The Core i7-8700K is still a capable six-core gaming chip, and because Intel sold it without a cooler, every owner needs an aftermarket one. This guide to the best CPU coolers 8700K systems can use picks seven air and liquid coolers that still mount on LGA 1151, matched to stock settings or overclocking, with Amazon US data from November 2026.
Quick verdict
For an i7-8700K at stock or with a mild overclock, buy the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE: a seven-pipe dual tower with LGA 115x mounting, listed around $36 on Amazon US as of November 2026. For a heavier overclock with low noise, the Noctua NH-D15 is the premium air pick, and the Frozen Notte 360 V2 is the budget liquid option.
| Cooler | Type | Height or radiator | Fans | LGA 1151 | Best for | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE | Dual tower | 154mm | 2 x 120mm | Yes | Best overall | about $36, 4.8 stars, 1,011 ratings |
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 | Dual tower | 155mm | 2 x 120mm, 28mm thick | Yes | High-airflow budget overclock | about $40, 4.7 stars, 605 ratings |
| Noctua NH-U12A | Single tower, dual fan | 158mm | 2 x 120mm | Yes | Quiet, slim premium | about $110, 4.8 stars, 3,707 ratings |
| Noctua NH-D15 | Dual tower | 165 to 168mm | 2 x 140mm | Yes | Premium overclocking air | about $110, 4.8 stars, 11,610 ratings |
| Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3 | 240mm AIO | 240mm radiator | 2 x 120mm | Yes | Budget AIO | about $45, 4.7 stars, 506 ratings |
| Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2 | 240mm AIO | 277 x 119.6 x 27.2mm | 2 x 120mm | Yes | Long-running AIO design | about $90, 4.6 stars, 9,608 ratings |
| Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 Black ARGB V2 | 360mm AIO | 397 x 120 x 27mm | 3 x 120mm | Yes | Heavy overclocks | about $55, 4.4 stars, 977 ratings |
Prices and ratings are Amazon US snapshots as of November 2026 and will change. LGA 1151 support comes from each manufacturer page or Amazon listing; confirm the mounting kit before you remove your old cooler.
What the i7-8700K needs from a cooler
Intel lists the Core i7-8700K with six cores and 12 threads, a 3.7GHz base clock, a 4.7GHz maximum turbo, a 95W TDP and a 100C junction limit on the FCLGA1151 socket. Intel’s spec page also notes that the boxed processor ships without a fan or heatsink.
At stock, 95W is a modest load for any good tower. The 8700K’s appeal, though, has always been its unlocked multiplier, and overclocking pushes power well past the rated TDP. That is why this list leans toward dual towers and AIOs instead of the small single towers that suit locked 65W chips.
How we chose these 8700K coolers
Every pick had to list LGA 1151 or LGA 115x mounting on its manufacturer page or Amazon listing as of November 2026. That ruled out several strong current coolers, such as ARCTIC’s Freezer 36, whose spec sheet lists only LGA 1851, LGA 1700, AM5 and AM4.
We then favored headroom, meaning six or more heat pipes, two fans or a 240mm or larger radiator, and kept models with large Amazon US ratings pools. We did not run our own overclocking tests, so we do not quote temperatures or clock speeds for any cooler.
Best CPU coolers 8700K builds can mount today
The seven coolers below are grouped from air to liquid. Each section explains how much headroom it offers for a stock or overclocked 8700K, what fits in older cases and what to check on LGA 1151 boards, which often date from 2017 to 2019 and may sit in cases with less clearance than today’s.
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is the best overall cooler for most 8700K owners. Thermalright lists seven 6mm heat pipes, a 154mm height and LGA 115x, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5 mounting, and the Amazon listing confirms two TL-C12B V2 120mm fans at 1,500 rpm and 25.6 dBA.
Seven pipes and two fans give generous headroom for a 95W chip at stock and room for a moderate all-core overclock. It was listed around $36 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 1,000 ratings. The seller’s 105W to 280W TDP claim is not independently verified.
Its 154mm height suits most mid-towers, but many 8700K builds live in cases from 2017 or 2018, so measure first. Because it uses current mounting hardware with 115x support, you can carry it to a newer platform later if you upgrade.
- Pro: seven heat pipes and two fans for about $36
- Pro: current hardware that still includes 115x
- Con: front fan can sit over tall RAM
- Con: seller TDP claim unverified
Buy it if you want the most cooling per dollar for a stock or mildly overclocked 8700K. Skip it if your case cannot fit 154mm.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2
The V2 keeps the Peerless Assassin’s six-pipe, 155mm dual tower and adds faster fans. The Amazon listing gives two 28mm-thick TL-C12C-X28 V2 fans at up to 1,850 rpm, 88.89 CFM and 29.5 dBA, plus LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115X and AM5 and AM4 support and a three-year warranty.
That extra airflow helps when an overclock raises power draw, though the fans are louder at full speed than the Phantom Spirit’s. It was listed around $40 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.7 stars from about 600 ratings. Specs here come from the Amazon listing only.
The listing also notes that raising the front fan to clear tall RAM increases total height, so check both RAM and case limits. A sensible BIOS fan curve keeps the faster fans quiet at idle and lets them ramp only when the overclocked chip needs it.
- Pro: high-airflow fans for overclocking
- Pro: three-year warranty listed
- Con: louder at full speed
- Con: manufacturer page not checked for V2
Buy it if you overclock on a budget and do not mind tuning fan curves. Skip it if quiet operation at full load matters most.
Noctua NH-U12A
The NH-U12A is the slim premium pick for 8700K builds with tall RAM or crowded boards. Retailer specs list seven heat pipes, two NF-A12x25 120mm fans and a 158mm height, and Amazon adds NT-H1 paste, SecuFirm2 mounting for LGA 115x to 1851 plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty.
Noctua’s listing says it does not overhang the RAM slots on LGA 1200 and similar boards, and it does not block the top PCIe slot on most ATX and micro-ATX boards. That makes it a clean fit on LGA 1151 boards with tall DDR4 kits, where wide dual towers can clash.
It was listed around $110 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 3,700 ratings. It costs three times as much as the Phantom Spirit, so the case for it rests on noise, mounting quality and a warranty long enough to cover a move to a newer platform.
- Pro: seven pipes and two premium fans in a slim tower
- Pro: six-year warranty and broad sockets
- Con: high price for an older system
- Con: 158mm height
Buy it if you want quiet, refined cooling and plan to reuse the cooler later. Skip it if value is the priority.
Noctua NH-D15
The NH-D15 is the premium air choice for a heavier 8700K overclock. Retailer specs list a 165mm dual tower with six heat pipes and two NF-A15 140mm fans, while Amazon’s highlight says 168mm, so plan for the taller figure. Both list LGA 115x to 1851 plus AM5 and AM4 support.
Amazon also lists NT-H1 paste, SecuFirm2 mounting, an offset option and a six-year warranty. It was listed around $110 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 11,600 ratings, one of the largest owner bases for any cooler.
Large 140mm fans can move plenty of air at moderate speeds, which helps keep noise down under a heavy overclock. The trade-off is size: it needs about 170mm of case clearance and room for wide towers over the RAM, which some 2017-era cases and tall DDR4 kits cannot provide.
- Pro: dual 140mm fans for quiet overclocking
- Pro: six-year warranty
- Con: 165 to 168mm height
- Con: wide towers can clash with tall RAM
Buy it if your case fits 170mm and you want the strongest air cooling here. Skip it if your case or RAM is tight.
Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3
The Aqua Elite 240 V3 is the budget AIO for an 8700K. Thermalright lists LGA 115X, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5, a 2,800 rpm pump rated at 23 dBA, TL-C12B-S V2 fans and a three-year warranty, and the Amazon listing confirms two 1,500 rpm fans with 5V ARGB.
It was listed around $45 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.7 stars from about 500 ratings. A 240mm AIO moves the heatsink off the socket, which helps on boards with tall RAM and in cases with low side panels but a top or front radiator mount.
For a stock 95W chip, the Phantom Spirit is the simpler choice. The Aqua Elite makes sense if you want the look of liquid cooling or need RAM clearance, and it gives a moderate overclock reasonable headroom if your case has a proper 240mm mount.
- Pro: budget AIO with three-year warranty
- Pro: frees space around the socket
- Con: pump adds a failure point
- Con: needs a 240mm mount
Buy it if you want liquid cooling on a budget. Skip it if your case lacks a 240mm mount.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2
The ML240L RGB V2 is the most-rated AIO here, with 4.6 stars from about 9,600 Amazon US ratings as of November 2026. The listing gives a 277 x 119.6 x 27.2mm radiator, a third-generation dual-chamber pump, two SickleFlow 120mm RGB fans and LGA 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2066 and 2011 support.
Its LGA 1700 support needs a separate kit, according to the listing, which also names AM4 and older AMD sockets, with AM5 in the title. For an 8700K owner, the important part is that 1151 is supported out of the box.
It was listed around $90 as of November 2026, double the Aqua Elite 240 V3. The extra cost buys a long-running model with a huge owner base rather than more radiator area, since both are 240mm units with 27mm-class radiators.
- Pro: very large owner base
- Pro: LGA 1151 support in the box
- Con: twice the price of the Aqua Elite 240 V3
- Con: LGA 1700 needs an extra kit
Buy it if you value a widely owned AIO and see it discounted. Skip it if the Aqua Elite 240 V3 is available for half the price.
Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 Black ARGB V2
The Frozen Notte 360 V2 is the pick for heavy 8700K overclocks on a budget. The Amazon listing gives a 397 x 120 x 27mm radiator, 450mm tubes, a 5,300 rpm pump and three TL-E12B-S V2 120mm fans at up to 2,000 rpm, 72.37 CFM and up to 27.7 dBA, with LGA 1150 to 1851 plus AM4 and AM5 support.
It was listed around $55 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.4 stars from about 980 ratings. A 360mm radiator adds surface area over the 240mm models, which gives the most headroom here for a high all-core overclock, provided your case has a 360mm mount.
The listing recommends a case wider than 250mm. Many older mid-towers have no 360mm top mount, so check the front or top spec carefully. Its 4.4-star average is the lowest here, and we could not confirm the V2’s warranty term from the listing.
- Pro: 360mm radiator for about $55
- Pro: three fans up to 2,000 rpm
- Con: needs a 360mm mount older cases often lack
- Con: lowest rating average here and warranty unconfirmed
Buy it if you run a heavy overclock and your case takes a 360mm radiator. Skip it if your case tops out at 240mm.
8700K cooler buying guide
Choosing a cooler for an 8700K comes down to how far you plan to push the chip, what your older case can hold and whether the cooler’s mounting kit still covers LGA 1151. The sections below cover those points with Intel’s specs and the manufacturer details above.
Stock, mild overclock or heavy overclock
At stock, the 8700K’s 95W TDP is well within reach of any dual tower here, and the Phantom Spirit 120 SE is enough to keep fans slow in games. For a mild all-core overclock, the dual towers still work, with the Peerless Assassin V2’s faster fans giving extra margin.
For a heavy overclock, power draw rises sharply above the rated TDP, and big heatsinks pay off. Choose the NH-D15 if you prefer air and quiet, or the Frozen Notte 360 V2 if your case fits a 360mm radiator. Stability, not temperature alone, should guide how far you push.
LGA 1151 mounting
LGA 1151 belongs to the LGA 115x family, with a 75 x 75mm hole pattern, while LGA 1700 and 1851 use 78 x 78mm, according to Wikipedia’s LGA 1700 page. Coolers sold only for current sockets will not mount, so confirm 115x hardware is in the box before you take the old cooler off.
All seven picks list 115x or 1151 support. Because most also list LGA 1700, 1851, AM4 and AM5, they can follow you to a newer platform, which adds value to the premium options like the NH-D15 and NH-U12A.
Case clearance and radiator mounts
Many 8700K builds are several years old, so check the case manual for maximum cooler height and radiator sizes. A Noctua study reported by The FPS Review in August 2026 found that 56 of more than 100 measured cases differed significantly from their listed cooler clearance.
The towers here range from 154mm to 168mm. For AIOs, check whether your case takes 240mm or 360mm radiators at the top or front, and allow for 27mm radiators plus 25mm fans. If neither fits, a 154mm dual tower is the safest route.
FAQ
These answers cover common questions from i7-8700K owners shopping for a new cooler. They draw on Intel’s specification page and the manufacturer and Amazon US data collected in November 2026, without quoting overclocking results or temperatures we could not confirm from a published source for these coolers.
Which of the best CPU coolers 8700K owners should buy for gaming?
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE. It has seven heat pipes, two fans and LGA 115x mounting for about $36 on Amazon US as of November 2026, which is plenty for gaming at stock or with a mild overclock. Check that your case fits a 154mm tower before you order.
Does the i7-8700K come with a cooler?
No. Intel’s specification page lists the boxed i7-8700K without a fan or heatsink, so you need an aftermarket cooler. Even at stock, the chip is rated at 95W, so a capable tower is a better match than a small stock-style cooler designed for 65W office chips.
Is a 360mm AIO worth it for an 8700K?
Only for a heavy overclock in a case with a 360mm mount. At stock, a dual tower handles the 95W chip with less complexity. A 360mm AIO such as the Frozen Notte 360 V2 adds radiator area for high all-core clocks, but it also adds a pump and needs case support.
Can I reuse my 8700K cooler on a newer CPU?
Usually yes, if the cooler’s kit includes the newer sockets. Every pick here lists LGA 1700 or 1851 and AM5 or AM4 support in addition to LGA 1151, except the ML240L RGB V2, whose LGA 1700 support requires a separate kit according to its Amazon listing.
Conclusion
Buy the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE for an i7-8700K: it gives a stock or mildly overclocked chip ample headroom, still includes LGA 115x mounting and costs about $36. Move up to the Noctua NH-D15 only for a heavy overclock with low noise, provided your case fits a 168mm tower.
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