The best CPU cooler for i7 6700k is the CPU cooler designed to keep it within temperature limits. Without sufficient knowledge, you can’t select the best one – that’s where we come in.
In this article, we’ve handpicked four CPU coolers for your i7 6700k that ensure it will not overheat. By the end of this article, we’ll also tell you the best of the best, so you’ll know which one to settle for.
Contents
Comparison Table
| Product | Details |
| Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
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| Noctua NH-D9L, Premium CPU Cooler with NF-A9 92mm Fan (Brown)
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| Cooler Master MasterAir G100M RGB
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| Be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4, BK021, 200W TDP
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The 4 Best CPU Cooler for I7 6700K Reviews
The comparison table was an overview, in this section, we’ll go into more detail. By doing this, you’ll know how each one performs in the real world, and how you can get the best from them.
1. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
Pros:
- Exceptional cooling performance
- Unique fan blades for excellent airflow
- Continuous direct technology for good heat conduction
- Versatile all-in-one mounting solution
Cons:
- You’ll need experience installing CPU coolers
- Fan generates noise when working at 2,000 rpm
Hyper 212 EVO is a low-profile cooler for your i7 6700k with good performance like CRYORIG H7. It all starts with the CD technology, better known as Continuous Direct technology. This technology combines heat pipes into a “virtual vapor chamber” for heat conduction. That’s because there are little spaces between the heat pipes, and they have a flat surface.
This surface allows the cooler to have the perfect contact with your CPU, so it’ll absorb the heat faster. By doing this, it takes its first step to ensure your CPU does not overheat as a result of your work. The other step is the Xtra Flo 120mm PWM fan that has a wave-shaped blade design. This design allows for excellent airflow for your CPU thanks to rotations rated up to 2000 RPM.
The fan speed, combined with the cooling tower, ensures your CPU does not overheat under load. But, this does not mean overclocking, because this cooler is an upgrade for your stock cooler. But, if you plan on playing games without the risk of causing damage to your CPU, this cooler will do fine. Also, the height does not cause an issue with RAM clearance, and it will fit very well after installation.
For the installation, you’ll have access to an all-in-one mounting solution for LGA 1151. The “LGA 1151” is the CPU socket of i7 6700k, this means there is no issue or concern about whether it’ll fit. Still, this cooler performs very well for its design and budget, and it won’t let you down. Nonetheless, there is stiff competition from other coolers on our list, so Hyper 212 EVO got an 8 out of 10 in all our test categories; this includes performance, cooling quality, design and noise levels.
Overview: Hyper 212 EVO is the cooler for budget gamers looking for cooling performance at a low cost. It cannot handle serious overclocking, but, anything other than that, it will do. For example, if you want to cool i7-6700k 3.40 GHz, Hyper 212 EVO will do fine and keep its temperature in check.
2. Noctua Nh-d9l
Pros:
- Good build quality
- Award-winning thermal compound
- Aerodynamic design measures for superior cooling performance
- Extra fan mounting clips for adding a second fan
Cons:
- The fan color makes it less appealing for custom-builds
- Compatibility issues with tall memory sticks while in dual-fan mode
NH-D9L is a Noctua cooler with qualities that ensure good cooling for your Intel Core i7 6700k. It has two cooling towers designed to keep your CPU cool irrespective of the load. This is unlike other coolers that use a single tower, so NH-D9L performs better. Besides, it blows air in parallel to the motherboard using the NF-A9 fan.
This NF-A9 is a fan with Aerodynamic Design Measures like Flow Acceleration Channels. Noctua implemented these channels as three angled ridges at the top of the fan. So, this results in faster airflow, and a reduction in suction side flow separation. This has two uses; first, better cooling efficiency for your CPU, and second, lower noise.
What’s more, on the inner side of the heatsink, you’ll find small rubber pads. These pads prevent vibration, scratches on the heatsink, and give the fan a solid base. NH-D9L provides 100 percent RAM compatibility, so it does not extend over the RAM slots. As a result, you can use more RAM sticks on your motherboard for better performance.
By default, NH-D9L has a fan, but it comes with an extra fan clip, so you can add an extra fan for more cooling performance. SecuFirm2 mounting system provides easy, and safe installation for your i7 6700k. Also, you have access to the award-winning NT-H1 thermal compound that you can apply to your CPU. This saves you further stress during installation and that’s why NH-D9L got a 9 out of 10 in performance, design, cooling quality and noise levels because Noctua did a good engineering job.
Overview: NH-D9L is an excellent air cooler from Noctua, and it’s ideal for users with Small Form Factor PCs. It has a single NF-A9 premium fan rated up to 2,000 RPM that provides good airflow. The installation is easy thanks to the SecuFirm2 mounting system and NT-H1 thermal compound.
3. Cooler Master Masterair g100M Rgb
Pros:
- Stylish and pleasing aesthetics
- Comes with RGB lighting
- Low-profile, so it requires less space
- Heat column technology
Cons:
- Can interfere with tall memory modules
- Cannot cool large, overclocked CPU
The MasterAir G100M is a cooler that has the shape of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO). This “weird” shape does not prevent it from doing its job, and it has what’s called heat column technology. This technology uses a copper column that dissipates heat like a large heat pipe. So, it does not compromise in cooling your i7 6700k when your work demands top CPU speed.
The fan is a 92 mm-PWM RGB MasterFan rated up to 2,400 RPM, and you can control it using the accompanying remote. You can use this remote to personalize the RGB lighting to suit your mood or environment. This personalization includes Static, Stars, Cycle, Breathing, Cyclebreathing, and Mirage. What’s more, the fan provides top-down air flow for the CPU and motherboard components.
If you want more lights, you can connect the fan to a 4-pin RGB motherboard header. By doing this, you’ll get 16.7 million color support; giving you room for more personalization. Being a low-profile cooler, and standing at 74.5 millimeters, it’s best suited for slim PC cases like a mini-ITX. The round design can interfere with tall RAM modules, but short ones will do fine.
G100M can handle light overclocking, and if you are an avid 3D gamer, it will keep your i7 6700k in check. The installation is easy because you’ll get mounting kits and universal retention brackets. The latter provides full compatibility for the i7-6700k socket on your motherboard. Due to its cooling capacity and design, MasterAir G100M received 7 out of 10 for design, performance and cooling quality. But, it scored 8 out of 10 for noise levels.
Overview: MasterAir G100M is a stylish cooler like Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240R RGB. Thanks to its aesthetics and design, it’s the ideal choice for Graphics Designers. The design makes it suitable for slim PCs like a mini-ITX build, and it can handle light overclocking.
4. Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4, BK021, 200W Tdp
Pros:
- Exceptional silent operation
- Top-notch cooling performance
- Pleasing aesthetics
- High-performance copper heat pipes
Cons:
- Expensive
- Large and heavy
The makers of Dark Rock Pro 4, be quiet! design computer equipment doesn’t generate noise. And this cooler is in-line with that mission, even under load, you’ll hear no noise. The cooling efficiency starts with seven heat pipes designed for good heat conductivity. Followed by the wave-contoured cooling fins that have dots for increased air circulation.
It has two Silent Wings Pulse Width Modulation fans, one measures 120 millimeters, and the other 135 millimeters. Both fans have a six-pole motor and durable Fluid Dynamic Bearings. These bearings work to prevent noise while the fan is in operation, and add to the longevity of the fans. The fans play a key role that ensures your CPU gets the best cooling possible.
Yet, if you want more cooling, you can add another fan, this will be helpful in demanding workstations. The painting on this cooler has ceramic particles that play a role in the heat conduction. There is good RAM clearance at the back of the cooler; so RAM sticks of 46.8 millimeters will work. But at the front, you need to move the fan to get that 46.8 millimeters, otherwise, you’ll get 40 millimeters of clearance.
For installation, you’ll have access to a thermal grease, “Y cable”, and user manuals in six languages. Also, there is a black mounting kit that makes the whole installation process an easy one. The all black painting gives this cooler a stylish look that’ll make it stand out on your motherboard. That’s why Dark Rock Pro 4 received an outstanding 9 out of 10 in all its categories; this includes performance, design, cooling quality and noise levels.
Overview: Dark Rock Pro 4 is a premium cooler that’ll keep your i7 6700k cool at all times. As a gamer who wants full focus during gameplay, this is the cooler for you. It’s among the top air coolers out there, and it can compete with any CPU liquid cooler like NZXT Kraken.
Buying Guide
With all the information that you’ve learned so far, you’ll need help in making the decisive choice. That’s what this section is all about, we’ll explain the best cooler that you can choose, so, read on.
What Are the Benefits of Noctua Nh-d9l?
It’s an industry-recognized air cooler for i7 6700k, and that is not an easy feat. There are other air coolers out there, and on our list, but NH-D9L has all it takes to be the best of its kind. Noctua designed NH-D9L as a premium cooler, so when you hear “premium”, you’ll expect the best. Sure, this cooler does not disappoint with quality features that include the following:
- NF-A9 premium fan
- Premium-grade thermal compound
- Dual-fan capability
- SecuFirm2 mounting system
- 100 percent RAM compatibility
These features contribute to the user experience and effective cooling performance of NH-D9L. Still, the cooling is what makes it a winner among the remaining coolers on our list. If you are an avid gamer, offline or online, your i7 6700k will hit top speeds most of the time. As a result, it’ll heat up due to increased processing, if you don’t control this heat, it’ll be detrimental to the CPU.
With NH-D9L, you’ll get guaranteed cooling to keep the temperature of your i7 6700k in check. Besides, if you have a Small Form Factor PC, like a mini-ITX, this is the cooler for you due to its size. The design also gives it an edge over others because it blows air parallel to the motherboard. As a result, both the CPU and motherboard components get cooled at the same time.
Key Features to Know
Yet, these previous entries are just summaries of what NH-D9L can do for your i7 6700k because it’s very good at what it does. Starting from the next section, we’ll take the items on the previous list, and explain them in more detail. This will give you more information, and you’ll learn why NH-D9L is the best on our list. Moreover, it’s from Noctua, a company known for high-performance coolers for any CPU.
– Nf-A9 Premium Fan
NF-A9 is a 92 millimeters fan rated up to 2,000 RPM, optimized for the best fan experience, and known for its quiet operation. It has Noctua’s advanced acoustic optimization frame and aerodynamic design measures. An example of the latter is the flow acceleration channels that give you high airflow. Also, it has PWM for automatic speed control and a low-noise adaptor for quiet operation. You’ll find the same control and adaptors in the fans on Noctua NH-U12A.
– Premium-grade Thermal Compound
There are many thermal pastes out there, but that does not mean they’ll fit in all situations. The NT-H1 is a premium-grade thermal compound that’s easy to apply and clean. To make it more appealing, it does not conduct electricity and will not corrode your CPU. This eliminates any possibility of short-circuits, and it’s safe to use. Finally, features like curing, bleeding, dry-out and thermal cycling contribute to its longevity.
– Dual-fan Capability
NH-D9L has a single 92 millimeters fan, which should give you enough cooling on most occasions. But, if you want more cooling, there is an extra fan clip that allows you to add an extra NF-A9 fan. By doing this, you can use the supplied Y-cable to connect both fans to the CPU fan header. In such situations, the second fan will sit on the memory modules. So, if you have tall memory modules, it can cause an issue, if that’s the case, it’s best to use short ones having a height of 22 millimeters.
– SECUFIRM2 Mounting System
Nothing makes a cooler more appealing than a simple installation process. NH-D9L ensures you have that with the SecuFirm2 mounting system. This system is safe to use, and it ensures good contact pressure and convenience for your i7 6700k. As a result, there is no compromise in heat conduction from your CPU at all times. This shows the quality engineering that makes NH-D9L stand out from the rest.
– 100 Percent Ram Compatibility
When a cooler has 100 percent RAM compatibility, it’ll stand as one of the best in the market. That’s the case of NH-D9L due to its small footprint, it will not overhang the RAM slots. As a result, you can use your desired memory modules, even if they have tall heat spreaders. The latter makes it easy for the RAM to dissipate heat while in operation.
Conclusion
The article is a breakdown of the best coolers for your i7 6700k Intel CPU. You’ll need any of the coolers to prevent CPU overheating, which can lead to damage. For a CPU air cooler with a good reputation, choose NH-D9L, but the color might put you off. If that’s the case, select Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 because of its black painting that gives it a stylish look. But, if you prefer a Cooler Master product, select MasterAir G100M.