Statistics · 120 CPUs · 70 coolers
Full-load CPU temperature by cooler class
On flagship processors (200 W and above), dual-tower air coolers land at a median 90 °C under sustained load versus 77 °C for 360/420 mm liquid coolers, a 13 °C gap; 4 % of dual-tower pairings on those chips are a throttling risk.
Reviewed by Farrukh Sufyan SarwarHow we estimate temperaturesModel v1.2 · data updated
The numbers
| Cooler class | Coolers | Mean rating (W) | Median full-load °C, mainstream | Median full-load °C, flagship | Flagship throttling risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-profile air | 106.9 | 97 | 100 | 100 % | |
| Single-tower air | 200 | 82 | 100 | 76 % | |
| Dual-tower air | 258.2 | 70 | 90 | 4 % | |
| 120 mm AIO | 180 | 85 | 100 | 100 % | |
| 240 / 280 mm AIO | 266.7 | 69 | 89 | 0 % | |
| 360 / 420 mm AIO | 343.1 | 62 | 77 | 0 % |
Method
Each cooler class is scored against every processor it can mount using the site's thermal model (35 °C case ambient, full load = ambient + boost watts ÷ cooler rating × 60, capped at TjMax). Mainstream = 120–199 W boost limit (51 CPUs), flagship = 200 W and above (35 CPUs).
Full formula and constants on the methodology page.
Notes and citation
- Temperatures are model estimates, not measurements; treat as ±8 °C.
- Throttling risk means the estimate reaches TjMax or the cooler is rated 15 W or more below the boost limit.
Cite as: CPU Cooler Check, “Full-load CPU temperature by cooler class”, 2026-09-18, https://cpucoolercheck.com/stats/full-load-temperature-by-cooler-class. Data licensed CC BY 4.0.