Many PC builders used AnandTech’s in-depth reviews to choose hardware, and searches for its cooler picks keep coming even though the site is gone. This guide to the best CPU coolers AnandTech readers can rely on now lists seven models backed by independent reviews that are still online, with specs we verified in November 2026.
Quick verdict
If you want a review-backed cooler without the old AnandTech recommendations to lean on, buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for value or the Noctua NH-D15 G2 for premium air. Both have detailed independent reviews online. For liquid cooling, the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB has the deepest published coverage among the AIOs here.
| Cooler | Type | Height or radiator | Fans | Independent review we read | Best for | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE | Dual tower | 155mm | 2 x 120mm | basic-tutorials | Best value | about $35, 4.7 stars, 3,389 ratings |
| ARCTIC Freezer 36 A-RGB | Single tower, push-pull | 159mm | 2 x 120mm | ocinside | Budget with lighting | about $36, 4.5 stars, 685 ratings |
| Noctua NH-U12S redux | Single tower | 158mm | 1 x 120mm | APH Networks | Quiet mid-range | about $60, 4.8 stars, 4,437 ratings |
| Noctua NH-D15 G2 | Dual tower | 168mm | 2 x 140mm | Hardware Busters, APH Networks | Premium air | Not in our Amazon data |
| be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 | Dual tower | 168mm | 135mm + 120mm | Hardware Busters, basic-tutorials | Quiet premium alternative | Not in our Amazon data |
| DeepCool LT720 | 360mm AIO | 402 x 120 x 27mm | 3 x 120mm | APH Networks, KitGuru | AIO with five-year warranty | Not in our Amazon data |
| ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB | 360mm AIO | 398 x 120 x 38mm | 3 x 120mm | CDRinfo, GamersNexus | Thick-radiator AIO | Not in our Amazon data |
Amazon prices and ratings are snapshots as of November 2026 and will change. Four coolers were not identified in our Amazon data, so check current US retailers for those exact models before you plan around them.
What happened to AnandTech
According to Wikipedia, AnandTech ended publication on August 30, 2024, under owner Future plc. The site was expected to stay up as an archive, but on August 1, 2025, its contents were removed, leaving only the forums. That is why old AnandTech cooler reviews and buyer’s guides are hard to find now.
So this guide does not repeat AnandTech’s past picks, which we could not read. Instead it applies the same idea readers valued there, decisions grounded in detailed testing, by recommending coolers that independent sites such as Hardware Busters, APH Networks, KitGuru and GamersNexus have reviewed in depth.
How we selected these review-backed coolers
Every pick had to have at least one in-depth independent review we could actually read in November 2026, plus manufacturer or retailer specs to confirm height, fans and sockets. We used those reviews for specifications and design details, not for temperature claims, because test setups differ between sites.
We then covered the main categories a reader would expect from a full buyer’s guide: a value dual tower, a budget single tower, a quiet mid-range tower, two premium air coolers and two 360mm AIOs. All seven list AM5 and AM4 plus LGA 1700, and most list LGA 1851.
We excluded the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 because ARCTIC’s own page showed it as no longer available in November 2026. We did not run our own tests, so every judgment here rests on published specs and the reviews named above.
Best CPU coolers AnandTech readers can buy now
The seven coolers below are grouped from value air to premium liquid. Each section lists the specs confirmed by manufacturers or the independent reviews we read, who the cooler suits and what to check before buying, so you can make a decision grounded in published detail rather than a single star rating.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the value pick with a detailed review behind it. Thermalright lists a 155mm height, six 6mm heat pipes and LGA 115x to 1851 plus AM4 and AM5 support, and basic-tutorials’ review confirms two TL-C12C 120mm fans and a 125 x 155 x 135mm size with fans.
It was listed around $35 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.7 stars from about 3,400 ratings. Thermalright rates each fan at 1,550 rpm and 25.6 dBA. That combination of a full dual tower and a low price is its main appeal for budget and mid-range builds.
Its main limits are physical: 155mm of height and a front fan that can sit over tall RAM. Thermalright’s page also does not state a warranty term, which matters to readers who weigh long-term support alongside performance.
- Pro: dual tower and two fans at a low price
- Pro: independent review plus a huge owner base
- Con: warranty not stated by Thermalright
- Con: 155mm height
Buy it if you want the best cooling per dollar with published coverage. Skip it if your case is under 160mm.
ARCTIC Freezer 36 A-RGB
The Freezer 36 A-RGB is the budget single tower with lighting. ARCTIC’s spec sheet lists a 104 x 126 x 159mm size, 917g, two P12 PWM PST A-RGB fans at 200 to 2,000 rpm in push-pull, four 6mm copper heat pipes, LGA 1851 and 1700 plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty.
ocinside’s review confirms the 159mm height, push-pull fans and direct-touch heat pipes. It was listed around $36 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.5 stars from about 690 ratings. The Amazon listing notes that AMD installs need the motherboard’s original mounting screws.
A six-year warranty is unusual at this price and is a strong point for long-term owners. The trade-off is that ARCTIC lists only current sockets, so it will not mount on older LGA 1200 or 115x boards.
- Pro: six-year warranty and contact frame for current Intel
- Pro: push-pull A-RGB fans
- Con: no LGA 1200 or 115x support
- Con: needs the board’s original AMD screws
Buy it if you want lighting and a long warranty on a current platform. Skip it if you are upgrading an older Intel PC.
Noctua NH-U12S redux
The NH-U12S redux is the quiet mid-range pick. APH Networks’ review and retailer listings give a 158mm height and an NF-P12 redux-1700 120mm fan, and Amazon adds five heat pipes, NT-H1 paste, SecuFirm2 mounting for LGA 1851 to 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty.
It was listed around $60 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 4,400 ratings. Noctua’s listing says the slim tower does not overhang the RAM slots and does not block the top PCIe slot on most ATX and micro-ATX boards.
It is best suited to 65W to 120W chips, where its single fan can stay slow. For 250W-class CPUs such as the Core i9-14900K, Intel’s 253W maximum turbo power calls for a larger dual tower or a 360mm AIO.
- Pro: six-year warranty and premium mounting
- Pro: slim, RAM-friendly design
- Con: single fan limits headroom
- Con: less heatsink per dollar than Thermalright duals
Buy it if you want quiet, long-supported cooling for a mid-range CPU. Skip it if you run a flagship chip hard.
Noctua NH-D15 G2
The NH-D15 G2 is the premium air pick with the deepest review coverage here. Hardware Busters lists a 150 x 168 x 152mm size, two NF-A14x25r G2 140mm fans up to 1,500 rpm, eight heat pipes, LGA 115x to 1851 plus AM4 and AM5 support and a six-year warranty.
Hardware Busters also explains the three base versions: standard, LBC for flatter CPUs such as AMD chips, and HBC for LGA 1700 chips that bend under socket pressure. The standard version includes an AM5 offset mount and LGA 1700 shim washers. APH Networks’ chromax.black review confirms the 168mm height and eight 6mm pipes.
We could not identify the G2 with a price in our Amazon data, so check current US retailers. It needs about 170mm of case clearance and room for wide towers over the RAM, so measure your case before ordering.
- Pro: eight heat pipes and two 140mm fans
- Pro: base versions matched to CPU type
- Con: 168mm height
- Con: price and stock not confirmed in our data
Buy it if you want the most thoroughly reviewed premium air cooler. Skip it if your case is under about 170mm.
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5
The Dark Rock Pro 5 is the quiet premium alternative to the NH-D15 G2. Hardware Busters lists a 145 x 136 x 168mm size, Silent Wings 4 135mm and 120mm fans, seven 6mm heat pipes, a 270W rating, Intel LGA 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a three-year warranty.
basic-tutorials’ review adds fan speeds of 2,000 rpm for the 120mm front fan and 1,700 rpm for the 135mm middle fan, and describes 270W as a theoretical maximum. Neither review we read lists LGA 1851, so check be quiet!’s page if you are building on a Core Ultra board.
We could not identify the Pro 5 with a price in our Amazon data. be quiet! has since released the Dark Rock Pro 6, which appears on Amazon US with few ratings, so compare both if you shop for this style of cooler.
- Pro: two Silent Wings fans and seven heat pipes
- Pro: reviewed in depth by two sites
- Con: LGA 1851 not listed in reviews
- Con: three-year warranty is shorter than Noctua’s
Buy it if you prefer be quiet!’s design and run AM5 or LGA 1700. Skip it if you need confirmed LGA 1851 support.
DeepCool LT720
The DeepCool LT720 is a 360mm AIO with strong review coverage. APH Networks lists a 402 x 120 x 27mm radiator, three 120mm fans at 500 to 2,250 rpm, a 3,100 rpm pump, and Intel LGA 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AMD AM5 and AM4 support in its mounting kit.
KitGuru’s review adds a five-year warranty for the LT series, three FK120 fluid-dynamic bearing fans, an infinity mirror on the pump block and a removable top cover that sits in one position only. A 27mm radiator is a standard thickness that suits most top mounts.
We could not identify it with a price in our Amazon data, so check US stock. It suits 250W-class chips like the Core i9-14900K under sustained load, and its five-year warranty is longer than many AIOs at similar sizes.
- Pro: 360mm radiator and five-year warranty
- Pro: standard 27mm radiator thickness
- Con: price and stock not confirmed
- Con: LGA 1851 not listed in the review we read
Buy it if you want a well-reviewed 360mm AIO for AM5 or LGA 1700. Skip it if you need confirmed LGA 1851 support.
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB
The Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB is the AIO with the deepest published coverage in our research. CDRinfo lists a 398 x 120 x 38mm radiator, three P12 PWM PST A-RGB fans at 200 to 2,000 rpm, a VRM fan at 400 to 2,500 rpm, LGA 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5, and a six-year warranty.
GamersNexus’ review explains that AMD installs use a forced offset mount and Intel installs use the included contact frame, with the VRM fan housed in a separable pump cap. Those details target the hottest part of modern chips and the power circuitry around the socket.
The 38mm radiator is thicker than the usual 27mm, so check top clearance above RAM and VRM heatsinks. We could not identify this non-Pro model in our Amazon data, and ARCTIC lists the related Pro 360 as no longer available, so confirm current stock.
- Pro: thick 38mm radiator and VRM fan
- Pro: six-year warranty
- Con: 38mm radiator needs extra top clearance
- Con: US stock not confirmed
Buy it if you want a thoroughly reviewed AIO with a long warranty. Skip it if your case has tight top clearance.
How to read CPU cooler reviews now
Without AnandTech, readers have to piece together evidence from several sources. The points below explain how to use independent reviews, manufacturer specs and retailer data together, and how to avoid the common traps when comparing cooler test results from different sites.
Compare specs before charts
Start with facts that do not depend on test setup: height, fan size and count, heat pipe count, radiator size and thickness, socket support and warranty. These decide whether a cooler fits your case and CPU before performance even matters, and they rarely differ between sources.
When sources disagree, prefer the manufacturer. For example, a retailer lists the original NH-D15 at 165mm while Amazon highlights 168mm, so plan for the taller figure. A Noctua study reported by The FPS Review in August 2026 also found that 56 of more than 100 cases deviated from their listed clearance.
Treat temperature results as relative
Review sites test with different CPUs, power levels, room temperatures and fan settings. A cooler’s result is useful compared with other coolers in the same review, but not when mixed with numbers from another site. Look for tests at fixed power and fixed noise levels if you want a fair comparison.
Also note the CPU used. A cooler that looks strong on a 65W chip may struggle with a chip like the Core i9-14900K, which Intel lists at up to 253W maximum turbo power. Choose reviews that tested a CPU close to yours in power.
Weigh warranty and support
Long warranties reflect a maker’s confidence and protect you if a pump or fan fails. Among the coolers here, Noctua and ARCTIC list six years, DeepCool five years for the LT series and be quiet! three years for the Dark Rock Pro 5. Thermalright did not state a warranty on the pages we checked.
Mounting support also matters. Noctua’s coolers list sockets from LGA 115x to LGA 1851 plus AM4 and AM5, while ARCTIC’s Freezer 36 lists only current sockets. If you plan to move the cooler to a future build, broad socket support adds long-term value.
FAQ
These answers cover questions former AnandTech readers often have about finding trustworthy cooler advice now. They draw on Wikipedia’s account of the site’s closure and on the independent reviews and manufacturer specs we read in November 2026, without repeating benchmark numbers we did not verify ourselves.
Where did the best CPU coolers AnandTech recommended go?
According to Wikipedia, AnandTech stopped publishing on August 30, 2024, and its content was removed on August 1, 2025, leaving only the forums. Old reviews may survive in web archives, but they cover older coolers and sockets, so current reviews from other sites are more useful for a new build.
Which review sites cover CPU coolers in depth now?
The reviews we used for this guide came from Hardware Busters, APH Networks, KitGuru, GamersNexus, ocinside, CDRinfo and basic-tutorials. They publish detailed spec tables and test notes. Cross-check them with manufacturer pages before you buy, since specs occasionally differ.
Is the NH-D15 G2 worth it over the Peerless Assassin?
For low noise and long support, yes. The NH-D15 G2 adds two 140mm fans, eight heat pipes, base versions matched to CPU type and a six-year warranty. For value, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE costs far less and covers most gaming CPUs comfortably while leaving budget for other parts.
Should I trust Amazon ratings for coolers?
Use them as one signal. Large rating pools, such as about 3,400 ratings for the Peerless Assassin as of November 2026, show many owners are satisfied. Ratings say little about noise or performance, so combine them with independent reviews and the manufacturer specs before you decide.
Conclusion
With AnandTech gone, buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE if value matters most, since it pairs a well-documented dual tower with a low price. If you want the most thoroughly reviewed premium option, choose the Noctua NH-D15 G2, and measure your case for its 168mm height first.
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