Intel has come out with their 11th generation CPUs and reviewers have started their test benches to check their performance. We are interested in the K-type overclocking unlocked processors as they are more relative to gamers and content creators. Among the three processors, i5 11600k comes out to be the best in price/performance ratio. It properly utilizes its overclocking ability to exceed Ryzen CPU performance. High performance while overclocking always requires efficient coolers to ensure your smooth gameplay is not disturbed by thermal throttling.
Competitive gamers like Shroud and Ninja require the lowest response time for accurate shots like CS: GO and Fortnite. It is only possible with the best CPU cooler for i5 11600K. Using an i5 11600k means you need to get rid of the 125W of heat that it produces on its base frequency and be prepared for the increase in power draw with heat production at turbo frequencies. The clock speed is 3.9 GHz, and with turbo frequencies, it can reach up to 4.9 GHz. For the processor to maintain those turbo frequencies, it needs a CPU cooler to adjust itself as per requirement. We have a list to choose the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K coolers compatible with the i5 11600k and powerful enough to support its overclocked condition. First, let’s lay a foundation of basics before we begin reviewing.
Quick Shopping Tips:
TDP: One of the most critical specifications for a CPU cooler is thermal design power. It is the amount of heat that a CPU produces when working at its base clock. Intel mentions the base frequency with their processor. However, you will need a slight margin to avoid any mismatch when overclocked. The difference between CPU TDP and CPU cooler TDP could lead to thermal throttling.
Liquid Cooling vs. Air Cooling: Liquid and air-based cooling solutions have their unique advantages. Air-based coolers have heat pipes that lead into cooled fins using a fan blowing ambient air onto them. In contrast, liquid coolers have water as a heat transfer medium which takes heat from the CPU through tubes to a radiator cooled by a fan blowing ambient air. Liquid cooling usually has higher capacity and lower noise levels, but moving parts reduces reliability. Air coolers are solid and often come with extensive warranty periods.
Aesthetics: Computers were aesthetically weak initially, but since RGB lightning, windowed casings, and LED displays have taken the market, aesthetics have become essential. Color combination, RGB lighting, Display, and design are all critical for buyers looking for a good-looking rig.
Noise: Noise levels are significant when it comes to gaming and content creation. Gamers want zero distraction while playing online and streaming as the noise could carry from the mic to the audience. Content creators podcasting would need silent coolers so that their conversation remains crystal clear.
Best CPU Coolers for i5-11600K at a glance:
- Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black
- be quiet! Dark Rock 4
- Corsair Hydro H100x
- Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240
- EVGA CLC 280
- DEEPCOOL Castle 280EX
- Arctic Freezer 50
The Best CPU Coolers for i5-11600K You Can Buy Today
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Best Value CPU Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.1 x 6.3 inches | Base Height: 6.3 inches | Weight: 1.78 pounds | Fans: One | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 2 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Direct contact heat pipes
✓ Sleek and Premium Appeal
✓ High-quality material and design
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Low warranty time
✗ Single fan inboxed
Cooler Master has always put their effort into making products that are feasible in terms of price and reach of the masses. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition has the looks along with the 150 Watt of solid TDP 25 Watt above the required TDP by the Intel i5-11600k. The key features of this unit are its height; the total height is 6.3 inches which is lower than the other air-based coolers in the market. The sleek look with an aluminum top cover with brushed metal looks makes it stand out in the casing.
It is a product meant for a large number of audiences. We do not recommend this cooler for heavy overclocking sessions, but casual overclockers can enjoy the freedom of overclocking headspace. The warranty provided by the cooler master is also lower compared to other coolers we are going to review. It comes with one fan. However, the setup can accommodate a dual fan setup in a push-pull configuration. Some manufacturers have included RGB lightning and LED displays for speed indication, but it’s not included in this product.
This product aims to provide an economically viable product and be the best CPU Cooler for i5 11600K. Single fan configuration is more than enough, but if you want to boost your frequencies further, you can install the second fan and improve heat transfer capability. It has a direct heat pipe contact-based technology that helps the cooler respond faster to the changing demands of the CPU. The Silencio FP120 120mm fan is installed at one end of the heat sink to make the heat transfer fast. It’s the best value CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black
Best Air Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 5.31 x 6.3 x 5.9 inches | Base Height: 6.3 inches | Weight: 2.53 Pounds | Fans: One | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Customizable Aesthetics
✓ Offset for component space
✓ Silent and Powerful for i5-11600k
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Slightly lower TDP
✗ No indication LED
Noctua logo has an owl in it, and its name means a “Little Owl.” Owls are the most silent flyers in the world, and Noctua products are similarly silent coolers. Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black is their flagship product capable of removing 167 Watts of heat energy. Considering the TDP of i5-11600K, you will have 42 Watts of overclocking margin during turbo frequencies. It is a dual tower cooler in which heat pipes run from the CPU clock to the two individual fin sections. There is a premium quality NF-A15 HS-PWM chromax.black fan, which adjusts speed according to cooling requirements.
We love the efficiency of air-based coolers. They consume lower power and have fewer moving parts. The drawback, however, is that they are difficult to fit inside the chassis. The area required around the CPU is significant, and often these coolers cause hindrance to RAM heights and PCIe cards. NH-D15S is the following product after the very successful Noctua NH-D15 but with improvements in color scheme and incorporation of offset technique. It is a strong candidate for the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
One of the key factors which makes this product worth reviewing is the low noise adapter. Noctua includes a low noise adapter for users that require ultra-low operational sound and are not looking to overclock or provide an excessive load on their processors. They also throw in a premium grade NT-H1 thermal compound that is an expensive and high-efficiency product sold separately by Noctua. Most overclockers love to use this air-based cooler due to its efficiency. It is the best air cooler for i5-11600K.
be quiet! Dark Rock 4
Best Overall CPU Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 5.35 x 5.74 x 6.41 inches | Base Height: 6.41 inches | Weight: 2.49 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Silent operation 24.3dBA
✓ High overclocking headspace
✓ Dark aesthetics for modern PC
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Large in size
✗ No offset for clearance
Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4 is one of our favorite air-based coolers because of its silent operation. It wins the crown with the lowest noise level in our list of air coolers. Everything about the product is astonishing. The all-black theme looks gorgeous inside the windowed PC chassis, and the fans are efficient yet aesthetically pleasing. The cooler makes only 24.3 dBA noise which is quite low for a high-speed operation. The air cooler can support an astonishing 250W TDP from the CPU. We rank it as the best overall CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
It is a big cooler with fins that are dark-colored and highly efficient. However, the fins are also easily scratchable, and if you don’t take proper care during installation, you might lose some of the dark aesthetics. The whole assembly is pretty huge, and it will cover up most of your system components. There is no RGB lighting or indication on this cooler. It is for the people who prefer minimalist design. The heat pipe ends are adequately sealed and made to shape like a bullet head which looks neat.
This CPU cooler provides great overclocking headspace for enthusiast overclockers. The 3-year warranty backs the company’s product quality and as per “be quiet!” 300000 hours of operational life is promised. 40mm of RAM clearance is available for memory modules with a high profile. The i5-11600k is an unlocked processor, which is feasible due to its overclocking economics. It exceeds some big processors when overclocked, so investing in a decent CPU cooler will keep your computer running at its true potential. It deserves attention as the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Corsair Hydro H100x
Best 240mm AIO Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 4.72 x 1.06 x 10.83 inches | Base Height: 2.20 inches | Weight: 1.49 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 5 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Easy to Install
✓ High surface area radiator
✓ 2.08 mm-H2O static pressure fan
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Loud noise
✗ No connection for tube
Corsair Hydro H100x is a simple, easy-to-install, and efficient cooling system. It comes with a 240mm high-density radiator that can easily fit inside a chassis. It provides a high surface area to remove heat produced by the overclock i5-11600K processor running at a 4.9GHz turbo frequency. There are two CORSAIR SP Series 120mm PWM fans installed onto the radiator that runs from 600 RPM to 1700 RPM depending on the load and user requirement. It is the best 240mm AIO cooler for i5-11600K.
It is a compact design cooling system, but it does not feature any connection for tubes; this can be a problem for people with more significant cases and require a longer tube length to fit into their case. Maybe routing could be longer in some chassis. The fan gets very loud when it goes under load. So if you don’t have a silent PC case, then things might get ugly. The problem with high performance is that fans need to run at high RPM. The smaller radiator coolers all have similar issues.
To enhance the visual appeal of the complete setup, Corsair has incorporated a LED light on the pump head to make sure that the water block stands out. The cold plate is efficiently made out of copper with a smooth surface to ensure maximum contact with the CPU. The tubes are white sleeved low-permeation rubber for tightly sealed water and enough flexibility for small enclosures routing needs. The tubes are connected to the water block with flexible fitting for ease in installation and allow some freedom for the tube to move. It is a capable candidate for the best CPU cooler for i5 11600K race.
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240
Best CPU Cooler for Overclocking the i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 13.27 x 9.57 x 6.81 inches | Base Height: 6.81 inches | Weight: 4.58 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Best bang for the buck
✓ 40mm VRM cooling fan
✓ Lowest noise level 25.7 dBA without VRM
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No RGB lighting
✗ Short fan cables
If we talk about small and efficient features with unique features, we cannot forget about the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280. It outperforms in VRM cooling compared to all air coolers. The massive air coolers cross a lot of air, thus decreasing VRM temperatures, but this AIO liquid cooler makes sure that air reaches VRM heatsinks by blowing onto the motherboard. It achieves 2oC less VRM temperatures than any other cooler. We have included it in the list as the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Many tech analysts have reviewed ARCTIC. As most AIO solutions offer solutions like the low noise adapter for reduced airflow and noise levels, this cooler comes bare. It has no RGB lighting or diagnostic LEDs for status verification. It is a plain piece of tech targeted at improving thermals. The tube runs straight out of the water block, which can be problematic with enclosure, where tube manipulation is essential for proper routing. The tube is soft and may bend while routing in your chassis.
The complete setup comes with a tightly packed maintenance-free loop. The whole assembly comes with prefilled liquid which means there is no problem of priming venting the loop. It’s as easy as installing and running. The cable management is also on point with wires running underneath the sheath to see their computer beauty. The power consumption is also low, which means lower energy bills. It consumes 80% lower than its competitors. If you plan to improve your CPU performance, this is the best CPU cooler for overclocking the i5-11600K.
EVGA CLC 280
Best 280mm AIO Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 7.0 x 14 x 7.7 inches | Base Height: 6.08 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Fans: One | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 5 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Subtle RGB logo
✓ Plug and play design
✓ Power first-generation product
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Higher cost
✗ Low performance/price ratio
EVGA CLC 280, like other AIO cooling solutions, is based on Asetek’s Gen5 pump technology. It differentiates itself from other coolers with its control system and fan technology. Initially, EVGA controlled their fan speeds using the temperature feedback from the liquid, but they have improved their design by following feedback of CPU temperature for their control system. It will help improve response time and lead to better thermals for the CPU performance and overclocked frequencies. It made its place in the best CPU Cooler for i5 11600K race.
High performance for coolers comes with high noise levels. EVGA’s overall cooling solution is powerful but produces significant noise when under load. It comes out to be the noisiest when running at full speed. They have included RGB, but the incorporation of RGB in their first-generation hardware is not the best. The performance is still pretty solid based on being their first product with this design. We believe that the price is a bit higher for their first product launch.
It outperforms some of its competition in thermals like NZXT and Corsair AIO solutions at a lower speed for fans. The tightly packed fins and high static pressure of fans seem to have a good effect on performance. An AIO cooling solution that comes pre-filled with liquid requires no tube fitting and no maintenance. It’s as easy as just plugging and playing. It is the best 280mm AIO cooler for i5-11600K.
DEEPCOOL Castle 280EX
Best Liquid CPU Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 12.68 x 5.44 x 1.07 inches | Base Height: 3.38 inches | Weight: 5.02 pounds | Fan: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Attractive RGB implementation
✓ Flexible water block tube fitting
✓ Good performance for i5-11600K
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Smaller warranty
✗ No tube customization
DEEPCOOL Castle 280EX is the most expensive cooling system that we have on our list, and it’s because of a reason. The implementation of RGB on this AIO solution is premium. You won’t see RGB with comprehensive sync technology. It can sync with RGB fusion, Polychrome sync, Mystic light sync, and Aura sync, making it the most attractive cooling kit on our list. The pump consists of a high-performance three-phase motor to ensure a high flow rate at lower noise levels. The dual-chamber design helps transfer heat efficiently and keep it running for more extended periods.
Having a more significant warranty period gives the users a sense of confidence in the device they have ordered. However, this AIO cooling solution only gives three years of warranty, lower than the most CPU coolers on our list. The tubes are not customizable, which means you cannot increase the length of the tube or decrease it using a connector. The user will have to adjust their computer internals according to this cooler.
DEEPCOOL uses a skived surface on the inner side of the cold plate on the water block. It helps improve heat transfer by 25%. It comes with a switch for complete control over speed. However, the users can let the control system control the speed of the fans and motor. The logo is also replaceable, and orientation can also change depending on the requirement of the user. The mirror look on the water block makes it look attractive from all angles. It’s the best liquid CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Arctic Freezer 50
Quietest CPU Cooler for i5 11600K
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 5.81 x 5.88 x 6.53 inches | Base Height: 6.53 inches | Weight: 2.56 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Overclocking head
✓ Sync enabled ARGB
✓ Thermal paste ARCTIC MX-4 included
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No offset for PCIe cards
✗ No support for high profile RAMs
Arctic Freezer 50 is the most gorgeous-looking air-based cooler on our list. It has all the best features incorporated into a single cooler. It is designed for AMD Ryzen Threadripper, which has 180W to 250W TDP. Running a 125W i5-11600K would be a walk in the park for this beast. It has U-shaped direct contact heat pipes that provide the lowest response time during frequency changes caused by turbo speeds. It uses 120mm and a 140mm fan in the push and pull configuration to provide the best efficiency.
The RAM clearance is a bit low, which rules out the possibility of high profile RAM with extraordinary overclocking capabilities. There is no offset used in the design of this air cooler which poses a limitation to the size of the PCIe cards, and careful evaluation of the motherboard is required for its excellent fitting. Despite being heavy, it still is the best CPU cooler for i5 11600K.
The enclosure is covered in a plastic case so that the air is directed through the fins precisely. The RGB lighting can sync with most motherboards and provide visually stunning sights. There are 13 ARGB LEDs installed on the fully customizable cooler. The dual-tower setup with six heat pipes each allows higher efficiency. The fans are made of high-quality material and hydrodynamic bearing technology. The 23.5dBA is a reasonable noise level for such a high-performance cooler. It is the quietest CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Conclusion
We have introduced some new brands to our list, and the reason is to make sure our users evaluate diverse manufacturing technologies to assess what’s best for their gaming PC. We can see clearly that liquid cooling does have some advantages over the air cooling system. Within the 150$ range, reasonable and powerful cooling options for the i5-11600k are both functional and visibly attractive.
To finalize the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K, you will need to look at its noise level, thermal design power, power consumption, weight, material, ease of installation, minimum maintenance, and extended warranty. The confidence of the user in the product relies on these factors. We recommend our users if they are looking to build a small compact PC like HTPC or SFF computer, then they should go for a cooling solution that does not require any maintenance or loop filling. If you own a large chassis and big motherboard, it’s best to go for an air-based solution that allows a significant headspace for overclocking. We hope that you find the best CPU cooler for i5 11600K.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPU cooler should I get for i5-11600K?
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is without a doubt the best choice in terms of price/performance ratio. The outdating CPU technology can justify the lower warranty period, and you might be changing a CPU soon. The sleek and premium appeal with high-quality material and design makes it the best CPU cooler for i5-11600K.
Which cooler is best for i5-11600K?
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240 is the best cooler for i5-11600k as it can easily remove all the heat from the processor and keep the VRM cool under extreme overclocking conditions. Its unique VRM cooling makes it stand out in our reviews. It also runs silently at 35.8dBA during maximum overclocked modes.
Does i5-11600K come with a cooler?
Normally, air coolers are included with locked CPUs that run at base clock speeds. i5-11600K does not come with a cooler. Air coolers such as the Arctic Freezer 50 are powerful enough to support the baseload thermals and keep cooling under turbo frequencies during overclocking. It runs at a noise level of 23.5dBA.
Does i5-11600K need a cooler?
Since i5-11600K does not come bundled with a cooler. You will need a high-end cooler to support the 125W TDP produced during its operation. We recommend you go for an overall balanced spec “be quiet! Dark Rock 4” for your CPU. It runs excellent, looks great, and keeps silent under load with 250W TDP support.
