When it comes to choosing the best CPU cooler, there’s a diverse range of options that cater to both casual users and PC gaming enthusiasts. For most home users, the key criteria of a good CPU cooler are that it should keep your CPU cool while remaining quiet, though some users may want all-out cooling performance over noise suppression or need a super low-profile cooler to fit in a tiny PC. Whatever your needs, we’ve got a CPU cooler for you.

The world of gaming PC CPU coolers may seem daunting, but fear not! We’ve assembled a list of the best CPU coolers from reliable brands like Noctua, Cooler Master, Be quiet!, MSI, and NZXT. We’ve even crafted a dedicated guide just for the best AIO cooler options, and if you’re pondering how to actually overclock your CPU, we can lend a helping hand with that too.

The main questions to ask yourself when picking a CPU cooler are what your budget is, what space your case has, whether you care about making a fancy-looking interior to your case, and how much you care about noise. In general, quality air coolers are the best bet for most systems, as they can be quite cheap while being quiet. However, they can be big and bulky and difficult to install. Instead, for a cleaner-looking build and an easier installation, all-in-one (AIO) water coolers are your best bet, but they can be a touch noisier and more costly too.

For more buying advice, check out the frequently asked questions section at the bottom of this page. Otherwise, dive on in to our list of recommendations to see which coolers are best for you.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming