An Aftermarket CPU cooler is one of the most essential components of a gaming PC. A stock cooler is only good for basic needs but if you want to overclock your processor for extra performance then you do need a good aftermarket cooler for your budget gaming CPU. Also during gaming, the processor can become very hot due to continuous use, and to keep their temperatures down to safer levels, you have to use a good aftermarket CPU cooler. Also, some of the unlocked processors come without a heatsink, and for them, you have to buy an aftermarket CPU cooler of decent quality. It is also a good practice to install a good aftermarket CPU cooler for your mid-range to high-end processor even if it comes with a stock cooler. It will certainly increase the life and performance of your processor.
An Aftermarket CPU Cooler provides way better cooling performance compared to stock coolers that come bundled with the processor. Aftermarket CPU coolers can be very expensive depending on their performance especially liquid CPU coolers or CPU water coolers. But there are some budget CPU coolers that provide very good cooling performance and are also easy on your pocket. So here in this post, I am going to provide to list of the best budget Aftermarket CPU Coolers under 50 dollars for both Intel and AMD Sockets (including Socket AM4). But if you are buying an AMD Threadripper or Intel Core-X processor then you have to look for these LGA 2066 & TR4 Socket CPU Coolers. For small form factor mini-ITX PCs, you can have a look at these low profile CPU coolers.
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Best CPU Coolers under $50 for Intel & AMD Processors
Here are the best affordable Aftermarket CPU Coolers for Intel and AMD processors that also support the latest AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen processors including both Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 processors. These are traditional heatsink and fan (HSF) Air coolers and all of them are equipped with PWM fans. You can get these below-mentioned aftermarket CPU coolers for under 50 dollars.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is the most popular and one of the best budget CPU coolers around. The cooler supports all the AMD and Intel CPU sockets. This CPU Cooler also supports the latest AMD AM4 Socket using the AM4 bracket (RR-ACCY-AM4B-R1), for which you have to contact Cooler Master USA.
This CPU cooler comes with 4 Copper Heat Pipes which are in direct contact with the processor and each other for better transfer and dissipation of heat. Cooler Master calls it CDC (Continuous Direct Contact) technology. It comes with one 120mm fan which is quiet and does a great job in keeping the CPU temperature well below dangerous levels even during CPU load. It has a dual-fan design which means you can also add another 120mm fan if you want some extra cooling performance. The cooler is a bit taller at 159mm for some mini-ITX or mini-tower cases, so before buying it make sure that fits in your computer case.
Important Note: A new version of this CPU Cooler is also available as Hyper 212 EVO V2. It has a reduced height of 155mm, has an asymmetrical design that offers better RAM clearance, is quieter with the new Sickleflow 120mm fan, and is much easier to install. You can also check out this model from the links given below.
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2066 / 2011-3 / 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 1151 / 1150 / 775 socket, AMD AM4* / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 socket |
| No. of Fans | 1 + 1 (optional) |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 600 – 2000 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 4 Copper Heat Pipes |
| Cooler Height | 159mm |
Buy Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Buy Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2
CRYORIG H7 CPU Cooler
CRYORIG may not be a popular name as Cooler Master but it does offer a very good range of CPU cooling solutions. Here we have CRYORIG H7 CPU Cooler which is a very good budget aftermarket CPU cooler and it supports all the major Intel and AMD Sockets (including AM4 using Upgrade Kit).
The design of this Cooler Heat Sink features a proprietary Hive Fin structure which allows for a combination of Jet Fin Acceleration and Turbulence Reduction, as well as strengthening the structural strength of the fin stacks. It comes with three heat pipes with a copper base and has one 120mm fan which is powerful and quieter too. The other great thing about this cooler is that it has a lower height of 145mm only which means it can fit in almost all computer cases including mini-ITX cases. Also, the performance of this CRYORIG H7 Cooler is a bit better than that of CM Hyper 212 EVO and is also known as Hyper 212 EVO Killer by some. Highly Recommended by me.
| CRYORIG H7 CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1150 / LGA 1151 / LGA 1155 / LGA 1156, AMD FM1 / FM2 / FM2+ / AM3 / AM3+ |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 330 – 1600 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 3 |
| Cooler Height | 145mm |
Buy CRYORIG H7 CPU Tower Cooler
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
[Silent and better than Hyper 212 Evo]
The most popular budget CPU cooler of all time i.e. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo has just got even better with the release of the new Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU cooler. This is more of an improved version of Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo that comes with some additional features, a new fan, and a totally new installation system. As the name suggests, this is a black color CPU cooler and features anodized gun-metal black with a brushed aluminum surface finish to the top cover for a more refined look. The black color also helps in better heat dissipation and thus improves performance.
This CPU cooler comes with a new 120mm fan which is Silencio FP120. This is a silent 120mm PWM fan that spins at speed in the range of 650 – 2000 RPM and generates static pressure of 2.9mm H2O, an airflow of 42 CFM, and has got maximum noise rating of 26dBA only. The cooler has got four copper heatpipes with Direct Contact Technology and provides effective and excellent heat dissipation. The CPU cooler is as tall as Hyper 212 Evo which is 159mm. One more great thing great about Hyper 212 Black Edition is that it is super easy to install, which is not the case with Hyper 212 Evo. It supports almost all the major CPU sockets including AMD AM4 and Intel LGA 2066. So, if you are thinking of getting a Hyper 212 Evo then my advice to you is to get this one instead. Highly Recommended by me.
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2066 / 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 and AMD AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 |
| No. of Fans | 1 + 1 (optional) |
| Fan Size | 120mm (PWM) |
| Fan Speed | 650 – 2000 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 4 Copper Heat pipes |
| Cooler Height | 159mm |
Buy Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler
[Best Budget CPU Cooler with Dual Fans]
If you are looking for a budget CPU Cooler that can give some of the high-end CPU Air Coolers and AIOs a run for their money then it is ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO. This is a dual-fan CPU cooler that delivers an excellent price-to-performance ratio and is one of the best budget CPU coolers that you can buy for your gaming PC or work PC. The CPU Cooler heatsink comes with four copper heatpipes that have direct contact with the CPU for better heat transfer. The heatsink and the heatpipes have a black thermal coating over them that leads to an optimized heat-dissipation and helps a bit in the cooling process. The fans used in this CPU Cooler are Arctic BioniX P-fans that are high static pressure fans and have a higher RPM range (200 – 2100 RPM) to deliver cooling performance. They come with Fluid Dynamic Bearing and are arranged in a Push-Pull configuration for better airflow and cooling performance. The fans are silent at lower speeds but can get audible at full speed. The CPU Cooler is 157mm in height, which means most of the cases will not face any problem fitting it in.
When it comes to performance then it easily beats the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition, Arctic Freezer 33 eSports ONE, Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B, Cryorig H7 Quad Lumi, and Cooler Master ML240P Mirage. The cooling performance of this CPU cooler is almost equivalent to the Noctua NH-D15, Be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4, which are bulky and massive high-end CPU Air Coolers with dual tower design. ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO is rated for CPUs with TDP up to 210W which is amazing for such a smaller cooler. It is compatible with almost all the popular Intel and AMD Sockets including the AM4. The installation of the CPU Cooler is hassle-free and easy, and because of its compact design, it offers optimal RAM compatibility. Overall, a great budget CPU Cooler that is highly recommended by me.
| ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2066 / 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 and AMD AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 |
| No. of Fans | 2 BioniX P-fans |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 200 – 2100 RPM (PWM) |
| Heat Pipes | 4 Copper Heat pipes |
| Cooler Height | 157mm |
Buy ARCTIC Freezer 34 eSports DUO CPU Cooler
ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler
[Best Cheap CPU Cooler, Excellent Performance for the Price]
The best cheap CPU cooler you can ever find is the ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic. It retails at only $27 but can easily beat the CPU Coolers double its price. The CPU Cooler comes with an aluminum heatsink having specially designed microwave structure fins that increase the surface area for better heat dissipation. The heatsink has four 6mm copper heatpipes with direct touch technology for better transfer of heat from the processor IHS to the heatsink. The heatsink is cooled down by a 120mm fan that comes with a hydraulic bearing and generates airflow of 76.16 CFM and static pressure of 2.16 mmH2O which are very good figures in terms of cooling performance. The fan is quiet at lower to mid speeds but can get a bit noisy at full speed. The maximum noise level rating of the fan is 32.5 dBA, which is quite acceptable, to be honest.
The CPU Cooler is rated for 180 TDP of cooling performance, and you can run mid-range to higher-end processors comfortably on stock speed. When it comes to performance, then it beats the popular Cooler Master Hyper 212X, Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, be quiet! Dark Rock Slim and Cryorigh H7 which are more expensive coolers from well-known and bigger brands. The cooler supports the majority of Intel Sockets and AMD AM4 Socket. The installation is straightforward and hassle-free. The top of the heatsink features a black top plate that gives the cooler a premium and upmarket appearance. Another great thing about this budget CPU cooler is that it offers perfect RAM compatibility, which means it does not interfere with the nearby RAM slots and fitting high-end RAM with tall heat spreaders is not a problem. Also, the cooler is 154mm tall and can fit in almost all the mini-tower and mid-tower cases perfectly. Overall, an excellent CPU cooler for the price and is highly recommended for anyone on a tight budget.
| ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066/2011/1151/1150/1155/1156/1200 and AMD AM4 |
| No. of Fans | 1 (PWM) |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 700 – 1800 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 4 Copper Heatpipes (Direct Touch) |
| Cooler Height | 154mm |
Buy ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic CPU Cooler
Noctua NH-U12S Redux CPU Cooler
[Premium Quality at Affordable Price, Great Performance & RAM Clearance]
Noctua NH-U12S Redux is the most affordable Noctua CPU cooler and is a slimmed down or streamlined version of the popular Noctua NH-U12S CPU Cooler. Noctua NH-U12S Redux retains almost all the good characteristics of the Noctua NH-U12S while being cheaper. On the performance front too, the newer cooler delivers performance as good as the Noctua NH-U12S. Size-wise, both the CPU coolers are the same having the same height, width, and depth. Noctua NH-U12S Redux comes with four copper heatpipes, one less than the Noctua NH-U12S. The number of fins packed in the Noctua NH-U12S Redux heatsink is quite dense which helps in delivering better heat dissipation. Noctua NH-U12S Redux comes with an NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan that comes with an SSO bearing. The fan is pretty quiet and has a maximum noise rating of 25.1 dBA.
The CPU Cooler is 158mm tall and can fit in almost all the mid-tower and higher form factor cases. Moreover, the CPU cooler is quite slim and offers 100% RAM and PCIe slot compatibility and clearance. The cooler looks good having a simple and elegant design. When it comes to cooling performance then beats almost all the CPU Coolers in the sub 50 dollars segment. The cooler supports almost all the popular Intel and AMD sockets including LGA 1200 and AM4. Also, Noctua’s SecuFirm2 mounting system allows for simple and easy installation. The CPU cooler comes with a pre-applied NT-H1 thermal compound and carries a six-year warranty. So, if you are looking for a premium CPU cooler in the affordable segment then it is one of the best options available. Highly Recommended by me.
| Noctua NH-U12S Redux CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066, LGA2011-0 & LGA2011-3 (Square ILM), LGA1200, LGA1156, LGA1155, LGA1151, LGA1150 & AMD AM4 |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 450 – 1700 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 4 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 158mm |
Buy Noctua NH-U12S Redux CPU Cooler
MSI CORE FROZR L CPU Cooler
This is a stylish and modern-looking CPU cooler from the house of MSI. MSI CORE FROZR L CPU Cooler supports all the major Intel and AMD Sockets including AM4. The cooler comes with a sufficiently large heatsink with a nickel-plated copper base plate and four heat pipes. The cooler is accompanied by a high-performance Premium Thermal Compound X for efficient transfer of heat from the CPU to the heat sink.
MSI CORE FROZR L comes with a 120mm TORX fan for increased cooling performance and super silent operation. You can find MSI TORX fans on their mid-range and high-end graphics card cooling solutions too. The heat sink has a dual-fan design which means you can add another 120mm when you require more cooling. The performance of this MSI Cooler is amazing and it can easily handle high-end processors from both Intel and AMD.
| MSI CORE FROZR L CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2066 / 2011-3/ 2011/ 1366/ 1156/ 1155/ 1151/ 1150/ 775 , AMD AM4/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| No. of Fans | 1 + 1 (optional) |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 500 – 1800 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 4 heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 155mm |
Buy MSI CORE FROZR L CPU Cooler
Cooler Master MASTERAIR MA410P RGB CPU Cooler
Cooler Master MASTERAIR MA410P is a budget RGB CPU Cooler under 50 dollars. It is one of the latest CPU Air Coolers from Cooler Master and it supports a variety of Intel and AMD Sockets including AMD AM4 and Intel LGA 2066 Sockets. It is the upgraded version of the MasterAir Pro 4 CPU Cooler from Cooler Master. Cooler Master MASTER AIR MA410P RGB CPU Cooler comes with a 120mm RGB Fan (PWM) and four copper heatpipes that have direct contact with the CPU, which Cooler Master calls Continuous Direct Contact Technology 2.0 (CDC 2.0). You can also install another fan to it if you want to increase the cooling performance and airflow. The airflow provided by the single 120mm fan is 66.7 CFM (Max).
This budget RGB CPU Cooler is a bit on the taller side having a total height of 158.5mm. The performance of this CPU Cooler is pretty good but it can be loud at full fan speed or load. It comes with a wired RGB Controller (C10L) by which you can change the various RGB lighting modes and effects. The CPU Cooler is pretty easy to install and it comes with all the necessary mounting kit brackets for both Intel and AMD processors. It is compatible with Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock RGB LED. So, if you are looking for a stylish, attractive, and cheap RGB CPU cooler that is high on performance and features then you should totally get this.
| Cooler Master MASTERAIR MA410P RGB CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2066 / 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1151 / 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 socket and AMD AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / AM2 / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 socket |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 650 – 2000 RPM (PWM) |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 4 Copper heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 158.5mm |
Buy Cooler Master MASTERAIR MA410P RGB CPU Cooler
ARCTIC Freezer 13 CPU Cooler
ARCTIC is a renowned company that specializes in cooling solutions for both Graphics Cards and CPUs. Here from Arctic, we have ARCTIC Freezer 13 which is an affordable and high-performance CPU cooler. The cooler supports virtually all the Intel and AMD CPU sockets that include AM4 Socket too for AMD Ryzen processors and AM4 motherboards.
ARCTIC Freezer 13 comes with a relatively large 45-fin heatsink and a 92mm fan which is super silent in operation. This is one of the quietest CPU coolers that you can find in the market. The cooler also comes with four copper heatpipes that are connected to the CPU with a large copper base. The performance of this CPU cooler is top-notch and you can easily overclock your processor to decent levels without any fear. Also, the cooler is very easy to install compared to others. The cooler has a height of only 130mm which means it can be fit in the compact as well as the tiniest of cases including mini-ITX ones. Highly Recommended by me.
| ARCTIC Freezer 13 CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1366, 1150, 1151, 1156, 1155 and 775, AMD FM2, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, 939 and 754 |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 95mm |
| Fan Speed | 600 – 2000 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 3 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 130mm |
Buy Arctic Freezer 13 CPU Cooler
Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 CPU Cooler [Blue LED]
This is one of the cheapest CPU coolers that you can get for your Intel or AMD processor. It also supports the latest AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen processors and motherboards. This CPU Cooler resembles the looks of Cooler Master Hyper 12 EVO and it comes with one 120mm fan and 4 copper heatpipes that are in direct contact with the CPU.
The fan is relatively silent and comes with a fancy blue LED that looks cool in dark. This cooler is on the taller side with a height of 155mm. The performance of this cooler is way better than the stock cooler. So if you are on a tight budget then Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 CPU Cooler will not disappoint you. Recommended for budget users.
| Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2011-v3/ LGA2011/ LGA1366/ LGA1156/ LGA1155/ LGA1150/ LGA1151/ LGA775, AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| No. of Fans | 1 with Blue LED |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 900 – 1500 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 4 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 155mm |
Buy Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 Cooler
Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 CPU Cooler
[Slim, Cheap, Offers Good RAM Clearance]
Another very good value-for-money CPU cooler from Deepcool that has good performance and supports almost all CPU Sockets including the latest AM4. This is a relatively small cooler at only 136mm in height but it does not disappoint on performance on stock speeds.
Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 CPU Cooler comes with a single 120mm PWM fan and 3 copper heatpipes that remain in direct contact with the CPU for better heat dissipation. Deepcool calls it CTT “Core Touch Technology”. This is a very silent CPU cooler and is way better than your stock cooler. It is very affordable and you can get it for under 25 dollars which is dirt cheap. Highly Recommended for users with mini-ITX cases or who are on a tight budget and want performance better than the stock cooler.
Related: Best Slim CPU Coolers with Good RAM Clearance & Compatibility
| Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2011-v3/ LGA2011/ LGA1366/ LGA1156/ LGA1155/ LGA1150/ LGA1151/ LGA775, AMD AM4/ FM2+/ FM2/ FM1/ AM3+/ AM3/ AM2+/ AM2 |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 900 – 1600 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | Yes, 3 Copper heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 136mm |
Buy Deepcool GAMMAXX 300 CPU Cooler
Arctic Freezer Xtreme CPU Cooler
[Twin Tower Heatsink, Quiet, High Performance]
If you are looking for the best twin-tower cooler under 50 dollars budget then you won’t find anything better than Arctic Freezer Xtreme CPU Cooler. I think this is one of the best CPU coolers under this price range. This is a big CPU Air cooler with twin tower heatsinks and it comes with a 120mm fan (centrally mounted) in the middle of both the tower heatsinks. This PWM fan comes with fluid dynamic bearing and spins at speeds in the range of 800 RPM to 1500 RPM. It is a silent fan that has a maximum noise rating of 0.5 sone or 24.4 dBA at full speed. The CPU cooler comes with 4 double-sided copper heatpipes that have direct contact with the CPU for better heat dissipation. Also, there is no need to apply the thermal paste as it comes pre-applied with the MX-2 thermal compound.
Arctic Freezer Xtreme CPU Cooler supports a wide range of Intel and AMD Sockets including AM4 Socket. The installation process is also quite simple with its push-pin mounting system. The performance of this CPU is great considering its price point and you can also perform a decent amount of overclocking too, but not too serious. The height of the cooler is only 140mm but it is quite wide at 132mm, and you have to check the clearance on your motherboard and case before buying it. So, if you are looking for a powerful budget twin-tower CPU cooler that is quiet too then just grab it without thinking too much.
| Arctic Freezer Xtreme CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 2066, 1366, 775 and AMD FM2, FM1, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, 939, 754 |
| No. of Fans | 1 (centrally mounted) |
| Fan Size | 120mm (PWM) |
| Fan Speed | 800 – 1500 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 4 double-sided heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 140mm |
Buy Arctic Freezer Xtreme CPU Cooler
FSP Windale 6 CPU Cooler (AC601)
[Great Performance, Easy Mounting, 6 Heatpipes]
FSP Windale 6 is unarguably one of the best CPU coolers that you can get for under 50 dollars. Also, it is the most powerful CPU cooler on this list. The CPU cooler comes with a black painted heatsink with six Copper heatpipes that have direct contact with the CPU for better heat dissipation, and thus cooling performance. It is accompanied by a PWM 120mm Blue LED fan that spins at a speed in the range of 600 to 1600 RPM. It is pretty silent at lower RPM but can get a bit on the louder side at full speed (32 dBA max. noise rating). The fan is fitted on the heatsink using the rubber screw assembly that minimizes vibration and also the extra noise. The heatsink position is not centered and is a bit offset to one side so that it does not interfere with RAM and provides enough clearance for RAM with taller heatsinks. Also, the CPU cooler looks quite good with a black heatsink and white-color fan blades.
The CPU cooler supports a variety of Intel and AMD CPU Sockets including the AMD AM4 Socket. The mounting mechanism is quite easy and it is very sturdy too. You can use top-end processors like Core i7 and Ryzen 2700X comfortably with this CPU cooler without having to worry about the temperatures. The cooler is a bit bigger and taller at a height of 165mm, so be careful to check your PC case specs and clearance before buying it. You can do a moderate amount of overclocking too, but make sure to use a good quality thermal paste for it. The model of this CPU cooler is AC601, and it is also available in the White LED variant having model number AC602. Highly Recommended by me.
| FSP Windale 6 CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066 / LGA 2011-3 / 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 1151 / 1150 / 775 socket and AMD AM4 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+ / FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 socket |
| No. of Fans | 1 (Blue LED) + 1 (optional) |
| Fan Size | 120mm (PWM) |
| Fan Speed | 600 -1600 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 6 Copper Heat Pipes |
| Cooler Height | 165mm |
Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler
[Great Performance, Best for Ryzen, Silent, Lower Height]
Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B is a high-performance CPU Cooler that you can get at 50 dollars budget. The performance of this CPU cooler is equivalent to or even slightly better than the above-mentioned FSP Windale 6 Cooler. Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler is also very silent and is compatible with a wide range of CPU Sockets including AM4, which it supports out of the box. The CPU cooler comes with a heatsink with six copper heatpipes and a copper base plate for maximum heat transfer to the aluminum fins. The asymmetric heatsink design and sloped heatpipes allow a good amount of RAM clearance, even with taller heatsinks. The fan used with this cooler is the Kaze Flex 120 PWM Fan, which is a quiet fan having a maximum noise rating of 24.9 dBA only. The fan comes with Sealed Precision FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) for longevity and reliability and spins at a relatively lower speed in the range of 300 to 1200 RPM only. You can add another fan if you have enough clearance, and looking for extra cooling performance. The CPU Cooler is solidly built and does not feel cheap at all in terms of finishing too.
The performance of this CPU Cooler is great for the price, and it even beats CPU Coolers that are one or two segments above it, in terms of price, even including some AIO coolers. This CPU Cooler works great with Ryzen processors (Ryzen 7 / 5 /3) and offers far better performance than the AMD’s Wraith Stock cooler, and the highly popular Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU Cooler. You can also do some amount of overclocking too, and still be able to run the processor stable at high speeds without throttling down. The CPU Cooler uses H.P.M.S. II (Hyper Precision Mounting System II) that allows for pretty easy and simple installation, for both Intel and AMD processors. The height of the CPU Cooler is 154.5mm, which is not too tall, and it can fit in most mini-tower and mid-tower cases. So, if you are looking for a powerful budget CPU cooler for your mid-range or high-end CPU then just grab this baby right now. Highly Recommended by me.
| Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel Socket LGA775, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, LGA2011 / 2011-v3 (Square ILM), LGA2066 and AMD Socket AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4, FM1, FM2, FM2+ |
| No. of Fans | 1 + 1 (optional) |
| Fan Size | 120mm (PWM) |
| Fan Speed | 300 – 1200 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 6 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 154.5mm |
Buy Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler
ID-COOLING SE-234-ARGB CPU Cooler
[Great Performance for the Price, Stunning Looks, ARGB Lighting]
An excellent budget RGB CPU Cooler that offers great performance for the price and looks breathtaking. The cooler comes in black color and looks very stylish, even when the RGB lighting is off. It comes with an aluminum heatsink with an X-Shape fins design (for better airflow) and four 6mm copper heatpipes having direct contact with the CPU for better heat dissipation. The heatsink is cooled down by a 120mm PWM fan with a dual ball bearing (for a longer lifespan) and spins at a speed of 900 – 2000 RPM. The fan comes with ARGB LEDs and generates airflow of 56.5 CFM and static pressure of 1.99 mm H2O, which are good figures. The fan is pretty silent at low and medium loads but gets somewhat louder at full speed and has a maximum noise level of 31.5 dBA.
The cooler comes with a lot of RGB lighting as it has RGB LEDs in the fan and an RGB plate on the top of the heatsink, just below the heatsink cover. The cooler uses a 5V 3-Pin Addressable RGB connector, and you can plug it into the motherboard’s ARGB header and can sync the RGB lighting using the motherboard’s ARGB software (Asus Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, etc.). However, if your motherboard does not come with an ARGB header, then you can use the included ARGB controller to use and control the RGB lighting and effects. When it comes to cooling performance, then beats Cooler Master Hyper 212X, Cooler Master Hyper EVO Black Edition, be quiet! Dark Rock Pro Slim and remain at par with the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 which is a high-performance dual tower cooler with dual fans. However, high overclocking should be avoided on this CPU cooler. The CPU Cooler supports all the popular Intel Sockets and also includes the support for AMD AM4 Socket. The installation is effortless and the CPU cooler comes with all the necessary brackets along with the thermal paste. Moreover, it offers almost 100% memory compatibility, and you can use taller RAM modules without any issues. Highly Recommended by me.
| ID-COOLING SE-234-ARGB CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066/2011/1151/1150/1155/1156 and AMD AM4 |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm (PWM) |
| Fan Speed | 900 – 2000 RPM (RGB) |
| Heat Pipes | 4 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 154mm |
Buy ID-COOLING SE-234-ARGB CPU Cooler
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 (Black)
[Quiet, Great Performance, Premium Build Quality, Elegant Looks]
If you are looking for a high-quality budget CPU cooler that is super silent and offers very good performance, then it is be quiet! Pure Rock 2. It is also an elegant-looking cooler having an all-black color scheme with a black painted heatsink and black fan. The cooler comes with an aluminum heatsink with four 6mm copper heatpipes with HDT technology (direct contact with CPU) and a black top plate with Heatpipe caps. It uses a Pure Wings 2 PWM fan, which is a silent 120mm fan with rifle bearing and has a maximum speed of 1500 RPM. The fan is very quiet in operation and has a noise level rating of 26.8 dBA at maximum RPM.
The CPU cooler is rated for 150W TDP cooling performance and can run a mid-range to higher-end processor quite comfortably. The cooling performance is comparable to that of Deepcool Assassin III (dual tower cooler) and be quiet! Shadow Rock 3, which are bigger coolers with higher TDP ratings. The cooler easily beats Cryorig H7, Cooler Master Hyper 212X, be quiet! Dark Rock Slim coolers in the sub 50 dollar range. The installation is on the easier side, and it supports popular Intel and AMD sockets, including the AM4. Due to the asymmetrical design, the cooler offers excellent memory compatibility, and it does not interfere with RAMs with taller heatsinks either. The CPU cooler is 155mm tall and can fit in most modern-day ATX cases easily. Overall, a beautiful-looking compact CPU cooler that features excellent build quality and performance.
Note: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 is also available in Silver color and costs a bit less compared to the black one. You can check out the silver variant too from the links given below.
| be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1200 / 2066 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 2011(-3) square ILM and AMD AM4 / AM3(+) |
| No. of Fans | 1 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 1500 RPM (max.) |
| Heat Pipes | 4 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 155mm |
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 (Silver)
ID-COOLING SE-225-XT Black CPU Cooler
[Dual Fans, Clean & Simple Design, Superb Performance for the Price ]
If you are looking for a budget dual-fan CPU cooler the ID-COOLING SE-225-XT Black CPU Cooler is among the best in the market. It comes with a black painted heatsink with five copper heatpipes that makes direct contact with the IHS of the CPU. The H.D.T V3.0 or V3.0 Heatpipe Direct Touch technology claims to enhance the contact intensity by 30% and the wave fins heatsink design helps in better heat dissipation. The heatsink is cooled by two 120mm PWM fans arranged in a push-pull configuration. The fans spin at a speed of 700 – 1800 RPM and come with Hydraulic bearings. Each fan generates airflow of 76.16 CFM and static pressure of 2.16 mmH2O which are pretty good figures. Well, one thing that is not good about these fans is they can get pretty loud at full speed (35.2dBA).
The CPU cooler offers very good performance and is capable of running Core i7, Core i9, Ryzen 7, or Ryzen 9 comfortably even with some amount of overclocking. Also, even with dual fans, the cooler offers a good amount of RAM clearance, and using taller RAM is not going to be an issue with most motherboards. The CPU Cooler uses Metal-Mecha mounting system and is quite easy to install. It supports most of the modern-day CPU Sockets including LGA 1200 and AM4. Thermal paste and all the necessary screws and mounting plates come included with the package. Overall, a good-looking CPU Cooler with a clean design that offers excellent performance for the price.
| ID-COOLING SE-225-XT Black CPU Cooler Specifications | |
| CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066/2011/1200/1150/1151/1155/1156 and AMD AM4 |
| No. of Fans | 2 |
| Fan Size | 120mm |
| Fan Speed | 700 – 1800 RPM |
| Heat Pipes | 5 Copper Heatpipes |
| Cooler Height | 154mm |
Buy ID-COOLING SE-225-XT Black CPU Cooler
See also:
- Best Liquid CPU Coolers for High-end Processors
- Best CPU Air Coolers for Overclocking & Enthusiasts
- Best Fanless CPU Coolers for Silent PC & HTPC
- Best Thermal Paste for GPU and CPU Coolers
- Best Slim CPU Coolers with Good RAM Clearance
Final Words
In the end, I would like to say that these budget CPU coolers deliver top cooling performance and support all the latest Intel and AMD processors including Intel Kaby Lake, 8th generation, 9th generation, and AMD’s Ryzen processors (AM4 Socket). They are super cheap and some of them can fit in the smallest of the cases. If you have queries then feel free to ask me by leaving a comment below.
(*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!)
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I have been using hyper 212evo and is really good product. Good article
Hi Akshat,
Do you know cryorg h7 comes with am4 bracket support out of the box? Or did you have to contact them do be able to get it?
You have to contact them for AM4 bracket and they will send it for free.
Overall which one would you choose: Cryorg h7 or CM MA410P?
IMO I’m slightly favored to CM due to it comes am4 support natively on cryorig i have to ask for upgrade kit.
Yes it is always better to have the bracket included but when it comes to performance then Cryorig H7 is definitely better. However if you don’t plan on overclocking then CM MA410P will serve the purpose well.
Not sure when you’d see this, but what would you choose to cool a Ryzen 5 3600 at 4.2Ghz? The Arctic Freezer 34 Duo or the Scythe Mugen 5 Rev. B?
Go with the Scythe Mugen 5 Rev. B because it offers great cooling performance for the price and is quieter too.
Thanks!
You are most welcome!
Hello, I’m interest to buy ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic when I read your review, because it’s very budget and affordable, my question : how many degree lower when VS CM 212 Evo?
Well, there is no specific number as the temperature depends on the workload you are running. However, you can expect up to 10°C lower temperatures.
Thanks for your reply,
Well… To be more specific…im running Detroit become human on ryzen 1500x with stock cooler (AMD Wrath) No OC. when tested with fpsmon, I was so shocked that all cores running more than 90 c even sometime I noticed pushed to 98 c.! Seem like this game is cpu intense?! So far I don’t have any issue with other heavy games like Rdr2, CyberP usually average temperature shown at 68-70 c, which I think is normal.
So I’m just wonder if this air cooler will be good enough to reduce 10c like you said compared with CM 212 evo or from stock cooler?
ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic is way better than the stock cooler and you will notice a significant reduction in the temperatures. Moreover, I suggest you use a good thermal paste with the ID-COOLING SE-224-XT Basic and I recommend Arctic MX-4.
Ok, thanks for the recommendation !
Hi there,
I have an amd ryzen 7 3700x and it’s getting 95 celcius often. I don’t know what cooler I have ( prebuilt lenovo legion t5) because it looks wack and has no branding on it. Which cooler from this list would you recommend?
I would suggest Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler but make that your case has 155mm height clearance for it.
Thank you for your quick reply!
I will take a look at the measurements in my pc.
I like your article btw 🙂 good info but a bit overwhelming, all those different choices. Have a nice day!
Thanks for the appreciation and you are most welcome.
Hello, sir!
I got r5 2600 and thinking what to buy cooler master 212 BE (35$) or Id-cooling 224-xt basic (22$) give your professional opinion please
Go with the Id-cooling 224-xt basic if you can find it in stock.
Hi there Akshat, I have been checking your posts on various topics with great interest. Well done you mate. Also reading a lot of comparisons and articles like yours & finally decided to have a go at building my own desktop, (first build)and started buying parts. Not in a hurry , waiting for parts to come by at the right price :)Finally decided on a 5900X and was thinking to get arctic eSports 34 duo from your article, with210TDP I think I am covered since I don’t game nor overclock. Would you recommend arctic for a 5900X or maybe 5800X for a work station setup with a firepro graphics card ? Thanks
First of all, thanks for the appreciation. Well, I would avoid arctic eSports 34 for Ryzen CPUs because the contact surface for arctic eSports 34 is smaller for processors with bigger IHS (integrated heat spreader) like the Ryzen series. Instead of arctic eSports 34, I would highly recommend Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B CPU Cooler.