People searching for the best CPU coolers Gamers Nexus recommends usually want one thing: the shortlist from a test lab that measures noise as carefully as temperature. GamersNexus published its 2025 cooler awards in December 2025 after testing 26 coolers on AM5. This guide summarizes the winners, explains the method and shows how to use it.
Quick answer
GamersNexus named the Sudokoo SK700 its best overall CPU cooler of 2025, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 its best noise-normalized air cooler and the Tryx Panorama 360 its best noise-normalized liquid cooler. Budget winners were the ID-Cooling FX 360 Pro for liquid and the Thermalright Assassin Spirit V2 for air.
| GN 2025 award | Winner | What GN highlighted | Easy to find on Amazon US, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Sudokoo SK700 | Thermals, build quality, value, case and RAM fit | Not in our data |
| Best noise-normalized air | Noctua NH-D15 G2 | Led A720 and Dark Rock Pro 5 by 1 to 2 degrees, but expensive | G2 not in our data; original NH-D15 is |
| Best noise-normalized liquid | Tryx Panorama 360 (updated) | Top single-CCD result, weaker on dual-CCD, pricey display | SE variant listed around $235 |
| Best budget liquid | ID-Cooling FX 360 Pro | Cheap, plasticky, longevity unproven | Not in our data |
| Best budget air | Thermalright Assassin Spirit V2 | Very cheap, basic, for lower-power CPUs | V2 Plus listed around $20 |
| Best out-of-box air | ID-Cooling A720 | Tied NH-D15 G2 within error but louder | Not in our data |
| Best mechanical design | Sudokoo SK700V | Build quality and mounting, AM5-only | Not in our data |
How GamersNexus tests coolers
GamersNexus reworked its cooler testing for 2025, moving to an AM5 bench and a hemi-anechoic chamber for noise. Its results are reported as CPU die temperature above ambient, which removes room temperature from the comparison. Understanding the setup helps you judge how closely its rankings match your own PC and workload.
Test platform and heat loads
According to the 2025 article, GN tests on AM5 with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, a single-CCD chip, and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, a dual-CCD chip, at 157W and 276W heat loads. AMD rates the 9950X3D at 170W TDP, so the higher load represents a demanding, sustained scenario rather than typical gaming.
That matters when you read the charts. A cooler that leads at 157W on a single-CCD chip, as the Tryx Panorama 360 did, may not lead on a dual-CCD chip where heat is spread differently. GN noted exactly that pattern for the Tryx, which is why it pays to read the chart that matches your CPU.
Noise-normalized versus out-of-box results
GN runs two kinds of tests. In noise-normalized testing, it adjusts fan speeds so every cooler hits the same 25 dBA at one meter, then compares temperatures, which shows how well a cooler performs at an equal, quiet noise level. In out-of-box testing, fans run at 100 percent speed.
Noise-normalized results matter most if you care about a quiet PC. Out-of-box results matter if you run fans flat out and only care about the lowest temperature. That is why GN gives separate awards: the A720 tied the NH-D15 G2 out of the box but was louder doing it.
Why older GN charts are not comparable
Because the bench and noise room changed, GN results from before 2025 are not directly comparable with the new data. Earlier testing used a different AM4-era platform and a regular room for acoustics. When you see an older GN chart quoted on a forum, check its date before comparing it with the 2025 numbers.
Best CPU coolers Gamers Nexus picked in 2025
The sections below summarize each award winner as GN described it, then add what we could verify about buying it in the US. We did not test these coolers ourselves, and we only state specs we could confirm from manufacturer, review or listing sources read for this guide.
Sudokoo SK700, best overall
GN named the Sudokoo SK700 its best overall CPU cooler for 2025, citing the combination of thermal performance, build quality and value, plus good case and RAM compatibility. The ID-Cooling A720 was mentioned as a runner-up. It is the clearest single recommendation in the article for buyers who want one answer.
We could not find the SK700 in our Amazon US data set from November 2026, and we did not verify its dimensions, socket list or warranty from the manufacturer. If you want this exact cooler, check current US retailers and confirm socket support for your board before ordering, especially on Intel.
Noctua NH-D15 G2, best noise-normalized air
GN gave the NH-D15 G2 its best noise-normalized air award, reporting that it led the ID-Cooling A720 and be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 by about one to two degrees at the 25 dBA target. GN also said the cooler is expensive and not a good value, which is an honest caveat worth weighing.
A review site lists the G2 at 150 x 168 x 152mm with eight heat pipes, two NF-A14x25r G2 140mm fans up to 1,500 RPM, LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4 support, and a six-year warranty. It comes in Standard, LBC and HBC base versions for different CPU contact surfaces.
The G2 was not in our Amazon data, but the original NH-D15 chromax.black was listed around $120 on Amazon US and rated 4.8 out of 5 from about 13,500 ratings as of November 2026. It is an older design with six heat pipes, so do not assume GN’s G2 results apply to it.
Tryx Panorama 360, best noise-normalized liquid
GN named the updated Tryx Panorama 360 its best noise-normalized liquid cooler and also its best out-of-box liquid cooler. It produced the best 9800X3D noise-normalized result, but GN found its dual-CCD 9950X3D results somewhat weaker, and noted it is relatively loud at full speed and expensive largely because of its display.
On Amazon US, our data showed a Tryx Panorama SE 360mm listed around $235 and rated 4.5 out of 5 from about 240 ratings as of November 2026. The SE title mentions a curved screen and an Asetek design. We could not confirm that the SE is the same unit GN tested, so check the model name carefully.
ID-Cooling FX 360 Pro, best budget liquid
GN picked the ID-Cooling FX 360 Pro as its best budget liquid cooler. The reasoning was price: GN described it as cheap and somewhat plasticky, and was cautious about its long-term durability. That is a useful reminder that budget awards measure value, not build quality or lifespan.
We did not find the FX 360 Pro in our Amazon US data set and did not verify its warranty or socket list. If longevity worries you, compare its warranty against budget 360mm loops with documented coverage, such as models that list three- or five-year terms, before deciding.
Thermalright Assassin Spirit V2, best budget air
GN chose the Thermalright Assassin Spirit V2 as its best budget air cooler, describing it as very cheap and basic and best suited to lower-power CPUs. That makes it a sensible pick for 65W-class chips such as a Ryzen 5 7600 rather than a 170W Ryzen 9.
Our Amazon US data listed a Thermalright Assassin Spirit 120 V2 Plus around $20, rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 90 ratings as of November 2026. Its title mentions four heat pipes, two PWM fans and AM4, AM5 and Intel LGA 1700, 1200 and 115x support. The Plus suffix may mean it differs from the unit GN tested.
ID-Cooling A720, best out-of-box air
GN gave the ID-Cooling A720 its best out-of-box air award. At full fan speed it tied the NH-D15 G2 within GN’s margin of error, but it was louder doing so. It was also named a runner-up for best overall, which suggests strong value if you can find it at a fair price.
We did not find the A720 in our Amazon US data set from November 2026 and did not verify its specifications. If you are comparing it with the NH-D15 G2, GN’s results suggest the choice comes down to noise tolerance and price rather than outright cooling.
Sudokoo SK700V, best mechanical design
GN awarded the Sudokoo SK700V best mechanical design, praising its build quality, mounting hardware and installation features. GN also noted the SK700V is AM5-only, which immediately rules it out for Intel builds and for AM4 owners who are not upgrading.
That AM5-only detail is a good example of why awards are a starting point, not the final answer. A cooler can win on engineering and still be the wrong buy for your socket. We did not find the SK700V in our Amazon US data.
Turning GN results into a purchase
GN’s awards tell you which coolers performed best on its bench. To turn that into a purchase, you still need to confirm availability, socket support, case clearance and how closely your CPU and noise preferences match GN’s test conditions. The sections below cover each step.
Where to buy the best CPU coolers Gamers Nexus recommends
Several 2025 winners were not in our Amazon US data, including the Sudokoo SK700, ID-Cooling A720 and FX 360 Pro. Others appear as related variants, such as the Tryx Panorama SE 360 and Assassin Spirit 120 V2 Plus. Always match the exact model name and revision to the one GN tested.
If a winner is hard to find, use GN’s charts to pick the next-best cooler that is available to you. A cooler a degree or two behind at the same noise level is usually a better buy than waiting weeks for an import.
Matching GN’s test loads to your CPU
GN’s 157W and 276W loads are demanding. AMD rates the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at 120W and the Ryzen 9 7950X at 170W, so most gaming builds sit closer to the lower load. Read the chart closest to your chip, and remember that budget winners are aimed at lower-power CPUs.
Socket and case checks
GN tested on AM5, so confirm Intel or AM4 support yourself before buying any winner. Then check height or radiator size against your case: Corsair lists the 4000D Airflow at 170mm of tower clearance, and a Noctua study reported in August 2026 found many cases deviate from their listed figures.
FAQ
These answers cover the questions readers ask most often about GamersNexus cooler rankings. They summarize what GN published and what we could verify about buying the coolers, without reproducing GN’s charts or claiming test results of our own. Check GN’s article for the full numbers.
What is the best CPU cooler according to Gamers Nexus?
In its 2025 awards, published in December 2025 and updated in January 2026, GN named the Sudokoo SK700 its best overall CPU cooler. For quiet air cooling, it picked the Noctua NH-D15 G2, and for quiet liquid cooling, the updated Tryx Panorama 360, which also won for out-of-box liquid.
Does Gamers Nexus test on Intel CPUs?
Its 2025 cooler bench uses AMD AM5 processors, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Results still help Intel buyers compare coolers, but check each cooler’s Intel socket support yourself, because at least one winner, the SK700V, is AM5-only and will not mount on Intel boards.
Are older Gamers Nexus cooler charts still useful?
They are useful for history, but GN says not to compare pre-2025 cooler data with the new results, because the platform and noise testing changed. Use the 2025 charts when comparing current coolers, and check the date on any chart you see quoted in forums or videos.
Conclusion
Start with the Noctua NH-D15 G2 if you want GN’s top quiet air result and can pay a premium, or the Sudokoo SK700 if you can find it for GN’s best overall balance. Whatever you pick, confirm your socket and case fit, because GN tested on AM5 and several winners are hard to buy in the US.
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