The ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming is an ATX LGA 1151 board for 8th and 9th Gen Core chips, with a dedicated AIO pump header and one addressable RGB header. The best CPU coolers for ASUS ROG Strix Z390 E builds use those headers well and cool chips like the i9-9900K. These seven picks list LGA 1151 support.
Quick verdict
For most Z390-E builds, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB is the best buy: it lists LGA 1151, uses two 120mm fans, syncs with the addressable header, and cost about $36 in November 2026. Choose the Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black for quiet premium air, or the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB to use the AIO_PUMP header.
| Cooler | Type | Height or radiator | Lighting | Z390-E headers used | Best for | Amazon US price, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB | Dual-tower air | 154mm | 5V 3-pin ARGB | CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, addressable header | Best overall value | about $36 |
| Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black | Dual-tower air | 165 to 168mm (sources differ) | None | CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT | Quiet premium air | about $120 |
| Noctua NH-U12A | Single tower, two fans | 158mm | None | CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT | RAM and PCIe clearance | about $110 |
| Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB | 360mm AIO | 394 x 119.6 x 27.2mm | ARGB | AIO_PUMP, CPU_FAN, addressable header | i9-9900K under long loads | about $88 |
| Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 Black ARGB V2 | 360mm AIO | 397 x 120 x 27mm | 5V 3-pin ARGB | AIO_PUMP, CPU_FAN, addressable header | Budget 360mm liquid | about $55 |
| Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3 | 240mm AIO | 240mm class | 5V 3-pin ARGB | AIO_PUMP, CPU_FAN, addressable header | Cases without a 360mm mount | about $45 |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 | Single tower | 152mm | ARGB | CPU_FAN, addressable header | Budget i5 builds | about $20 |
How we selected coolers for the Z390-E
This is a research-based roundup, not a lab test. We started from Amazon US cooler data collected on November 11, 2026, kept models with hundreds or thousands of ratings that list LGA 1151 or LGA 115x, and checked heights, fans, radiators and warranties against maker pages and established retailers where we could read them.
The board shaped the rest. ASUS’s spec page lists Socket 1151 for 9th and 8th Gen Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron chips, an ATX layout, CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT headers, an AIO_PUMP header, a W_PUMP+ header, two Aura RGB strip headers and one Aura addressable strip header. We favored coolers that use those headers cleanly.
Some popular coolers drop LGA 1151. ARCTIC’s Freezer 36 lists only LGA 1851 and 1700 on Intel, and Corsair’s Nautilus RS line lists LGA 1851 and 1700, so neither is here. Prices and ratings are a dated Amazon US snapshot, and ranking never follows commission.
Matching the cooler to your Z390-E processor
The Z390-E supports 8th and 9th Gen Core chips. Intel lists the i9-9900K at 95W with eight cores, 16 threads and a 5.0 GHz maximum turbo, and the i7-9700K at 95W with eight cores and eight threads. Both ship without a cooler in the box, so a Z390-E build always needs an aftermarket one.
Unlocked K chips on a Z390 board are usually run with higher power limits or manual overclocks, which is why a 95W rating understates what the cooler sees under heavy multithreaded work. For an i9-9900K, plan on a large dual tower or a 240mm to 360mm AIO rather than a basic single tower.
For a locked or six-core chip such as an i5-9600K, a good single tower or the budget Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 is enough. Intel lists the i5-9600K at 95W with six cores and six threads, a lighter real-world load than the eight-core parts when you run demanding software.
Best CPU coolers for ASUS ROG Strix Z390 E builds compared
The seven picks below start with the cooler that suits the most Z390-E systems and move through premium air, liquid and budget options. Each section covers which chips it suits, the specs we confirmed, how it uses the board’s fan and RGB headers, and its trade-offs, ending with a clear buy or skip.
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB
This is our best overall Z390-E pick because it pairs a seven-heat-pipe dual tower with ARGB fans that plug straight into the board’s Aura addressable header. It suits i7-9700K and i9-9900K gaming builds that want strong air cooling and synced lighting for about the price of a single-tower cooler.
Thermalright lists a 154mm height and seven 6mm heat pipes for the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, with LGA 115x through 1851 and AM4 and AM5 support. The ARGB listing adds two TL-C12B-S V2 120mm fans at 1,500 RPM, 66.17 CFM and up to 25.6 dBA, with 5V 3-pin ARGB lighting connectors.
It was listed around $36 on Amazon US with 4.8 out of 5 from about 1,000 ratings as of November 2026. Run the two fans from CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT, or use the included splitter if one is supplied, and daisy-chain the lighting into the single addressable header.
- Pros: seven heat pipes for about $36; ARGB suits the Aura addressable header; LGA 1151 listed
- Cons: 154mm height; only one addressable header on the board for all ARGB parts
Buy it if you want strong cooling and synced ARGB for little money. Skip it if your case clears less than 155mm.
Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
The NH-D15 chromax.black is the premium air pick for an i9-9900K on the Z390-E, especially in quiet builds. Its two 140mm fans move a lot of air at low speed, and its all-black finish suits the ROG Strix look without adding lighting that needs a header.
The Amazon listing describes six heat pipes, two NF-A15 140mm fans, SecuFirm2 mounting for Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty. QuietPC lists the original NH-D15 at 165mm while the Amazon highlight says 168mm, so check for at least 170mm of clearance.
It was listed around $120 on Amazon US with 4.8 out of 5 from about 13,500 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: strong air cooling with slow 140mm fans; six-year warranty; huge review base
- Cons: needs about 168mm of height; wide body can overhang the first RAM slot or tall memory
Buy it if you run an i9-9900K and want liquid-class cooling without a pump. Skip it if your case clears less than 170mm.
Noctua NH-U12A
The NH-U12A is the clearance-focused premium pick. It suits Z390-E builders who want Noctua-level quiet but need full access to the RAM slots and the top PCIe slot, for example with tall memory heat spreaders or a thick graphics card mounted close to the socket.
The Amazon listing describes seven heat pipes, two NF-A12x25 PWM fans, SecuFirm2 mounting for Intel LGA 1851 through 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty, and says it does not overhang RAM on LGA 1200 or block the PCIe slot on most boards. QuietPC lists a 158mm height and a five-year warranty.
It was listed around $110 on Amazon US with 4.8 out of 5 from about 3,700 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: two premium 120mm fans; strong RAM and PCIe clearance; 158mm height
- Cons: expensive; less fin area than the NH-D15 chromax.black
Buy it if clearance and quiet operation come first. Skip it if you want the most cooling per dollar.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB
The 360L Core ARGB is our liquid pick for an i9-9900K on the Z390-E. A 360mm radiator gives the most headroom for long renders or overclocks, and the build uses the board’s dedicated AIO_PUMP header for the pump and the addressable header for its lighting.
Cooler Master lists a 394 x 119.6 x 27.2mm aluminum radiator, three 120mm ARGB fans at 650 to 1,750 RPM rated at 71.93 CFM and 27.2 dBA, Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus a long AMD list, and a three-year warranty. You need a case with a 360mm mount.
It was listed around $88 on Amazon US with 4.5 out of 5 from about 840 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: 360mm radiator; LGA 1151 support confirmed by maker; ARGB
- Cons: needs a 360mm mount; pump adds a failure point
Buy it if you run a 9900K under heavy, sustained loads. Skip it if your case has no 360mm mount.
Thermalright Frozen Notte 360 Black ARGB V2
The Frozen Notte 360 is the budget 360mm option for Z390-E owners who want liquid cooling for an i9-9900K at a lower price than the Cooler Master. It suits black-themed ROG builds that want ARGB on both the pump and three fans, synced through the addressable header.
The Amazon listing gives a 397 x 120 x 27mm radiator, 450mm tubes, a pump at 5,300 RPM, three TL-E12B-S V2 120mm fans at up to 2,000 RPM, and support for Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5. It uses a 4-pin PWM fan cable, a 12V 3-pin pump cable and 5V 3-pin ARGB.
It was listed around $55 on Amazon US with 4.4 out of 5 from about 980 ratings as of November 2026. The seller recommends a case wider than 250mm.
- Pros: 360mm radiator for about $55; LGA 1151 listed; ARGB on pump and fans
- Cons: listing-only specs; warranty for the V2 not confirmed
Buy it if you want 360mm liquid cooling on a budget. Skip it if you prefer maker-confirmed specs.
Thermalright Aqua Elite 240 V3
The Aqua Elite 240 V3 suits Z390-E builds in cases that cannot take a 360mm radiator but have a 240mm mount at the front or top. It is a sensible liquid option for an i7-9700K, or for an i9-9900K at stock power limits, at a lower price than most branded 240mm units.
Thermalright lists a pump at 2,800 RPM and 23 dBA, TL-C12B-S V2 120mm fans, LGA 115x through 1851 and AM4 and AM5 support, and a three-year warranty. The Amazon listing adds 1,500 RPM fans at up to 25.6 dBA and 5V 3-pin ARGB sync.
It was listed around $45 on Amazon US with 4.7 out of 5 from about 510 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: low price; three-year warranty; LGA 1151 listed
- Cons: less capacity than a 360mm radiator for an overclocked 9900K; radiator size not stated on the maker page
Buy it if your case has only a 240mm mount. Skip it if a 360mm radiator fits.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3
The Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 is the budget pick for Z390-E builds running a six-core i5-9600K or a locked chip. It adds ARGB that can sync through the board’s addressable header, and it keeps costs down for builders who spent their budget on the motherboard and graphics card.
Cooler Master lists 124 x 73 x 152mm, four direct-contact heat pipes, one 120mm ARGB fan at 650 to 1,750 RPM rated at 71.93 CFM and 27.2 dBA, Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a two-year warranty.
It was listed around $20 on Amazon US with 4.7 out of 5 from about 990 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: low price; ARGB; LGA 1151 listed
- Cons: not enough for a heavily loaded i9-9900K
Buy it if you run an i5 and want lighting cheaply. Skip it if you have an eight-core K chip.
Z390-E cooler buying guide
The Z390-E gives you more cooling connections than many boards, so the main decisions are which headers to use, how to handle lighting, and how much space your case and RAM leave around the socket. The sections below walk through those choices using the board’s own spec list.
Use the right fan and pump headers
ASUS lists CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, AIO_PUMP and W_PUMP+ headers on the Z390-E. Plug an air cooler’s main fan into CPU_FAN and a second fan into CPU_OPT. For an AIO, connect the pump to AIO_PUMP and the radiator fans to CPU_FAN or CPU_OPT, then set curves in the BIOS.
Keeping the pump on its dedicated header lets you run it at a steady speed while the fans follow CPU temperature. That avoids the pump ramping with every load spike, which is a common source of noise in AIO builds.
Plan the lighting around one addressable header
The board has two Aura RGB strip headers and one Aura addressable strip header. ASUS’s ROG addressable LED strip page says addressable parts need a 3-pin addressable header and are not compatible with 4-pin RGB headers, and ARCTIC’s A-RGB guide warns that RGB and A-RGB are not interchangeable.
All the lit coolers here use 5V 3-pin ARGB. With only one addressable header, daisy-chain the cooler’s lighting or use a splitter, and do not plug ARGB parts into the 4-pin RGB headers. If you want more addressable devices, a powered ARGB hub is the cleanest option.
Check case clearance and RAM height
The tower picks run from 152mm to about 168mm. Look up your case’s listed CPU cooler clearance and leave margin. Large dual towers can overhang the first DIMM slot on an ATX board like the Z390-E, so check memory height if you use tall heat spreaders.
Clearance figures are not always accurate. The FPS Review reported a Noctua study of over 100 cases that found 56 deviated significantly from their listed cooler clearance, so measure if you are within a few millimeters of a tower’s height.
FAQ
These answers cover the questions Z390-E owners ask most when picking a cooler. They rely on ASUS’s spec page for the board, Intel’s processor pages and the maker and Amazon listings behind each pick, and they point back to the guide sections above for fuller explanations.
Do the best CPU coolers for ASUS ROG Strix Z390 E boards also fit newer Intel sockets?
All seven picks list LGA 1700 and LGA 1851 alongside LGA 1151, so they can move to a newer Intel board later. The mounting hardware differs between those sockets, so keep every bracket and standoff from the box when you first install it on the Z390-E.
Can I plug an ARGB cooler into the Aura RGB headers?
No. ASUS lists the Z390-E’s two Aura RGB strip headers separately from its addressable header, and the lit coolers here use 5V 3-pin addressable lighting. ASUS’s addressable LED strip page says addressable parts are not compatible with 4-pin RGB headers, so use the single addressable header or a hub.
Is a 240mm AIO enough for an i9-9900K on this board?
At Intel’s rated 95W, yes. Z390 boards often run K chips with higher power limits, though, and a 360mm radiator such as the 360L Core ARGB gives more headroom during long renders. If your case fits only a 240mm unit, set reasonable power limits in the BIOS.
Conclusion
Get the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE ARGB for a ROG Strix Z390-E build. It lists LGA 1151, has seven heat pipes and two fans for an i7-9700K or i9-9900K, syncs through the board’s addressable header, and cost about $36 in November 2026. Choose the 360L Core ARGB instead only for a heavily overclocked 9900K.
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