8 Best CPU Coolers for i7 11700k: Full Reviews

Introduction

For a solid PC build, you need to consider a number of factors like your budget and the load that your PC will have to take on to support different parts. Buying a processor is a considerable investment, and doing your research beforehand is integral for making an informed decision. If you’re here at OvrClock, it’s safe to assume that you’re someone who likes to push your PC to the maximum. 

Considering options in the market for strong processors, the i7 11700k seems to be pretty popular among PC users. As a 16-thread, eight-core processor, the i7 11700k checks all the boxes in terms of speed and stability. The base clock for this processor is 3.60 GHz, while the max boost clock on is 5.0GHz, which are pretty good stats given the competitive pricing. This 11th gen processor uses the Cypress Cove architecture, which provides these Rocket Lake chips with a 19% increase in handling IPC workload. The i7 11700k also includes integrated graphics, which makes the processor a great bargain, given the lower-ended pricing. 

Overall, the i7 11700k mainly wins because of its competitive pricing making it a great processor for people who have the budget for a mid-range build. Getting so many features without having to empty out your bank account is a great deal, and that’s what makes this processor so popular.

With the 8-core performance, it’s understandable that overheating is an issue that needs to be combatted from the start. To help you with this, OvrClock researched a lot of CPU coolers that are compatible with the i7 1170k and decided to shortlist the best ones for you. This list is a mix of air and water coolers so we have an option for all your preferences!

1. Best overall cooler for i7 11700k: NZXT Kraken X53
2. Best air cooler for i7 11700k: Noctua NH-D15
3. Best quiet cooler for i7 11700k: Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4
4. Best liquid cooler for i7 11700k: MSI MAG Coreliquid 240R
5. Best budget cooler for i7 11700k: Scythe Fuma 2
6. Best RGB AIO Cooler for i7 11700k: Corsair H115i RGB Platinum
7. Best value cooler for i7 11700k: Scythe Mugen 5 Rev B
8. Best runner-up cooler for i7 11700k: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280

Quick Summary:

Image	Motherboard	Features	Price
Best Overall Cooler	NZXT Kraken X53 Compact 240mm radiator Integrated CAM software 7th Gen Asetek pump	9.9	Check Price
Best Air Cooler	Noctua NH-D15 Two 140mm fans Dual tower design Automatic speed control	9.9	Check Price
Best Quiet Cooler	Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4 Extremely low noise levels Sophisticated design Two aluminum heatsinks	9.8	Check Price
Best Liquid Cooler	MSI MAG Coreliquid 240R Three layers of net tubing Integrated aluminum radiator RGB lighting and rotating blockhead	9.8	Check Price
Best Budget Cooler	Scythe Fuma 2 Budget-friendly Easy to install Kaze Flex fans	9.7	Check Price
Best RGB AIO Cooler	Corsair H115i RGB Platinum RGB lighting 280mm radiator iCUE software	9.6	Check Price
Best Value Cooler	Scythe Mugen 5 Rev B Asymmetric design 2-year warranty Copper baseplate	9.6	Check Price
Best Runner-up Cooler	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 Reasonable price Two PWM controlled P14 fans Low sound levels	9.4	Check Price

With fierce looks and a fiercer performance, the NZXT Kraken X53’s AIO design has attracted a lot of customers in the market. Featuring a 7th Gen Asetek pump, it is made of high-quality copper and is connected to the 240mm radiator with a braided nylon sleeve to promote faster heat dissipation. The size of the radiator is also much smaller with this model, and the mesh makes it much easier to cool, as compared to its predecessors. For durability, the Kraken X53 uses flexible rubber tubing that helps maintain temperature.

However, the RGB lighting in the Kraken X53 is its biggest selling feature. With an increased block space on the CPU coupled with the mirror lighting effect, gamers now have a much larger space to showcase their creativity. The CAM integrated software also allows you to tweak the lighting according to your needs, and the enhanced LED ring size means the RGB lighting is a lot brighter and brings out the NZXT logo more nicely. So, while this cooler may be a little on the expensive side, customers are definitely getting their money’s worth!

The first choice for every heavy-duty build, the Noctua NH-D15 is right up there when considering high-quality fans. With quiet and efficient cooling and fans that can be controlled from your system, the new Noctua cooler checks every box in the list for a high-end build.

Changing it up from previous coolers, the NH-D15 has a six heat pipe, dual tower design, allowing it to have a greater surface area for efficient heat dissipation. Noctua has also placed the heat pipes further apart this time, ensuring equal thermal distribution. 

Improvements in Noctua’s new model also include widening the fin stack from 140mm to 150mm, and having 64mm clearance for tall memory heatsinks in single fan mode. So, not only is the fan more efficient than older models but is also compatible with high-end RAMs.

For airflow, the cooler has two premium NF-A15 140mm fans with PWM support, and the meticulous aerodynamic design will keep the components of your  i7-11700k cool so overclocking your PC will not be a problem.

Along with a 6-year warranty, Noctua also provides a high-end thermal compound that makes installation much easier and options to choose between a beige or jet-black color.

A lot of people complain about noisy coolers that distract them from gaming, and if you can relate to this then the Dark Rock Pro 4 is the ideal choice to include in your build. 

Even performing at 100% capacity the fan’s noise is capped at 24.3dB(A), which is remarkably low. It has a TDP rating of 250W, allowing gamers to have extreme gaming sessions without the worry of damaging the processor.

As for the design, the cooler has Silent Wing PWM fans, where the front fan has a funnel-shaped structure to dissipate heat faster. There are also seven ultra-durable copper heat pipes to distribute the thermal load, and airflow optimized cooling fins to improve cooling times. The cooler also uses ceramic particles with a black coating that improves the transfer of heat. 

The Dark Rock Pro 4 also includes two aluminum heatsinks, which are cut out to enhance your RAM compatibility. And if users still feel the need for extra cooling, Be Quiet provides space to install an additional 120mm fan. 

CPU coolers don’t usually offer a lot of colors and designs that you can customize with your build, but the Dark Rock Pro’s jet-black aesthetic is sure to fit in with a lot of rigs.

Choosing what type of cooler you want is integral to your build, but as far as liquid coolers go, the MSI MAG Coreliquid 240R steals the show. Not only is it stylish and aesthetic, but it also uses advanced heat evaporation technologies that will leave its harshest critics impressed. 

To start off, the 240R uses a three-phase motor at the base of the cooler which has minimal vibrations, increasing the product’s life. The aluminum radiator has been integrated into the pump to soften the fan’s sound. MSI promises that the sound of this cooler is 10% lower than its competitors. 

The radiator also has a split in the middle, which helps with the heat transfer by speeding up the process. The three layers of netted plastic tubing and mesh exteriors also aid in keeping the liquid cool.

The Coreliquid also hits it out of the park in the aesthetics department. Along with RGB lighting, the cooler also comes with a rotating blockhead that can be mounted on the cold plate, providing you with a stylish and eccentric look to complement your build. 

All in all, the Coreliquid 240R is a great water cooler that’s robust and compatible with your i7 11700K. The three-year warranty definitely makes it a worthwhile investment!

If you’re on a modest budget and require moderate performance, then the Scythe Fuma 2 is a great cooler option since it offers a lot of the same features as other high-end coolers without breaking the bank.

It has a dual-tower design that doesn’t interfere with your memory modules and provides ample cooling for your PC. Running through the tower, there are six copper heat pipes connecting the heatsinks to the baseplate so one area doesn’t take all the load. 

To cool the tower, there are two Kaze Flex fans that run in opposite directions to increase the static pressure and improve cooling times. There are rubber pads on the fans which reduce vibration transmissions, as well as a special oil film on the fans to reduce friction, thereby ensuring a smooth operation with minimal noise or disturbance. Scythe also includes additional fan brackets for customers who wish to install a third fan. 

While the Fuma 2 does not include any RGB lighting, the all-black look will definitely fit in whatever color aesthetic you are going for. As for ease of installation, it uses the H.P.M.S III mounting system which comes with a pre-assembled mounting bar for a convenient set-up process.

This cooler is definitely marketed towards people who are all about looks because the H115i RGB Platinum is more flashy than ever!

The liquid cooler has a 280mm radiator and is well equipped to handle all your gaming needs. Other than that, the fan is filled with coolant which is in a sealed loop, thereby keeping the temperature low. You also get two 1400 mm PWM fans that are adorned with RGB lighting, as well as the bright backlighting that the CPU block faceplate sports. With the PWM regulator, you can also control the lighting on these fans. This time around, the Corsair iCUE software also allows the users to control fan speeds and customize the RGB lighting. 

Overall, the cooler is all-black, which makes the lighting stand out even more. Many users have the assumption that the H115i doesn’t have the necessary cooling powers because it is too focused on aesthetics, but the cooler really does do a wonderful job at keeping your rig nice and cool!

Sycthe is the only name to appear twice on our list, and that’s purely because of the excellent quality their fans have. The Mugen Rev B is no exception, with its silver finish and asymmetric design.

The Mugen 5 Rev B has a single Kaze Flex 120 PWM Fan, but its astonishingly high speeds mean that the fan alone can keep your processor cool for long hours of gaming. With RPMs ranging from 300-1200, the fan has a lifespan of 120,000 hours as well as a 2-year warranty. The liquid bearing in the fan cuts down on any resistance, increasing the fan’s lifespan. 

A popular reason why Rev B is such a hot seller is because of the asymmetric design. There are six 6mm heat pipes connected to the copper baseplate, although all 6 of them have a slight slope to offset the radiator. This provides clearance for tall memory modules, as well as allowing uninterrupted access to the memory banks.

To finish off, we look at the aesthetics. The whole cooler has been given a silver finish and contrasts nicely with the blank fan that has the Scythe monogram in the middle. Overall, the board seems to have a pretty sophisticated vibe and should fit right in with your build.

For people who don’t think the Dark Rock Pro 4 is the one for their build but still want a quiet fan, then the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 may be a good choice. This CPU cooler doesn’t take up too much space or money but gets the job done when it needs to. 

An impressive feature is the low power consumption. When unnecessary, the pump slows down which not only improves the product life but is also more efficient for the rest of your system.

The base of this fan is copper with an offset pump impeller as well as a 38mm-thick aluminum radiator. The aluminum not only helps transfer heat faster, but the size of the radiator is large enough to evenly spread out the cooling area. There are also two P14 fans that have up to 1700 RPMs. These fans have PWM control, so you can adjust the speeds accordingly.

Thanks to the auxiliary fan installed, the cooler has a very neat look to it, and the braided coolant sleeves make the operational noise pretty low. While some users may initially be thrown off by the design, the Liquid Freezer II 280 is actually a pretty sweet deal given all the features and reasonable price.

Here at OvrClock, we are committed to keeping our editorial and product recommendation processes completely independent from our monetization — so, you can always be sure we are recommending the best PC Parts for you without any partiality.

The OvrClock team has been reviewing all parts of a PC build for years now, and we use our expert opinion and experiences when making recommendations. We try to get our hands on and actually test all of the products we recommend, in addition to the dozens of alternatives that are not on the final list. This allows us to provide insights beyond what you can find from reading other online reviews, and get a true and more clear understanding of the best options. Our diverse team and vast experience also allow us to highlight each product’s ideal use cases, as well as the perfect customer profile for any given product.

For CPU coolers, we test things including but not limited to: build quality, fan speed, CPU temperature, noise level, and form factor, among many other factors. Our experience allows us to translate these insights into actionable conclusions and purchase recommendations for you, without you having to test all the products, or having to sift through piles and piles of data from our testing. All of the recommended CPU Coolers and dozens of others not in this roundup have been tested with an Intel i7 11700k processor, and the aforementioned CPU Coolers have been shortlisted based on their stellar performance with the Intel i7 11700k processor.

For any questions about our product selection and recommendation process, feel free to contact us.

A lot of first-time rig builders tend to overspend on their processors, only to later face problems because of overheating that causes bottlenecking issues. While the processor is indeed an integral part of your build, it will give you little benefit if not maintained.

If your system does not get the required cooling, not only are you damaging it in the long-term but it will also be a hassle when your expensive processor does not live up to your expectations and by narrowing down the best 8 CPU coolers for the i7 11700k, we hopefully made the decision easier for you. Good luck!