If you don’t want to overclock your CPU, an air cooler can be sufficient for a gaming computer. The primary function of the CPU cooler is to reduce the temperature to avoid overheating & maintain peak performance.
In addition, it is a wise investment to purchase a high-quality cooler. To assist you in selecting the best choice for your requirements, we have put together a list of the top best CPU cooler for i5-10400f.
To make sure you get the build that satisfies your priorities, let’s look at some of the best CPU coolers. Moreover, that maintains the i5-value 10400s while introducing features or performance.
Top Products:
Best Liquid CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
Cooler Master MasterLiquid
- Looks cool
- Efficient heat dissipation
- easy to install
- Very low noise
- Reasonable price
- Changing light effect
Best Air Cooler for i5-10400f
Cooler Master Hyper 212
- Keeps temperature effectively low
- Easy installation
- Cool looking design
- Low priced
Best Budget CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
Freezer 7 X
- Reduces temperature up to 10 degrees
- Less noisy compared to the stock cooler
- Fair in price
- Compatible
- Super easy to install
Buying guide
If the processor isn’t properly cooled, it could overheat as well as shut down, resulting in crashes or system freezes. Choosing the right CPU cooler can be challenging. Budget, available space, power efficiency, and compatibility with the rest of your desktop build are all things to take into account.
In addition, to choose the best CPU cooler for i5-10400f for your needs, you should be aware of a few details about your system even before you open the package. Here are a few of the most crucial factors to take into account.
Sound Volume
CPU coolers with smaller fans are typically noisier than coolers with larger fans. In order to achieve the same level of cooling, larger fans don’t need to spin as quickly as smaller ones.
Due to this, 140mm fans will be noisier than 120mm ones. Moreover, multiple-fan coolers can also operate at lower speeds since in this scenario, more fans are being utilized to regulate the temperature.
Size of Memory
The size of your RAM is the next item you should be aware of. The size of the cooler you require depends heavily on how many sticks you have. In addition, you should think about the number of sticks you currently have and whether you require more RAM.
Type of CPU coolers
There are essentially two different categories of CPU cooling: liquid coolers & air coolers.
- Liquid Cooling
Even the best air coolers are unable to maintain temperatures as well as the best liquid coolers. Any problems with memory or case fans, which are situated close to the motherboard’s CPU socket, are avoided by the lower profile of liquid coolers.
- Air coolers
Affordable price for a good performance. Long operational life and easy maintenance.
TDP Score
Pay attention to a cooler’s TDP rating to determine its suitability. A CPU’s TDP rating is shared by the processor cooler as well.
The TDP rating of a cooler must be higher than the TDP limit of the processor for effective temperature regulation. Moreover, it won’t provide proper cooling if it is lower. In addition, this is crucial if you want to overclock your processor.
Board & Power Supply Size
Your computer’s motherboard, which serves as its foundation, controls how much heat your CPU generates. To choose the best CPU cooler for i5-10400f, you must take the motherboard’s size into account.
In addition, the part of your motherboard that receives electricity is the power supply. You must also consider its size because it is the desktop heat source.
The 5 Best CPU Coolers for i5 10400f In 2022
With the unbiased reviews below, you will be able to select the best CPU cooler from the following list. We have enlisted several best options below. Read the reviews to find a suitable one for yourself.
| Award | Design | Retailer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Low Profile CPU Cooler for i5-10400f |  | view on amazon | |
| Best Budget CPU Cooler for i5-10400f | Budget Pick | view on amazon | |
| Best Liquid CPU Cooler for i5-10400f | Best Pick | view on amazon | |
| Best Air Cooler for i5-10400f | Staff Pick | view on amazon | |
| Quietest CPU Cooler for i5-10400f |  | view on amazon |
Noctua NH-L9x65
Best Low Profile CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Noctua | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air Cooler | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 800 to 2000 RPM | Dimensions: 4.92 x 2.8 x 6.22 inches
PROS
✓Amazing for performance
✓Less noisy
✓It comes with useful components and tools
CONS
✗Installed by completely removing the motherboard
I have been using Noctua NH-L 9×65 the best CPU cooler for i5-10400f. I knew that it was a great CPU cooler for i7 10th generation. So I thought to try it for the i5 10400f, and it proved to be an amazing cooler. As expected, with the 92mm fan, it keeps the temperature, for even the highest speed at 70 c, like for gaming and for general and light computing, it’s even lower between 49 c to 55 c.
Therefore, as mentioned in the description, it will perform well for several models of Intel and Ryzen. It keeps the temperature low for up to 2 hours. Therefore, it is highly reliable for gamers. As for the compatibility, it is a small cooler with a height of 65 mm, which will easily fit in many small-sized motherboards. These include HTPCs and ITX. The thermal paste that comes with this model allows super easy installation and mounting.
You will need two screws to install it. You can follow the diagram to install it with thermal paste. It can be considered the most suitable cooler for a wide range of sockets as it includes mounts for LGA 2011, LGA 115x, and AMD sockets. Once mounted, it gets secured in its place and fits the best.
Very quiet cooler indeed keeps dissipating the heat silently for more than an hour. Even after that, the noise is not irritating for the user. Overall, it is a well-built cooler with durable usage for high-quality performance. However, I would only recommend this for small case installations for the size.
Moreover, it is a lightweight cooler with a single fan that is secured to the cooler properly. I was surprised as it was even more lightweight than my previous NH-L9i. Happy to find a high-quality cooler for my processor.
Freezer 7 X
Best Budget CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: ARCTIC | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Fan | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 100mm | Speed: 300-2000 RPM | Dimensions: 2.93 x 4.35 x 5.22 inches
PROS
✓Reduces temperature up to 10 degrees
✓Less noisy compared to the stock cooler
✓Fair in price
✓Compatible
✓Super easy to install
CONS
✗Not reliable for overclocked speed
Freezer 7 X is an excellent choice for the i5-10400 processor to keep the temperature at 70 c if you don’t overclock, which is almost more than 10 degrees less than the stock coolers of this processor can. After overclocking, the temperature reading is a maximum of 85 c, which might be a little high for an i5-10400f processor.
Also, for the heat dissipation, it is rated 100 TDP, which means it for sure will go the best with i5 10400f with a 65-watt TDP, so it is a relief for you that it can handle a little more speed. But if I were a gamer, I wouldn’t prefer this cooler for my Intel processor.
Furthermore, It is a compatible cooler with almost all of the Intel sockets. However, I can’t tell about its compatibility with other than Intel’s processors. I am satisfied with it’s performance for cooling down my Intel processor.
Moreover, It has a single fan. Therefore, it is less noisy, a little noisy for high speed, but that’s expected. Still, you will find it less noisy as compared to the stock cooler. And most importantly, it is easy, or I should say safe, to install, thanks to the plastic cover over its aluminum body and well construction. It is both. All you have to do is clip it on the socket and use screws to fit it in.
The cooler is small, thus compatible with small-sized motherboards with less space. If we compare the price, it is almost half priced compared to some other nice coolers, but that justifies why it is not the best for overclocked speed. What’s beyond the expectations at this price is its quietness.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid
Best Liquid CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Cooler Master | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Water | Socket: TR4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 650-2000 RPM | Dimensions: 12.87 x 11.02 x 12.8 inches
PROS
✓Looks cool
✓Efficient heat dissipation
✓easy to install
✓Very low noise
✓Reasonable price
✓Changing light effect
CONS
✗Thermal paste is not so good
The Cooler Master Masterliquid is highly reliable for keeping the temperature as low as possible to let the processor run with speed. I bought this for i5 10400f and noted the average temperature to be 40 C for general computing while it hardly reaches up to 60 C for gaming computers after half an hour of usage which is significantly less as compared to many other coolers at the same price.
Even if they keep the temperature this low for general computing, they would not be good enough for gaming for hours. With the dual dissipation technology, it also guarantees up-to-the-mark performance for last-gen technology. Besides the heat dissipation level, both the chambers are low profile and thus suitable in size.
If I compare it for noise with my old one, NZXT x 63, this one is quieter for long time use. This is not 100% quiet but also not obtrusive. It has sound-absorbing pads to keep it quiet at high speeds.
Furthermore, It’s a simple and easy process of hardly 20 to 30 minutes to install this cooler and mount it properly in the sockets. There are no special considerations to be made for mounting this cooler. Other than the efficient heat dissipation, the cooler has a wired RGB controller and splitter that gives the benefit of changing light effects, and gamers would love that.
Moreover, the cooler looks really nice with the light effect and due to the dual fans. The price is very reasonable for this AIO (all-in-one) cooler and its performance level. It’s a sturdy cooler that seems quite durable for performance. I have been using it for over six months with no noticeable issue.
Cooler Master Hyper 212
Best Air Cooler for i5-10400f
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Cooler Master | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 600-2000 RPM | Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.1 x 6.3 inches
PROS
✓Keeps temperature effectively low
✓Easy installation
✓Cool looking design
✓Low priced
CONS
✗A little noisy
Cooler Master Hyper 212 is the best cooler for its performance, looks, installation, and price. The performance is excellent due to the 42 CFM airflow. Also, the 4 heat pipes ensure efficient heat dissipation to keep the temperature low enough to allow the processor to run effectively. So it’s a really cool cooler for keeping the temperature of your i5-10400f low.
I have been using it for months and it lowers the temperature up to 20 C for it very quickly. The fans really do their job well. As mentioned in the description and I also checked on my own, this cooler is compatible with a range of Intel and AMD processors. Easy to install if you are experienced with installing coolers, but if not, you can learn from the instructions or watch tutorials and mount it in no time.
It will take a maximum of 5 minutes to get installed and start working; moreover, if you want to upgrade the fans of this cooler, it’s super easy now due to the intuitive fan bracket design. However, I never felt the need to upgrade after using it for 5 to 6 months.
I loved how nice the cooler looks; it’s much better in terms of looks than the previous model of Cooler master Hyper that I owned. The black colour makes it shine better. You can use the thermal paste of this cooler or some other, whichever you find more effective. I had a Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut with me, so I used that one.
There is nothing negative to say about this cooler except that it is loud as compared to the stock cooler for i5-10400f. But it is a reliable and comparatively well-priced cooler, so what else do you need besides keeping your temperature at 40 C for gaming at this price.
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black
Quietest CPU Cooler for i5-10400f
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: be Quiet | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air Cooler | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 135mm | Speed: 600-1500 RPM | Dimensions: 5.35 x 5.74 x 64.09 inches
PROS
✓Very quiet
✓Keeps the temperature significantly low
✓Fair price
CONS
✗No insulation for vibration
If you are looking for the best CPU cooler for i5 10th gen in terms of performance and compatibility, Pure Rock 2 Black is a good choice. For the heat dissipation, it has 6mm heat pipes with HDT technology which efficiently dissipates the heat and keeps the temperature of the processor low at an average of 60 C after using it for an hour at full speed.
This performance is up to my mark as a gamer.Also, at this price, it is a much cheaper cooler, almost 40 dollars, compared to many other coolers for the same level of performance. As mentioned in the description, it has 150W TDP that works well for almost all of those processors that it is compatible with.
This cooler is most known for its cool silent performance. You won’t hear any noise even at the highest fan speed. It’s because of its two pure wing PWM fans that produce a sound of 26.8 dB only that is barely audible. Besides the heat dissipation level and less noise performance, I liked the design and construction of the cooler as well.
It’s construction does not block the memory slots, and it takes less space on the board. Moreover, it is very easy to install, but you might get confused installing it if you read the instructions that come with it. Forget about those and watch a tutorial to fit it in a matter of a few minutes, as the instructions are useless.
Also, the cooler comes with thermal paste already installed on it, so it makes you skip that part during the installation. One con about the design is its short cable, but maybe that will not be a problem for you, so it depends. So overall, I can’t tell any significant flaw in this cooler. It’s the best!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the i5-10400 come with a cooler?
Intel i5 10400 comes with a stock cooler which can be used to keep the temperature low for overclocked usage. The stock cooling solution is a Heatsink and a Fan.
What is the best cooler for i5 10400F?
Noctua NH-L9x65 and Pure Black 2 cooler are the best coolers for i5 10400F. They work well to keep the temperature low even at overclocked speed.
Does Intel i5 10400 need a cooler?
Intel i5 10400 is a reliable processor, but it can only work effectively at low temperatures like any other processor. Therefore, it comes with a stock cooler, or either you can use an aftermarket cooler for it.
Is stock cooler enough for 10400F?
Yes, the stock cooler of 10400F is reliable for keeping the temperature low, even for gaming. It can maintain the temperature low enough for the proper working of the processor even at high speed, such as for gaming.
Conclusion:
All five coolers listed above are considered the best CPU cooler for i5-10400f that are low enough by dissipating the heat for the speed running of the processor and are also super easy to install. However, they all have some cons that may or may not be a problem for you.
I found Cooler Master Master Liquid and Pure Rock 2 black best of all and most reliable, keeping in mind all the features of a cooler for Intel-10400F processor. Noctua NH-L9x65 is another amazing choice, but it is a bit costly and needs to be installed by removing the motherboard completely.