Best CPU Cooler For i7 8700k {Both Liquid & Air Coolers}
Are you looking for the best CPU cooler for i7 8700k? The Core i7 8700k can be used quite well for office automation, archiving and video encoding, and 3D creation. This category of processors can also handle even the heaviest video games. i7 8700k is considered as Intel's best CPUs from the Coffee Lake range.
The Intel Core i7 8700K is Intel's 8th generation Coffee Lake processor. With this model, the manufacturer is increasing the number of cores on its traditional processors. These processors of the current generation are extremely powerful units. Being more powerful has its benefits, but that also means they require a more powerful cooling system.
After all, the more powerful the CPU is, the more heat it generates. As CPUs get better, they also tend to get more expensive… as most things do. As we know, i7 8700k comes with 95W TDP, so that we can use almost any cooler with this processor. When buying a cooling system, the main things to consider are its ability to give the best performance, price, and design.
So, here we have put together a list of the best CPU coolers for i7 8700k, where we have reviewed and compared some of the most well-known models.
Table of Contents
- Best Cpu Cooler For I7 8700k REVIEW
- COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 - BEST AIR COOLER FOR I7 8700K
- NZXT KRAKEN X53 - BEST 240MM AIO COOLER FOR 8700K
- NOCTUA NH-D15 - BEST HEATSINK FOR I7 8700K
- EVGA CLC - BEST 280mm WATER COOLER FOR I7 8700K
- COOLER MASTER ML240L - BEST LIQUID CPU COOLER FOR I7 8700K
- COOLER MASTER LC240E - BEST CLOSED LOOP AIO COOLER FOR 8700K
- BE QUIET! DARK ROCK PRO 4
- CORSAIR H100I
- CORSAIR ICUE H150I
- THERMALTAKE LGA1200 AIO LIQUID COOLER
- ID-COOLING AURAFLOW X 240
- AORUS RGB AIO LIQUID COOLER
- MSI MAG SERIES RGB CPU COOLER
- ID-COOLING ZOOMFLOW
- EK 240MM AIO COOLER
- What Does a CPU Cooler Do?
- Types of CPU coolers
- Liquid AIO coolers vs Air coolers
- THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING CPU COOLER FOR I7 8700K
- FAQ
- CONCLUSION
Best Cpu Cooler For I7 8700k REVIEW
Before we buy the cooler, we need to know which cooler will work best with this processor. There are two types of coolers that we can get; the first is the air cooler, which is the most commonly used, while the other is AIO or Liquid Cooler for overclocking. To know more about the types of coolers, check the comparison table of Air Coolers vs Liquid coolers.
If the TDP of this processor is not very high, and the air coolers work well with it. But if you want to do some serious overclocking with it, I have a few choices of AIO coolers. So let's start with the list of best CPU coolers for i7 8700k.
1
COOLER MASTER HYPER 212 - BEST AIR COOLER FOR I7 8700K
Features
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Fan delivers optimum cooling performance to achieve the perfect balance of performance, price, and noise. It is adaptable to the most powerful platforms of the moment. Compared to the old models, installation of this cooler is easy and user-friendly while keeping the same performance.
The Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition will be the best companion for your Intel, AMD, office, or gaming processor! This new version adopts an all-black dress that will easily fit into any configuration. It has worked on its aesthetics by adding aluminum on the top, a black radiator, and black heat pipes.
The RGB version comes with a new water cooler fan, the SF120R RGB, and the Hyper 212 Black Edition is equipped with a silent fan with Silent Drive IC technology. Its 120 mm PWM fan guarantees an optimal performance/silence ratio, with a sound level oscillating between 6.5 and 26 dB for golden silence, even when your configuration is heavily used!
The CDC proprietary technologies (Direct Contact Heat Pipes) and X-Vent (Heat Pipe Design) make the Hyper 212's heatsink ultra-efficient at naturally dissipating heat from the processor, making the cooler fan's work easier, for even more silence and performance.
The colors and light effects are controllable from the wired remote control included, completely autonomously. It is also possible to control it from a motherboard with an Asus Aura, MSI Mystic Light, Gigabyte Fusion, or ASRock RGB compatible RGB connector. Take advantage of the best quality/price ratio for a space that is contained in your configuration!
Pros
Cons
2
NZXT KRAKEN X53 - BEST 240MM AIO COOLER FOR 8700K
Features
Is it worth to get water cooled pc? well, in that case NZXT KRAKEN is a pricey one to start with, but in order to manage heat well, you need a strong liquid cooling system. You don’t want to settle for any cheap off-brand product on the market because you won’t get the results you want. You may end up damaging your processor in the long run.
NZXT makes premium computer hardware, and of course, they also make some highly customizable accessories for your computer systems. The AER RGB V2 is a liquid cooling system with large LED fans, which operate quickly and quietly.
The LED ring is rotatable, and the wiring has a nylon mesh sleeves over rubber tubing. This adds a level of protection, so you won’t have to deal with any leakage issues when the fans are in operation.
The radiator fans themselves have a deluxe, polished look, and the pump is made of aluminum. You’re definitely getting quality for the money you’re paying here, and a strong cooling effect is guaranteed.
When it comes to RGB, you can use NZXT’s CAM interface to customize as you like, and the fans have an infinity mirror design which makes them look even fancier.
If you happen to have other products in the NZXT ecosystem, your gaming setup will be a thing to behold. This is one of the best cooler for i7 8700k with a 6-year warranty which sweetens the deal.
Pros
Cons
3
NOCTUA NH-D15 - BEST HEATSINK FOR I7 8700K
Features
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU air cooler has a dual tower CPU cooler design. Noctua listened to their customers and kept the things that worked well while adding new modifications to the Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler. The Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler supports 150mm fans, as well as 140mm fans. Noctua is known for its heatsink, low noise level and excellent performance on all models of CPU coolers.
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU Air Cooler is the best CPU cooler for i7 8700k overclocking because of its cooling power. It is incredibly quiet and reasonably priced. This makes the Noctua NH-D15 processor air cooler a great choice if you want to pair it with Intel 8700k processor.
The Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler offers socket compatibility for AMD and Intel, covering all current socket types. It is 150mm wide, 160mm high, and 135mm deep without a fan.
The Noctua NH-D15 processor air cooler has six copper heat pipes soldered to the base, a copper base, and nickel-plated. Each fin of the two stacks of this CPU cooler has been directly soldered to each of the heat pipes, which allows the low CFM fans to perform well and increase the efficiency of the CPU cooler.
The copper heat pipes and the copper base plate are nickel-plated when assembled. The Noctua NH-D15 air cooler offers great cooling for the price it has. This CPU air cooler works very close even to some of the AIO CPU coolers, which are more expensive than the Noctua NH-D15.
Pros
Cons
4
EVGA CLC - BEST 280mm WATER COOLER FOR I7 8700K
Features
EVGA is one of the top hardware manufacturers, with its products being of top-notch quality and performing well. Unsurprisingly, they appear on this list. I would argue that the EVGA CLC 280 is one of the best AIO cooler for 8700k and gets you the most bang for your buck.
This all-in-one cooler is so capable that it will drastically help decrease the temperature of even an overclocking processor, so gamers, pay attention. The EVGA CLC 280 has a dual-water cooler fan design with an aluminum block. The dual fans, which are 140mm Teflon Nano Bearing fans, are designed to decrease the noise while not reducing performance.
The pump and the copper water block are connected with the Radiator via sleeved tubing. The new cooling block on the EVGA CLC 280 provides a better flow rate and heat transfer area for efficient cooling.
In terms of aesthetics, you will find a built-in RGB LED, which is customizable… color profiles even save to the firmware! Speaking of the firmware, this software allows you to control cooler fan speed, pump control, profiles, lighting etc. Easily this is one of the best i7 8700k cooler out there. If you want to build a custom water cooled PC, then this will be an ideal choice for you.
Pros
Cons
5
COOLER MASTER ML240L - BEST LIQUID CPU COOLER FOR I7 8700K
FEATURES
Moving on to budget AIO cooler options, this cooler from Cooler Master comes in at under $80, which isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s what you can expect to pay for a solid product from a popular brand. And for the amount, it’s good value for money.
Cooler Master is using some pretty good technology, with a new SickleFlow exterior design to enhance both the RGB lighting and the fan functioning for an improved cooling effect. The fans are larger, and this helps to combat any heat issues.
The Dual Chamber design is also a huge plus when it comes to the cooling effect, and the entire product is a powerhouse when it comes to heat management. The frosted fan blades are also quite attractive and produce an airflow of 62 CFM. All in all, this product is no slouch.
You also don’t need to worry about any leakages, as the MasterLiquid ML240L has an Industrial Grade Seal, so these cooler fans will last you a long time. You can customize RGB lighting effects, and a wired controller is provided for ease of control.
You can choose from a variety of settings and colors. No doubt there are fancier fans available, but this is quite good at getting the job done at a fairly reasonable price point.
It’s perfect for gamers who are just starting out and want high quality but are wary of making an over-the-top investment in terms of money. So if that’s you, this is the best CPU cooler for i7 8700k for you.
Pros
Cons
6
COOLER MASTER LC240E - BEST CLOSED LOOP AIO COOLER FOR 8700K
Features
The MasterLiquid LC240E RGB has you covered when it comes to the cool factor and the cooling factor. It comes with a very classy matte-black finish with braided cables and RGB lighting. It certainly fits the traditional "gamer" aesthetic quite well.
The RGB lighting is present on both the fan and the water block, with 6 lighting effects to choose from. This all-in-one cooler has a unique Dual Chamber Pump and Dual 120mm MasterFan. The 120-millimeter fans, at the highest RPM, do tend to get a bit louder than average, but with that said, their main job is to keep your system cool and that they can do quite well.
The dual-chamber pumps have a low-profile but deliver excellent performance, especially considering they are paired with the fans. The tubes are reinforced with FEP, which doesn't sound much when I put it like that, but it means that the tubes stay free of any kinks; thus, the flow is never interrupted.
The Cooler Master LC240E RGB is a league above when it comes to building quality, appearance, and performance. No amount of RGB lighting would make up for an under-performing AIO CPU cooler, and fortunately, this performs fantastically. This is a budget option, so a few corners are cut here and there, but overall, its performance is quite satisfactory for the price.
Pros
Cons
7
BE QUIET! DARK ROCK PRO 4
Features
The Dark Rock Pro 4 delivers impressive 250W TDP cooling performance and virtually inaudible operation. Excellent for overclocked systems and demanding workstations.
Even at full throttle, the sound level of the PWM fan is insignificant 24.3dB. The Silent Wings PWM fans are featured with smooth six-pole motors, an advanced dynamic-fluid bearing system, and optimized airflow blades. The Dark Rock Pro 4 delivers an impressive cooling performance of 250W TDP and achieves low temperatures even during peak CPU performance.
The cooler is equipped with 7 advanced 6mm copper heat pipes featured with maximum thermal conductance. Wavy cooling fins with small dots on their surfaces optimize and increase airflow. The unique black coating with ceramic particles allows maintaining perfect heat transfer.
The Dark Rock Pro 4 contains two aluminum cooler fans that are pre-installed. The cutouts provided improve its RAM compatibility. If you want to upgrade your cooling system in the future, it is also possible to include another 120mm fan for better performance and cooling.
The Dark Rock Pro 4 mounting kit is entirely black and perfectly matches the black design of the cooler itself. You can easily install the cooler on the motherboard. The brushed aluminum top cover with its diamond finish adds a touch of elegance to this premium cooler.
Pros
Cons
8
CORSAIR H100I
Features
The enthusiasts amongst you might be able to remember the company Corsair. Yes, it is the same company that made the Hydro H50, one of the first closed-loop water coolers that the industry had, and it flipped the market upside down.
Naturally, I have some high expectations from their newer models, like the H100i RGB Platinum. Let us talk about what stands out the most, which is unsurprisingly the RGB lights. The CORSAIR H100i RGB PLATINUM has multi-zone RGB lights that illuminate the water cooler fans and their logo. Each LED is customizable, so you can get creative and mix things up. The lighting looks nice and not overkill by any means.
Visually, the H100i Pro and Platinum look pretty much the same, but their inside makes them different. The Platinum is leagues above and is made for high-tier PCs. It has two 120 millimeters ML PRO Series RGB magnetic levitation PWM fans, and each fan has 4 individual RGB lights, which can be controlled via Corsair iCUE software.
The fans work rather quietly for the most part and can keep your system cool, which is further aided by a thermally optimized cold plate and low-noise pump. Overall, I am quite impressed by the Corsair H100i Platinum. It gets a thumbs up!
Pros
Cons
9
CORSAIR ICUE H150I
Features
Corsair is pretty well-known for its gaming gear; you might even own Corsair PCs or keyboards. However, their products tend to be expensive, and this one does come with a high price tag too. But as you can imagine, it’s well worth the cost.
The Elite Capellix Series cooler comes with three ML120 radiator fans and an RGB pump. Although this particular product is in black, white fans are also available (although you might have to pay a little more). The liquid cooler is highly compatible and should fit smoothly into your Intel or AMD sockets.
At this price, this is probably the best liquid cooler for i7 8700k, and a total of 57 LEDs will really light up your gaming space. Whether you’re playing World of Warcraft or settling in for another round of Dungeons and Dragons with your friends, this is an unbeatable cooler that will easily enhance your processor performance.
The fans are built for efficient cooling, and cold copper plating helps to facilitate a strong cooling effect. The fans also have a high surface area for better heat management. The iCUE commander core is included, using which you can customize fan speed and lighting very easily.
If you want to buy additional fans for this setup, you can get three more and use the commander core to customize them too. There’s no doubt that Corsair makes expensive products, but your CPU will thank you for the investment.
Pros
Cons
10
THERMALTAKE LGA1200 AIO LIQUID COOLER
FEATURES
Thermaltake's Floe Ring RGB 240 TT Premium Edition can flex that it is the world's first 16.8 million colors liquid CPU cooler, so you just know that they are going to push that as much as possible and yes, they did. They should as well because that is quite impressive.
There is an app to control the light modes, colors, speeds, brightness, fan speeds of this CPU cooler and can even support AI voice control. It comes with two 120mm Ring along with an LED water block and RGB lights, as mentioned above.
The surface radiator, paired up with the water block and pump, provides for extreme cooling performance. The dual fans boast a total of 9 blades in total, which can push out air through the 240 mm radiator.
The fans have a rubber ring around them, which helps keep things quieter. In my testing, I was quite impressed by this AIO cooler's performance and surprised by how easy it was to setup.
Pros
Cons
11
ID-COOLING AURAFLOW X 240
FEATURES
ID-COOLING is the new kid in the block, being formed as recently as 2013. With that said, they are no slouch and have quickly earned themselves a reputable spot in the market. Today, we will be looking at their Auraflow X240. It is meant to be the perfect combination of looks and performance.
This all-in-one liquid cooler has the RGB lights that are all the hype and you get them on both the fan and the pump. Speaking of which, the pump in here has a PWM-to-SATA adapter, so you can choose whether to want it to run on full-speed or curve using the PWM. The tubings are nylon-covered, which is easy to clean and durable material.
The satin-finished milled copper cooling plate on the Auraflow X240 is large enough to accommodate even the large AMD's Threadripper high-end desktop CPUs. Installing this cooler is fairly straightforward and is quite compatible. Overall, I think it certainly does underperform a little compared to some other 240mm models, but its lower cost makes up for it.
Pros
Cons
12
AORUS RGB AIO LIQUID COOLER
FEATURES
The Gigabyte AORUS RGB 240 is a liquid cooler that is more than capable of keeping your 8700k cool and calm. The dual 120mm, RGB fusions with multi-zone lighting are quite efficient at dissipating heat and is a bit louder when you compare it to other coolers. Not much though, it isn't a major deal-breaker for anything.
The 240mm radiator with the dual fans is an optimized PWM fan. Install 2 apps using those, you can control the lighting and pumps and the fans for aesthetics and performance. Choose this best AIO cooler for 8700k if you want a decent performing, customizable AIO cooler, look no further.
Pros
Cons
13
MSI MAG SERIES RGB CPU COOLER
FEATURES
This is a set of three radiator fans from MSI, and in terms of compatibility, this might be the best CPU liquid cooler for i7 8700k. It’s compatible with a ton of sockets and CPUs (from AMD and Intel), so if you want to switch around your setup, you can easily do so without having to purchase a new liquid cooler.
The MSI Coreliquid 360R has a radiator pump design, where the pump is part of the radiator, which cuts down on any excess noise. The pump is powered by a dampened three-phase motor, so you won’t have to worry about much whirring while you’re making your way through a marathon gaming session.
And the tubing is well protected, with an additional mesh layer. This is a great bit of equipment for any gamer to have, although it can be a bit out of budget for some. However, the fact that it’s constructed for durability means that if you’re buying this, you won’t have to return it to the store in a few months.
In that sense, this is a bargain. When it comes to RGB lighting, you get full control via the software provided by MSI.
If you’ve got an eye for detail, you’ll also appreciate the blockhead design of the fans, and the irregular style is a quirky but artistic choice on the part of MSI that will really make your gaming setup stand out.
Pros
Cons
14
ID-COOLING ZOOMFLOW
FEATURES
If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, ID-Cooling has a pretty good option with their Zoomflow 360X that comes in at well under $100. This is a three-fan set that boasts an enhanced airflow and a well-rated heat transmission system.
While it isn’t as widely compatible as some of the previous products, it should serve very well as a i7 8700K cooler. The pump has a large motor to ensure good heat management, and the addressable RGBs with accompanying lighting effects are a plus at this price range.
If you’re a newbie shopping on a budget, this is also a good option because it’s easy to set up as well. It won’t be whisper-quiet, but the noise levels will be at a minimum and shouldn’t interfere with your Dungeons and Dragons sessions with your friends.
Pros
Cons
15
EK 240MM AIO COOLER
FEATURES
The EK 240mm RGB AIO cooler not only looks really good and it has really good performance as well. The internals of this cooler is brilliant, especially for a closed-loop cooler. It comes with CPU sockets for both Intel and AMD, and the installation process is extremely easy.
The dual high-static PWM fans are not only designed for optimizing performance but also feature RGB lights. The overall build quality of the cooler is fantastic, with aluminum covers, reinforced and sleeve tubings. It feels solid and is yet another best AIO cooler for 8700k to consider.
The EK 240 RGB AIO cooler's performance certainly matches up to its competition, but it is a little pricer. However, you do get higher-grade materials and better aesthetics, if that is a factor for you.
Pros
Cons
What Does a CPU Cooler Do?
CPU coolers are cooling fans designed to carry away the heat from the CPU and other components. These AIO or Liquid Cooler fans help reduce the CPU temperature, thereby improving your system's overall efficiency and stability.
Both Air and liquid-cooled CPU coolers work on the thermodynamic principle of convection. And they perform the same role: absorbing heat from the processor and distributing it away from the hardware. The heat from the processor is distributed to the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS), the metal lid of the CPU.
The heat is then transferred to the CPU cooler's baseplate. This heat is then distributed, either by liquid or through a thermal pipe, to a fan, and is discharged from the cooler, then from the PC. Although the underlying mechanisms are similar, the two methods redistribute heat in very different ways.
Types of CPU coolers
Air Coolers:
Air coolers are the most popular CPU coolers and are more used for easy to install, efficient is reliable. It also does not require any maintenance other than occasional normal cleaning to remove dust built up over time. In most cases, they come with the purchase of the processor. However, those who need more efficient heaters can turn to the wide variety offered by third-party vendors.
AIO Liquid Coolers:
The liquid coolers are more attractive options for CPU temperature management for all types of processors. They offer efficient and incredible performance along with great visual appeal, which no other cooling system can match.
These Liquid cooling fans typically use water to transfer the heat generated by the processor and components. Water cooling fans fall into many categories, but we focus mainly on the All-in-One(AIO) configuration. The coolant in a closed circuit over a plate attached to your processor draws heat away from your valuable components and conducts them around a cooler, where the heat can be dissipated. Liquid coolers tend to be the more visible option and often come with RGB lighting or even small OLED displays.
The only people who have any real use for liquid coolers are gamers, overclockers, enthusiasts, and people who use their system for long periods all at once. If you intend to push your processor to the limit of its capabilities, then yes. You need a liquid cooler, and it makes sense to spend on it.
Liquid AIO coolers vs Air coolers
There can be many reasons for buying a cooling system. For example, when you buy various components to assemble your PC yourself, you will receive a mini cooler for your processor. The problem is that the mini-cooler included with your processor is often inefficient and can therefore cause your processor to heat up too high, which will damage it and reduce its performance.
Buying a better CPU fan on its own is, therefore, a wise choice in this case. As we have seen, it is possible to regulate the temperature of its components with a cooler. To understand which type of CPU cooler you should get, look at the air cooler vs liquid coolers comparison given below.
Air Coolers | Liquid Coolers | |
|---|---|---|
Performance | Its performance can be more than sufficient for a low or mid-range computer. And even for a top of the range that will not be subjected to a heavy workload. | They offer considerably better performance. They are ideal for the equipment to play high end. |
Maintenance | It is advisable to clean the dust from time to time and change the thermal paste once a year. | They require more complex maintenance. This includes, among other things, replacing the thermal compound and cleaning radiators and fans. To this must be added the bleeding and filling of the fluids of the pipes. |
Noise | They increasingly incorporate better systems to keep noise to a minimum. | They are much quieter systems. |
Space Required | Typically, they require less space than liquid cooling systems. High performance systems tend to require more space, although in general they require larger enclosures. | These are larger systems, so they usually require a fairly large box. |
Price | A lot less expensive and affordable. | Its price is much higher. |
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING CPU COOLER FOR I7 8700K
Now that we have looked at some of the best i7 8700k coolers you can buy, let's look at what you need to keep an eye out for in case you're shopping around.
Which cooling system should you choose?
First of all, you have to decide on the type of system you want to integrate into your PC, between the air system and the liquid-cooled one.
It is generally recommended to start with an air cooling system if you are still a beginner or if your budget does not allow you to take something else. Anyway, it remains a good choice because it is relatively easy to install and inexpensive.
Liquid cooling - water cooling fans is quite expensive and has complicated. This system is often used in PC gamers, that is to say, to play video games.
Many people might prefer open-loop CPU water cooling systems, and they might be more effective, but buying them can run you into the thousands. So, in this article, we've kept everything relatively budget-friendly here, and you won't be spending more than $200 on a single product. However, if you have the cash, then you can look into open loop cooling systems.
Looking at dimensions
If you are preparing to assemble your gaming PC, we invite you to choose an ATX case. The box must be large enough to house the majority of the products. Remember that if the cooler is too large or your box is small enough as a mini itx box model, you may have a problem during assembly.
The coolers do not take up much space in width but can block in height, so pay attention to this fact. But If you are buying an AIO, make sure you've prepared a larger case because the radiator needs to be integrated into your setup.
Make sure there's a lot of space in your room to set up the cooler properly and that you've assessed how much room everything will take up. Check dimensions carefully. Otherwise, you'll have wasted money on a setup that won't fit.
Compatibility
It is, of course, necessary that the system is adapted to your motherboard and the processor. Make sure that the socket is the same between your components, and you will have no problem. You will find this information on the instructions and the various product pages on which you can buy them.
number of FAns
Air coolers are the most popular CPU coolers and are more used for easy to install, efficient is reliable. It also does not require any maintenance other than occasional normal cleaning to remove dust built up over time. In most cases, they come with the purchase of the processor. However, those who need more efficient heaters can turn to the wide variety offered by third-party vendors.
The RGB lighting factor
Air coolers are the most popular CPU coolers and are more used for easy to install, efficient is reliable. It also does not require any maintenance other than occasional normal cleaning to remove dust built up over time. In most cases, they come with the purchase of the processor. However, those who need more efficient heaters can turn to the wide variety offered by third-party vendors.
Fan prices
Make sure you pick a budget option if you're a cautious spender. In that case, you can pick any of the ones here under $100, and you'll still have a very good product on your hands. If you can stretch the finances a little, you can spring for the more expensive ones.
FAQ
CONCLUSION
If you have a good setup, trust me, you want to get yourself an Air cooler or Liquid AIO cooler. Do not worry about leakages and things like that. They rarely happen. AIO coolers have come a long way from back in the day.
Nowadays, people are using them inside their extremely expensive setups because, well, they work. There is no better way of keeping your CPU cool than investing in a decent performing CPU cooler and in this article, I mentioned the best CPU coolers for i7 8700k. I hope you were able to find one that suits your needs and budget. Thank you for reading!
