Push pin coolers mount the way Intel’s own box coolers do: four plastic pins click through the motherboard with no backplate and no screwdriver. The best push pin CPU coolers suit quick swaps, office PCs and builds where the board is already in the case. This guide covers the few current options and when a screw mount is the better choice.
Quick verdict
For a current Intel LGA 1851 or LGA 1700 build, buy the ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO: ARCTIC confirms pre-mounted push pins, pre-applied paste and a six-year warranty for about $9. If your processor draws more than about 65W under load, skip push pins and fit a backplate tower such as the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE for about $16.
| Cooler | Mount | Height | Fan | Sockets | Amazon US price, Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO | Push pins (confirmed by ARCTIC) | 68.2mm | 92mm PWM, up to 2,700 RPM | LGA 1851, LGA 1700 | about $9 |
| Intel Laminar RM1 | Four push pins (review) | 47mm | 80mm, 600 to 3,150 RPM | LGA 1700 | bundled with eligible chips |
| Thermaltake Gravity i3 | Not confirmed in our sources | 2.58in, about 66mm (listing) | Seven-blade, up to 1,500 RPM (listing) | LGA 1700, LGA 1851 per listing | about $15 |
| Generic LGA 115x replacement heatsink | Not confirmed in our sources | not stated | 4-pin fan | LGA 1200, 115x per listing | about $10 |
| Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE | Backplate and screws | 148mm | 120mm, 1,550 RPM | LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x; AM5, AM4 | about $16 |
| ARCTIC Freezer 36 | Contact frame on Intel | 159mm | 2 x 120mm, 200 to 1,800 RPM | LGA 1851, 1700; AM5, AM4 | about $22 |
How we selected these coolers
This is a research-based guide, not a lab test. We searched Amazon US for “push pin cpu cooler” on November 11, 2026, and most results were spare plastic pins rather than coolers, which shows how rare push pin aftermarket coolers have become. We then checked each candidate’s mounting method on the maker’s page or a published review.
Only two coolers had push pins confirmed in our sources: the ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO, on ARCTIC’s own product page and listing, and Intel’s Laminar RM1, in a Club386 review. We also include two stock-style coolers whose listings did not state the mounting method, and we label them clearly.
Because push pins limit mounting pressure and cooler weight, we added two backplate coolers for readers whose CPUs need more than a stock-class cooler. Those picks are clearly marked as alternatives, not push pin models.
Prices, ratings and review counts are an Amazon US snapshot from November 2026 and will change. Ranking follows confirmed mounting, specs and value, never commission.
Best push pin CPU coolers and alternatives
The six coolers below are split into confirmed push pin models, stock-style coolers with unconfirmed mounting, and backplate alternatives. Each section covers who the cooler suits, its verified specs, socket support and the trade-offs that matter for a quick install, from processor power to the strength of the pins themselves.
ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO
The Alpine 17 CO is our top push pin pick. ARCTIC’s product page describes tool-free installation with push pins and no extra tools, and the listing says the pins come pre-mounted with paste already applied. It suits office, home and small-form-factor Intel builds with 65W-class chips such as the Core i5-14400 at default limits.
The listing gives a 68.2mm installation height, a 92mm PWM fan up to 2,700 RPM, a Y-shaped radial aluminum heatsink, a rated 0.5 sone and a six-year warranty. ARCTIC’s page says the fan uses two ball bearings designed for 24/7 operation and names MX-4 as the pre-applied paste, while the listing just says MX paste.
Sockets are LGA 1851 and LGA 1700 only, per ARCTIC. It was listed around $9 on Amazon US and rated 4.0 out of 5 from about 450 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pro: push pins confirmed by the maker
- Pro: six-year warranty for about $9
- Pro: 68.2mm fits small cases
- Con: stock-class cooling only
- Con: lowest star rating among the picks
Buy if you want a tool-free cooler for a 65W Intel chip. Skip if you run a K-series processor.
Intel Laminar RM1
The Laminar RM1 is Intel’s own push pin cooler, and it is the reference most push pin designs copy. You cannot usually buy it on its own; Club386 says it comes free with eligible chips. It matters here because if your processor shipped with one, it may already meet your needs.
Club386 lists a 47mm height, an 80mm Intel fan running 600 to 3,150 RPM, aluminum fins with a copper core, four push pins with a metal retaining plate, pre-applied paste and a 65W target, with Core i3 chips rated at 60W. It called the RM1 a competent in-box cooler for mainstream PCs.
The RM1 fits LGA 1700. Club386 noted the plastic pin retainers can snap if you rush the install, so line up all four pins before pressing.
- Pro: designed by Intel for LGA 1700
- Pro: copper core and slim 47mm height
- Con: not sold separately in most cases
- Con: pins can break if forced
- Con: 65W target only
Use it if your CPU came with one and runs at 65W. Replace it if you want quieter running or more headroom.
Thermaltake Gravity i3
The Gravity i3 is a stock-style Intel cooler from a known brand, but the sources we could check did not state its mounting method. Thermaltake’s site returned errors for us, and retailer pages did not describe the hardware. If push pins are essential, confirm with the seller before buying.
The Amazon listing gives a 2.58-inch (about 66mm) height, a seven-blade low-noise fan, 1,500 RPM, 31.34 CFM and 21.3 dB, a 95W rating and a two-year warranty. These are seller figures, and we could not check them against Thermaltake’s own page.
The listing names LGA 1851 and LGA 1700 support, which share a mounting pattern; confirm older-socket fit with the seller. It was listed around $15 on Amazon US and rated 4.6 out of 5 from about 150 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pro: 95W rating listed by the seller
- Pro: low-profile height
- Con: mounting method not confirmed
- Con: specs come from the listing, not the maker’s page
Buy if you want a slim Thermaltake cooler and confirm the mount first. Skip if you need confirmed push pins.
Generic LGA 115x replacement heatsink
Unbranded replacement heatsinks are the cheapest way to replace a broken or lost stock cooler on an older Intel board. The one in our data is listed as compatible with Intel’s E97379-003 stock cooler and LGA 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155 and 1156, at about $10.
Its listing describes an aluminum heatsink with a 4-pin connector but does not state the mounting method, height, fan speed or warranty. We could not verify any specs beyond the title. It was listed around $10 on Amazon US and rated 4.3 out of 5 from about 90 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pro: very low price for older LGA 115x boards
- Pro: 4-pin PWM connector
- Con: mounting method and specs not stated
- Con: no brand support
Buy only as a stopgap for an office PC with a 65W-class chip. Skip for gaming or anything you want to last.
Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE
The Assassin X120 Refined SE is the upgrade to choose when a push pin cooler is not enough. It uses a backplate and screws, which takes a few more minutes, but carries a 148mm tower with four heat pipes and a 120mm fan for about $16. It suits Core i5, Ryzen 5 and lighter Core i7 builds.
Thermalright lists a 148mm height, four 6mm heat pipes and one TL-C12C 120mm fan at 1,550 RPM. The listing adds 66.17 CFM and 25.6 dBA. Sockets are LGA 1851, 1700, 1200 and 115x plus AM5 and AM4, so it also works on AMD, where push pins are not used.
It was listed around $16 on Amazon US and rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 1,900 ratings as of November 2026. Thermalright did not state a warranty on its page.
- Pro: far more cooling than push pin models
- Pro: Intel and AMD support
- Con: backplate install takes longer
- Con: needs a 150mm-plus case
Buy if your CPU draws over 65W. Skip if your case is too short for a tower.
ARCTIC Freezer 36
The Freezer 36 is the backplate-style alternative for current Intel builds that want easy installation. ARCTIC includes a contact frame for LGA 1851 and 1700, and on AMD the listing says it reuses the original motherboard screws. Its two push-pull fans and six-year warranty suit mid-range gaming PCs.
ARCTIC’s spec sheet lists 104 x 126 x 159mm, four 6mm copper heat pipes, two P12 PWM PST fans from 200 to 1,800 RPM, MX-7 paste and a six-year warranty. Fans clip on without wire brackets.
Sockets are LGA 1851, LGA 1700, AM5 and AM4. It was listed around $22 on Amazon US and rated 4.6 out of 5 from about 1,100 ratings as of November 2026.
- Pro: contact frame for even pressure on Intel
- Pro: six-year warranty
- Con: not push pin, needs board access
- Con: 159mm height
Buy if you want strong cooling with a simple mount. Skip if your board is already installed and you cannot reach the back.
Push pin buying guide
Push pins are fast and cheap, but they suit a narrow range of builds. These sections explain where the best push pin CPU coolers make sense, how to install them without damage, and when to switch to a backplate mount instead, starting with the sockets that still use them.
Which sockets use the best push pin CPU coolers
Push pins are an Intel mounting style. The confirmed models here fit LGA 1851 and LGA 1700, and older stock-style coolers fit LGA 1200 and 115x. LGA 1700 and 1851 use a 78 x 78mm hole pattern, while LGA 1156 to LGA 1200 use 75 x 75mm, so pins for one will not fit the other.
AMD boards use screws or clip-on brackets instead. Wikipedia notes that two-pronged clip coolers such as the Wraith Prism attach to AM4’s plastic retention bracket.
Installing push pins without damage
Line up all four pins over the holes, then press diagonally opposite pins one at a time until each clicks into place. Club386 warns the plastic retainers can catch and snap if rushed. Check from behind the board that each pin’s legs have spread fully.
When to skip push pins
Push pin coolers target about 65W. Intel lists the Core i5-14400 at 148W and the Core i5-14600K at 181W maximum turbo power, which is well beyond that. For K-series chips or long all-core loads, a backplate tower like the Assassin X120 Refined SE is the safer choice.
FAQ
These answers cover common questions about push pin coolers. They draw on maker pages, a published review and the listings above rather than our own testing, so they focus on mounting and compatibility rather than temperature results, which depend on the processor and case.
Are push pin coolers bad for the motherboard?
Not when installed correctly. Intel uses push pins on its own Laminar RM1 box cooler, which Club386 describes as a competent in-box design. Problems usually come from forcing pins, which Club386 warns can snap the plastic retainers, or reusing worn pins, so press evenly and replace damaged ones.
Can I use a push pin cooler on AMD?
No. AMD sockets do not use Intel-style push pins. AMD stock coolers use screws or clip-on brackets that hook onto the plastic retention bracket around AM4 sockets. For AMD, choose a cooler that lists AM5 or AM4, such as the Assassin X120 Refined SE, which ships with AMD brackets.
Which of the best push pin CPU coolers is cheapest?
The ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO, listed around $9 on Amazon US as of November 2026. It has push pins confirmed by ARCTIC, pre-applied paste and a six-year warranty, but it supports only LGA 1851 and LGA 1700, so older LGA 1200 and 115x boards need another cooler.
Conclusion
Buy the ARCTIC Alpine 17 CO if you want a push pin cooler for an LGA 1851 or LGA 1700 build. It is the only current aftermarket model with push pins confirmed by its maker, and it adds a six-year warranty for about $9. If your CPU draws more than 65W, fit the Assassin X120 Refined SE instead.
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