Skip to content
Nicebydesign.com may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.
Home » Electronics » Computer

Best CPU Cooler for the i9 9900K in 2023

If you are planning on building a rig or upgrading your current one with the latest version of the Intel i9-9900K processor. Then you are also going to need to upgrade to the best cpu cooler for the i9-9900K. This will help prevent it from overheating and allow you to maximize its performance.

The i9 9900K is one of the most powerful commercially available processors on the market right now. With this processor you will have undoubtedly one of the most powerful rigs out there.

In our opinion the Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO is the best CPU cooler for the i9 9900K so if you don’t have the time to check out all of our recommendations then this is a solid choice.

Gamers always want the best hardware specs for their gaming rigs. As a result, they will often overclock their hardware to squeeze ever last drop of performance out of their system.

Overclocking your CPU will generate a lot of extra heat which will require a better CPU cooler. The best coolers are the liquid systems, but there are some air systems capable of handling the extra load.

On the other hand, if you don’t plan on overclocking your i9-9900K, then a cheaper air-cooling system such as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO will do the job.

Heat is the death of computer components and chances are if you are buying an i9 processor you will also be buying other top of the range components. So it is important to keep the temperature as low as possible in your entire system.

We recommend you read our guide to motherboards for the i9 9900K. A good quality motherboard will also help prevent your processor from overheating.

Let’s take a look at some of the i9-9900K coolers that are out there to help you make a decision on which one you need for your rig.

What Cooler Do You Need for the I9 9900k?

Best CPU Cooler for the i9 9900K

Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO: Editor’s Choice

corsair-hydro-series-h150i-pro

The Corsair Hydro H150i is a terrific liquid cooling system with some additional features that make it a super cool purchase as well.

For example, the RGB backlit pump head matches lighting effects to the rest of your build with fans that are powered by magnetic levitation.

These are 140 mm ML series magnetic levitation fans that provide excellent airflow with no more than 20 dB of noise even while running at full speed.

Also, it comes with software that allows you to adjust and customize the RGB lighting as well as each individual fan speed.

In addition, you can even adjust pump speed and monitor the temperature of your CPU and other coolant temperatures. Therefore you will be sure your processor isn’t getting too hot.

NZXT Kraken X72

nzxt-kraken-x72-liquid-cpu-cooler

The Kraken X72 is definitely one of the cooling systems out there that are made for performance.

The noise level is very low considering how much cooling this system provides. Furthermore, everything is controlled by software that is available on your desktop or mobile.

You can monitor pump speed, check the temperature of the liquid and make changes when you need to instantaneously.

It is reinforced with nylon sleeves to strengthen the rubber tubing and shield it from damage.

The system is so good that comes with a six-year warranty.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R

cooler-master-masterliquid-ml360r

Next up is the MasterLiquid ML360R, which is a low-profile dual dissipation system that makes it perform better than many of the other pump designs out there.

It outperforms cooling systems of the last generation by leaps and bounds.

Featuring a 360 mm radiator and RGB LEDs on the pump and fans that can be customized with the included software.

This is not only a powerful cooling system that will keep your rig at a consistent temperature during overclocking the CPU, but also is a stylish accessory for the rest of your rig as well.

Thermaltake Floe Triple Ring RGB 360 TT

thermaltake-floe-triple-riing-rgb-360-tt-1

From Thermaltake comes our next cooling system.

This system comes with a 360mm high-efficiency radiator with easy push pole mounting.

Also, it comes with a high-performance water block and sleeved cables with noise levels arranged between 19 dB and 24 dB.

The recommended voltage is 12 V Max and there is software that allows you to control the RGB colors and modes as well as speed in brightness.

You can even change the fan speed from your control panel which is available for both your computer mobile. The app even supports voice commands.

EVGA CLC 240

evga-clc-240

The CLC 240 is definitely built for performance with a brand-new cooling block. This new block increases flowrate and improves the heat transfer surface area for incredibly efficient cooling.

In addition, it comes with built-in RGB LED lights that you have control over and you can even create your own color profiles and save them.

Also, it features fully sleeved tubing from the radiator to the CPU block. To reduce noise, the fans EVGA’s unique fan design that is intended to reduce noise while still offering full performance.

The EVGA CLC 240 is a great all round liquid cooling system that costs slightly less than some of the other liquid systems in this list.

Noctua NH-D15

noctua-nh-d15

The NH-D15 from Noctua is a different design and you may be used to.

It features a six-heat pipe dual tower design rather than a single tower heatsink.

This design provides more surface area and better heat distribution as well as manages airflow much better.

In addition, the fin stack has been widened to 150 mm and the heat pipes are spaced further apart so that heat distribution over a larger surface area is possible.

This our recommendation as best air CPU cooler for the i9 9900K.

Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4

be-quiet-dark-rock-pro-4

The Dark Rock Pro 4 is unique even among the other cooling systems on this page because it runs almost silently even when running at full speed.

In addition, the silent fans are set into a funnel shaped frame for high air pressure without ever going over 24 dB even when the fan is running at the top speed.

Cooling fans have been airflow optimized, cutouts have been made for RAM compatibility and the easy installation kit can be mounted from above with very few problems.

Furthermore, it features seven high-performance copper heat pipes and it’s a great-looking cooling system for transparent cases.

Cooler Master V8 GTS

The Cooler Master V8 GTS is a terrific cooling system that minimizes CPU hotspots by spreading the heat evenly through all of the heat pipes.

That’s because the triple tower heatsink design has eight high-performance pipes that maximize cooling performance. In addition, there’s a horizontal vapor chamber that minimizes those hotspots in the first place.

It also features dual high airflow PWM fans with cool looking red LEDs which will fit in well in most gaming rigs.

The fan speed can be controlled to get the perfect balance between noise and cooling.

Furthermore, the cooling system is completely dustproof and made to last for a long time without 260,000 hours of runtime.

Cooler Master MasterAir RGB

cooler-master-map-t6pn-218pc-r1-rgb

Here we have another entry from Cooler Master. Despite being one of the more budget friendly options available it is still one of the best cooling systems out there.

This RGB CPU cooler is the next generation of the MasterAir Maker 8 and is designed specifically for gamers that overclock their CPUs.

There are six heat pipes which allow for heat to be distributed evenly across the larger surface area. As a result, it manages to keep the temperature low, maximizing the processors performance so you won’t lose a single frame.

Also, there’s a wired RGB LED controller has more than 16 million color combinations.

This is a great budget friendly air-cooling option.

Thermalright Macho X2

thermalright-macho-x2

This MachoX2 cooler is extremely large, but it is also extremely powerful.

The cooler may take up more than a third of your motherboard. As a result, you may have to alter the fans positioning to ensure they all fit within your rig.

Another downside is you are going to need a larger case with this. But when it comes to performance this unit performs well.

Related: Computer case size guide

When you combine this massive cooling system with a large enough case for proper air flow, you can overclock your CPU to its maximum.

There is no concern of overheating with this cooler and it is also budget friendly. Therefore, it will be a great option for someone who already has a large case and wants superb cooling performance without breaking the bank.

Cooler Master Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition

cooler-master-hyper-212-rgb-1

This Hyper 212 RGB is definitely budget-friendly, but it is a well-balanced cooling system.

It is worth noting that if you are planning on overclocking you i9-9900K processor then we recommend you go for a better system. But if you don’t plan on overclocking then this air cooler will be more than enough.

It uses the fin design we saw on previous Cooler Master models which is great for both high and low speed operations.

While running at full speed the noise level never rises above 36dB and won’t disturb your gaming sessions.

Furthermore, the 8 direct contact heat pipes create a terrific service for heat conduction helping disperse the heat.

The wide range PWM fan has wave shaped blades that provide great airflow even though it is only using a single fan.

Related posts:

The best CPU coolers for the i7-9700k

10 best motherboards for the AMD Ryzen 7 2700x

Share this post on social!
nv-author-image

Richard Bolden

David has been interested in computers for over 25 years. From playing games on his parents computer as a kid in the early 90s, to building his first PC in 2003 (and many more since then). He has a passion for everything related to computing and this site is dedicated to helping others find the info they need.