are soldered with the heat pipes for excellent thermal management.
Deepcool Assassin III
Best performance AM4 CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Competitive cooling
✓Excellent performance
✓Easy to install
✓Sharp and attractive design
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Pricey
Both Intel and AMD are trying their best to win the battle of more processor cores and higher overall performance. In contrast, heat production and thermal mismanagement are riskier with more cores and clock speeds. The coolers for such higher-end processors are pretty expensive and often hard to find in the market. But this Deepcool Assassin III is an excellent alternative for expensive coolers to save some bucks and utilize the same cooling performance.
It follows a twin cooling tower design and has dual 140mm fans to increase the airflow and heat dissipation due to the larger surface area. These fans can rotate with a 400rpm to 1400rpm speed and produce a maximum of 29.5 dBA at full pace. In addition, these are powered by the fluid dynamic bearing structure that also plays a crucial role in noise optimization. This is the best performance AM4 CPU cooler with low noise and a mid-range price.
Since the cooling unit has a 140mm profile height, make sure it won’t cause any compatibility issues with the memory sticks. It is compatible with a wide range of sockets for Intel and AMD motherboards and platforms–the AM4 socket is one of them. Seven heat pipes for cooling purposes are nickel-plated and go through the entire body. In addition, the cooling fin stack provides enough density to enhance heat dissipation.
EK-AIO Basic 240
Best AM4 liquid CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable liquid cooler
✓Good value for money
✓Excellent performance
✓Sleek all-black design
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Fans are noisy at full speed
✗No software UI
EK needs no introduction when you dig down the water cooling field. The brand has several budget-friendly options and some enthusiast coolers for high-tech users. The EK-AIO Basic 240 is a simple all-black water cooler with some extra definition of the rugged build. We have seen the 240 D-RGB cooler in the series, but this Basic 240 lacks RGB lighting and other flashy features. Overall, the brand has tried its best to keep the price low without affecting its performance.
The cooler comprises dual EK-Vardar S120 Dark Edition high-performance fans and a universally compatible CPU water block. No doubt, the title of the best AM4 liquid CPU cooler sits perfectly for this product. You can easily install it with its toolless mounting system, but it can’t expand since it lacks the quick disconnect feature. The given fans are PWM-based, so these can automatically spin with a wide range of operational speeds.
If we look at its thermal performance, it impresses us with its 360mm level of cooling capabilities. There is no noise and thermal mismanagement–perfect for all Intel and AMD processors. In addition, the cooler comes pre-installed with reinforced and sleeved rubber tubing, each fitted with an aluminum cover to ensure extra durability. Design-wise, the brushed aluminum cover on the top of an all-black cooler looks beautiful even without RGB lighting.
Cooler Master MasterAir MA624 Stealth
Best AM4 big-air CPU cooler
REASONS TO BUY
✓Great thermal management
✓An additional 120mm fan
✓All-black, sleek design
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Pricey
Cooler Master is one of the leading brands for manufacturing all cooling solutions to meet current-era needs and requirements. The brand’s Hyper 212 and MasterAir MA620M series contain great high-performance coolers. Once again, the brand’s master series is back with another tremendously impactful cooler, the MasterAir MA624 Stealth. It combines handsome aesthetics, an all-black finish, and silent cooling operations perfectly.
If I take it inside out, dual 140mm fans are fitted inside a dual-tower cooler structure; but you can connect another 120mm fan if you want to take the cooling up to the next level. The 140mm fans can also spin with 650-1400 rpm speed while producing 10-27 dBA noise. In contrast, the 120mm fan can rotate at 650-1800 rpm while producing 8-27 dBA sound. In short, if you want the best AM4 big-air CPU cooler to support your high-end chip, this is for you.
Remember, this cooler falls in the category of big coolers with 144.9 x 153.2 x 160 mm dimensions. On the other hand, if there is enough space in your PC case to accommodate this cooler, you won’t feel any lag in terms of its performance. Look-wise, it has a premium aluminum all-black top along with all-black fans and heat pipes–all merged to present an impressive all-black outlook. The lack of RGB lighting isn’t an issue for most users.
Conclusion
A processor or CPU is the brain of the computer that operates ideally only when there is proper cooling in its surroundings. In case you have a cooler from the AMD Ryzen family with an AM4 socket, you can maintain adequate temperature by putting the best AM4 CPU cooler in your system. But choosing one isn’t that easy when you have to select one out of hundreds—it may confuse you. At exactly such a spot, this post will help you. We have added a wide range of eight coolers in this post so you can choose as per your requirement.
If you’re still confused, you can take some help from our recommendations. Those who don’t have much budget left for a cooling solution can go for the Noctua NH-U14S air-based cooler or the Corsair Hydro Series H60 V2 liquid-based cooler. Both are available at a competitive price in their category. In contrast, if you want a well-performing cooler, you can choose between the Deepcool Assassin III air-based cooler or can go for the EK-AIO Basic 240 AIO cooler. There are many others available on the list—go and check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best air-based cooler?
The Deepcool Assassin III is one of the excellent air-based CPU coolers on the list. It comes with competitive cooling performance and low-noise operational capabilities. On top of that, it’s effortless to install with its advanced mounting system. Another aspect that makes it suitable for enthusiasts is its attractive design. It comes with an eye-catching design, unlike the Noctua NH-D15, which comes with a beige and brown combination.
What is the best AM4 CPU cooler?
The Noctua NH-D15 is one of the best and most famous AM4 CPU coolers to support a wide range of processors. It offers impressive thermal management being a best-value air-based cooler. Not only that, its SecuFirm 2 mounting system makes it relatively easy to put it into the system without any issues. Other than that, you get low-noise adaptors with this PWM-based cooler together with the NT-H1 thermal compound.
How to choose a CPU cooler?
Selecting a CPU cooler is easy unless you know some basic steps. Before heading into the market, you must determine what type of cooler you need: air or liquid. After this, check the TDP value that must be either equal to or higher than the CPU’s TDP value. In addition, make sure to check its performance, size-wise compatibility, and the noise of the cooler—follow these steps to find a perfect one.
Is the stock cooler good for cooling?
A stock cooler is suitable only for a primary type of thermal management. But those who want to play top-tier games or create content on their system must invest in a capable third-party cooler. But make sure to read the buying guide section at the beginning of this post to absorb all the required knowledge before buying one.
