LGA 1155 powered Intel’s Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge Core chips, including the long-lived i7-2600K and i7-3770K, and plenty of those PCs still run. Finding the best CPU coolers for LGA 1155 is harder than it sounds, because many new coolers no longer name the socket. These six picks still list LGA 1155 support, from 57mm slims to a 240mm AIO.
Quick verdict
Buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for an overclocked i7-2600K or i5 K chip: a 155mm dual tower with two fans and LGA 1155 in its socket list, about $35 on Amazon US as of November 2026. For a stock chip, the Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 at about $20 is enough, and the ID-Cooling IS-55 suits slim cases.
| Cooler | Type | Height or radiator | Fans | LGA 1155 source | Best for | Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE | Dual tower | 155mm | 2 x 120mm | Retailer spec page | Overclocked K chips | about $35, 4.7 stars, 3,389 ratings |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 | Single tower | 152mm | 1 x 120mm ARGB | Maker page | Stock chips, windowed cases | about $20, 4.7 stars, 991 ratings |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black | Single tower | 152mm | 1 x 120mm | Maker page | Plain, well-documented swap | about $30, 4.7 stars, 8,263 ratings |
| Noctua NH-U12S redux | Single tower | 158mm | 1 x 120mm | Retailer spec page | Quiet daily use | about $60, 4.8 stars, 4,437 ratings |
| ID-Cooling IS-55 Black | Low profile | 57mm | 1 x 120mm slim | Maker page | Slim and HTPC cases | about $40, 4.5 stars, 837 ratings |
| Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2 | 240mm AIO | 277 x 119.6 x 27.2mm | 2 x 120mm | Amazon listing | Liquid for older towers | about $90, 4.6 stars, 9,608 ratings |
Prices and ratings are Amazon US snapshots as of November 2026 and will change. The source column shows where LGA 1155 support was confirmed.
How we selected these coolers
This is a research-based roundup, not a lab test. Wikipedia’s LGA 1155 entry dates the socket to 2011 and lists Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge as its CPU families. Intel’s spec pages give the i7-2600K a 95W TDP and the i7-3770K a 77W TDP, so we sized for up to 95W at stock, with headroom for overclocked K chips.
We kept only coolers whose maker page, retailer spec page or Amazon listing names LGA 1155 or LGA 115x, and the table shows which source confirmed it. We used Amazon US data collected on November 11, 2026, for prices, ratings and review counts, favoring models with hundreds or thousands of ratings.
Specs come from Thermalright, Cooler Master and ID-Cooling pages where available, otherwise from retailer sheets or the listing. We did not test temperatures or noise. Ranking reflects fit and evidence quality, never commission.
Why LGA 1155 coolers are easy to mount
Wikipedia notes that LGA 1155’s four mounting holes form a 75mm square, the same spacing used by LGA 1156, 1150, 1151 and 1200. That means a cooler built for “LGA 115x” uses the same bracket on all of them. The catch is that some current listings only highlight new sockets, so you have to check the full support list.
The CPUs themselves are not interchangeable between LGA 1155 and LGA 1156, but coolers are. If you find a cooler listing LGA 1156 or 1150 with the 115x bracket, it should mount on LGA 1155, though we only recommend models that name the socket directly or as 115x.
Heat is modest. A 95W i7-2600K at stock is easy work for any 120mm tower. Overclocking a K chip raises power above that rating, and that is the case where a dual tower earns its place.
The best CPU coolers for LGA 1155, reviewed
The six picks run from the overclocking choice to slim and liquid options. Each entry covers who it suits, the specs we could source, socket support, pros and cons, and a buy-or-skip line. Prices are Amazon US snapshots as of November 2026 and can move quickly, so check before ordering.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
The Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the best overall pick for LGA 1155 because it gives the most cooling per dollar for an overclocked i7-2600K, i7-3770K or unlocked i5. A dual tower with two 120mm fans lets you run higher clocks without a loud fan, and it still costs less than many single towers from big brands.
Thermalright’s page lists a 125 x 110 x 155mm heatsink, six 6mm heat pipes, TL-C12C fans at 1550rpm and 25.6 dBA, and Intel 115x, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5. Retailer LDLC spells out LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700 and 1851. The Amazon listing confirms two fans.
It was listed around $35 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 3,400 ratings. Its 125mm width can sit over tall DDR3 heat spreaders on some boards, so check RAM height.
- Pros: dual tower and two fans for overclocking; LGA 1155 in the retailer socket list; modern sockets for reuse
- Cons: width can overhang tall RAM; 155mm needs a mid-tower
Buy if you overclock a Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge K chip. Skip if you run stock clocks in a small case, where a slim cooler fits better.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3
The Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 is the value pick for a stock LGA 1155 chip. It is a 152mm single tower with four direct-contact heat pipes and an ARGB fan, and it suits windowed cases where some lighting is welcome. For a 77W i7-3770K or a 95W i7-2600K at stock, it has comfortable capacity.
Cooler Master’s page lists 124 x 73 x 152mm, one 120mm ARGB fan at 650 to 1750rpm rated 71.93 CFM and 27.2 dBA, four nickel-plated heat pipes, and Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155 and 1156 plus AM5 and AM4, with a two-year warranty.
It was listed around $20 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 990 ratings. The ARGB fan uses a 5V header, which many LGA 1155 boards lack, so the lights may stay off without a controller.
- Pros: maker-confirmed LGA 1155 support; low price; slim 73mm depth for RAM clearance
- Cons: ARGB needs a 5V header; single fan for heavy overclocks
Buy if your chip runs at stock and you want an inexpensive, well-supported tower. Skip if your board has no 5V ARGB header and you want working lights.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black
The Hyper 212 Black is the plain version of the classic single tower, with no lighting to wire up. It suits owners who want a familiar install on an older board and a large body of user reviews to troubleshoot from. For a stock or lightly overclocked LGA 1155 chip, it is a safe choice.
Cooler Master’s page for the current model (RR-S4KK-25SN-R1) lists 125 x 74 x 152mm, one 120mm fan, four heat pipes and a two-year warranty, with Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155 and 1156 plus AM5 and AM4. AM3 is not listed. The Amazon “Black II” listing highlights only newer sockets.
It was listed around $30 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 8,300 ratings. It costs more than the Spectrum V3, so choose it mainly if you prefer no RGB.
- Pros: maker-confirmed LGA 1155 support; very large review base; no RGB cabling
- Cons: costs more than the Spectrum V3; single fan
Buy if you want a no-lighting single tower with strong documentation. Skip if the cheaper Spectrum V3 suits your build.
Noctua NH-U12S redux
The NH-U12S redux is the quiet pick for an LGA 1155 PC used every day. Noctua’s single tower has plenty of margin for a 95W chip, so its fan can run slowly. It suits home office and media PCs where noise matters more than overclocking, and it can move to a newer build later.
A retailer spec page lists 158mm height and an NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan, with sockets including Intel 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1200, 1700 and 1851 plus AM4 and AM5. The Amazon listing adds five heat pipes, NT-H1 paste and SecuFirm2 mounting.
It was listed around $60 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.8 out of 5 from about 4,400 ratings. At 158mm, it needs about 163mm of clearance, which rules out some older compact towers.
- Pros: low noise; strong rating; LGA 1155 in the socket list
- Cons: 158mm height; costs more than towers with similar capacity
Buy if you want the quietest tower for daily use. Skip if your case is under 163mm or you are on a tight budget.
ID-Cooling IS-55 Black
The IS-55 Black is the slim pick for LGA 1155 HTPCs and small cases. At 57mm with a 120mm slim fan and five heat pipes, it has more capacity than most low-profile coolers, and ID-Cooling rates it at 150W. It suits stock i5 and i7 chips in cases that cannot take a tower.
ID-Cooling’s page lists 120 x 120 x 57mm, a 120 x 120 x 15mm PWM fan, five 6mm heat pipes with a copper base, and Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155 and 1156 plus AM5 and AM4, with a 150W TDP. The Amazon listing adds 54.6 CFM and 13.8 to 31.2 dBA.
It was listed around $40 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.5 out of 5 from about 840 ratings. Its 120mm footprint can overhang RAM slots on small boards, so check DIMM height.
- Pros: maker-confirmed LGA 1155 support; 57mm with a 120mm fan; 150W rating
- Cons: 120mm footprint can cover tall RAM; not for heavy overclocks
Buy if your case clears about 60mm and you run a stock chip. Skip if you have room for a tower.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB V2
The ML240L RGB V2 is the liquid option for LGA 1155. It is one of the few current AIOs whose listing still names LGA 1155 along with older sockets, and it suits mid-towers with a 240mm mount where a tall tower would block a side fan or clash with RAM.
The Amazon listing gives a 277 x 119.6 x 27.2mm radiator, a third-generation dual-chamber pump, two SickleFlow 120 ARGB fans, and Intel LGA 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2066 and 2011 support, with LGA 1700 needing a separate kit. We did not check the Cooler Master page for this model.
It was listed around $90 on Amazon US as of November 2026, rated 4.6 out of 5 from about 9,600 ratings. Older cases may lack a 240mm mount, so check the top or front panel first.
- Pros: LGA 1155 hardware listed; large review base; frees RAM clearance
- Cons: costs more than every air pick; older cases may lack a 240mm mount
Buy if your case has a 240mm mount and you want liquid on an older board. Skip if a tower fits, since it costs less and has no pump.
Buying guide for LGA 1155 coolers
The main questions for an LGA 1155 upgrade are whether you overclock, how tall your case and RAM are, and whether you want the cooler to outlive the PC. These checks help you choose quickly and avoid buying a cooler that will not mount or fit inside an older chassis.
Confirm the best CPU coolers for LGA 1155 list your socket
Read the full socket list, not just the listing headline. Many current coolers highlight AM5 and LGA 1700 in the title while the maker page still names LGA 1155. Every pick here has LGA 1155 or LGA 115x confirmed by a maker, retailer or listing, as shown in the table.
Keep the old backplate until the new cooler is installed, and clean old paste off with isopropyl alcohol before mounting.
Stock versus overclocked K chips
At stock, an i7-3770K is rated at 77W and an i7-2600K at 95W, so a single tower like the Spectrum V3 is enough. For overclocked K chips, choose the Peerless Assassin 120 SE or the ML240L. We do not quote overclocked power, since it depends on voltage and the individual chip.
Raise voltage in small steps and check temperatures in a monitoring tool.
Case and RAM clearance
Check your case’s maximum cooler height and leave 5mm. A Noctua study of more than 100 cases found that 56 deviated significantly from their listed clearance. Older cases from the Sandy Bridge era often have less height than modern mid-towers, so measure yours.
DDR3 kits with tall heat spreaders can collide with wide towers. Single towers with slim fin stacks, such as the Hyper 212 models at 73 to 74mm deep, leave more room than dual towers.
Fan headers and lighting
Many LGA 1155 boards have 4-pin PWM CPU fan headers but no 5V ARGB header. ARGB fans will still spin, but lights need a header or separate controller. If lighting matters, check your board manual first or choose the plain Hyper 212 Black, which has no lighting at all.
A PWM header lets the fan slow at idle, which is the easiest way to keep an old PC quiet.
FAQ
These short answers cover common LGA 1155 questions about mounting, chip heat and AIO choices. They use Intel’s spec pages, Wikipedia’s socket entry and the cooler listings above, and we do not quote temperatures because we did not test these coolers ourselves.
Are LGA 1155 and LGA 1150 coolers the same?
For mounting, yes. Wikipedia notes that LGA 1155, 1156, 1150, 1151 and 1200 share a 75mm square hole pattern, so a cooler with an LGA 115x bracket fits all of them. The CPUs are not interchangeable between sockets, but the cooler hardware is. Always check that the bracket is included.
Which LGA 1155 CPUs run hottest?
Among the chips we checked, the i7-2600K has a 95W TDP and the i7-3770K a 77W TDP, so the Sandy Bridge i7 runs warmer on paper. Overclocked K chips draw more than their ratings, so they need the most cooling. We did not verify TDPs for every LGA 1155 model.
Can I use an AIO on an old LGA 1155 board?
Yes, if the AIO includes LGA 115x hardware and your case has a radiator mount. The ML240L RGB V2 lists LGA 1155 support. Many newer AIOs list only LGA 1700, 1851 and AM5, or need a separate kit for older Intel sockets, so check the full socket list before buying.
Is a low-profile cooler enough for an i7-2600K?
At stock, the ID-Cooling IS-55 is rated at 150W, well above the 2600K’s 95W TDP, so it should cope in a case with decent airflow. For overclocking, a tower is the better choice because it has more fin area. We have not tested this pairing in our own builds.
Conclusion
Buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE. It lists LGA 1155 support, has dual-tower headroom for an overclocked i7-2600K or i7-3770K, and costs about $35 as of November 2026, with LGA 1700 and AM5 support if you upgrade. Running stock clocks? The Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 is the cheaper, fully adequate choice.
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!