When buying a PC, users least pay attention to the power supply and cooling system. And if in the first case it can still be lucky with a really high-quality PSU, then poor-quality JI can really harm your system.
Therefore, try to devote more time to choosing not only the quietest cooler for the processor, but also balanced cooling, which will cope with overheating of components.
Cooler
The cooling system is an important element of the computer. Many users neglect it, and then suffer from the fact that one of the components has overheated and burned out. To prevent this from happening, several fans must be installed in the computer case. By default, it is on the power supply and video card.
Everything else is the user's task. You need to take care of good cooling of the processor, especially if it is designed for demanding tasks.
The cooler as a whole consists of a fan, radiator and mounts. But depending on its type, it can be different. Especially when it comes to water cooling: in this case, the design is fundamentally different from the usual one.
Types of coolers
Nevertheless, it is customary to call a cooler an air cooling system. She is now most in demand. It is active and passive. In the first case, the cooler consists of a fan and a radiator, and in the second - only of a radiator.
Passive SO is considered the quietest cooler for the processor, but it is not always enough for demanding tasks. Therefore, users are trying to find a more profitable option among models with fans.
The cooling system can be of various shapes. Now the most popular is the horizontal design, because it can fit in any case. But the tower type is not suitable for everyone. Such a cooler may interfere with the arrangement of other components and block the air flow.
Of course, it would be possible to differentiate the cooling system according to the materials that make up the radiator. But now, almost all manufacturers have abandoned aluminum tubes and replaced them with copper, as well as the core. And radiator fins are increasingly being produced from copper.
How does the cooler work?
Use such a system in order to provide greater airflow at certain points: on the processor, motherboard or other components.
How it works: on a component that generates a lot of heat, you need to install a radiator with high thermal conductivity, which would remove high temperatures from the device.
In order for heat not to remain on the radiator plates, it is necessary that it be removed from the housing in principle. For this, you need a fan. It drives cold air and expels warm. Thus, a component that heats up rapidly cools quickly.
If you got a good quiet cooler for the processor, you can be sure that the processor temperature will be normal, even if you load it with resource-intensive programs. But if you notice that the system slows down, and the temperature is high, you should consider replacing the cooler.
How to choose?
Before you look for the quietest cooler for the processor, you have to figure out the choice. What you need to pay attention to buy the right and high-quality product?
First you’ll have to figure out whether to abandon the cooler that comes with the processor. If the chip is of medium performance, it usually does not heat up too much, so a regular fan is enough for it.
You need to choose a separate cooler only if you decide that a regular model may not be enough, or you plan to load the system with serious tasks.
It may also be that the processor comes on sale without a cooler. In this case, of course, you have to make a choice yourself. Here you can find the quietest cooler for the processor.
So, during the purchase you need to pay attention to:
- chip parameters;
- main characteristics of the cooler;
- CO design;
- fan parameters, etc.
These are the main points, without which you can not choose a cooling system for the processor.
CPU Parameters
As you know, processors are very different, so you need to choose a special cooler for them so that it fits correctly and works efficiently. Pay attention to the heat dissipation and socket.
So, a socket is a processor socket. It may vary by model. Therefore, before buying a cooler, you first need to decide on the motherboard, then with a chip that fits, and only then look at the CO.
Heat dissipation (TDP) is one of the important indicators of the processor. It is on him that you need to equal when choosing a cooler. But in cooling systems it is rarely indicated in the specifications. Therefore, you may have to find this parameter yourself.
The main characteristics of the cooler
When choosing a cooler, you will need to use the data from the previous paragraph. That is, you have to look at the TDP of the processor and its socket. Thus, you can select the correct CO.
Cooler design
On sale there is a fan with an aluminum radiator, with a radiator of plates, a horizontal or vertical design with heat pipes. In principle, a quiet cooler for the processor can be of very different shapes. Therefore, the design will have to pay attention only in the case of a successful arrangement of elements in the housing. If the chassis is roomy, you can choose any.
Fan parameters
The noise of the entire system is affected by the fan. Particularly affected by its size and speed.
So, there is an opinion that the larger the fan, the less noise it creates. For example, you will notice that a cooler can work very loudly in a laptop, where a very small fan is usually placed.
Cheap cooler models are usually equipped with an 80 x 80 mm fan. This option is easy to get and easy to replace, and it is inexpensive, but it creates a lot of noise, so once again you will think about whether it is worth it.
The standard universal sizes usually include fans 92 x 92 or 120 x 120 mm. By the way, this cooler option is considered the most affordable. The fan is easy to turn off and change.
If the system is equipped with a powerful processor that generates a lot of heat, you will have to pay attention to a 140 x 140 mm fan. This option is the most silent of all the above. In addition, it effectively removes heat from the housing and easily cools the component.
Noise can also be affected by the bearing. The quietest cooler is usually equipped with a hydrodynamic bearing. In addition to the low noise level, it is also much more reliable than other options. In addition to it there is a ball bearing and the most unfortunate option is a plain bearing.
Another parameter of the fan is the number of revolutions. If the mechanism is compact, it will need to make more revolutions to cope with a small area of airflow and a weak air flow.
Large fans do a lot better. Therefore, they make fewer revolutions. Of course, if the number of revolutions is large, then the fan noise becomes more noticeable. Therefore, it is better to choose a larger mechanism.
4000 rpm is a very high indicator that will be noticeable, especially in a small room. Typically, figures from 2000 to 4000 rpm are inherent in small fans. Large, from 120 mm in size, operate at maximum load at a speed of 1300-1500 rpm.
What else to look for?
So, during the purchase of the quietest cooler, you will have to deal with the mounts. If you are really looking for a quiet option, then you have to choose a large fan. And with them sometimes there are problems regarding fixtures. If compact models are easy to install on a board, then with large options you will have to torment.
Some reinforced coolers require a more reliable installation. Therefore, the manufacturer came up with a special frame that needs to be attached to the back of the motherboard. What should be in this case?
It is very important that the model of the motherboard allows you to attach such a frame. In this case, there should be no soldered electronic elements that can be accidentally damaged.
Well, if the design of the case will be successful. In this case, it will be possible to remove the cooler without removing the motherboard. By the way, thanks to such mounts, you can leave the cooling system, even if you change the processor. Typically, the models are universal, so they do not need to be changed.
Rating: best of the best
Which coolers are the quietest? It is important to understand that it all depends on the requirements of the buyer and the capabilities of the system. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the only best cooler. Many ratings try to distinguish devices by type or structure. Thus, the user can find the most suitable option for him in a particular category.
In the top silent coolers for the processor, usually dozens of the best models are added. Rating is difficult for them, because they are designed for different tasks and may differ constructively.
Nevertheless, there are already those models that are almost always heard. They are acquired much more often, so you just need to pay attention to them:
- Noctua NH-D15.
- Noctua NH-U14S.
- Deepcool Gabriel.
- Deepcool Lucifer.
- Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro.
- Zalman CNPS10X Optima.
- Thermalright Macho.
- Deepcool Assassin.
- Deepcool Gammaxx.
- Thermalright HR-22.
Perhaps the rating may seem biased to someone, since it includes models of different types. But it rather refers to popularity among users.
Noctua NH-D15
For 7 thousand rubles you can get one of the best coolers. He received a two-tower design, and 6 nickel-plated tubes are immediately responsible for the heat sink. The plates in the radiator are located at a distance of 2 mm, so the model is effective even at low fan speeds. The model also looks very cool and can attract attention with one design.
Reviews on Noctua NH-D15
Users noted the presence of a universal mounting system, which will not spend money on a new cooler when replacing the processor. Fans are tested and fail-safe. You can adjust the speed of rotation.
But buyers reacted negatively about the cost of the model. Also, after installation, some of them faced problems with access to memory slots and PCI-Express. This should immediately be considered when buying a model.
Noctua NH-U14S
This is the predecessor of the previous model. Until now, he is considered a leader, so his second place can be considered conditional. In fact, he could safely take the first line of the rating.
It is a little more compact and takes only one section. At the same time, TDP indicators are the same, but the cost is less - 5800 rubles. The only thing he can lose the NH-D15 a couple of degrees and decibels.
Reviews on Noctua NH-U14S
Users were completely satisfied with what the manufacturer offered them. They praised the compact dimensions of the tower structure, which cause fewer questions about compatibility issues. The fan is large and powerful, has a resource of 150 thousand hours. This is the quietest cooler for the 1151 processor. At the same time, the manufacturer provides an adapter for chips from AMD.
Deepcool gabriel
This is a budget model of a cooler, but already in a horizontal format. The device has an asymmetric design, so there are no problems with connecting other components. Works on four heat sink tubes. It’s best to purchase this quiet cooler for Intel 1151 processors.
Deepcool Gabriel Reviews
Buyers noted a low cost - only 2300 rubles. At the same time, the dimensions of the cooler are compact, but the work remains effective. Some thought the fan was a bit noisy. Therefore, they decided to replace it with a more profitable option. There were also problems installing this model on an AMD processor.
Deepcool lucifer
This model belongs to the middle price category. It is considered one of the best for 3 thousand rubles. The cooler has a tower structure and one section. Works with 140mm fan.
Deepcool Lucifer Reviews
Users say a lot of positive things about Deepcool Lucifer V2. A quiet cooler for the 1151 processor has a low cost and allows you to install another fan. Problems can be with installing RAM: you have to choose low-profile modules.
Be quiet! Dark rock pro 3
This manufacturer has long been known for its quality products, and its name only proves that it is really a quiet cooler for the 775 processor and other Intel products.
The cooler looks powerful and reassuring. It works the same way. Will cost the buyer 7200 rubles.
Reviews about Be quiet! Dark rock pro 3
Too many buyers praised the appearance. But, of course, this is not the most important thing. The cooler really turned out to be efficient and quiet. Some were unhappy with the cost, since there are models on the market that are cheaper, but are not inferior to this one.
Zalman CNPS10X Optima
This is a good tower model that can be a good quiet cooler for your AM3 processor. Its appearance is not as impressive as the previous one. Nevertheless, the device looks reliable, and test results showed that the cooler can be an excellent assistant for productive systems.
Zalman CNPS10X Optima Reviews
Users noted that this model has the best value for money. This is one of the cheapest models in the ranking, so this also attracted the attention of buyers. The mount is reliable, and the manual helps to cope with it.
Thermalright Macho
Released in two revisions. Their cost is the same, so it's best to look at Rev. B. The updated model received an improved fan and a modified design. The only thing you need to understand is that such a CO requires a lot of space in the case, so it will not work for compact systems. If this does not scare you, you can safely buy a cooler.
Thermalright Macho Rev. reviews B
Cope with a high TDP of 240 watts. This is an excellent quiet cooler for the AMD processor, since it supports motherboards for Ryzen. Equipped with a quiet fan. Users were afraid only of very large sizes, but the cost of 4 thousand rubles, on the contrary, pleased many.
Deepcool assassin
It so happened that almost all the quietest models have a tower type. As a rule, such options are more expensive than horizontal ones. Since this model has two sections, it is even more expensive and refers to high-end coolers. Will cost the user 6 thousand rubles.
Reviews for Deepcool Assassin
users noted high performance, quiet operation and generous equipment. But they did not like the complicated assembly. Some have encountered problems accessing components on the board.
Deepcool gammaxx 400
This is a good budget model for only 1800 rubles. Its feature is four copper tubes and a tower structure at a low price. All this is also complemented by a 120 mm fan. The model is best suited for AMD.
Reviews for Deepcool Gammaxx 400
Users praised this quiet cooler for the AM4 processor . They were pleased with the simple installation of the device and the small overall width. Many owners insisted that it is best to buy a model for AMD processors, since the mount on the 775 / 11xx is very poor.
Thermalright HR-22
Well, one cannot mention passive cooling. This is one of the best coolers of this type. It costs a little more than some active rating models - 2300 rubles. A feature of the cooler is its tower design, which requires a case fan. The device works immediately with 8 heat sink tubes.
Thermalright HR-22 Reviews
Buyers note that despite the passive type, the cooling is really effective. Of course, we are not talking about powerful gaming systems or overclocking PCs. Also, many were delighted to have a special device for installing a fan.
Buyers warn that the weight and height of the cooler are impressive, so the motherboard should be strong.