Best CPU Coolers for i7 11700K in 2023

Noctua NH-D15

Dimensions: 5.91 x 6.34 x 6.5 inches | Base Height: 6.5 inches | Weight: 2.86 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years

Noctua is known for engineering products that are perfect in terms of designs. They use all the latest tools and techniques to improve the efficiency of their product. Noctua NH-D15 is one of their top products, and we consider it the best cpu cooler for i7 11700k. It is their most sold product, and considering that the TDP of the processor is 125W and tau of 56s by default as stated in Intel 11th generation documents. NH-D15 can easily cope with the heat produced, with its rated TDP being 183W. It gives a reasonable margin for the processor to operate at a TP2 rating of 56s.

Since this cooler offers high heat removal capacity and is solely based on heat dissipation using an air-fin setup thus, it requires 165mm of clearance around the CPU. Due to its large size, the RAM height is also limited to 32mm. Most RAMs can fit underneath, so be sure to check the height before purchasing. From design to the surface finish, the quality of the product is elite, but their unique color scheme is something not everyone likes, but it helps keep their brand unique.

It is best suited for people targeting long-term performance and compatibility across brands. Noctua has a series of fitting to allow unique socket support. There are two high-end NF-A15 PWM fans installed at two ends of the fin stack, and users can control their speed easily. The max noise level reaches 24.6 dB(A), and the Low Noise Adapter can reduce noise to 19.2 dB(A). The static pressure of 1.51 mmH20 is also high enough to keep constant airflow across fins. It is the one of the best air coolers for i7-11700K.

ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280

Dimensions: 13.27 x 9.57 x 6.81 inches | Base Height: 6.81 inches | Weight: 4.58 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years

It’s one of our favorite CPU coolers because of its aesthetics but mainly due to its simplicity and features. It has one of the best radiator surface areas. ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 is the best cooler for overclocking the i7-11700K. Not many manufacturers have thought of putting a fan to cool the VRM. ARCTIC has smartly utilized the water block area to keep the VRM cool, thus improving overclocking efficiency. This liquid cooler can easily remove 125 watts of i7-11700k heat with the 280mm radiator.

The Liquid Freezer II features a more efficient cool plate, pump and radiator than other AIO water coolers on the market, meaning that your CPU will stay cooler and run at peak performance for longer. Additionally, the included VRM fan provides extra cooling for the base and voltage transformer, meaning that your system will stay stable even under heavy load.

Its integrated cable management feature keeps your cables tidy and organized, while 80% less power consumption ensures whisper-quiet operation. The pump also clocks down when no cooling is needed, saving you even more power and noise. And thanks to the maintenance-free water loop, you don’t have to worry about refilling or maintaining your system.

Scythe Fuma 2

Dimensions: 5.16 x 6.8 x 5.4 inches | Base Height: 6.1 inches | Weight: 2.2 Pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 5 Years

Scythe Fuma 2 is one of the economic and high-performance heat sinks in the market. It has a height of 155mm that fits in almost all modern chassis. The aesthetics of the cooler are on point, with the combination of black, gray, and silver. Color variety makes it stand out and still merges with the theme, including Scythe products in our list of most modern gaming PCs. The six sintered heat pipes with dual radiator fins provide top performance. It has two 120mm 1200 RPM PWM pre-installed with a noise level of 24.9dBA. It is the best overall CPU cooler for i7-11700K.

The whole setup is reasonably priced and suits the budget of most PC builds. The only downside of massive, highly efficient air-based coolers is that they are enormous and challenging to install. The edges are sharp and careful installation is required to avoid injury. A fan that sits right in the middle of the heat fins is not easy to install, and installation in the wrong direction could lead to an efficiency drop. The noise level is relatively higher than the competition, and a low noise adapter could have been an excellent addition.

The fans come with an anti-vibration rubber used to reduce any noise caused by the striking of the fan to the fins. If you wish to reduce the space occupied, the user can remove this rubber. They have used an asymmetrical technique to allow height profile RAMs to fit underneath the cooler. It allows 55mm of RAM height underneath the cooler to fit any modern gaming memory module. The reverse jet flow technique improves static pressure, and you can install a third fan to improve heat transfer performance further.

be quiet! Pure Loop 280

Dimensions: 14.38 x 5.99 x 8.08 inches | Base Height: 3.94 inches | Weight: 4.58 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 3 Years

be quiet! Pure Loop 280 is a budget-friendly, high-performance liquid-based cooler that is the best cpu cooler for i7 11700k. The company backs their equipment reliability with a 3-year product warranty. The design and overall aesthetics of the cooler are amazing. It features a metallic grey color water block with a white LED to ensure that all your guests know that it is not any ordinary AIO cooling solution. The cooling solution is meant for high-end gaming, and running CPU-intensive games like CyberPunk 2077 will not be a problem for you.

It has a slightly higher noise level compared to other liquid-based coolers with a 280 mm radiator. The loop is not maintenance-free and requires filling. The user will initially fill the loop, but “be quiet!” is kind enough to provide a water-filled bottle for filling. Filling liquid loops is not easy. You need to remove all the air and vent everything; otherwise, you will hear air bubble noise in the pump. The noise levels of the fans are slightly high, 38.1 dBA at 100% full load.

It uses a double-decoupled pump to reduce noise and improve lifespan. It has two 140mm high-quality fans named Pure Wings 2. Their performance in terms of noise is unparalleled, and they are frequently used in “be quiet” other products. The refill port is located on the radiator, and with careful filling and venting, the Beuser can obtain high performance, making it the best cpu cooler for i7-11700k. The flexible joints on the water block and flexible tubes allow user-friendly installation. It is the best 280mm AIO for i7-11700K in terms of price.

Scythe Mugen 5 Rev B

Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.75 x 3.94 inches | Base Height: 6.08 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Fans: One | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 5 Years

Scythe Mugen 5 Rev B is a classic 120mm tower CPU cooler with high-quality copper construction and six heat pipes for superior performance. The Kaze Flex PWM fan offers improved airflow and cooling performance, while the fluid dynamic bearing ensures silent operation.

The fan can be adjusted between 300-1200 RPM for quieter or more powerful operation, and an additional fan clip is included for adding a second fan in a push-pull configuration.

With a total height of 154.5mm, it fits in the most popular cases on the market. The asymmetrical heat sink layout provides full access to the front RAM slots. Cut-out fins on the back allow a clearance of 55mm for the rear RAM slots.

This cooler is ideal for mainstream gaming PCs or overclocking with high TDP processors.

We have included Scythe products in our list in search of the best cpu cooler for i7 11700k. The included fan has guaranteed 120000 hours of working life, owing to the Sealed Precision FDB design, which allows proper lubrication and controlled noise levels. Users have reported solid performance during the overclocked situations and the lowest price for an overclock capable heatsink. It is the best mid-tier budget cooler for i7-11700K.

Noctua NH-U12S

Dimensions: 4.53 x 5.51 x 6.42 inches | Base Height: 6.42 inches | Weight: 2.24 pounds | Fan: One | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 6 Years

Noctua NH-C14S is one of the unique designs included in our list as the best cpu cooler for i7-11700k. Noctua is known to engineer solutions that stand out in terms of performance and looks. The C-type top flow design with durability is currently offered by Noctua only. It is made for users who want to install high-profile RAM. It gives a 70mm clearance underneath to fit almost any high-profile RAM. Users with a knick for small form factor chassis or building an HTPC would find this the most suitable design.

Noctua puts in a lot of effort while designing their products, and this adds to the cost. The color theme of Noctua products is not liked by many as black and white are the most trending colors. Users are slowly getting used to the beige and brown color scheme. It’s helping Noctua build its image. The user should carefully handle the C-type design; too much force would cause it to bend and lose efficiency or even break the heat pipe.

The warranty on this product is a bizarre 6-year. That shows the amount of confidence that the company has in its product design. They have included an NT-H1 thermal compound in their package. If you fit the fan underneath the fins, then the whole setup takes only 115mm of space above the CPU. The PCIe slot clearance has also been taken into consideration. The offset from the center is done to allow the PCIe slot to have enough clearance for big cards. It is the best value cooler for i7-11700K.

Phanteks PH-TC14PE

Dimensions: 6.58 x 7.48 x 8.43 inches | Base Height: 5.51 inches | Weight: 2.13 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 5 Years

If you are looking for an aesthetically well-built air-based cooler that comes in various colors, there is no other option than the Phanteks PH-TC14PE. It is visually stunning and comes in black, white, blue, yellow, and red variants. The CPU cooler comes with patented Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology that ensures long-lasting performance. The color does not scratch off easily like the other CPU coolers featured in our reviews. It comes pre-installed with two PH-F140HP Premium Fans for long working hours.

Like all big air-based coolers, this one also poses a challenging situation for the user during installation. The large size can interfere with the surrounding objects, and careful mounting is required. There is no offset on the heat fins; therefore, users will be limited to specific memory profiles, and high profile memories are not supported. Phanteks provides top-quality products, and this cooler also performs as stated. It is the best cpu cooler for i7 11700k.

The complete product comes with a large number of accessories that a user may require during assembly. It comes with a high-quality PH-NDC Thermal Compound, SoliSku mounting Kits for Intel, and Y-Fan Splitter, along with other products to provide the users with all the required objects. The size of the heat sink suggests that the 125W produced by the CPU will not be a problem, thus making this product the best all-round cooler for i7-11700K.

Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4

Dimensions: 5.35 x 5.74 x 6.41 inches | Base Height: 6.41 inches | Weight: 2.49 pounds | Fans: Two | Socket Support: AM4, LGA1200, LGA1151 | Warranty: 3 Years

If you want an exceptional performance with an air-fin-based design, Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro 4 should be your top choice. The line of products from “be quiet!” is without a doubt top-tier. As the name of the product suggests, it is the quietest air-based product on our list. The amount of space required above the CPU is only 6.41 inches as it’s not a top-flow design. It uses two high-quality fans to flow air across the heat exchange surface. The product is reasonably priced and aesthetically pleasing. It is the best cpu cooler for i7-11700k.

The dark-themed product goes with all the latest trending cases and motherboard colors. The black-colored fins are easily scratchable, so handling with care is required during installation. The fans are also hard to replace and require disassembly of the setup. Some air-based coolers also provide LED display for status and RGB lighting, but this is simpler for minimalist lovers. The size is enormous and requires expertise for installation compared to small water blocks.

Air-based coolers have a significant advantage of longer life over liquid-based coolers. Be quiet has promised 300,000 hours of operational life for this cooler. The 24.3 dBA noise level is incredible, considering that its noise is produced at maximum fan speeds. It gives the highest possible TDP of 250W for this design beating all its competition. The 125W of i7-11700K will be a piece of cake for this hardware. It allows 40mm of RAM clearance which is high enough to support XMP profile RAMs. It is the quietest CPU cooler for i7-11700K.