The Core i7-8700 is a six-core, 65W LGA 1151 chip that often ends up in slim office desktops and small home builds, where a tall tower cooler will not fit. This guide to the best low profile CPU coolers for 8700 systems lists seven slim models that still name LGA 1151 support, from 37mm to 70mm, with clear limits for each.
Quick verdict
For most slim i7-8700 builds, the Noctua NH-L9i is the cooler to buy: 37mm tall, made for LGA 1151 and rated for moderate heat loads, with a 6-year warranty for about $50 on Amazon US as of November 2026. If your case fits 65mm, the NH-L9x65 runs with more headroom; on a budget, the AXP90-X53 Black costs about $22.
| Cooler | Height | Fan | LGA 1151 listed | Best for | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noctua NH-L9i | 37mm | 92mm slim | Yes | Best overall for a slim 8700 | about $50, 4.7 stars, 3,437 ratings |
| Noctua NH-L9x65 | 65mm | 92mm slim | Yes (115x) | More headroom at 65mm | about $70, 4.7 stars, 2,972 ratings |
| Noctua NH-L12S | 70mm | 120mm slim | Yes (115x) | Most capacity under 70mm | about $75, 4.7 stars, 1,943 ratings |
| ID-Cooling IS-55 Black | 57mm | 120 x 15mm | Yes (115x) | 120mm fan for less | about $40, 4.5 stars, 837 ratings |
| be quiet! Pure Rock LP | 45mm | 92mm | Yes (115x) | 45mm cases | about $50, 4.5 stars, 144 ratings |
| Thermalright AXP90-X53 Black | 53mm | 90mm slim | Yes | Budget slim | about $22, 4.3 stars, 92 ratings |
| SilverStone NT07-115X | 23mm per listing | 80mm | Yes | Extremely thin cases | about $30, 4.2 stars, 167 ratings |
How we selected these coolers
This is a research-based roundup, not a lab test. We started from Amazon US search data collected on November 11, 2026, kept only low profile coolers whose listing or maker page names LGA 1151 or the full LGA 115x family, and checked heights, fans and warranties against listings, retailer specs and maker pages.
Intel’s specification page confirms that the i7-8700 has six cores and twelve threads, a 65W TDP and an FCLGA1151 socket. That 65W rating is the reason slim coolers are realistic here; the unlocked i7-8700K runs hotter and needs more cooler than most of these models can provide in a cramped case.
Prices, ratings and review counts are a snapshot from Amazon US as of November 2026 and will change. Ranking follows LGA 1151 fit, suitability for a 65W six-core chip, verified specs and value, never commission.
Best low profile CPU coolers for 8700 systems compared
The seven picks start with the best fit for a typical slim case and move to taller, stronger options and then budget and extreme-slim models. Each section covers who the cooler suits, verified specs, LGA 1151 mounting and trade-offs, followed by plain pros, cons and a clear buy-or-skip line for an i7-8700 build.
Noctua NH-L9i
The NH-L9i is our best overall pick because it was designed for LGA 115x desktops like the i7-8700’s and fits the slimmest cases at 37mm. It suits small office PCs, home theater PCs and mini-ITX builds where the 8700 runs mostly everyday work, browsing and media rather than long all-core renders.
The listing gives a 37mm total height, an NF-A9x14 92mm slim fan and support for LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 and 1200, with a 6-year warranty. Noctua describes it for CPUs with moderate heat loads. Its compact 92mm footprint stays clear of RAM slots on most boards.
It was listed around $50 on Amazon US and rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 3,400 ratings as of November 2026. Under sustained six-core loads, the fan will spin up noticeably; if that matters, a taller cooler from this list will run quieter.
- Pro: purpose-made for LGA 115x and 37mm tall
- Pro: huge ratings base and 6-year warranty
- Pro: compact footprint avoids RAM conflicts
- Con: fan ramps up under long all-core loads
- Con: no LGA 1700 support for a future upgrade
Buy if your slim case fits about 40mm and the 8700 runs everyday workloads. Skip if your case has 65mm or more of room, where the NH-L9x65 is quieter.
Noctua NH-L9x65
The NH-L9x65 gives an i7-8700 more thermal headroom while staying low profile. Its 65mm heatsink has much more fin area than the NH-L9i, so the fan can stay slower at the same load. It suits slim desktops and ITX cases with about 70mm of clearance, where the 8700 sometimes runs heavier work.
The listing gives a 65mm total height, an NF-A9x14 92mm slim fan and support for LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, with a 6-year warranty. Noctua recommends it for low to moderate heat output, which matches a 65W chip.
It was listed around $70 on Amazon US and rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 3,000 ratings as of November 2026. Because it also lists LGA 1700 and 1851, it can move to a newer Intel board later.
- Pro: more capacity than 37mm coolers at a low profile
- Pro: lists LGA 115x and current sockets
- Con: 65mm height rules out the slimmest cases
- Con: higher price than the NH-L9i
Buy if your case allows 65mm and you want lower noise under load. Skip if your case is under 65mm.
Noctua NH-L12S
The NH-L12S is the strongest slim option for an i7-8700. Its 120mm fan and larger heatsink suit owners who run long encodes or compiles on the six-core chip in a compact case, and want the quietest result under 70mm, even if that means paying the most in this guide.
Retailer specs list a 70mm height in low profile mode with an NF-A12x15 120mm slim fan, 35mm RAM clearance in that mode or 48mm in high-clearance mode, LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4 support, and a 6-year warranty.
It was listed around $75 on Amazon US and rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 1,900 ratings as of November 2026. The 35mm RAM limit in low profile mode rules out taller memory, so check your DIMMs.
- Pro: most capacity and lowest fan speeds in the slim class
- Pro: 6-year warranty and current socket support
- Con: 35mm RAM limit in low profile mode
- Con: highest price in this guide
Buy if you have 70mm of room and want the quietest slim cooler for heavy use. Skip if your RAM is tall or your case is under 70mm.
ID-Cooling IS-55 Black
The IS-55 brings a 120mm fan to the 57mm class at a lower price than Noctua. It suits mid-height slim cases and owners who want more capacity than a 92mm cooler for their i7-8700 without paying for a premium brand, and who have a little extra room around the socket for a wider heatsink.
ID-Cooling lists 120 x 120 x 57mm, a 120 x 120 x 15mm PWM fan, five 6mm heat pipes and a 150W rating, with LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4 support. The listing adds up to 54.6 CFM and 13.8 to 31.2 dBA.
It was listed around $40 on Amazon US and rated 4.5 out of 5 from about 840 ratings as of November 2026. The 120mm footprint may overhang RAM on some small boards.
- Pro: 120mm fan and 150W rating at 57mm
- Pro: strong value with a large ratings base
- Con: wider footprint than 92mm coolers
- Con: warranty not stated on the maker page
Buy if your case allows about 60mm and you want headroom for less. Skip if your board is crowded around the socket.
be quiet! Pure Rock LP
The Pure Rock LP is a 45mm option for cases that cannot take 57mm. It suits slim desktops with an i7-8700, where the owner wants a stated wattage rating and support for newer sockets in case of a later upgrade to a 12th, 13th or 14th gen Intel board.
The listing describes a 45mm height, three 6mm heat pipes, a 92mm fan with a maximum of 30.6 dB(A) and a 100W rating, with Intel LGA 1700, 1200 and 1150/1151/1155 plus AM5 and AM4 support. A 100W rating leaves sensible margin for a 65W chip.
It was listed around $50 on Amazon US and rated 4.5 out of 5 from about 140 ratings as of November 2026. Its maximum noise rating is higher than Noctua’s slim fans, so set a gentle curve.
- Pro: 45mm height with a 100W rating
- Pro: LGA 1151 and LGA 1700 support
- Con: higher maximum noise rating
- Con: small ratings base
Buy if your case fits about 45mm. Skip if you can fit the NH-L9x65 or need the slimmest possible cooler.
Thermalright AXP90-X53 Black
The AXP90-X53 Black is the budget slim option for the 8700. It suits office PCs, small family desktops and budget builds with about 55mm of clearance, where the cooler mainly needs to replace a loud, worn or lost stock unit at the lowest sensible cost.
The Amazon title gives a 53mm height, four heat pipes and a 90mm TL-9015B slim PWM fan, with Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200 and 1851 plus AM4. Detailed bullets were not captured, so noise is not quoted.
It was listed around $22 on Amazon US and rated 4.3 out of 5 from about 90 ratings as of November 2026. Expect noticeable fan noise under sustained six-core loads.
- Pro: about $22 with LGA 1151 support
- Pro: 53mm height for mid-slim cases
- Con: limited listing detail and small ratings base
- Con: louder than Noctua under load
Buy if you need a cheap slim cooler for a 55mm case. Skip if quiet operation is a priority.
SilverStone NT07-115X
The NT07-115X is for extremely thin cases where even 37mm is too tall. The listing title describes it as 23mm tall with an 80mm PWM fan and 65W support, which matches the i7-8700’s rating on paper, though it leaves no margin for long six-core loads or warm rooms.
The title lists LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 and 1200 support. We could not confirm whether the 23mm figure includes the fan, and no bullets or manufacturer page were checked, so treat the height and cooling capacity cautiously and confirm with SilverStone.
It was listed around $30 on Amazon US and rated 4.2 out of 5 from about 170 ratings as of November 2026. At exactly the 8700’s 65W rating, expect high fan speeds under load and consider lowering power limits.
- Pro: thinnest option in the guide per the listing
- Pro: LGA 1151 named in the title
- Con: 65W rating leaves no margin
- Con: limited verified specs
Buy only if your case cannot fit a 37mm cooler. Skip otherwise, because the NH-L9i is quieter.
How to fit a slim cooler on an i7-8700 system
The i7-8700 is efficient enough for slim coolers, but fit and settings decide how quiet the result is. The checks below cover LGA 1151 mounting, case height and power settings for small systems, including prebuilt desktops where the original cooler may not use a standard mount.
Choosing the best low profile CPU coolers for 8700 power levels
Intel rates the i7-8700 at 65W, so every cooler here can work. Taller heatsinks run quieter: the NH-L9x65 or NH-L12S will keep fan speeds lower than 37mm designs in long six-core workloads. In very slim coolers, lowering the long-duration power limit in the BIOS reduces noise further.
LGA 1151 mounting and prebuilt desktops
LGA 1150, 1151, 1155 and 1156 share a 75 x 75mm hole pattern, so coolers that list 115x fit the 8700’s board. Many i7-8700 systems are prebuilt office PCs, which can use proprietary cooler mounts or shrouds; confirm a standard LGA 1151 socket layout before buying.
Measuring height in slim cases
Measure from the CPU to the side panel or lid and leave a margin. Noctua’s survey of more than 100 cases found many listed clearances to be inaccurate. Check RAM height too, especially with the NH-L12S in low profile mode, where Noctua lists a 35mm memory limit.
FAQ
These answers cover the questions i7-8700 owners ask most about slim coolers. They draw on Intel’s specification page and the listings and retailer pages cited above, and they apply to retail LGA 1151 boards; prebuilt desktops may need extra checks for proprietary mounts.
Is a low profile cooler enough for an i7-8700?
Yes. Intel rates it at 65W, which suits slim coolers. A 37mm cooler like the NH-L9i works for everyday loads, while 65mm and 70mm designs handle long six-core workloads more quietly. In very slim cases, a modest power limit in the BIOS helps keep noise down.
Will these coolers work with an i7-8700K?
The 8700K is unlocked and rated at 95W, and it can draw more when boosted. Slim coolers will limit it in long loads. If you have an 8700K in a small case, the NH-L12S is the most capable option here, but a tower is the better choice if your case can fit one.
Can I reuse these coolers on a newer Intel board?
The NH-L9x65, NH-L12S, IS-55 and Pure Rock LP list LGA 1700, and some also list LGA 1851. The NH-L9i and NT07-115X do not list LGA 1700, so they would need replacing if you upgrade to a 12th gen or newer Intel platform, while the others can move with you.
Does my prebuilt i7-8700 desktop accept these coolers?
Many retail-style boards do, but some prebuilt office desktops use proprietary mounts, ducts or very slim cases. Check for a standard LGA 1151 socket and measure the space before ordering, because returns on opened coolers can be awkward and slow with many sellers.
Conclusion
Buy the Noctua NH-L9i. It was designed for LGA 115x desktops like the i7-8700’s, fits the slimmest cases at 37mm, handles the 65W six-core chip for everyday work and carries a 6-year warranty. If your case fits 65mm, take the NH-L9x65 instead for quieter heavy loads.
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