You’re computer’s processor almost always comes with a small cooler that, while working well enough that you shouldn’t need to worry about overheating, are about the weakest coolers you can buy, but is it worth buying an aftermarket cooler? The answer to that is a definite yes. Not only will you get much lower temperatures, which increases the longevity of the processor, but it’s often quiter as well, and shouldn’t run you more than $50 for a really good one.
When you build a PC, your processor usually comes with a small cooler—but people often recommend upgrading to a large aftermarket cooler for cooler, quieter operation. But how much does it actually help? The folks at Linus Tech Tips put three coolers to the test. Most of the tests showed just about what you’d expect: A $30 aftermarket heatsink like the Cooler Master T4 or Hyper 212 EVO decreased temperatures significantly. Specifically, they showed about a 10 degree drop at stock speeds in their tests, which is nice, but not completely necessary unless you’re overclocking, in which case that extra cooling will give you more headroom. An all-in-one water cooling loop will give you even more headroom, but at that cost, you might be better off just buying a better processor.
