Most CPU coolers come with some thermal compound, but the type and amount vary from a small tube of premium paste to a pre-applied layer or even liquid metal. This guide to the best CPU coolers with thermal paste included compares seven models by the compound in the box, so you know whether you need to buy paste separately.
Quick verdict
The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 is the best value cooler with thermal paste included: a six-pipe dual tower that ships with TF7 compound, listed around $40 on Amazon US as of November 2026. Choose the Noctua NH-U12S redux for Noctua’s NT-H1 and six-year warranty, or the Cooler Master 360L Core for a 360mm AIO with CryoFuze.
| Cooler | Type | Paste in the box (listed) | Sockets (listed) | Warranty (listed) | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 | Dual-tower air | TF7 | LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5, AM4 | 3 years | about $40, 4.7 stars, 605 ratings |
| ARCTIC Freezer 36 | Single-tower air | MX-7 (spec sheet) | LGA 1851, 1700, AM5, AM4 | 6 years | about $22, 4.6 stars, 1,069 ratings |
| Noctua NH-U12S redux | Single-tower air | NT-H1 | LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5, AM4 | 6 years | about $60, 4.8 stars, 4,437 ratings |
| Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black | Dual-tower air | NT-H1 | LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5, AM4 | 6 years | about $120, 4.8 stars, 13,533 ratings |
| be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6 | Dual-tower air | Liquid metal plus normal paste | LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5, AM4 | Not stated | about $100, 4.2 stars, 82 ratings |
| Cooler Master 360L Core | 360mm AIO | CryoFuze, 14 W/mK | LGA 1851, 1700, AM5, AM4 | 2 years (listing) | about $68, 4.7 stars, 898 ratings |
| NZXT Kraken Plus 360 | 360mm AIO | Pre-applied | AM5, LGA 1851 and others | 6 years | about $176, 4.2 stars, 445 ratings |
Prices and ratings are Amazon US snapshots as of November 2026 and will change. Paste names come from the Amazon listings and, for ARCTIC, the official spec sheet; manufacturers rarely state how many applications each tube covers.
How we selected these coolers
We searched our November 11, 2026 Amazon US data for coolers whose listings name the thermal compound in the box, then kept models with current AM5 and LGA 1851 or LGA 1700 support and a meaningful ratings pool. The one exception is the Dark Rock Pro 6, included because it is the only cooler we found that ships liquid metal.
We cross-checked specs against manufacturer pages where we could reach them, including ARCTIC’s spec sheet and Cooler Master’s product page. We did not test these coolers or their compounds, so we do not rank pastes by temperature; instead we explain what each compound means for installation, reapplication and cost.
The list covers three ways paste arrives: a tube or syringe you apply yourself, a layer pre-applied to the cold plate, and liquid metal as an optional upgrade. Each has trade-offs for first installs, remounts and long-term maintenance, which we cover in the buying guide below.
Best CPU coolers with thermal paste, reviewed
The seven coolers below run from budget towers to 360mm AIOs. Each section names the compound in the box, the cooling hardware behind it, socket support and the CPUs it suits, so you can pick a cooler that is ready to install on day one without a separate trip for thermal paste.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 is our best value pick. The listing says mounting plates, fasteners, an installation manual and TF7 thermal paste are included, and AM4 and AM5 installs reuse the motherboard’s original AMD backplate. TF7 is Thermalright’s own compound, so you do not need to buy paste for the first install.
The cooler measures 125 x 135 x 155mm with six 6mm heat pipes and two 28mm-thick TL-C12C-X28 V2 fans rated at up to 1,850 rpm, 88.89 CFM, 2.21 mmH2O and 29.5 dBA. It was listed around $40 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.7 stars from about 600 ratings and a three-year warranty.
A six-pipe dual tower suits most gaming CPUs, including the 120W Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The front fan can be raised to clear tall RAM, which adds height, so check both your RAM height and your case’s cooler limit before buying.
- Pro: TF7 paste and full mounting kit included
- Pro: strong dual-tower hardware for the price
- Con: 155mm height rules out slim cases
- Con: tube size not stated
Buy it if you want a ready-to-install dual tower for a gaming PC. Skip it if your case limit is under 155mm.
ARCTIC Freezer 36
The Freezer 36 is the budget pick. ARCTIC’s spec sheet lists MX-7 thermal compound in the box, while the Amazon title still says MX-6, so the exact compound may depend on production batch. Either way it is ARCTIC’s own MX paste, a line many builders already buy separately for repastes.
The spec sheet gives a 104 x 126 x 159mm cooler with four 6mm copper heat pipes and two P12 PWM PST fans at 200 to 1,800 rpm in push-pull, with LGA 1851, 1700, AM5 and AM4 support and a six-year warranty. It was listed around $22 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.6 stars from about 1,070 ratings.
AMD installs need the four original AMD mounting screws that come with the motherboard, so keep them. Intel buyers get a contact frame for LGA 1851 and 1700. There is no LGA 1200 or 115x support listed, which rules it out for older Intel builds.
- Pro: MX paste and six-year warranty at a low price
- Pro: contact frame for current Intel sockets
- Con: needs original AMD screws
- Con: no older Intel sockets listed
Buy it if you want a cheap, well-supported cooler with good paste. Skip it if you have an LGA 1200 board.
Noctua NH-U12S redux
The NH-U12S redux is the pick for builders who want Noctua’s NT-H1 compound in a mid-priced tower. The listing says it includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and the SecuFirm2 mounting system for LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x and AM5 and AM4, so one box covers nearly every current desktop platform.
It has five heat pipes, one NF-P12 redux-1700 fan at up to 1,700 rpm and a 158mm height. It was listed around $60 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 4,440 ratings, and Noctua’s six-year warranty applies.
Because the paste comes in a tube, you can apply a fresh layer whenever you remount the cooler. A single 120mm tower suits 65W to 120W chips; for hotter CPUs, a dual tower or 360mm AIO is the better choice.
- Pro: NT-H1 paste and SecuFirm2 hardware
- Pro: huge owner base and six-year warranty
- Con: one fan limits headroom on hot CPUs
- Con: 158mm height
Buy it if you want a quiet, simple tower with trusted paste. Skip it if you run a 250W-class Core i9.
Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
The NH-D15 chromax.black is the premium air pick. Like the redux, it ships with NT-H1 thermal paste and SecuFirm2 mounting for LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5 and AM4, with offset mounting supported, but adds a dual-tower heatsink with six heat pipes and two NF-A15 140mm fans at up to 1,500 rpm.
It was listed around $120 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.8 stars from about 13,500 ratings, the largest pool in this list, and carries a six-year warranty. Amazon highlights a 168mm height, while a retailer lists the standard NH-D15 at 165mm, so allow for the taller figure.
This is the cooler to choose for a hot air-cooled build: Intel lists 253W maximum turbo power for the Core i9-14900K, and a large dual tower is the air option most suited to that load. Check case clearance first; the Corsair 4000D Airflow allows 170mm.
- Pro: NT-H1 paste with a top-tier dual tower
- Pro: six-year warranty, very large owner base
- Con: 165 to 168mm tall
- Con: can overhang tall RAM
Buy it if you want the most air cooling in this list. Skip it if your case is under 170mm.
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 6
The Dark Rock Pro 6 is the only cooler we found that ships liquid metal. The listing says liquid metal thermal grease is included for extra performance, along with normal thermal paste, so you can choose whichever compound matches your experience and comfort level.
The listing gives seven copper heat pipes, a Silent Wings 135mm and a 120mm PWM fan with fluid-dynamic bearings, a rail-mounted front fan, a pre-installed mounting bridge and a mode switch for full or semi-passive operation, with fans stopping below 40% PWM. It names LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x, AM5 and AM4 and a 300W rating.
It was listed around $100 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.2 stars from only about 80 ratings. Liquid metal is electrically conductive and can damage aluminum, so use it only on copper or nickel-plated contact surfaces and only if you are comfortable applying it carefully.
- Pro: liquid metal and normal paste included
- Pro: semi-passive mode switch
- Con: small ratings pool, warranty not stated
- Con: liquid metal needs careful application
Buy it if you want a flagship air cooler and might try liquid metal. Skip it if you want a proven owner base.
Cooler Master 360L Core
The 360L Core is the AIO pick for paste quality on paper. Its listing says premium CryoFuze thermal paste is included, with a stated thermal conductivity of 14 W/mK and stability from -50C to 250C, which is the only compound in this list with a published conductivity figure.
The listing gives a 394 x 119.6 x 27.2mm radiator, three 120mm ARGB PWM fans, a Gen S dual-chamber pump and AM5, AM4, LGA 1851 and 1700 support. It was listed around $68 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.7 stars from about 900 ratings; the listing states a two-year warranty, while Cooler Master’s 360L Core ARGB page gives three years.
A 360mm radiator suits hot chips such as the Core i9-14900K and the 170W Ryzen 9 7950X. Because the paste comes separately rather than pre-applied, you can repaste after a remount without scraping off a factory layer.
- Pro: CryoFuze paste with a stated 14 W/mK
- Pro: 360mm radiator at a low price
- Con: warranty terms vary by listing
- Con: needs a 360mm case mount
Buy it if you want a 360mm AIO with high-rated paste included. Skip it if your case cannot take 360mm.
NZXT Kraken Plus 360
The Kraken Plus 360 is the pick for the fastest first install. Its listing says the cold plate comes with pre-applied thermal paste, plus a single breakout cable from the pump cap and tool-free mounting brackets that support AM5 and LGA 1851 among other sockets.
It adds a 1.54-inch LCD driven by NZXT CAM, NZXT’s Turbine pump and F120P fans with a Zero RPM mode, and the listing states a six-year warranty. It was listed around $176 on Amazon US as of November 2026 with 4.2 stars from about 445 ratings, the lowest average of the AIOs here.
Pre-applied paste avoids measuring or spreading, but it is a one-time layer. If you remove the cooler, you will need your own tube for the remount, so add a small syringe of paste to your order if you expect to move the cooler.
- Pro: pre-applied paste, tool-free brackets
- Pro: six-year warranty and LCD screen
- Con: no spare paste for remounts
- Con: high price, lower rating average
Buy it if you want an AIO that installs with minimal steps. Skip it if value matters more than convenience.
Buying guide for coolers with thermal paste
Included paste is convenient, but it is only one part of the decision. The points below explain the difference between tube and pre-applied compounds, when to buy paste separately, what liquid metal involves and how to make sure the cooler under the paste matches your CPU and case.
Tube, syringe or pre-applied
A tube or syringe, as with TF7, MX-7, NT-H1 and CryoFuze here, lets you apply paste yourself and usually leaves some for a remount. Manufacturers rarely state how many applications a tube holds, so plan on one or two installs from each tube in the box.
Pre-applied paste, as on the Kraken Plus 360, is fast and avoids applying too much or too little. The trade-off is that it is single use: once you lift the cold plate, clean both surfaces and apply new compound before reinstalling.
When to buy paste separately
You need extra paste if you remount a cooler with pre-applied compound, move a cooler between builds, or use a cooler whose tube ran out. A small syringe of a known compound such as MX or NT-H1 is cheap insurance for any build, especially one you expect to rebuild.
You do not need premium aftermarket paste for most builds. Paste choice usually matters less than correct mounting pressure and even coverage, so focus on a proper install first and treat an upgraded compound as a minor tweak.
Liquid metal precautions
Liquid metal conducts electricity and reacts with aluminum. Use it only on copper or nickel-plated surfaces, apply a very thin layer, and protect nearby components. The Dark Rock Pro 6 also includes normal paste, which is the safer choice for most builders.
Liquid metal can also be harder to clean off and may need reapplication over time. If you are building your first PC, start with the standard paste and consider liquid metal later, once you are comfortable taking the cooler on and off safely.
Match the cooler to your CPU and case
AMD rates the Ryzen 5 7600 at 65W, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at 120W and the Ryzen 9 7950X at 170W, while Intel lists 253W maximum turbo power for the Core i9-14900K. Match the cooler to those figures, not to the paste that happens to come in the box with it.
Single towers such as the Freezer 36 and NH-U12S redux suit 65W to 120W chips. The Peerless Assassin V2 and NH-D15 cover most gaming CPUs, and the 360mm AIOs suit the hottest processors. Always check your case’s CPU cooler height or radiator support before buying.
FAQ
These answers cover common questions about the thermal compound that ships with CPU coolers, from reapplication to liquid metal. They are based on the listings and manufacturer pages above, collected in November 2026, and avoid paste performance claims we could not confirm from a published source.
Which of the best CPU coolers with thermal paste is the best value?
The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2. It ships TF7 paste with a six-pipe dual tower and a three-year warranty for about $40 on Amazon US as of November 2026. For an even lower price, the ARCTIC Freezer 36 includes MX paste for about $22 in the same snapshot.
Is the included thermal paste good enough?
For most builds, yes. Compounds such as NT-H1, MX-7 and TF7 are also sold on their own as aftermarket pastes. Correct mounting and even coverage matter more than switching to a pricier compound, so use what comes in the box unless it runs out or dries up.
Can I reuse pre-applied thermal paste?
No. Once you lift a cold plate with pre-applied paste, the layer is disturbed. Clean the CPU and cooler with isopropyl alcohol and apply fresh compound before reinstalling. Keep a small tube of paste on hand if you choose a cooler with pre-applied compound.
Should I use liquid metal on a CPU cooler?
Only if you are experienced and the contact surfaces are copper or nickel plated. Liquid metal is conductive and attacks aluminum. The Dark Rock Pro 6 includes both liquid metal and standard paste, and the standard paste is the right choice for most builders.
Conclusion
Buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE V2 if you want the best cooler with thermal paste included: TF7 compound, a six-pipe dual tower and a three-year warranty for about $40. If your CPU is a hot Core i9 or Ryzen 9, choose the Cooler Master 360L Core with its CryoFuze paste and 360mm radiator instead.
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