If you are getting an unlocked CPU or you do not like the stock cooler that your CPU came with, then you are going to need an aftermarket cooler.
These coolers provide ideal cooling unless you are interested in some serious overclocking. Plus they do not break the bank.
Even though these CPU coolers are affordable, they are still much better compared to stock coolers that you get with your CPU. However, compared to liquid coolers and water coolers they have, of course, better cooling performance, but also a lot more expensive.
These budget CPU coolers are more than enough for most PC users and gamers out there. We have looked at coolers for both Intel and AMD sockets, as well as one low-profile CPU cooler for those with a mini-ITX PC.
Best Overall
- Great Cooling Performance
- Easy RAM Installation
- Thermal Paste Included
Premium Pick
- Inexpensive
- Great for CPU Overclocking
- Great Cooling Performance
Low-Profile Pick
- Low Profile Design
- Controller Included
- For Small Form Factor Builds
Top Rated CPU Coolers under 50 dollars
The following are all the coolers that we are going to look into here and some of their specifications that you might be interested in learning about at a glance:
Now that we have gone over all the coolers and some of their specifications, we can look into each of these in-depth. The following is what you need to know about these coolers.
The Best CPU Cooler under $50 in 2020
1. Cooler Master Hyper 212 – Best Budget CPU Cooler
This is a 120mm CPU cooler that is very popular amongst PC builders due to its cooling performance and relatively low price. This budget cooler is much better than the stock Intel cooler that you can buy separately. If you are interested in overclocking then this cooler can easily get the Intel 8600K to 4.6 GHz.
Our Pick
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo is a slim cooler that is ideal for the 8600K is you are not interested in pushing the CPU to its limit. The cooler comes with a single fan out of the box and another one can be added if needed.
You might run into cooling issues if you push the CPU any further than that depending on the silicon and voltage tweaks but you will be perfectly fine up to 4.6 GHz. which is a decent overclock keeping in mind that this is a very reasonably priced CPU cooler. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo features a relatively slim design for better RAM clearance. It comes with 4 heat pipes and a single 120mm fan.
Read also: Best Cooler for i7 7700K
Pros
- Impressive cooling performance
- RAM installation is no problem
- 2nd fan can be installed with included attachment
- Thermal paste included
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Thermal paste is not pre-applied
- Not Ideal for pushing the CPU to the limit
2. Scythe Mugen 5 – Premium CPU Cooler under $50
The Scythe Mugen 5 comes with 6 heat pipes and a single fan but you can install another one if you want. The included fan features hydraulic bearing and is rated to run for 120,000 hours. The cooler is designed so that RAM clearance is not an issue. The cooler is beefy but it can keep the Intel i5 8600K cool even when overclocked. You can get some decent overclocks using this cooler.
Our Premium Pick
The Scythe Mugen 5 is big and bulky but it is inexpensive and does the job of keeping the 8600K cool even when overclocked. This is a great alternative to the 212 Evo.
The cooler is relatively inexpensive and the black fan will blend in with the rest of your build nicely. If you need something decent to cool your CPU and you are on a budget then this is a great option to consider. It can handle much more than the 8600K so if you upgrade your CPU down the line then you could use the same cooler.
Pros
- Second fan can be installed for a push-pull configuration
- Inexpensive
- Great value for money
- Impressive cooling performance
- Great for CPU overclocking
Cons
- Cooler is beefy
3. NOCTUA NH-L9i – Best Budget Low-profile Cooler
Noctua is known for making some of the best cooling solutions for PCs. So, there is no surprise that we have yet another Noctua CPU cooler. This one has a low profile design which is ideal for small form factor builds. This will allow you to build a smaller PC without having to compromise on performance.
Our Low-Profile Cooler Pick
The Noctua NH-DL9i CPU cooler is a low-profile CPU cooler that is easy to install and ideal for smaller PC builds if you do not want to sacrifice performance.
The cooler comes with a single 92mm fan which is enough to keep the 8600K cool even is you have overclocked it a bit. You should have no issues with RAM clearance with this CPU cooler. The cooler also comes with a noise adapter that controls the speed of the fan and reduces the noise. This cooler is great is silent operation is what you are looking for.
Noctua has simple mounting solutions and installing this cooler is pretty straight forward. All things considered, this is a great CPU cooler for smaller PC builds.
Pros
- Low profile design
- Great for small form factor builds
- Controller included
- Easy installation
Cons
- The fan would look better in Black
4. Gamemax Gamma 500 Rainbow
The Gamemax Gamma 500 Rainbow is a very nice looking cooler for the price. If you have a motherboard that comes with an RGB header then you can program the lighting and customize the looks of the CPU cooler. This is an inexpensive cooler that is not going to break the bank and is ideal for people that are on a budget.
The socket support is very impressive indeed and it will work with pretty much any CPU that you have. The cooler comes with a single fan out of the box but you could install another one on the other side as well. The cooler is well made even though it does not cost a lot of money.
Budget RGB CPU Cooler
The Gamemax Gamma 500 Rainbow is a great cooler for the price especially if you are on a budget. If what you are looking for is RGB lighting and decent cooling then this is an option that will not disappoint.
The cooler features 4 copper heat pipes to move heat away from the CPU. The included fan can be plugged into a controller or you can plug it directly into your motherboard and control the different settings in the motherboard software.
Related: Best Air Cooler for i7 8700k
The installation process is relatively simple and you do not even have to take out the motherboard to install the cooler. The fan can easily be removed for cleaning. The cooler comes with a 36-month warranty in case something goes wrong.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Built well
- RGB lighting
- Intuitive installation
Cons
- RGB header needs supported motherboard or controller
5. be quiet! BK009 Pure Rock
Be quiet is known for making coolers that are relatively silent and the Pure Rock is the budget option that the company has to offer. Even though the price is lower, the cooler is still made well, performs great and looks cool too.
The be quiet! BK009 Pure Rock is an ideal CPU cooler if silent operation is what you are looking for but you are not interested in spending a lot of money.
The cooler comes with a 120mm PWM fan which is Black. The design is relatively thin as compared to the other models that the company makes. The cooler has 4 heat pipes which are more than ideal for keeping CPU temperatures in check unless you are interested in intense overclocking.
The installation process is relatively simple and you do not even have to take out the motherboard to install the cooler. The fan can easily be removed for cleaning. For the price, I think that this cooler is great value for money and this is an option that you should look into if silent operation is what you are looking for.
Pros
- Silent operation
- Sleek look
- Inexpensive
- Relatively thin
Cons
- Instruction manual needs to be improved
6. Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK
This is a very special cooler indeed. Not only do you get an RGB fan included with the cooler but the top part of the cooler features RGB lighting as well. This is something that we see in AIO liquid coolers but not in air coolers. This is the main feature that sets the Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK apart from the rest of the coolers on this list.
The RGB lighting is nice and bright and can be controlled using the header on your motherboard or an RGB controller. This is a great cooler for people that want a centerpiece for their setup that stands out. A controller is included in the box and can be used to change the different settings and effects.
The Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK is a very unique air cooler with top RGB lighting similar to AIO liquid coolers. You can get this cool RGB lighting without breaking the bank with the Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK.
While you do get a controller out of the box it only supports 2 devices which means that you can only sync the lighting of the cooler itself and the included fan. If you are interested in getting more fans then you should pick the triple fan pack as it includes a controller that supports up to 6 devices.
The fans are relatively quiet and the cooler is more than capable of keeping temperatures in check unless you are interested in some serious overclocking.
Pros
- RGB centerpiece
- Decent cooling performance
- Inexpensive
- Clips for additional fan included in the box
- Controller included in the box
Cons
- Controller only has connections for 2 RGB devices
7. Arctic Freezer 33 Esports ONE
The Arctic Freezer 33 Esports ONE has a very sleek design. It comes in Black with Red accents and should blend in with the rest of your build nicely. The fins have a Black coating as well which gives it a very nice look. The fins are not sharp so you are not going to cut yourself during installation.
The Arctic Freezer 33 Esports ONE looks great and does its job of keeping CPU temperatures in check. IF what you are looking for is an inexpensive cooler that blends in with the rest of your build then this is a great option to consider.
The installation process is pretty straight forward and the fan can be installed and removed with ease too. There is no pre-applied thermal paste but it does come with the MX-4 thermal compound that you can apply when installing the CPU cooler.
Out of the box, the cooler comes with a pair of fans that can be set up in a push-pull configuration. The cooler also comes with 4 heat pipes that are more than ideal of keeping the temperature in check unless you are doing some serious overclocking.
Pros
- Great design
- Subtle looks
- Blends in well with pretty much anything
- Impressive cooling performance
- Inexpensive
- Fan installation is easy
Cons
- CPU cooler installation is a bit tricky
What Budget CPU Cooler Should You Pick?
All of these coolers are the best in one way or another but the best overall is the Cooler Master Hyper 212.
If that is not something that you are interested in getting then the Scythe Mugen 5 is a great alternative. The Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK is the most unique looking cooler on this list due to the RGB top.
If you are interested in getting a cooler that stands out and you already have other RGB parts then the Deepcool Gammaxx GT BK is the option that you should go with.
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