Best CPU Cooler for i7 8700k in 2023

We all think that CPU coolers don’t play any role in increasing frame rates, going cheap on them, or randomly picking some models from the market. This may work sometimes, but not every time, and you may have to see thermal throttling with your CPU. As we know, i7 8700k comes with a TDP of 95W, so we can use almost every cooler with this processor. The main thing to consider is getting cooler, which gives us the best performance, price, and design. So there we’ve made a list of some of the best CPU coolers for i7 8700k where we’ve reviewed and compared some of the top known models.

Before buying the cooler, we need to know which Cooler will work best with this processor. There are two types of coolers we can get; the first one is the Air cooler, which is most commonly used, while the other one is AIO or Liquid Cooler for overclocking. The TDP of this processor is not much high, and air coolers work fine with it, but if you want to do serious overclocking with it, I’ve some AIO cooler choices. So let’s start the list with the first liquid Cooler on this list. 

List of 10 Best CPU Coolers for i7 8700k

Award	Product	Price
Best AIO Mid Range Water Cooler	Cooler Master MasterLiquid LC120E	Buy on Amazon
Ideal Cooler for Compact Builds	Noctua NH-L9i	Buy on Amazon
Cheapest Cooler for 8700k	DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400	Buy on Amazon
Premium Quality Cooler	Noctua NH-D9L	Buy on Amazon
Great RGB Performance Cooler	ID-COOLING SE-234-ARGB	Buy on Amazon
Good Mid-Range Aesthetic Cooler	DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX GT BK	Buy on Amazon
Flashy Cooler with Performance	ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO	Buy on Amazon
Budget-Friendly CPU Cooler	ID-COOLING SE-244-XT Black	Buy on Amazon
Compact Premium Cooler	Cooler Master MasterAir G100M	Buy on Amazon
Performance Cooler for high TDP CPUs	Scythe Ninja 5 Air CPU Cooler	Buy on Amazon

On the top of the list, we’ve got an AIO cooler, which is recommended for those who don’t consider the price and willing to do some serious overclocking with this processor. You might be already familiar with the reputation of Cooler Master as this company is known for manufacturing computer cooling solutions and casings. Cooler Master MasterLiquid LC120E is compatible with most of the Intel and AMD sockets, and we are most likely not to see any compatibility problem with it. One thing you need to make sure of is your PC must need to support a 120mm radiator. 

The MasterLiquid LC120E comes in various radiator sizes, but we don’t need anything more than 120mm because the TDP of this processor is not much high. This Cooler has everything you need, and the company has worked well on its performance and aesthetics. The RGB controller can be used to change the RGB effects and colors, which are responsible for most of the looks of this Cooler. Also, AIO coolers with such compact designs are rarely seen in the market. 

As we know it’s an AIO cooler, but for high-end processors, it is still more focused on running on the stock speeds; however, a little overclocking would be okay. If you are an enthusiast and want to push the clock rates to new limits, then this Cooler is not recommended for you. Also, we’ve tested this Cooler with several processors, but the final result is it works fine with mid-range processors, but for high-end TDP CPUs, this Cooler is not very effective and doesn’t offer good value.

Specifications

Noctua coolers are excellent as far as you don’t consider the aesthetics, but the performance of these coolers is undoubtedly remarkable. This Cooler is very small in size, but it can easily handle the Intel Core i7 8700k at stock speeds. When you have to build a home theatre, small form factor, or compact build, NH-L9i comes into the game. This Cooler’s total height is roughly 39 mm, making it the best compact Cooler for i7 8700k in this list. 

With Noctua NH-L9i, you will not see any memory or graphics card clearance issues as it is designed by taking care of them. The fan equipped on this Cooler is the NF-A9x14, which works on a minimal noise level even on high RPMs. The mounting system of this Cooler comes from Noctua, making it very easy to mount for non-techies. The small design and excellent performance of this Cooler make it one of the best choices to consider.

Likewise, in other budgets or small coolers, this one also can’t handle high-end processors very well. Though for mid-range processes, these coolers offer great value for their price, and you will be amazed by them. This Cooler can also be used to replace the stock cooler but not for overclocking the processor to achieve higher clock rates. The thing that makes this deal more compelling is the NT-H1 thermal compound that comes bundled with this Cooler.

Specifications

Cheap Cooler with reasonable performance, Deepcool did their job with the Gammaxx 400, which is the most affordable Cooler with very straightforward looks. Most users think that coolers are not going to increase the in-game performance and go cheap on it directly; this Cooler is an ideal deal for them. The compatibility of this Cooler with several Intel and AMD sockets is excellent, and you can fit it with any CPU you want with TDP under 130W. 

This Cooler is divided into two sections where the upper one contains the fans while button one directly contacts the processor and is connected with four pipes with the top portion. This allows maximum heat dissipation all around the Cooler, and you can get the best performance out of it. It comes with a single fan out of the box, but there are some extra clips with which you can attach a new fan with this Cooler. 

The thing I don’t like in this Cooler is the unfinished design, and if you are building a color coordinate build, this one doesn’t seem right for you. The first audience company has targeted from budget categories who don’t like to spend much on the Cooler but want performance more than average. I’ve also noticed in the sample model that the fans go a bit noisy when running on high RPM. 

Specifications

I’ve got another great choice from Noctua, but this time, we are not mentioning something specific to a build, but this one can be used generally with any build. Noctua NH-D9L is a dual tower processor cooler, much bigger than the previously mentioned one, but still compact in the dual tower category. With this large design, this Cooler doesn’t conflict with the memory modules or PCI cards even on ITX motherboards, and that’s what makes this cooler a great choice. 

The height of this Cooler is roughly 110mm, and its an ideal choice for compact home theatre and streaming builds. A 92mm NF-A9 bundled with this Cooler operates at minimum noise level, and it’s not going to ruin your gaming experience no matter at what speed it’s rotating. Noctua CPU coolers come with the SecuFirm2 mounting system, which is very easy, especially for non-techies, and you can easily install and remove it. This Cooler also comes with the NT-H1 thermal compound. 

No doubt, this Cooler offers excellent value and performance for low TDP performance, but I don’t recommend this one if you own a high-end gaming processor. But in case you own to try to stick with the stock clock rates because it can’t handle overclocking very well on high-end processors. The brown fans and missing RGB lights might not be appealing for everyone, and that’s the main problem with most of the Noctua coolers in the market, but for performance still, these coolers offer excellent value.

Specifications

Finding a CPU cooler with great design and performance is hard to do, and when we need these things at a low price, it becomes nearly impossible. ID-Cooling did its job by making a cheap CPU cooler that offers excellent aesthetics and cooling performance. The SE-234 comes with four heatsink pipes that connect the lower portion with the upper one, and this allows maximum heat dissipation over the aluminum fins. The maximum TDP this cooler supports is 200W, which is useful if you prefer overclocking. 

There are a bunch of RGB lights on the top of this Cooler, and it also has RGB fans, all of the RGB lights are controllable. The RGB lights of this Cooler have a bunch of effects that offer great aesthetics in the casing. With its excellent design, the company still claims that this Cooler has no clearance issue with the memory modules or graphics cards in the build. Overall this CPU cooler gives exceptional per dollar performance in any build. 

When the fans of this cooler run on maximum RPM, they go a bit noisy, which doesn’t seem reasonable in a $49 CPU cooler. The ARGB light cable is short in size, and it doesn’t come with an extender, so you have to buy that separately if you are unable to connect it to the motherboard. ARGB lights are right in this Cooler, but they are not appealing to all of the users. When we look at this Cooler’s overall performance, this one seems to be a perfect choice for RGB lovers. 

Specifications

We’ve got another great choice from DeepCool, but this one is way better than the previous one in terms of design and performance. At least we don’t have to see that unfinished design in Gammaxx GT BK anymore in the cooler. This Cooler supports a TDP of 150W, and you can use it with most of the sockets there in the market, but in our case, we are going to use LGA 1151, and it fits best with this one. 

This CPU cooler has an RGB fan on the front and an aluminum cover with RGB lights on the top side, making it attractive. Both of these lights synchronized with each other to give hundreds of colorful RGB effects. The company has not released any specific application to control the RGB lights, but you can use software from ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI to configure the RGB lights. Like the previous one from this manufacturer, this one also has four copper heatsink pipes with an additional 0.5mm thickness that connects the lower portion with the aluminum fins for better cooling. 

I’ve noticed in the sample model, and the TDP of this Cooler that the company has focused more on the RGB lights instead of the cooling performance, which seems odd. The manufacturer of this Cooler gives a short warranty while companies like Noctua offer at least six years of warranty with their coolers. The price to performance ratio of this Cooler is not that good, but you can still use it for a little bit of overclocking, and for stock clocks, it’s a great choice. 

Specifications

When it comes to the best value product, Arctic Freezer got a significant spot as this company has released some of the best CPU coolers and thermal products in the past and has an excellent reputation. There are several coolers from this manufacturer that I can pick, but I found the Arctic Freezer 35 eSports Duo a superb choice for i7 8700k and other similar processors. The best thing about this Cooler is it gives good aesthetics with performance and price. 

The Intel and AMD variants of this Cooler are separate, and you can’t use them in the replacement of others, so make sure you are buying the right one for your processor. Also, this Cooler is available in several different colors, so select the one which matches the color scheme of your motherboard too. The base of this heatsink and the fins are made up of aluminum, while the outer cover is made up of plastic. There are two fans on this Cooler that work in an in-and-out system and blow air throughout the heatsink. 

This Cooler offers excellent performance for its price, but there are some things that I’ve noticed in it while reviewing. First of all, this Cooler lacks RGB lights, which might be appealing for some users, but most of us consider RGB fans in coolers. Secondly, I’ve seen the compatibility of this Cooler with old sockets is minimal, but in our case, it fits best with LGA 1151. 

Specifications

ID-Cooling SE-244-XT is a low-profile CPU cooler with four heatsink pipes, which allows heat to transfer from the base to the upper portion. There is a 120mm CPU fan on the front of the cooler, which blows air through the aluminum fins and makes them cool down. The mounting system of this Cooler is designed in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with the memory or graphics card. This Cooler comes in an attractive black and white color combination, which gives excellent looks. 

SE-244-XT allows you to overclock your processor, or you can install high TDP processors with this Cooler. The mounting hardware that comes with this Cooler is very straightforward, and you can install it without facing any problem with it. There are no RGB lights in this variant; however, if you prefer, get the basic edition of this Cooler. Also, for those who own a white build, there is a specific cooler for them too. So high performance, design, and price, we can say it all in one Cooler. 

The fans of this Cooler sometimes go loud when it’s running on high loads, and that’s the problem we’ve seen in many other coolers in this list, like the previous ID-Cooling Cooler this one also comes with a little ARGB wire. I’ve also noticed that ID-Cooling coolers are not available worldwide nor the company ships to some regions. So check out if these coolers are available in your area before considering them. 

Specifications

You may have seen a hundred coolers at different stores or reviewing websites, but not this one, which I’ve there for you. While buying a cooler most of us consider getting the best performance and aesthetics without spending much money, and their Cooler Master MasterAir G100M has all these things. This CPU comes in a UFO-like shape with some RGB lights on it, which gives excellent effects in any color coordinate build. Along with its design, I found this Cooler a great option over the Intel Stock cooler as it supports a bit of overclocking and offers aesthetics. 

The compatibility of this Cooler is excellent enough, and you can use it with any Intel or AMD socket without having any issue with it. The fins of this Cooler are made up of aluminum, and it has a plastic body on the upper side. There is an RGB controller with this Cooler, which allows you to change the RGB effects without getting into the computer application. Cooler Master undoubtedly did an excellent job with this Cooler, but if it can handle overclocking very well, I would say there will be no other better option than this one. 

One thing that might disappoint some users regarding this Cooler is the installation process, as it’s a bit hard to do, and non-techies may find it challenging. Also, overclocking some high TDP processors is not possible with this Cooler even in our case with the i7 8700k, but as a replacement of the stock cooler, this one is a great choice. 

Specifications

Scythe Ninja 5 is not an ordinary cooler; instead, it can be used for processors like Intel Core i9 9900k or i7 9700k. This Cooler can easily handle high TDP processors and still allows you some overclocking with them. The fins of this Cooler are made up of aluminum, and the pipes are using copper for better heat transfer to them. It is a dual tower cooler with two Kaze Flex 120 PWM that blows air inwards, and from the top side, it goes outward. 

The company has made a massive heatsink for this Cooler and its measures about 130 mm x 130 mm. This cooler height is roughly 155mm though it can only be used in ATX or tower builds, not for compact computers. This Cooler doesn’t have any RGB light, but it still looks attractive because of its design and color combination. Price-wise it’s cheap, especially if you own a mid-range processor, but for budget or entry-level builds, it’s not recommended.

This one is undoubtedly an excellent gaming cooler, and no one will argue with you, but its performance with high-end processors like i9 9900k while overclocking is not that good. In some motherboards, this Cooler covers the memory slots, but only a few users report it while I’ve tested it with a few ones but don’t see it. Also, the packing of this Cooler is not right, and the company needs to focus on it.

Specifications

Conclusion

Intel Core i7 8700k is a great gaming processor as it can max out most of the modern titles released and offers exceptional performance for its price. Its performance can be increased by overclocking it to get more performance out of it. As we know, it’s a K series processor, and it comes with a factory unlocked multiplier, so we need a good CPU cooler. There are a few best CPU coolers for i7 8700k, which you can consider to overclock this processor. 

The best CPU cooler you can get is the Scythe Ninja 5, which supports 200 W TDP processors and allows you to overclock it. If you want to go to Liquid cooling, there is the Cooler Master MasterLiquid LC120E, which can handle this processor very well. The TDP of i7 8700k is about 95W, and you can also use the Cooler Master MasterAir G100M, which is a fancy cooler for great aesthetics and performance. Overall these coolers work well with this processor and select the good one according to your budget. 

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Related Article: Best Motherboards for Core i7-8700K

Zakriya Aamir