Best CPU coolers under £50 (2026)
The CPU coolers we've reviewed that cost £50 or less, best first. Each is scored against products at a similar price, so a high score here means good for the money. Where we don't have today's price, we use the typical UK price we found when researching it.
Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›
- #1
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
7.8/10verdict: buyThe Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is for builders who want strong air cooling on a tight budget. It suits Intel and AMD desktop owners on current sockets who would rather not pay for liquid cooling. It asks for some patience at install time and a case with room for a 155 mm tower.
Dual-tower air coolerIntel 115X/1200/1700/1851155 mmRead the full review ݣ25.41typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #2
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO
7.2/10verdict: good, not the bestThe Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO suits builders who want top-tier air cooling for a high-end CPU without moving to liquid. It works best in a roomy case with low-profile memory. It is a poor match for compact builds or tall RAM kits.
Dual-tower air coolerIntel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851/2011/2066…157 mmRead the full review ›£42typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #3
DeepCool AK400
7.1/10verdict: good, not the bestThe DeepCool AK400 is for builders who want a low-cost air cooler for a mainstream Intel or AMD desktop CPU. It suits anyone who wants current socket support, including LGA1851 and AM5, without paying for a bigger tower or an AIO. It is a sensible pick for mid-range builds, and less so for chips that draw well above its 220 W rating.
Single-tower air coolerIntel LGA1851/1700/1200/1151/1150/1155155 mm totalUp to 220 WRead the full review ݣ20.50typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #4
ARCTIC Freezer 36
7.1/10verdict: good, not the bestThe ARCTIC Freezer 36 is for builders who want a quiet, low-cost air cooler for a current Intel or AMD desktop CPU. It suits mainstream and upper-mid-range chips rather than the hottest processors at sustained heavy loads. Buyers who want maximum air-cooling performance should look at what sits above it.
Single-tower air coolerIntel LGA1851 and LGA1700159 mmRead the full review ݣ20.49typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #5
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
6.8/10verdict: good, not the bestThe Phantom Spirit 120 SE is for builders who want a dual-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD desktop CPU on a modest budget. It suits mainstream and gaming systems, including Ryzen 7 7800X3D builds, where one owner reports around 65c under load. It is a less obvious choice for anyone who wants near-silent running under sustained heavy load.
Tower air coolerIntel LGA115X/1200/1700/1851154 mm280 WRead the full review ݣ24.87typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #6
Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE
6.8/10verdict: good, not the bestThe Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE is for builders who want a low-cost single-tower air cooler for a current Intel or AMD platform. It suits mainstream CPUs in cases with enough height for a 148mm cooler. Owners mostly praise its value, quiet running and easy fitting.
Single-tower air coolerIntel 115x/1200/1700/1851148 mmRead the full review ݣ15.95typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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- #7
Noctua NH-L9a-AM5
5.6/10verdict: good, not the bestThe Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 is for AM5 builders who need a low-profile cooler for a small case. It suits 65 W-class Ryzen chips and buyers who put quiet running ahead of cooling headroom. It is not aimed at overclockers or higher-end processors.
Low-profile top-flow air coolerAM537 mm with fan65 WRead the full review ݣ49.99typical UK price when researchedSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
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