R5Updated November 2026

Best CPU Coolers of 2026

Air towers, low-profile coolers and AIOs with height, radiator and socket data.

1. 

   01Best overall8.5

   Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos White

   AIO liquid · 360 · 27.2 dBA · RGB

   A white 360 mm AIO that Tom's Hardware placed near the top of its charts, quiet in everyday use with a customizable pump top.

   $162Nov 9Buy at Best Buy
2. 

   028.3

   NZXT Kraken Plus 360 RGB

   AIO liquid · 360 · 31.9 dBA · RGB

   A cheaper Kraken that keeps the Turbine pump and a small LCD, quiet by default but tied to NZXT CAM for fan control.

   $220MSRPBuy at Official store
3. 

   03Best value8.2

   Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 280

   AIO liquid · 280

   A thick-radiator 280 mm AIO with a VRM fan, from the line Tom's Hardware rated top of its charts but not quiet at full speed.

   $124Nov 9Buy at Official store
4. 

   048.1

   NZXT Kraken Elite 360 RGB

   AIO liquid · 360 · 30 dBA · RGB

   NZXT's flagship 360 mm AIO pairs chart-topping noise-normalized cooling with a 2.72-inch LCD and a very high price.

   $292Nov 9Buy at Best Buy
5. 

   058.1

   Thermalright Peerless Assassin 140 Black

   Dual tower · 158 mm · 25.6 dBA

   A low-cost dual tower that Tom's Hardware rated well for cooling and moderate noise, with nothing significant to fault.

   $39.90MSRPBuy at Official store
6. 

   068.0

   Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360

   AIO liquid · 360

   A 360 mm AIO with a thick 38 mm radiator, three P12 Pro fans and a VRM fan, at a low list price.

   $99.98Nov 9Buy at Official store
7. 

   077.9

   Corsair iCUE Link Titan II 360 RX RGB

   AIO liquid · 360 · 32.8 dBA · RGB

   Corsair's second-generation iCUE Link AIO adds a FlowDrive 2 pump and an AM5-tuned cold plate in a 360 mm Titan.

   $180Nov 9Buy at Official store
8. 

   087.9

   NZXT Kraken Plus 280

   AIO liquid · 280 · 30 dBA

   A 280 mm AIO with NZXT's Turbine pump and a small LCD; independent testing of this exact size is limited.

   $160MSRPBuy at Official store
9. 

   097.9

   Scythe Fuma 3

   Dual tower · 154 mm · 28.6 dBA

   A compact asymmetric dual tower that leaves front RAM slots clear and runs close to much larger air coolers.

   $49.99MSRPBuy at Official store
10. 

    107.8

    Arctic Freezer 36

    Air tower · 159 mm

    A push-pull dual-fan tower with a six-year warranty and Arctic's contact frame for LGA1700 and LGA1851.

    $40.99Nov 9Buy at Official store

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