CPU Cooler Check

CPU Cooler Check · thermal fit calculator

Will that cooler
actually keep your
CPU cool?

Spec sheets say “supported”. They don’t say a 253 W Core i9 will sit at 100 °C on a 120 mm tower. Pick a processor and a cooler to get estimated gaming and full-load temperatures, headroom in watts, RAM clearance and case height, all from published power limits.

Processors
120
Coolers
70
Pairings
8400

Fit check instrument

Type to search 120 options. Use arrow keys to move and Enter to select.

Type to search 70 options. Use arrow keys to move and Enter to select.

Choose both parts. The verdict is computed instantly from the CPU’s boost power limit and the cooler’s sustained rating.

01

The model, in one line

Full-load estimate

T = 35 °C + 253 W boost limit ÷ 390 W cooler rating × 60

The Core i9-14900K on the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 A-RGB works out to 74 °C. Anything that lands on the CPU’s junction limit is flagged as a throttling risk, and a cooler rated 15 W or more under the boost ceiling fails outright. Gaming uses the CPU’s typical in-game draw instead of its ceiling.

Physical checks

  • 42 mmDual towers under this RAM clearance clash with tall RGB kits.
  • 160 mmAir coolers at or above this height miss many compact Micro-ATX cases.
  • 220 WIntel PL2 above this on a 120 / 240 mm cooler triggers a sustained-draw warning.
02

Start from your socket

Index

All processors

10th Gen Core to Ryzen 9000, grouped by generation.

Index

All coolers

Air towers, low-profile heatsinks and AIO radiators by type.