Intel released a few Alder Lake series processors earlier and not to mention it can be said they are back in business. The Intel Core i5 12600K is currently the most value-for-money processor that you can get your hands on. According to the benchmarks, the Core i5 12600K currently is at the top of the chart. Being a mid-range processor, many will most likely be planning to build their PC with it.
Therefore, considering the current situation we will bring out the best suitable CPU coolers for the Core i5 12600K. In our list of coolers, we will include both CPU Air Cooler and AIOs. Having a TDP of 125W, it is clear that it bears a similar resemblance with the Core i7 12700K and all the CPU coolers that are listed for its elder sibling will support this one as well.
However, we will add a few more to that list specifically for the Intel Core i5 12600K. The Intel Core i5 12600K features 6 Performance Cores and 4 Efficient Cores along with 12 and 4 Threads respectively. It clocks a base frequency of 3.7 GHz and, 4.9GHz Turbo. Now since we have a breakdown of the CPU, let us see the best-suited cooler for it.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
- Sleek Finishing: Anodized gun-metal black with…
- Nickle Black: The nickel plated jet black also…
- Direct Contact Technology: 4 Heat Pipe with…
- Precise Air Flow: Stacked fin array ensures least…
Starting with the budget in mind, the best option will be the Hyper 212 Black Edition. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 has been in the market for quite a long time. It is the most affordable and readily available CPU cooler on the market. It is best suitable for day-to-day users having a normal build. If you have a good PC chassis offering superior airflow then this CPU cooler will just fit in perfectly.
The cooler features a single heatsink tower with a total height of up to 158.8mm and has 4 copper heat pipes offering more heat dissipation. The CM Hyper 212 Black Edition is equipped with a Silencio FP120 fan that offers 42CFM of airflow and an incredible 2.9mmH2O of air pressure. However, if you are planning to overclock, then you shouldn’t go with this.
Be Quiet! Dark Rock 5
- With 6 high-performance copper heat pipes and a…
- The Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM fan features an…
- The Dark Rock 5’s asymmetrical design and heat…
- Installation is easier than ever with the Dark…
Next on our list is the Dark Rock 5, an upgraded version of the Dark Rock 4. It is one of the best CPU air coolers that offers a balanced performance-to-price ratio. It features a dual-tower cooler design along with just one heatsink. However, the heatsink uses 6 embedded heat pipes to have superior heat management.
It is accompanied by the popular Silent Wings 135mm PWM fan capable of generating noise of only up to 21.4 dBA even at full load. One can even add an additional 120mm fan to increase its overall performance. Hence, if you are looking for something that will help you in almost all situations, then the Dark Rock 4 should be the best option
Noctua NH-D15
- State-of-the-art dual-tower design with 6…
- Successor of the classic NH-D14; more than 250…
- 2 highly optimised NF-A15 140mm fans with PWM…
- Includes high-end NT-H1 thermal paste and…
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Noctua NH-D15 is the king of all air CPU coolers. This thing has dominated the market since 2014 and currently, no other cooler comes close to it except the Dark Rock Pro 4 but it is just $10 more than the latter due to why I recommend going with the NH-D15.
NH-D15 uses a dual tower heatsink with 6 heat pipes and two fans installed in a way that allows a push-pull configuration to pull more heat from the processor. You can also add one more fan to the other side if you don’t mind the beefy look.
It is super-silent, compatible with almost all sockets, and delivers exceptional cooling that maintains consistent performance across CPU-Intensive games and applications. For $100, there is nothing better than the NH-D15 and if you don’t like its mustard fans, Noctua has one more edition which is totally black in color but costs $10 more.
EVGA CLCx 280mm
- 2.1″ 480×480 LCD Screen to show system…
- 7th Generation Asetek water pump with full 100%…
- Compatible with Intel LGA1700/1200/115X and AMD…
- 280mm Two Fan Radiator with new 140mm EVGA…
When you opt for an AIO cooler for a mid-high-end CPU like i5 12600K, it’s better to go straight away with a 280mm cooler. This allows better cooling than the 240mm AIOs and will be a wiser choice as we already have Noctua NH-D15 as a beastly air cooler that outperforms many 240mm AIO coolers.
The EVGA CLCx 280 is now 5 years old and despite being this old, it is straight away the best value 280mm AIO you will find today. It’s not like EVGA CLCx 280 is the best 280mm cooler, but it provides one of the best cooling performance. It does come at a much higher price than the predecessor but you will get exclusive features such as an LCD screen for temps and custom content as well as sleek cabling that is easier to manage.
It comes with dual air pressure fans and a thin CPU block that is equipped with RGB LEDs. The block thickness is comparatively much less if we consider other options. With the help of EVGA Flow Control software, you can control the working of LEDs as well as cooler operations like fan speed. The software isn’t the best and the next cooler is even better in terms of software functionality but at a higher cost.
Corsair iCUE H115i RGB Elite
- Advanced All-in-One CPU Cooling: Offers everything…
- Refined Pump Head Design and 16 RGB LEDs:…
- Cutting-Edge Cooling Performance: Elevate your CPU…
- Unite Your Setup: Powerful CORSAIR iCUE software…
In my opinion, the Corsair iCUE H115i RGB Elite is one of the top 3 best 280mm AIO coolers right now. It offers less noise and better cooling for longer operations. The iCUE H115i RGB Elite has evolved from the original Hydro Series H115i and since then, it has undergone multiple changes, both in design and functionality.
It comes with a CPU block that features RGB LEDs and can be controlled via Corsair iCUE software which is easier than EVGA Flow Control and offers more features. Here the 280mm radiator is cooled by dual 140mm AF Elite series fans that run at a speed of 450-1400 RPM delivering high airflow and air pressure while offering you options to choose either silent operation or high-performance cooling.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core
- Clean Classic Design: A clean and minimalist…
- Gen S Dual Chamber Pump: An improved copper base…
- CryoFuze Thermal Paste: Now included premium…
- Optimized Fan Blades: Our optimized PWM curve…
MasterLiquid ML 360L Core is one of the cheapest 360mm AIO in the market at the moment, offering both great cooling performance and mesmerizing RGB aesthetics via fans and block. At just 100 bucks, you probably won’t find a great budget 360mm AIO like this that has support for almost all the latest Intel and AMD platforms and amazing software support.
For the Core i5 12600K or even the latest mid-range chips, the cooler is ideal for overclocking and maintaining the thermals. However, if you ever upgrade to a higher core-count processor like Core i7s/i9s and such, you won’t be disappointed in its performance, thanks to its Gen S Dual Chamber design for controlling the CPU hotspot temperatures.
