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Intel’s new 13th Generation Core Processors are hot off the press, help maintain it with our list of the best cooler for i9-13900K.
Last year’s release of Intel’s 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs, it’s important to block out some time researching the best cooler to keep your hardware functioning the way it should. The long roster of games released last year has undeniably pushed the hype for Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs, and the release of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series turned up the heat even further. If you’re interested in how Intel and AMD compare, we’ve considered Ryzen 9 7950X3D vs Intel Core i9-13900Ks.
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01Best overall cooler for i9-13900K
If you’re at all familiar with the 13900K CPU, then you’ll know that this thing runs hot, and doesn’t run nearly half as well when it is. If you want to take full advantage of the chip’s 24 cores (32 threads) and its max boost clock of 5.8GHz, then you’ll appreciate our recommendations of CPU coolers.
Best cooler for i9-13900K
However, you pay a higher price for this premium tech though, so if you’re more on the market for a budget gaming kit, you should check out our pick for the best CPU for budget gaming or the best CPU for gaming.
We’re going to get into the nitty gritty of CPU coolers on this list, breaking down specs and features to list out top picks for the best cooler for i9-13900K. For example, this chipset was the first from Intel to feature PCIe 5.0 rather than PCIe 4.0.
1. Best overall cooler for i9-13900K
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition CPU Air Cooler
Dimensions
28.5 x 33.5 x 51.5
Power connector
4-pin
Voltage
12 Volts
Noise level
30 dB
- Easy installation
- Good value
- Cool RGB
- Potentially better value from other Cooler Master products
Back and better than before, the Hyper 212 is one of the best coolers on the market. Cooler Master has built this bad boy with quality materials including nickel plated jet black fins which enhance the radiation cooling performance. It’s also fitted with 4 heat pipes with exclusive Direct Contact Technology making it an excellent cooler for heat dissipation all at a very quiet sound level. Just what you’re after right?
2. Runner up cooler for i9-13900K
Noctua NH-D15
Dimensions
16.5 x 15 x 13.5
Connector
4 p-n
Voltage
12 Volts
Noise level
19.2 dB
This premium CPU cooler delivers on all fronts. Amazing performance thanks to its quality build, this quietly operating cooler doesn’t miss a beat. As for the ugly brown design? Don’t worry about that because it’s now available in black! This is an excellent little cooler and would work with a variety of CPU configurations, including the best CPU for RX 7900 XTX & 7900 XT.
3. Quietest cooler for i9-13900K
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 Cooler
Dimensions
5.7 x 5.35 x 6.40in
Power connector
4-Pin
Voltage
12V
Noise level
24.3Dba
- Runs very quiet
- Excellent performance
- Beginners may find it tricky to install
Could we ask for more from the Dark Rock Pro 3? Probably not.
This cooler is, without a doubt, one of the best on the market. At a similar size to the Dark Rock Pro 3, this cooler is optimized for maximum airflow and heat dissipation. Installation for this cooler is easy, plus its quietness is very impressive – with both fans able to run quietly at full speed.
4. Best liquid cooler for i9-13900K – NZXT Kraken X73
NZXT Kraken X73
Dimensions
80.0 x 80.0 x 55.0 mm
Power connector
4-pin
Voltage
12 Volts
Noise level
40dB
- 7th generation Asetek pump
- Compact design
- Durable
- Pricey
- Lacks direct fan control
Designed for full and mid-tower cases, this cooler strongly delivers on performance. Thanks to its intuitive installation, you’ll be playing your favourite games in no time. The newest model now has an additional HUE 2 connector plus comes with more RGB options for that personal touch. We’re a big fan of this one and even recommended it on a separate investigation we did into the best cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x, so you’re in safe hands here.
5. Best AIO cooler for i9-13900K – ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360
ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360
Dimensions
42.4 x 21.1 x 13
Power connector
4-pin
Voltage
12 Volts
Noise level
31 dB
- Outstanding thermal performance
- Noctua Industrial PCC radiator fans
- LCD panel
- Flagship product on the expensive side
Who doesn’t want ROG’s flagship CPU cooler? We expect nothing but the best from ROG and once again they have delivered. With a 7th Generation Asetek pump, Noctua Industrial PPC radiator fans and an embedded fan for the CPU socket area, this cooler harnesses both water and air to provide an effective and responsive cooling system.
This cooler truly conquers the limitations of traditional coolers, making it worthy of our top cooler picks.
6. Best new cooler for i9-13900K – Montech Metal DT24 Premium
Montech Metal DT24 Premium
Dimensions
13.2 x 11.9 x 16.1
Power connector
6-pin
Wattage
270 Watts
Noise level
30 dB
- Great value
- Premium quality
- Noisy
- 33mm RAM restriction
This newly released cooler is a great heavy duty all rounder, with impressive, though noisy, performance for its cost.
As relative newcomers to the cooler scene, this is Montech’s first foray into premium cooling. The advantage of being the new kids on the block is that Montech has a bit more freedom to play around than the more established manufacturers. This element of the unknown could be off-putting but Montech has sought to quell fears by offering a generous 3-year warranty.
As for the cooler itself, its performance is good, especially for the price of $79, and it should keep your sparkly new i9-13900K suitably cooled. Its mounting hardware makes it one of the simplest coolers to install for both Intel and Ryzen processors.
Its main weakness is its volume. Though it does come with a low noise adapter, even with it installed it sounds at 46dBA when operating at full PWM.
Why buy a cooler for Intel 13th Gen CPUs?
There’s no shortage of answers to this question – it basically comes down to taking care and maintaining the durability of your CPU.
Next-gen CPUs get very hot now, meaning the need to overclock safely is more important than before. A cooler will help you do this, plus reduce the overall wear and tear of your CPU. It’s a good value investment that saves you more money in the long run, so make sure you pick the right one!
How to choose the best CPU cooler for i9-13900K?
Choosing the right CPU cooler can be a tricky business; there’s a lot of factors to juggle. The most obvious, and generally most uncompromising factor, is budget. You need to be looking for a CPU cooler that fits within your price range. Generally when you start looking for a specific component you will need to look around to get an idea of what the typical cost will be so you can tailor you expectations appropriately. The options presented in this list tend to fall within the $50-150 price range, so those are the sort of boundaries you’re looking at here.
Design
With CPU coolers the next thing you’ll want to look at is design. This doesn’t just mean aesthetic considerations – although that’s certainly something to think about – but will the cooler actually fit in your PC set up. The dimensions of the coolers on this list vary wildly. Make sure that you’re not getting a cooler that won’t be able to fit where you need it to go.
Bear in mind that even if it could just squeeze in looking at the measurements on paper, there are high speed fans attached to all of these coolers. You need to be able to place the cooler in a place with smooth air flow and where it is unlikely anything could get stuck in the fans. For example, if you have a pet it would be a bad idea to put the cooler anywhere near where the pet could reach.
Generally, we would recommend finding a place off the floor and on a level, stable surface. Once you’ve identified one and the dimensions that space can fit, then you can start narrowing down your search.
You also need to consider the dimensions within the cooler itself. There’s no point buying cooler that can’t fit your CPU. Make sure to check the dimensions, socket information and TDP (Thermal Design Power).
Efficacy
Once you’ve got dimensions and budget down, the final main thing to think about is efficacy – in this case you need to make sure the product you’re looking at actually does it’s job. With CPU coolers, particularly if you’re fairly new to the scene, you’ll want to go for an easy to install option to remove the possibility of human error. You’ll also want to make sure the cooler comes with pre-installed fans. All of the options on this list do – but make sure to check if you’re looking further afield.
It’s also worth tailoring your cooler choice to your CPU. A harder working CPU in the mid-to-high range will require a more intense cooling system than something more low range. That’s where guides like this come in handy as they’ll be looking at options specifically for a particular CPU. With the i9-13900K you’ll want something fairly high intensity as this is a CPU that can process a lot of data and will reach high temperatures if not kept appropriately cool. All of the coolers in this list run 12 volts – this is the sort of range you want to be looking at.
At the end of the day the choice will come down to you and what you’re looking for, but these are the main considerations we would recommend considering.
Is AIO cooling better than Air cooling for Intel Core i9-13900K?
It usually comes down to personal preference though if you’ve got the money for water cooling, you might see better results. That being said, investing in a pump and radiator combo takes up a lot more space, so you’d also need to ensure you have enough clearance in your PC case.
Is air cooling enough for the i9-13900k?
Yes, although the 13900K gets to high temperatures while gaming. Intel actually recommends a 240mm AIO cooler for this chip, so water cooling or anything more is a bonus for those who have the space in their PC case.
Frequently asked questions
We understand that researching a new CPU cooler can be a difficult task, raising a lot of questions. We’ve done our best to answer some of them below.
Do coolers fit all 13th Gen CPUs?
Make sure you check that your cooler will fit your 13th Gen CPU. You can do this by comparing the TDP and socket information. As a general rule, the TDP value of the CPU cooler must be higher than the TDOP of the Intel processor and require the same sockets.
Is an i9 overkill?
The i9-13900K is among the most powerful CPUs we have ever seen. This means it is overkill for many. If you use your computer for more intense activities, like gaming or content creation, you will be able to make use of its power.
How many PCIe lanes does 13900K have?
With the i9-13900K you get 16 lanes of PCI express 5.0, while the PCLe 4.0 lane count comes to 4. Some however, might want PCL4 5.0, rather than PCLe 4.0.
Do I need a specific cooler for my CPU?
If you’re gaming or processing data more intensely than the average desktop user and have a distinct CPU (whether low, mid, or high range) then you’ll need a specific cooler dedicated to making sure the CPU does not overheat. You will need to find a cooler that is capable of keeping up with your CPU. Higher range CPUs will require more intense cooling solutions.
