12th Generation Intel processors are efficient, and the most successful model is the Intel Core i5-12600K (Amazon). Primarily due to its thermal performance, power consumption, and overall efficiency. However, having high thermal performance doesn’t mean that an average cooler can get the CPU temperatures down to a stable operation value. Most air-based coolers can remove 150W of heat with ease. But if you want to go beyond Turbo Frequency and experiment with the overclocked frequencies, then it’s recommended to go for the best CPU cooler for i5 12600k. Running your favorite first-person shooter like Fortnite and getting shot at by the enemy just between the lag caused by the CPU is the last thing you want to experience.
An air-type cooler consists of primarily static parts with only fans as the active role in moving air through fins. The fewer functional parts allow extended warranties and lifetime performance capability. There is a drawback to having air-based coolers. They have lower TDPs than liquid coolers mainly due to the size constraints caused by motherboard size, casing size, or physical design constraints. Liquid coolers are ideal for small chassis due to their small size. They have higher TDP compared to air coolers and can support overclocking to a great extent. The setbacks of the liquid-based coolers are their difficulty in installation, the requirement of specialized PC cases, and the higher number of rotary parts. So choose your cooler wisely.
The best CPU coolers for i5 12600K at a glance:
- Noctua NH-D15
- Noctua NH-U12S
- Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R
- be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
The best CPU coolers for i5 12600K you can buy in 2022
Noctua NH-D15
Noctua is known for producing high-end designs. Noctua NH-D15 is silent and compact and comes with a packaged premium thermal paste. Due to its premium quality, it has a higher price tag than other brands. It’s a 6 copper-based heat pipe run through dual tower aluminum fins carrying heat to the copper base. It is fully compatible with the LGA1700 socket required for i5 12600k. When running your processor at Turbo frequency, NH-D15 can remove 183Watt of heat from the CPU. Heat removal is not the only strong point of this cooler. It produces a maximum acoustical noise of 24.6 dB(A), which is incredibly silent compared to its competitors.
As a PWM fan, it can reduce the rotational speed but has a lower limit. Noctua includes an LNA (Low Noise Adapter) to reduce the noise further if your PC load is insignificant. The LNA adapter reduces the speed to 1200 rpm max, with the noise level lowered to 19.2 dB(A). The fan is rated to last for >150,000 h because of its SSO2 bearings. They are based on traditional hydrodynamic bearings working with oil and a magnet for stabilization. The drawback of the cooler is the 32mm limitation of RAM height when using two fans. Using a single 140mm fan while compromising on TDP will allow 66mm RAM height.
Noctua NH-U12S
Noctua NH-U12S eliminated the problem of RAM compatibility. The slim design doesn’t go above the DIMM slots ensuring all the high-end RAM can easily fit alongside the air-based cooler. Noctua manufacturers industries leading fan products, and their NF-F12 Focused Flow with PWM support adjusts its revolution as per the requirement sent by the motherboard. Due to the use of a single fan and single tower configuration, the noise level reduces to a mere 22.4 dB(A) at maximum load. At 1500 max RPM, the single fan can push 93.4m3 of air per hour. Noctua represents quiet operation through its logo with an owl. Most of their research is based on improving the design, and thermal paste is an essential factor in the heat transfer capability of a cooler.
There are some limitations when you have a single tower cooler for an i5 12600k processor. With this cooler, the processor reaching a turbo frequency of 4.9GHz will produce 150W TDP and go out of the support range of <129W. In return, the temperatures of the CPU will rise during boosted frequency intervals. We recommend that if you are not performing processor-intensive work like gaming, video editing, or running simulations, this cooler is a great choice, primarily due to its quiet and extended operation. The bearing is made from similar SSO2 hydraulic oil-based technology combined with magnet-based shaft centering for long-lasting performance. All the other parts are static. Overall it’s an excellent package for moderate to low load conditions.
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280
We wanted Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 to be the first liquid cooler on our list. It is one of the most suitable coolers for i5 12600k in terms of features and price. The Arctic immediately made all of its devices compatible after the launch of the LGA1700 socket. Be sure that the socket mounting system for LGA1700 is included in the package before purchasing. It is the best CPU cooler for i5 12600k on our buying guide mainly due to the compact size and overall cooling effect on the computer system. The 12.4mm dia tube is designed to be leak free, and there is no requirement for liquid makeup due to the closed loop design. It has decent length for mid-tower casing. However, E-ATX motherboard installation might be tricky as the cases are usually large.
It addresses the only drawback that other liquid coolers do not put under focus. A 40mm VRM cooler fan on the water block keeps the temperature in the area around the socket low. It has been observed that the small fan alone is capable of creating a difference of 16°C. When the fan is turned off, VRM sits at around 62.3°C, and with the VRM cooler running, the temperature reduces to 44.1°C. The liquid carries the heat to the 240mm aluminum-based radiator, which consists of two PWM-controlled ARCTIC P14 fans. If you decide to change to an AM5 processor, it also has dimensional support for the latest generation and older AMD processors. There is no need to buy a separate thermal compound. It’s an excellent purchase in terms of price, features, and quality.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R
If mesmerizing RGB is what you are looking for, then Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R is an excellent choice. All the RGB are addressable and can sync with the most popular motherboard RGB system like ASRock, Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte. The fans have transparent blades that let the RGB shine through and create unique effects. Using it for high TDP processors is even better as it has a massive 360mm radiator. The low resistance radiator design cools the CPU at low speeds, creating the effect of low noise operation of 6 - 30 dBA depending on the CPU load. If the paste is applied correctly, the noise will remain very low as the i5 12600k TDP is not high enough to make the cooler run at its full potential.
The liquid coolers have the inherent drawback of low operational hours due to the high number of rotary parts. Primarily the pump is the main culprit in low operating hours. Cooler Master addresses this problem by using the low-profile dual chamber design. The copper base with microchannel to improve heat transfer, PPS + Glassfiber housing to add resistance to the moving heat towards the motor, and 12ARGB for the perfect aesthetics. The pump makes < 15 dBA noise and has 70,000 hours of mean time to failure. The liquid is carried from the pump to the radiator via a sleeved FEP tubing to give it a premium look and provides enough flexibility for proper cable management. It is capable of creating a greater temperature difference between ambient and processor.
be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Talking about the air-based item and not including the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 to the list would not be justice to engineering. The incredibly low noise operation combined with black aesthetics makes it the ideal choice for gamers. There is no RGB on the item, which might be suitable for some people as it completely blends in with any black interior. The heat sink is massive and has a base height of 162.8mm. As a buyer, you need to be sure that it will fit inside your chassis and will not hinder the side cover of your PC case. The maximum size of the air-cooled heat sink can fit inside an ATX motherboard. Its incredibly high 250 TDP allows a significant overclocking margin, which is hard to obtain in air-based coolers but “be quiet!” does a fantastic job achieving cooling efficiency.
The maximum noise level during 100% load is 24.3dB (A). It consists of two 120mm PWM-based fans that work in a push and pull configuration to achieve such high heat transfer capability. Diving into the material, we see the base is made from copper, which has the highest conductivity ensuring no bottleneck in heat transfer capability. The 7 heat pipes with a 6mm diameter carry heat from the copper base to the 90 aluminum-based fins, which eventually release the heat into the cool air blown by the 120mm fans. If your PC is going to be running for a long time, like streaming on Streamlabs OBS or using OBS studio, then it’s better to have a significant margin in TDP and a low power consumption cooler. It’s the best buy for gaming and everyday usage.
Conclusion
Buying a cooler or any component of the PC can be frustrating. It’s easier to pick the best CPU cooler for i5 12600k from our list. We have some tips to help you through your decision-making process if our product description can’t help you conclude. I5 12600k is an entry-level processor in the 12th Generation of Intel processors. It is not very demanding in terms of TDP, and if you are not looking to overclock your PC, we recommend going for an air-based cooler. They have the least moving parts and are compatible with most motherboard ATX and above. They limit the RAM heights, so be sure your RAM can fit under the product.
If you are serious about overclocking and experimenting with your rig or want a silent PC build, then going for a liquid cooling kit can be the answer. The low load posed by the processor will lead to pumps and fans running at low speeds, which in return means low noise production. The bigger, the cooler radiator, the lower the noise will be without overclocking, even at Turbo frequencies. If you are an overclocker, go for the Arctic product as it has a VRM, keeps the CPU power supply modules cool, and performs as per spec. Overall, your usage will help you choose a product.