The Core i7-8700K brought six cores and twelve threads to mainstream Intel desktops, shipped without a cooler, and is still a popular overclocking chip on LGA 1151. Its all-core loads run hotter than older quad-cores. This guide to the best CPU air coolers for i7 8700K systems lists six towers whose makers still list LGA 115x mounting.
Quick verdict
For most i7-8700K builds, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO is the cooler to buy: a 157mm dual tower with seven heat pipes and two 2,150rpm fans, with LGA 1151 named in its listing. The Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is a cheaper dual tower with lighting, and the Noctua NH-D15 is the pick for a heavy overclock in a large case.
| Cooler | Layout | Height | Heat pipes | Fans | Best for | Amazon US price, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO | Dual tower | 157mm | 7 x 6mm | 2 x 120mm, 2,150rpm | Best overall for the 8700K | about $47 |
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB | Dual tower | 155mm | 6 x 6mm | 2 x 120mm ARGB | Dual tower with lighting | about $37 |
| Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB | Single tower | 148mm | 4 x 6mm | 1 x 120mm ARGB | Stock clocks on a budget | about $17 |
| be quiet! Pure Rock 3 Black | Single tower | 154mm | 4 x 6mm | 1 x 120mm | Quiet stock-clock build | about $38 |
| Noctua NH-D12L | Low dual tower | 145mm | 5 | 1 x 120mm | Cases capped near 145mm | about $100 |
| Noctua NH-D15 | Dual tower | 165 to 168mm | 6 | 2 x 140mm | Heavy overclocking | about $110 |
How we selected these coolers
This is a research-based roundup, not a lab test. We started from Amazon US air cooler data collected on November 11, 2026 and kept only models whose manufacturer page, spec sheet, reputable retailer or manufacturer listing names LGA 1151 or LGA 115x support, since many current coolers list only LGA 1851 and 1700 on Intel.
We then weighed the 8700K’s realistic use. Intel lists a 95W TDP at stock, but six cores under sustained all-core work, and especially when overclocked, put more strain on the cooler than a four-core chip of the same era, so dual towers rank higher here than in a guide for quad-core parts.
Ties were broken by review volume, warranty and price. We did not use temperature or noise benchmarks, and we do not quote overclocked power figures for the 8700K, because we could not verify comparable data.
Listing claims such as TDP ratings are treated as seller claims rather than measurements.
What the i7-8700K needs from a cooler
Intel lists the Core i7-8700K as a six-core, twelve-thread Coffee Lake processor with a 3.7GHz base clock, 4.7GHz maximum turbo, 95W TDP, 100C junction temperature limit and FCLGA1151 socket, launched in Q4 2017. Intel’s spec page notes the boxed chip has no fan or heatsink.
At stock settings, a good single tower handles it. Once you raise the multiplier and voltage, heat output climbs, and the extra fin area of a dual tower lets fans run slower for the same temperature.
LGA 1151 uses the 75 x 75mm hole pattern shared with LGA 1150, 1155, 1156 and 1200, according to Wikipedia, so any cooler listing those sockets typically includes compatible hardware.
The best CPU air coolers for i7 8700K systems
The six coolers below are ordered by overall fit for a typical 8700K system, with overclocking headroom weighted heavily. Every pick names LGA 115x or LGA 1151 in its manufacturer data or listing, and each section explains whether it suits stock clocks, a mild overclock or a heavy overclock in a roomy case.
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
The Phantom Spirit 120 EVO is our top 8700K pick because it combines seven heat pipes with faster fans than Thermalright’s SE models. Its listing gives 125 x 135 x 157mm, seven 6mm heat pipes on a micro-engraved copper base, and two TL-K12 120mm fans at 2,150rpm, 69 CFM and 27 dBA or less.
Intel support in the listing covers LGA 1700, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 2011 and 2066, plus AM4 and AM5. LGA 1151 is named directly, which is what matters here. The faster fans give extra headroom for an overclock, though they will be louder at full speed than 1,500rpm fans.
It was listed at about $47 on Amazon US with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from about 520 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: seven heat pipes; 2,150rpm fans; LGA 1151 named.
- Cons: 157mm height; LGA 1851 not named in the listing; warranty not stated.
Buy it if you overclock and have at least 160mm of clearance. Skip it if fan noise at full speed bothers you.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is a cheaper dual tower that adds lighting. Its listing gives 125 x 135 x 155mm, six 6mm heat pipes and two TL-C12C-S ARGB 120mm fans at 1,500rpm, 66.17 CFM and 25.6 dBA, with Intel 115X, 1200 and 1700 plus AM4 and AM5 support.
The ARGB fans need a 5V 3-pin addressable header, which some older boards lack, so check your motherboard before relying on the lighting. The cooler itself works without it. The listing’s 120W to 245W TDP claim is a seller figure.
It was listed at about $37 on Amazon US with a 4.7 out of 5 rating from about 1,600 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: dual tower with two fans; ARGB lighting; large review base.
- Cons: lighting needs a 5V ARGB header; slower fans than the EVO.
Buy it if you want dual-tower cooling and lighting for less. Skip it if your board has no ARGB header and you want the lights.
Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB
The Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB is the budget choice for a stock-clock 8700K. Its listing gives 120 x 71 x 148mm, four 6mm heat pipes and one TL-C12C-S ARGB fan at 1,550rpm, 66.17 CFM and 25.6 dBA, with Intel 1150, 1151, 1155, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5.
A single tower with four heat pipes handles the 95W stock rating, but it leaves limited margin for an overclock on a six-core chip. At 148mm it fits most older cases.
It was listed at about $17 on Amazon US with a 4.7 out of 5 rating from about 680 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: very low price; 148mm height; LGA 1151 named.
- Cons: limited overclocking headroom; lighting needs an ARGB header.
Buy it if you run stock clocks and want lighting cheaply. Skip it if you plan to overclock.
be quiet! Pure Rock 3 Black
The Pure Rock 3 Black is the quiet single tower for a stock or lightly tuned 8700K. Review data lists 71 x 124 x 154mm, four 6mm heat pipes, one Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM fan, a 190W TDP rating from be quiet! and a three-year warranty, with Intel 1851, 1700, 1200, 1150, 1151 and 1155 plus AM5 and AM4.
Its slim body keeps clear of memory slots, and the all-black finish suits older builds without lighting. The 190W figure is a manufacturer rating rather than a measured result.
It was listed at about $38 on Amazon US with a 4.5 out of 5 rating from about 500 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: three-year warranty; quiet-focused fan; LGA 1151 listed.
- Cons: one fan; costs about as much as a dual tower.
Buy it if you want a clean, unlit build at stock clocks. Skip it if you want overclocking headroom for the money.
Noctua NH-D12L
The NH-D12L is the pick when your case limits cooler height to about 145mm but you still want dual-tower fin area. Noctua’s listing gives 145mm height, five heat pipes and one NF-A12x25r 120mm fan, with SecuFirm2 mounting for Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4.
The asymmetrical layout is listed as fully RAM compatible on LGA 115x and other common sockets, and Noctua includes NT-H1 paste and a six-year warranty. One fan limits its ceiling compared with the two-fan towers here.
It was listed at about $100 on Amazon US with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from about 675 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: 145mm dual tower; full RAM clearance; six-year warranty.
- Cons: expensive; single fan.
Buy it if your case caps height near 145mm. Skip it if you can fit a 155mm tower for far less.
Noctua NH-D15
The NH-D15 is the pick for a heavy 8700K overclock in a large case. Noctua’s listing describes six heat pipes, two NF-A15 140mm PWM fans, NT-H1 paste, SecuFirm2 mounting for LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, and a six-year warranty. It is the largest and most capable cooler on this list.
QuietPC lists 165mm height, while the Amazon listing highlights 168mm, so plan for 168mm and a case with at least 170mm of clearance. The wide dual tower can sit over tall RAM, so check memory height.
It was listed at about $110 on Amazon US with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from about 11,610 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pros: two 140mm fans; six-year warranty; huge review base.
- Cons: 165 to 168mm height; wide footprint; costly.
Buy it if you run high clocks and have room. Skip it if you run stock settings.
Buying guide for i7-8700K coolers
Buying for a 2017 LGA 1151 platform means confirming mounting hardware first, then matching the cooler to how hard you push the chip. The checks below cover sockets, overclocking, case clearance and whether a cooler can move with you to a newer platform, which is worth thinking about now.
Confirm LGA 1151 in the socket list
Look for LGA 1151, LGA 115x or a list including 1150, 1151, 1155 and 1156. Several current coolers, such as the ARCTIC Freezer 36, support only LGA 1851 and 1700 on Intel according to ARCTIC’s spec sheet. All six picks here name LGA 115x or LGA 1151.
Size the cooler for overclocking plans
At stock 95W, single towers such as the Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB and Pure Rock 3 are enough. For an overclock, the dual towers here give more room, with the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO and NH-D15 at the top. Raise voltage in small steps and watch temperatures, since the 8700K has a 100C junction limit per Intel.
Check older case clearance
Cases from 2017 and 2018 often list 155mm to 165mm of clearance. The NH-D15 needs at least 170mm, while the 145mm NH-D12L and 148mm Assassin X120 fit nearly any ATX case. A Noctua study reported by The FPS Review found many cases deviate from listed clearance, so leave a margin.
Best CPU air coolers for i7 8700K that you can reuse later
Five of the six picks also list AM5 and LGA 1851 or 1700, according to their makers or listings, so they can move with you to a new platform. The Phantom Spirit 120 EVO names LGA 1700, which shares its 78 x 78mm hole pattern with LGA 1851. That makes a better cooler today a reasonable long-term buy.
FAQ
These answers address the questions most often asked by Core i7-8700K owners. They rely on Intel’s specification page, Wikipedia’s socket data and the listings cited above, and avoid quoting overclocked temperatures or power draw that we could not verify for this chip or these coolers specifically.
Does the i7-8700K need a dual-tower cooler?
Not at stock settings, where Intel lists a 95W TDP and a single tower copes. For overclocking or long all-core workloads such as rendering, a dual tower like the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO or Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB gives more headroom and lower fan speeds.
Will an LGA 1700 cooler fit my 8700K board?
Only if it also includes LGA 115x hardware. LGA 1700 uses a 78 x 78mm hole pattern, while LGA 1151 uses 75 x 75mm, according to Wikipedia. All six picks here include LGA 115x support, so they fit the 8700K’s board. Check the box contents for LGA 115x standoffs before you start the install.
Is the 8700K harder to cool than the 7700K?
Intel lists the 8700K at 95W TDP with six cores and the 7700K at 91W with four. The ratings are close, but sustained six-core loads and overclocks generally produce more heat, so a slightly stronger cooler is a sensible choice. Treat it as a step up.
Is it worth spending $100 or more on a cooler for an 8700K?
Only if you overclock hard or plan to reuse the cooler. The NH-D15 and NH-D12L carry six-year warranties and support current sockets, so they can serve a future build, while a $37 to $47 dual tower suits most 8700K owners at November 2026 Amazon US prices.
Conclusion
Buy the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO for an i7-8700K: it names LGA 1151, brings seven heat pipes and fast dual fans for overclocking, and fits cases with 160mm of room. Run stock clocks on a budget? The Assassin X120 Refined SE ARGB is enough, and the NH-D15 suits only big cases and heavy overclocks.
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