Best CPU Cooler For i9-10850k In 2023

The i9-10850k processor (View On Amazon) is one of the best processors in terms of gaming, both in terms of quality and performance. But do you know what a powerful CPU requires when operating high-intensity games?

It is a CPU cooler which ensures that the calmness needed for the processor for overclocking is given to it. I have researched extensively and selected a few CPU coolers for you in this guide. From the following coolers in this list, you could pick the best CPU cooler for i9-10850k as per your choice and price range: Read out more about the best CPU cooler for i5-10400f that are tested by our gamers community.

Now we will go into complete detail about these i9-10850k compatible coolers for you to decide based on their specifications and the price. So read till the end to know every minor detail about each cooler provided in this recommendations list. Read more about the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 9 3950x and see what our tech enthusiasts recommends in their testings and and research.

Best CPU Cooler for i9-10850k In 2022


Staff Pick
Enermax Liqmax III 360
Enermax Liqmax III 360 (Image credit: Amazon)

Enermax Liqmax III 360

Best RGB Cooler for i9-10850k

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Enermax | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Liquid Cooler | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 360mm overall | Speed: 1600 RPM | Dimensions: 17.64 x 8.07 x 5.39 inches  |

PROS

Easy to install.

The quality thermal paste helps in cooling the CPU.

360mm Radiator.

CONS

Expensive if you compare the features that it provides.

The second option in our recommendations list is Enermax Liqmax III 360, considered the best RGB cooler for the i9-10850k processor. It is a premium option because of its value in its price range. The options given in this cooler are unique and have a well-organised ventilation design.

The price range under which this cooler comes is around 130 dollars which is quite a reasonable price for a cooler of this quality and features. This cooler has a 3x 120mm RGB PWM Fan and a 360mm Radiator. The maximum rotational speed of this fan is 1600 decent RPM but a bit slow. 

If you want to play average games on your PC or if the CPU already has a cooler, then this would work well. If you plan to use it while playing high-end games on your PC, consider the other options on the list, as they are better. The noise of this cooler varies from 14 – 27 DBA, which is minimal. It has an airflow of 22.5 – 72.1 CFM, which is decent for an average liquid cooler for a gaming PC.

Enermax is another well-known brand that sells well, mainly because of its CPU coolers. It is a value-for-money product; the mounting system is excellent, and the noise is minimal. If you think this cooler is out of your range, then I suggest you look at our third option, Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510. It is a decent water cooler at a very reasonable price compared to the first two options in this recommendations list.

Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510
Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510 (Image credit: Amazon)

Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510

Best Water Cooler for i9-10850k

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Thermaltake | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 2000 RPM | Dimensions: 6.28 x 4.87 x 3.98 inches |

PROS

Recognized brand.

Value for money.

Speed of fan.

CONS

It could be noisy if you perform high-end gaming on the PC.

Third, on the list, we have Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 510, which is known to be the best water cooler for i9-10850k processors. The brand is very reliable as most gamers tend to prefer it while building a high-end gaming PC. A cooler is required to make the CPU work at its best and make our gameplay enjoyable by providing speed.

Not only for this particular processor, but it is considered a universal cooler for many AMD and Intel processors. So when it comes to merging along and working well with each other, this cooler has its reputation. The price of this cooler is around 50 dollars which comes with an under-budgeted range of components for gaming PCs. 

If you compare it with the other two options in the recommendations list, I suggest you consider this because of its price. We have to see that this price range provides similar features as the other two options on our list. So we have to go with this, especially if you are building a budgeted cheap gaming PC in 2022.

It has an open design that ensures proper ventilation for your CPU and makes it work well. It is a tower cooler with a dual fan operating in its design. It utilises high static pressure helping the CPU cool down significantly compared to the other options. It operates at 12 Volts and has a maximum rotational fan speed of around ‎2000 RPM. 

The design is stunning, and it has some science behind it as well. It promotes the ventilation process, which is necessary for a cooler to perform at its best. It keeps the CPU cool because of its hydro cooling system, the latest technology in coolers for processors.

For some reason, if you didn’t like this cooler, don’t worry; we have two more options on our list. Other budgeted options, but keep in mind that only consider them if you are on a tight budget. Because if you are looking for coolers of the best quality and not on a tight budget, go for the Noctua NH-D15 cooler.

Vetro V240 CPU Water Cooler
Vetro V240 CPU Water Cooler (Image credit: Amazon)

Vetro V240 CPU Water Cooler

Best 240mm Cooler for i9-10850k

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Vetroo | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Liquid Cooler | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 800-1800 RPM | Dimensions: 10.7 x 4.7 x 2.1 inches |

PROS

The brand value.

The speed of fans.

Liquid cooler, which works well with the i9 processor.

CONS

Little expensive option.

Last but not least, on the recommendations list, we have Vetroo V240 CPU Water Cooler, considered the best 240mm cooler for the i9-10850k processor. The price of this cooler is around 80 dollars which is a bit more expensive than other options in our recommendations list. It consumes power of about 12 Volts, and the fan speed is 800 minimum and has a maximum speed of 1800 decent RPM.

It first came into the market in 2020 and is still considered the best option for 2022. Gamers recommend it because of its cooling quality and fan airflow of 52 CFM. The sound level is a maximum of 30.8 DBA. The excellent option is that it also has LED lights of Addressable RGB. Keeping this as the last chance has many reasons. The first one is the price it comes and the features it provides compared to the other options.

The second reason is the brand Vetroo is not as successful as the other recommended picks for coolers. But it is not very bad either, so it is on our list. It has been a successful pick by many users worldwide. People who picked this cooler are satisfied with its performance, which is very much compatible with many processors.

People tested this cooler with several types of processors, which worked well with them. Even though you would expect that a cooler may not work because of compatibility issues in different CPUs, it was not the case with this one. It could be because of a standard socket size and its dimensions. The design is well engineered as it provides cooling to the CPU when required.

It helps the CPU in overclocking by giving it sufficient cooling to process. It ends our list, and we move to the FAQs, which will help you to clarify thoughts about the i9 processor and the compatibility of the CPU. If you still have more queries, you may ask; we will add them to the frequently asked section for other readers.

Best Pick
Noctua NH-D15
Noctua NH-D15 (Image credit: Amazon)

Noctua NH-D15

Best Premium Cooler for i9-10850k

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Noctua | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 140mm | Speed: 1500 RPM | Dimensions: 5.91 x 6.34 x 6.5 inches |

PROS

Easily available to buy.

Recommendations by many gamers worldwide.

Top-notch performance and long-lasting. 

CONS

There’s no reason to avoid it. As this cooler is the best option for i9-10850k.

The Noctua NH-D15 cooler is the best premium cooler for i9-10850k, which is why it is the first option in our recommendations list. The price range around which it comes is 120-150 dollars which is pretty reasonable for a CPU cooler. It is the most recommended option from professional gamers for gaming PCs for various reasons, especially its compatibility with i9 processors.

The noise level is only ‎19.2 dB which is extremely low while playing heavy games and browsing or streaming. It requires only one essential battery for operating. It requires ‎12 Volts to operate, so keep this thing in mind while attaching it to the PC. It has a weight of ‎2.86 pounds which is not so heavy compared to the facility it provides to cool down your CPU.

It also helps your processor in overclocking, which eventually increases your processor’s performance. It has a beautiful rubber pad which saves it from external damage—having an attractive design and is engineered quite well as it protects from external shocks and other components. If not insulated well, some coolers could also damage the other related computer parts, which could be pretty expensive to replace. 

Although it is a very expensive cooler, users have suggested that even at the highest of temperatures, it worked really well. When they played high-end games like Call of Duty, Fortnite etc., they felt that the PC’s performance didn’t decrease courtesy of a powerful CPU cooler like Noctua NH-D15. Whatever stressful condition may be with the processor, this cooler has a reputation for working well with it. 

People who tried coolers of different brands and features suggest that this cooler is listed as number one in their list. So I would also tell you to go with everyone’s experience to avoid any problems. With that, we move to our next option if this Noctua NH-D15 cooler is a bit out of your range, as the other options are placed by keeping budget in mind as people tend to buy for their budget gaming PCs.

Budget Pick
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 (Image credit: Amazon)

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120

Best Budget Cooler for i9-10850k

SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Thermalright | Power Connector Type: 4-pin | Cooling Type: Air | Socket: AM4 | Fan Size: 120mm | Speed: 1500-1700 RPM | Dimensions: 4.92 x 5.28 x 6.24 inches |

PROS

Low price. 

The decent rotational speed of the fan. 

Minimal fan noise.

CONS

Some features are less because of the low price.

Now we have the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 cooler, considered the best budget cooler for i9-10850k. So you can pick this option if you consider building a cheap gaming PC from scratch and saving a few bucks. The price range of this cooler is around 35 dollars which is one of the most affordable options in CPU coolers.

Also, amongst our recommendations list, this is the cheap option to have in terms of price. It indeed comes with minimal sound noise but carries a cooler, which increases the overall performance of your CPU. This cooler has a maximum fan rotational speed of 1700 rpm, which is excellent in this price range. It is compatible with many Intel and Ryzen processors, so don’t worry about merging with them.

It performs well with any modern-day CPU which supports high-end gaming. However, it has some downsides because of its price. The durability is slightly less than what you’d expect from a cooler. It still could run around two years, but when you compare it with the other options in our recommendations list, this is less than that. 

It comes with an AM4 socket, which could easily fit in. Even with stress on the processor, this cooler tends to provide enough to cool it down for better performance. You don’t feel lag in your PC because of overheating, thanks to this add-on of Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 cooler. Following are the results of tests provided on this cooler for CPU: CPU-Z Stress test: 80 / 64, 3DMark Time Spy: 87 / 72, Idle 52 / 36 and Prime 95: 90 / 78. These are before and after comparison results and are very decent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cooler do you need for the i9 10850K?

Something like the Noctua NH-D15 or the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is what you’ll require for an i9 processor.

Can I use an air cooler with i9 10850K?

As this processor has a TDP of 125 watts, a cooler with less TDP than a CPU would work well. The CPU may have to get itself to a lower frequency to cool down. You may need to attach an external cooler to make your processor perform at the optimal level.

Which is the best CPU cooler for i9 10850K?

For the i9 10850k processor, Noctua NH-D15 works well in voltages, boost, and overclocking.

What kind of a cooler does an i9 need?

For an i9 CPU, you may need a powerful cooler such as Noctua NH-D15 or Arctic liquid freezer cooler. These two could be the most excellent options for the i9 processor.

Final words:

We hope that this guide: Best CPU Cooler for i9-10850k helped you understand the suitable coolers choices for your gaming PC. The options in this guide’s recommendations list are great in different aspects. They all have potent fans that help your CPU remain calm and perform well while gaming at a high intensity. 

I feel you should go for Noctua NH-D15 because of various positive reasons. The guide provides all the explanations so you may read them. But ending this guide on a positive note that whatever you pick for your gaming PC, may it be an excellent experience for you.

Thanks for reading!