Looking for the best CPU cooler for i7 8700k or the latest AMD Ryzen gaming board? Be it a single-fan or a dual-tower cooling station, the foremost feature is its compatibility. If you are not well aware of your system specs and buying a heavy cooler would only make unwanted noise?
Don’t worry: we will assist you in choosing the best CPU air, water or liquid cooler for i7 8700K. Here’s a sincere analysis, a multitude comparison of various CPU coolers, pros and cons when buying a best CPU cooler for i7 8700k or AMD Ryzen AM3+ or whatever the system you have. Check below the top three picks of the buyers trend when it comes to the best air, water or liquid coolers for i7 8700K gaming processor.
List of Best CPU Coolers for i7 8700K
Now check here below the list of all times best CPU coolers for your i7 8700K processor. This list is based on the latest product reviews and ratings on Amazon. I’m sure after seeing this list of 12 coolers you will have the best one you are looking for.
Image | Name | Rating | Type | Pricing | |
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1. | ![]() | Cooler Master Hyper 212 | Air | Check Price | |
2. | ![]() | NZXT Kraken X62 280mm | Liquid | Check Price | |
3. | ![]() | Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO | Liquid | Check Price | |
4. | ![]() | Cryorig H7 Tower Cooler | Tower | Check Price | |
5. | ![]() | EVGA CLC 280mm All-In-One | Water | Check Price | |
6. | ![]() | MasterAir Maker 8 | Air | Check Price | |
7. | ![]() | Noctua NH-U14S | Tower | Check Price | |
8. | ![]() | Dark Rock 4, BK021, 200W TDP | Tower | Check Price | |
9. | ![]() | DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 | Air | Check Price | |
10. | ![]() | Noctua NH-D15 Chromax.Black | Dual Tower | Check Price | |
11. | ![]() | Gamemax 120mm Addressable RGB | Tower | Check Price | |
12. | ![]() | MasterAir MA410M Addressable RGB | Air | Check Price |
01 – Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Cooler Master Hyper 212 is from one of the best air cooler for i7 8700K and considered as an ultimate gaming cooler for customized CPU. It evenly distributes air and dissipates the heat like never before. The extraordinary heat pipes with a thickened aluminum top make it useful for heat to remain at the lowest in overclocking.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 is backed with a direct contact technology that enhances their performance and makes it an excellent heat dissipator with the powerful fins and frail noise when running at its maximum motor speed.
The speed sensors are installed to detect and control RPMs for better efficiency in overclocking and silent modes. The maximum noise range is 26 dB for the highest rotating speeds along with the superb airflow rate of 42 CFM.
Also, it can easily be mounted and removed whenever needed through their snap and play design. The cooler fan can be installed on any new-generation Intel core system and AMD. It supports i9, i7, i5, AMD AM4, AM3+, FM2+, and others with compatible sockets. The mounting height is adequate for clearance space.
Users can experience more space with their RAM and PCIe slots with the towering structure. The jet-black outlook outshines everything. The looks are what matter the most in a customized gaming setup and you will have what you are looking for with this great black edition system cooler.
The cooler fins are coated with nickel and printed in jet black for an adorable shape. The fans are balanced with stacked fin array to allow the least resistance to the motherboard. The copper base is coupled with the heat pipes going throughout the cooler master air cooler. They suck out any heat produced in the system with direct contact technology.
- Innovative design
- Maximum performance with lesser power consumption
- Aluminum base with copper heat pipes
- A bit noisy in Overclocking
- Does not support additional fans installation
- Check compatibility with your PC before purchasing
02 – NZXT Kraken X62 280mm – RL-KRX62-02 CPU Liquid Cooler
NZXT Kraken fans are considered as the best liquid cooler for i7 8700k gaming system to improve its performance. Kraken X62 is huge with a powerful cooling strategy. It has an isolated liquid pump that circulates the liquid around the fans and makes the system cool and cozy all the time.
It has a special overclocking endurance monitor and quiet-mode for silent operations. CAM software makes things better than before. It can easily be connected to any Android and iOS device via a mobile app and make visible the real-time data and performance monitoring.
You can always check out the temperatures during heavy gaming modes and overclocking modes on your Smartphone. The radiators work flawlessly with complete rotational mechanics and maximum heat dissipation.
The Aer P radiator fans circulate and displace maximum liquid in lesser time for optimal performance and added durability. The pump section is connected through the completely safe and isolated cables. The pump head is made stunningly beautiful with colorful lighting and customizable LED pattern modifications.
- Lighting head with advanced modes and amazing colors
- Large-sized dual fans for maximum cooling
- Aer P radiator fans
- 6-year product warranty
- Larger 280mm fan space with a little room for clearance
- High RPM strength i.e. more power consumption
03 – Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO RGB AIO CPU Liquid Cooler
Corsair newest model with dual liquid fans and a colorful RGB head to match your system luminance. Hydro Series H100i is the best combo for high RAM and overclocking. It works between 400 to 2400 RPM and creates a great blend of style and performance when installed in any Intel and AMD AD next-generation system.
Made for heavy gaming and overclocking, it has ultimate performance and control over the system with full speed and zero RPM technology in silent modes. The dual 120mm fans can be mounted easily on any compatible system and make space for additional components with socket clearance for RAM and PCIe.
They are never in direct contact with the other sockets, fewer wires and creating minor fuss with the other system cables. The fans are controlled through pulse width modulation through its sensors. When there’s no need for a cooling fan, it will switch to zero RPM mode for power consumption completely eliminating noise levels. PWM also creates static pressures at low RPMs.
All the functions are controlled through built-in and synched microprocessors including RGB lights mounted at the pump head. The iCUE software connects wirelessly with Android and iOS devices for real-time temperature and pressure meters.
- Automatic PWM control over RPMs
- Backed with iCUE software for data integration and monitoring
- Performs best in overclocking
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity to iOS and Android
- Need more mounting space
- A bit noisy for medium gaming systems
04 – Cryorig H7 Tower Cooler
Cryorig H7 tower cooler is all you need in a single heat sink system. It has everything made out of one place. The tower cooler has a highly optimized air turbulence reduction system and top-notch airflow optimization when connected to all the newer generation motherboards and gaming systems. This is why Cryorig H7 considered as one of the best tower cooler for i7 8700k.
It gives a relieving feel and looks to the system when installed to i9, i7, or equivalent. The propriety hive fin system is everything summed up in a single fan. The jet fin acceleration and symmetric fan mechanics are made with accurate build to ensure maximum heat dissipation from the system.
H7 tower cooler has three pure copper heat pipes to suck it out from anywhere in the system. The fans include HPLNTM bearing to ensure maximum airflow and reducing heat when overclocking. The noise is reduced to a minimum with efficient and controlled quad air intake and built-in sound buffering.
- Precisely engineered mainstream single fan cooler for Intel and AMD
- 6-year product warranty
- Lightweight and ergonomic design
- Jet fin acceleration system and PWM fan control
- Too large in dimensions for a single-fan cooler
- Makes noise and consumes a bit more power
05 – EVGA CLC 280mm All-In-One RGB LED CPU Liquid Cooler
EVGA CLC cooler for Intel and AMD is marked with its great efficiency and long-lasting performance, thanks to the dual radiator fans, incredibly compact pump, and nylon braided safety cables. The maximum noise it can produce is 39.5 dB.
EVGA CLC is considered as one of the best water cooler for i7 8700 as it enhances your gaming system with the quality fans and even airflow distribution to the system. It can be mounted on any of the Intel 2011, 2011-v3, or similar and AMD AM2, AM3, FM1, FM2, TR4, and related upcoming models.
The dual-fan radiators are 280mm in dimensions with horizontal mount and easy passage to the liquid pump. The RGB lighting is installed on the pump head and they are customizable with the system for a symmetrical lighting mode if you are gaming with the lights on.
The EVGA fan design is brilliant. It gives more airflow and lesser heat dissipation in return. The temperatures never get high in overclocking modes or when using the system using heavy applications. The LEDs can also be synced to other EVGA components while everything is managed and foreseen with EVGA’s latest mobile app that can be installed on any Android or iOS system.
- Quality materials used with the latest technology
- Equipped with EVGA flow control software
- Customizable RGB lighting and sync
- 5-year product warranty
- Size larger than most of the available coolers
- More noisy than normal
- May not be compatible with some systems
06 – MasterAir Maker 8 High-end CPU Air Cooler
If you need utter compactness coupled with immense power and high-end efficiency, MasterAir Maker 8 is the creation. It has a 3D vapor chamber with as many as 8 heat pipes for swift cooling and powerful airflow into and out of the system. The dual Silencio fans are more than fans only.
They are mounted face opposite with aluminum fins and extremely low noise operation. Octa-pipes make cooler more adapt to any CPU. The 8 pipes are dispersed in all the directions to suck out heat from everything. The total power consumption is 250W TDP.
Along with the heat pipes, there’s an additional heat sink made of aluminum to further cool down the system temperature. The FP fans make it quieter and efficient in overclocking with its cutting-edge IC technology.
The lights are carefully installed alongside the fins with an extravagant feel and look for dark-light gamers. The blood-red LEDs bloom all the time when the cooler is connected to the slots. The top covers can also be replaced and customized with whatever shape and cover of your likeness.
The cooling system allows the installation of both 120mm and 140mm fans alongside the original fans or as a replacement. The fan brackets are designed to accommodate both the dimensions perfectly into the cooler. There’s enough space left after you’ve installed the fans for memory and graphics card along with other slots for PCIe.
- Lightweight and compact
- Low-noise operation
- The LED lighting and 8 heat pipes
- Maximum clearance available
- May not be compatible with some systems
- Single-light LED mode available
07 – Noctua NH-U14S – Premium CPU Cooler
Noctua NH-U14S is a premium single-tower model available for high-end Intel cores and works best for AMD alike. Noctua products have always been the best in quality, longevity, and efficiency. The model is compatible with all the Intel Core i.e. i9, i7, i5, i3, and AMD Ryzen series.
The premium cooler is easily mounted on any system through its SecuFirm2 technology and has a multi-socket mounting system for most of the Intel and AMD systems.
The fan dimensions are 140mm at most with a perfectly engineered look to maintain the compactness while adding all the required components into it. There’s no noticeable sound that can be heard when NH-14S is running, even when you are gaming hard with overclocking.
The intelligent PWM operation and zero-RPM mode allow the fan to stop when there’s no need. Also, there’s a special low-noise adapter to suppress additional noise to the minimal levels. The automatic speed control system is controlled in the core for a brisk response to overheating and zero-RPM modes.
The overclocking mode can easily be handled by Noctua U-series NH-U14S. It is meant to perform best in heavy gaming modes for its hardcore components and awesome design. Buy one and never lag behind in overheating loops, get maximum RAM clearance and more space for other slots. The total weight is 1.7lbs, perfectly normal for a customized gaming PC.
- Lightweight and compact
- PWM fan speed control
- SecuFirm2 mounting kit included
- Superb compatibility with Intel and AMD
- Design not so impressive
- No LEDs installed
08- Dark Rock 4, BK021, 200W TDP, CPU Cooler
Make your system ever-quieter than it ever was when upgrading. Buy Dark Rock 4 BK021 and get the quietest CPU cooler with a single-tower build. It produces 21.4 dB only at full speeds. The inaudible quiet fans are beautifully designed to perfection with years of scientific evolution and optimization.
The fan wings are 135mm in dimensions and are controlled by PWM modulation for speed variations and zero-RPM modes. The system has six heat pipes for instant and swift heat suction and dissipation. The heat dissipation conduits are made of pure copper for efficiency when being cooled.
Dark Rock 4 is airflow optimized with the high CFM and wave-contoured cooling fins. Make your CPU securer with an additional 120mm fan installation space if needed. The motors are heavily loaded for continuous operations without lagging.
Make your fan rotate at full speed for days without it getting overheated with 6-pole fluid-bearing and PWM control. The cooler is completely coated in black ceramic for maximum heat transfer to the outside. The design is made ergonomic to cover lesser space with a better angle of installation.
Better the angle, lesser would be the noise when fans are on. The cooler top is coated with brushed aluminum with a diamond-cut finish for maximum heat transfer from the system. Dark Rock 4 is backed with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty and a lifetime of customer support.
- Ergonomic design
- 3-year warranty
- 4-decibel noise at full speeds
- Six copper heat pipes
- Room for additional fan
- Only available in one color
- No RGB lighting
09 – DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX 400 CPU Air Cooler
If you need an efficient, ergonomic, and stylish heat sink cooling system, Deepcool Gammaxx 400 is for you. It is made of high-quality aluminum fins and a tightly arranged copper heat pipes for maximum airflow and heat dissipation.
The single tower fan is efficient enough to pass the airflow up to 74.34 CFM. Another great feature is its cool blue lighting that always glows when the cooler is ported with the CPU. The compatibility range is vast, as it supports 130W Intel LGA20XX, LGA1366, and others.
For overclocked systems and heavy gaming, the system works best in maximum rotations per minute with heat pipes directly in contact with the CPU body. It reduces the air resistance and additional power needed to make contact. The aluminum fins are made to dissipate heat. It is coupled with tightly bound fan clips with minimal rubbing making its mounting and removal far easier than before.
The cooler size is within the normal fan limits and never overrides other slots meant for PCIe cards and RAM. You can play and customize more with the extra clearance provided by a single tower fan. The PWM controls the fan speed and blue lighting in the system. PWM is also used for performance monitoring and noise reductions in the system.
The deep cool creates its special rapid heat transfer phenomenon through direct contact and PWM combined. The installation is easier than anything, simply mount it above the slot and tuck it into the CPU without any hindrance. It can be removed easily with the same technique without rubbing off against the other slots or components.
To add another fan to the cooler, simply open the clips and install it without letting it out of the CPU. The fan noise level is between 17.8 to 30 decibels at max, and it is quite endurable with the provided specs. There’s a single PWM fan that can do great even if you add another fan to the system. The fan dimensions are 135mm with the maximum RPM up to 1500.
- Extra-compact and solid features
- PWM speed control and heat monitoring
- 4 pure copper heat pipes
- Rapid heat transfer technology via direct contact
- May not be compatible with your device
- It does not ship worldwide
10 – Noctua NH-D15 Chromax.Black
All black is the new cool, right? Cool stuff onlookers always bump on the sexy chrome black technology. The newest and tempting Noctua NH-D15 chromax is dual-tower beauty in black. It is made of extra-wide fans and coated aluminum fins for efficient cooling.
It is made to be loved by everyone, the motors are powerful with amazing dual fans and chrome-plated heat pipes. The heat pipes are 6 in total with efficiency level maximized by Low-Noise adapters to reduce your decibels to lesser.
The device itself acknowledges and awarded throughout the world for its great endurance for overheating, overclocking, and silent modes. The aluminum fins are carefully designed in tight order to enable maximum heat sinking from inside out.
The fans and other controls are handled through Pulse Width Modulation technology. It receives the signals from the system and heat sensors and changes fan speed accordingly. The base is made of pure copper for maximum heat and airflow without losses. The fins are made of aluminum with nickel plating and soldered joints.
The dual-tower heat sink maintains the quietness in overclocking modes through L.N.A and aluminum fins. Mount your NH-D15 easily via SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system. It is easily mounted and removed tucking it in and out from the outside. The installation can be done with the maximum clearance possible. It clears about 64mm space for RAM and is compatible with the most high-end RAM modules available.
The best thing about the chromatic version is its uniformity i.e. it is black in color from head to toe. It has a pitch-black top and heat sink, heat pipes, mounting spaces, fans and fan clips, and black anti-vibration pads. The best thing about all-black is that you can easily blend in some other colors and textures without making it look ridiculous.
The compatibility range comprises Intel Core i9, i7, i5, i3 versions with the fixed installation guarantee to the following: 9900k, 9700k, 8700k, and AMD Ryzen 3900X, 3700X, 2700X, 2600X, and other systems of the similar generations.
- Pitch-black cool coloring from tip to toe
- Perfect for overclocking
- Includes anti-vibration pads
- SecuFirm2 mounting system
- Compact design
- Expensive than normal
- May not be compatible with your system
11 – Gamemax 120mm Addressable RGB PWM Fan
Gamemax cooler is a 120mm single-fan CPU cooling solution for heavy gaming applications and silent-mode workforce systems. It is made with the pure copper heat pipes and aluminum fins with rainbow RGB lights to make things cooler than ever. The starting price is $27.99 only, so you can buy it without a hassle.
The fans are made in towering structures to provide space for maximum clearance. Install RAM and PCIe without any blockade. Mount easily through the multi-slot vertical insertion without moving the motherboard. The fans and other sensors are run by PWM control.
It enhances the durability and efficiency of your cooling fans and radiator by providing the system with real-time data and graphic illustrations for temperature and pressure. The fans and aluminum base is coupled with the multi-colored RGB lighting that creates a synchronizing mashup with AURA of the motherboard.
It beautifully illuminates and picks up the gaming motions with the software control system. The RGB lighting can easily be synced with the motherboard for a luminous dancing light combination. The cooler works best in overclocking modes, it has higher RPMs and lowers noise range, 30.8 dB at max. The socket compatibility is the highest of all the preceding models by Gamemax.
The special PWM control enables zero-RPM modes in silent modes when there’s no need for fans. It also runs best in silent modes with the optimal motor speed and minimal power consumption. The noise fan is reduced through copper sintered powder heat pipes and efficient heat sinks. The heat sink is made of tightly enclosed fins that enclose the fan surface.
The hydro fan bearings last for a lifetime with a full warranty provided by the manufacturer. It can pass up to 73.5 CFM of airflow with only 16 to 30.8 dB of noise levels at a maximum of 1500 RPM speed. The cooler runs on 12v DC voltage, the cooler lifetime is 30,000 hours.
- Efficient in performance
- High-density aluminum fins and pure copper pipes
- Single-tower compact cooling fan
- Maximum space available for clearance
- Cost-effective and ergonomic design
- No space left for additional fan installation
- The item does not ship worldwide
12 – MasterAir MA410M Addressable RGB CPU Air Cooler
Cooler Master MasterAir is equipped with multiple RGB LEDs, air-guide armor, and a uniquely engineered Halo Hologram aluminum fin. The dual-tower air cooler is your all-in-one solution to overheating when in overclocking and heavy gaming mode.
If you are planning to customize a gaming station, the best choice is to install a CPU cooler to avoid component losses and IC bursts. MasterAir MA410M brings good luck to your gaming CPU with its meticulous features and cutting-edge technology.
When the cooling fan is running at full speed in heating modes, the noise level never tops 31 decibels. There are 28 LEDs for multi-colored lighting from fans and aluminum fins. The lighting can easily be synced with the motherboard LEDs if any or control your fan lighting through Master plus.
Also, there’s a specified guard armor installed in the cooler for easy airflow and maximum heat dissipation from the base. The base has 45% more surface area contact and enables more efficient and faster cooling. MasterAir cooler also has direct contact technology (CDC) that provides a direct physical contact for heat pipes to the system for efficient heat suction and cooling.
The heat pipes are compressed together and cover more surface area for airflow. The compatible sockets are Intel LGA2066, LGA2011, AMD AM2, AM3, AM2+, AM3+, and similar systems. MasterAir cooler is controlled through PWM technology with low input voltage signals and accurate temperature sensing. It works on zero-RPM and full speeds by sensing the CPU temperature and pressure.
- Works on latest PWM technology
- Creates more surface area contact than any other cooler
- 28 front and side LEDs with complete sync
- Compatible with all the new-generation systems
- A bit high decibel range
Best CPU Cooler for i7 8700K – Things to Consider
Hardcore desktop gamers often play around with the system specs to make it look nicer and substantial. An enthusiast gamer won’t shy away from spending hundreds of dollars or thousands to keep their gaming station in shape and in compliance with the next-gen gaming needs. Below are the compulsory things that must be in your mind when buying the best CPU cooler for i7 8700K.
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Available Clearance Space
If you don’t have available space for a triple-fan towering or cascaded cooling model, it won’t be installed or used in the system. Do double-check clearance space available on your motherboard for i7 8700k before buying a new one. If the system is smaller, bigger fans will only be a showpiece on the shelf top rather actually being used inside the system.
Another blunder not to make is to check the RAM and PCIe card clearance before opting for a cooler. If your cooler fan dimensions are large enough to obstruct RAM or other vital components, you should not opt for it in the first place.
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System Requirements
System requirements could be greater or smaller than the capacity of your newly bought CPU cooler. If you are a medium-range gamer, buy a normal low-wattage CPU cooler that covers less space and higher RPMs. If you are a hardcore gamer and overclocking player, make an educated guess about your system requirements or visit the manufacturer’s website to get an estimate for system endurance.
There are specialized CPU cooling fans both in liquid and airflow models for the next-generation Intel and AMD gaming systems. Always read the system specs and compatibility chart before hitting the buy button. For low-end or medium-range CPUs, buy smaller fans that can endure system watts easily.
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Lighting Selection
Are you fond of lighting? If yes, save some extra dollars to spend on beautiful built-in patterned RGB LEDs. If no, buy a cooler without LEDs in a lesser price range and make better use of the remaining power. The RGB lighting is fun, you can get to enjoy while playing solo or in multiplayer gaming. The newest lot of RGB coolers comprises customizable color patterns and more options to play around with the synced lighting modes. They easily get synchronized to the motherboard via a mobile app or through the system itself. The RGB lighting can easily be turned off and on without switching off the entire system.
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Air and Water Coolers
Air coolers are good, water coolers are best for some gaming systems. It depends on your CPU type, the watts used, and the type you prefer. Both have their pros and cons. Most of the times air coolers are mid-ranged and perform perfectly in overclocking and liquid coolers are chiller than the air coolers, they cost more, and yes, the TDP rating is better. Water cools in lesser time than air, creates less noise, and temperatures are always lower. If your system is always high on overclocking mode, it is better to look for a good liquid-driver cooler.
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Overclocking factor
When overclocked, the system is prone to overheating and requires more heat dissipation in minor time. To conserve the clocking speed of your system, an efficient cooler is necessary, be it air or liquid one. When overclocked, the system runs faster than it should be, hence needing nearer-to-CPU heat pipes and heat sinks to neutralize the effects of immense heating at intense gaming modes.
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Number of Fans
How many fans would do the job? To answer with the best of our knowledge, we can’t really know before looking at the fan size or clearance space available. If the clearance space is lesser vertically but fits more components horizontally, why not buy cascaded fans? Or if the clearance space is available for a 280mm single-fan cooler, get one-piece cooler and install it at once.
Another bad prospect of buying a multi-towered cooler is increased noise. There’s more fuss than peace of mind when installing a dual- or triple- tower cooler instead of one. If there’s no choice but to install the ones that enable clearance and fit best, it is advised to buy a multi-tower fan for better system performance.
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The Money Factor
The money factor may or may not be your problem. But, a good gadget catcher always looks for a feasible yet cost-effective component for their system. Airflow coolers start from a $10 bill to hundreds. Air coolers are always cheaper than liquid ones. They create more noise and take more time than the liquid ones for cooling.
LEDs can make coolers expensive than normal, it can be the number of fans or the brand worth. Some coolers have special heat sink coating along with the normal metal plating. Some have better lightings and more sensors. The expensive ones have software support, customizable lighting options, more clearance, and easy mounting options.