An LGA 1150 motherboard from the Haswell era often lives in a small case, such as an old office mini tower or a mini-ITX HTPC, where a big modern tower will not fit. This guide to the best small CPU coolers for 1150 motherboards lists seven compact models that still name LGA 1150 support, with specs and Amazon US data from November 2026.
Quick verdict
For most small LGA 1150 builds, the Noctua NH-L9i is the safest pick: 37mm tall, a quiet 92mm fan, LGA1150 in its socket list and a 6-year warranty for about $50 on Amazon US as of November 2026. On a tight budget, the Cooler Master i30 costs about $13; for a Core i7-4790K, step up to the ID-Cooling IS-55 Black.
| Cooler | Height | Fan | LGA 1150 support | Best for | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noctua NH-L9i | 37mm | 92mm slim | Yes | Best overall slim pick | about $50, 4.7 stars, 3,437 ratings |
| Cooler Master i30 | 30mm heatsink plus fan | 92mm-class | Yes | Cheapest stock replacement | about $13, 4.5 stars, 638 ratings |
| SilverStone SST-NT07-115X | 23mm | 80mm | Yes | Ultra-thin cases | about $30, 4.2 stars, 167 ratings |
| ID-Cooling IS-55 Black | 57mm | 120mm slim | Yes | Core i7-4790K in a small case | about $40, 4.5 stars, 837 ratings |
| Thermalright AXP90-X53 Full Copper | 53mm | 92mm slim | Yes | Copper under 55mm | about $36, 4.5 stars, 151 ratings |
| Noctua NH-U9S | 125mm | 92mm | Yes (115x) | Small towers, quiet | about $70, 4.8 stars, 1,844 ratings |
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini Black | 135mm | 120mm | Yes (115X) | Most capacity in micro-ATX | about $34, 4.6 stars, 173 ratings |
Prices and ratings are Amazon US snapshots as of November 2026 and will change. Socket support is from each manufacturer page or listing.
How we picked the best small CPU coolers for 1150 motherboards
We started with small coolers sold on Amazon US in November 2026 and kept only those whose manufacturer page or listing names LGA1150 or the LGA115x family. That rule matters because many current coolers have dropped older Intel sockets, and LGA1700 and LGA1851 use a different 78x78mm pattern from LGA115x’s 75x75mm.
We then sorted the picks by the small cases LGA 1150 boards usually sit in: slim HTPC and office cases under 40mm, mini-ITX boxes that clear 50 to 60mm, and micro-ATX mini towers that take 125 to 135mm. Heights here run from 23mm to 135mm.
Chip power framed the advice. Intel lists the Core i7-4790K at 88W, and the Pentium G3258 Anniversary Edition is rated at 53W. Most locked Haswell chips sit between those. We did not test any cooler and quote no temperatures.
Small LGA 1150 cooler reviews
The seven coolers below run from slim models for HTPC and office cases to compact towers for micro-ATX mini towers. Each review notes the verified LGA 1150 support, the Haswell chips it suits and what to check on an older board, followed by a plain buy-or-skip line for quick decisions.
Noctua NH-L9i
The NH-L9i is the best small cooler for most LGA 1150 builds. The Amazon listing gives a 37mm total height, an NF-A9x14 92mm slim fan, support for LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and LGA1200, a 6-year warranty and a positioning for CPUs with moderate heat load.
At 37mm it fits slim HTPC and office cases where most coolers will not, while the Noctua fan keeps idle noise low. It suits locked Haswell chips such as a Core i5 or i7 non-K well. For the 88W Core i7-4790K, it will mount but its fan will work hard under long loads, so a taller cooler is better if you have the room.
As of November 2026 it listed around $50 with 4.7 stars from about 3,440 ratings, by far the largest review base among slim coolers. Because it names LGA1150 directly, there is no guesswork about mounting.
- Pros: 37mm; LGA1150 listed; quiet fan; 6-year warranty; huge review base
- Cons: limited capacity for the Core i7-4790K; Intel only
Buy if you have a slim LGA 1150 case and a locked chip. Skip if you run a 4790K under heavy loads.
Cooler Master i30
The i30 is the cheapest sensible replacement for a worn-out stock cooler. The Amazon listing gives LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155 and LGA1156 support, a 92mm-class fan rated 2200rpm and 22 dBA, a 90x30mm heatsink, a 3-pin fan connector, pre-applied paste and an included backplate.
It is built in the shape of Intel’s stock coolers, so it fits wherever the original did. That makes it a direct swap for an office PC whose stock fan has become loud or failed. A 3-pin fan cannot be PWM-controlled on many boards, so it may run at a fixed speed depending on the board’s settings.
As of November 2026 it listed around $13 with 4.5 stars from 638 ratings. Total height is not stated in the listing, so measure if your case is very slim.
- Pros: about $13; fits like a stock cooler; backplate and paste included
- Cons: 3-pin fan; total height not stated; low capacity
Buy if you need a cheap like-for-like stock replacement. Skip if you want lower noise or more capacity.
SilverStone SST-NT07-115X
The NT07-115X is the thinnest cooler in this guide, aimed at ultra-slim LGA 1150 cases such as thin-client boxes and compact HTPC chassis. Its Amazon title lists a 23mm height, an 80mm PWM fan, a 65W TDP rating and support for LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and LGA1200.
At 23mm it fits thin-client and very slim chassis where even 37mm coolers are too tall. The 65W rating suits most locked Haswell Core i3 and i5 chips at stock settings. It is not a match for the 88W Core i7-4790K.
As of November 2026 it listed around $30 with 4.2 stars from 167 ratings, the lowest rating here. We could not read SilverStone’s own page, so check the listing for the fan connector and mounting hardware.
- Pros: 23mm; LGA1150 listed; PWM fan
- Cons: 65W ceiling; lowest rating; specs from listing title
Buy if your case allows under 30mm. Skip if you have 37mm or more, where the NH-L9i is better.
ID-Cooling IS-55 Black
The IS-55 Black is the pick for a Core i7-4790K in a small case. ID-Cooling lists a 57mm height, a 120x120x15mm PWM fan, five 6mm heat pipes with a copper base, a 150W TDP rating and support for LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1200, LGA1700, LGA1851, AM5 and AM4.
The 150W rating, five heat pipes and 120mm fan give it far more capacity than 37mm slim coolers, which suits the 4790K’s 88W rating with headroom. It also lists current sockets, so it can move to a newer build later.
The Amazon listing gives 54.6 CFM and 13.8 to 31.2 dBA. As of November 2026 it listed around $40 with 4.5 stars from about 840 ratings. Its 120mm footprint can overhang tall RAM on mini-ITX boards.
- Pros: 150W rating; five heat pipes; LGA1150 and current sockets
- Cons: 57mm height; footprint can clash with tall RAM
Buy if you have 57mm or more and a 4790K. Skip if your case allows less than 57mm.
Thermalright AXP90-X53 Full Copper
The AXP90-X53 Full Copper is the copper option under 55mm. The Amazon listing gives 94.5x95x53mm, a full copper build, four 6mm heat pipes and a TL-9015R 92mm fan at 2700rpm, with support for LGA1700, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1200, AM4 and AM5, and a reversible backplate note.
A 92mm footprint avoids most RAM overhang on mini-ITX boards, which the 120mm IS-55 cannot always manage. Copper and four heat pipes suit locked Haswell chips well, and a 4790K at stock with the fan running fast.
As of November 2026 it listed around $36 with 4.5 stars from 151 ratings. The 2700rpm fan can be audible under load.
- Pros: 53mm; copper; 92mm footprint; LGA1150 listed
- Cons: fast fan; small review base
Buy if you have 55mm and tall RAM. Skip if quiet operation matters most.
Noctua NH-U9S
The NH-U9S is the quiet compact tower for micro-ATX mini towers. Noctua lists a 125mm height, a 92mm NF-A9 fan, five heat pipes and support for LGA1851, LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x, AM5 and AM4, with a 6-year warranty; the Amazon listing notes no RAM or PCIe overhang on most boards.
LGA115x covers LGA1150, since the family shares one mounting pattern. At 125mm it fits many small office towers that cannot take 150mm coolers, and five heat pipes handle a 4790K well.
As of November 2026 it listed around $70 with 4.8 stars from about 1,840 ratings. It costs more than the other compact tower here, and you pay for the warranty and fan quality.
- Pros: 125mm; no overhang; 6-year warranty; LGA115x and current sockets
- Cons: higher price
Buy if your case clears 125mm and you want quiet. Skip if your case is a slim HTPC.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini Black
The Peerless Assassin 120 Mini Black gives the most capacity for small micro-ATX cases. Thermalright lists 125x110x135mm, six 6mm heat pipes and a TL-D12B 120mm fan rated 1500rpm, 25.6 dBA and 66.87 CFM, with LGA115X, LGA1200, LGA1700, LGA1851, LGA2011, LGA2066, AM4 and AM5 support.
Six heat pipes and a 120mm fan give it more fin area than the NH-U9S, which helps an overclocked 4790K or a G3258 pushed beyond its 53W rating. It needs 135mm of clearance.
As of November 2026 it listed around $34 with 4.6 stars from 173 ratings. Warranty and RAM clearance are not stated on Thermalright’s page.
- Pros: six heat pipes at 135mm; low price; wide socket list
- Cons: small review base; warranty not stated
Buy if your case clears 135mm. Skip if you need a slim cooler.
Small LGA 1150 cooler buying guide
Fitting a small cooler to an LGA 1150 board is mostly about matching three things: the socket hardware, the case height and the chip’s heat. The sections below cover those in order, plus a check on old boards that is easy to overlook when reusing a decade-old PC.
Confirm LGA 1150 mounting
LGA1150 shares the 75x75mm LGA115x pattern with LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156 and LGA1200. LGA1700 and LGA1851 moved to 78x78mm, so a cooler whose kit lists only current sockets will not fit an older board. Every pick here names LGA1150 or LGA115x in a source we read.
Measure the case
Slim office and HTPC cases often allow 30 to 40mm, mini-ITX cases 50 to 70mm, and micro-ATX mini towers 125 to 140mm. A Noctua study reported by The FPS Review found that 56 of more than 100 cases deviated significantly from their listed cooler clearance, so measure rather than trust a spec sheet.
Match the chip
Most locked Haswell chips run well with a 37mm slim cooler. The 88W Core i7-4790K benefits from five or more heat pipes, such as the IS-55 or NH-U9S. If you overclock a G3258, which has an unlocked multiplier, plan on a compact tower like the Peerless Assassin 120 Mini.
Check the old board
LGA 1150 boards are often a decade old. Clean old thermal paste with isopropyl alcohol, check the backplate area for damage, and make sure the CPU fan header works. On boards with a stock backplate glued in place, choose a cooler that can use it or includes its own.
Small LGA 1150 cooler FAQ
These are the questions owners of LGA 1150 systems ask most often when replacing or upgrading a cooler in a small case. Answers draw on the specs and listings cited above rather than on our own testing, since results vary with the case, the chip and its age.
Do LGA 1151 coolers fit LGA 1150?
Usually yes. LGA1150 and LGA1151 share the 75x75mm mounting pattern, and most coolers list both. Check that the cooler’s kit names LGA1150 or LGA115x, since a few current coolers list only LGA1700 and LGA1851, which use the larger 78x78mm pattern instead.
Are the best small CPU coolers for 1150 motherboards good for a 4790K?
Some of them are. The IS-55 Black, NH-U9S and Peerless Assassin 120 Mini have the capacity for the Core i7-4790K’s 88W rating. The 23mm to 37mm slim models will mount on the board, but their small fans will work hard and get loud under long all-core loads.
Can I reuse a cooler from an LGA 1150 PC on a new build?
Only if it lists the new socket. The IS-55, AXP90-X53, NH-U9S and Peerless Assassin 120 Mini all list current Intel sockets, while the NH-L9i, i30 and NT07-115X stop at LGA1200 or earlier. Check the mounting kit for the new socket before moving it to another board.
Is a stock-style cooler enough for a Haswell Core i5?
For a locked Core i5 at stock settings, a stock-style cooler like the i30 is a basic, functional replacement. It will be louder under load than the NH-L9i or a compact tower, which are better choices if noise matters in a living room or a quiet office.
Conclusion
Buy the Noctua NH-L9i for most small LGA 1150 builds: it names LGA1150 directly, fits 37mm slim cases, runs quietly and carries a 6-year warranty. If you run a Core i7-4790K and have 57mm of room, choose the ID-Cooling IS-55 Black instead, and pick the i30 only as a cheap stock replacement.
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