A Mini ITX gaming PC is not a usual sight. They might be aesthetically appealing, compact and portable, but the ever-present issue with small form factor cases is cooling.
A cramped case requires more airflow, and stock coolers that ship with most CPUs are only just bearable even in regular-sized cases, as they are far from efficient and tend to be obnoxiously loud.
That’s where aftermarket low-profile CPU coolers come in.
If you’re building a Mini ITX gaming PC, getting a good cooler is a must. In this article, we will be bringing you the very best low-profile CPU coolers of 2023.
Cryorig C7
- Clean design
- Good performance
- Great value for the money
Noctua NH-L9i
- Improved performance
- Very low noise generation
Table of ContentsShow
Arctic Alpine 11 GT
RPM: 500-2000
Noise: 22.5-24.5 dBA
Compatibility: Intel
The Pros:
- Slightly better and noticeably quieter than most stock coolers
- Highly affordable
The Cons:
- Not a big upgrade if you have a working stock cooler
- No AMD-compatible version
About The Cooler
The Arctic Alpine 11 GT is a basic low profile CPU cooler that was already featured on our list of the best CPU coolers in general, and the same reasons why it landed a spot there are also what makes it the first entry here.
Not only is it very affordable but it is also a small step up from most stock coolers. If you need a cooler that is quieter and offers a minor performance boost while costing virtually nothing, then this one is the right choice.
Specifications
| Socket compatibility | Intel: LGA 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 775 |
| Dimensions | 89x89x75mm |
| Weight | 291g |
| RPM | 500-2000 |
| Noise generation | 22.5-24.5 dBA |
| Heatsink material | Aluminum |
Our Thoughts
As mentioned above, the Alpine 11 GT is a limited upgrade over an Intel stock cooler, at least in terms of performance. True, the denser heatsink does help with heat dissipation, but the biggest advantage that this cooler has over the stock one is that it is noticeably quieter.
Apart from that, the only real downside is that this cooler is not compatible with the latest AM4 socket (or any AMD socket, for that matter), so it’s a no-go for Ryzen users.
Cryorig C7
RPM: 600-2500
Noise: 30 dBA
Compatibilities: Intel, AMD
The Pros:
- Clean look
- Good performance
- Low noise generation
The Cons:
- Needs separate mounting kit for the AM4 socket
About The Cooler
Next up, we have a pricier and more serious low-profile cooling solution from Cryorig, the Cryorig C7. This product was designed specifically as an upgrade over a mediocre stock cooler; that much is evident from the product page.
The manufacturer states that the C7 offers temperatures 25% lower than those an Intel stock cooler can manage, all the while being quieter and relatively the same size. Independent tests prove that this claim is mostly true, so what is the secret behind this cooler’s efficiency? In essence — copper heatpipes. Two of them, to be precise.
Specifications
| Socket compatibility |
Intel: LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 AMD: FM1, FM2, FM2+, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4* |
| Dimensions | 97x97x47mm |
| Weight | 357g |
| RPM | 600-2500 |
| Noise generation | 30 dBA |
| Heatsink material | Aluminum, copper |
*AM4 socket requires an upgrade kit
Our Thoughts
The Cryorig C7 presents great value for your money; there’s no doubt about that. It is a clear notch above stock coolers, both in terms of performance and noise generation, although it is still far from being the quietest cooler around when running at top speed.
Its biggest shortcoming is nothing to do with the cooler itself, but simply the fact that it is not compatible with the AM4 socket out of the box, and a separate upgrade kit is needed. This is common for coolers that were released before the launch of the Ryzen CPUs, but even so, Cryorig issues free upgrade kits to those who can provide proof of purchase, so you won’t need to pay any additional fees.
Other than that, the C7 performs admirably. Naturally, it won’t outperform any of the more expensive coolers, but it is definitely the best value cooler on this list if you’re looking for a solid upgrade that will not only bring down the temperature but also noticeably reduce the noise levels when your PC is under heavy load.
Noctua NH-L9i
RPM: 600-2500
Noise: 14.8-23.6 dBA
Compatibilities: Intel, AMD
The Pros:
- Good performance
- Very low noise generation
The Cons:
- AM4 mounting kit sold separately
- On the expensive side
About The Cooler
Naturally, we can’t talk about CPU coolers without mentioning Noctua, who are instantly recognized by their superb yet deceivingly cheap-looking fans. The NH-L9i cooler that we have here is everything you’d expect a Noctura cooler to be: well-built, efficient, quiet, and unfortunately, a bit pricey.
Still, this particular cooler is not exactly a performance-oriented one. Rather, its primary advantage over the similarly priced competition is the extremely quiet fan.
Specifications
| Socket compatibility |
Intel: LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 AMD: AM4* |
| Dimensions | 95x95x37mm |
| Weight | 420g |
| RPM | 600-2500 RPM |
| Noise Generation | 14.8-23.6 dBA |
| Heatsink material | Aluminum, copper |
*AM4 socket requires a mounting kit, which is sold separately.
Our Thoughts
As mentioned in the introduction, this cooler’s main selling point is its low noise generation, something that’s pretty much synonymous with Noctua fans. In terms of performance, it is on fairly even terms with the slightly cheaper C7, but it is noticeably quieter.
So, if you are easily distracted by noisy fans, consider the L9i over the C7, as the few extra bucks will definitely be worth it. Let’s not forget that fans have to work hard when paired with a compact heatsink, and this is all the more true when we put it inside a cramped Mini ITX case. On the other hand, if you actually don’t mind the noise, we’d recommend the C7 over the L9i any day of the week.
Finally, another thing that the budget-conscious should consider is that, while neither this cooler nor the C7 support the AM4 socket without a separate mounting kit, Cryorig gives their mounting kits away for free, whereas with Noctua, you’d have to pay a few dollars extra.
Thermaltake Engine 27
RPM: 1500-2500
Noise: 13-25 dBA
Compatibility: Intel
The Pros:
- Extremely compact
- Beautiful all-aluminum design
- Very low noise generation
The Cons:
- Worse performance than cheaper coolers
- High price tag
- No AMD support
About The Cooler
The Thermaltake Engine 27 is quite the eye-catcher, that’s for sure. What seems to be nothing but a heatsink at first glance is actually a fully functional CPU cooler, only the fan, too, is made entirely of aluminum. Even when we set the aesthetics aside, the cooler is still efficient, quiet, and this is one of the most compact coolers out there.
Specifications
| Socket compatibility | Intel: LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 |
| Dimensions | 91.5×91.5x27mm |
| Weight | 310g |
| RPM | 1500-2500 |
| Noise generation | 13-25 dBA |
| Heatsink material | Aluminum, copper |
Our Thoughts
The Thermaltake Engine 27 is, undeniably, one great-looking cooler. The all-metal design is definitely not a common sight, and it is ridiculously small, even by low-profile cooler standards. However, aesthetics do come at the expense of performance.
While the Engine 27 definitely takes the prize in the beauty department, the cooling performance is noticeably lacking behind the cheaper alternatives. Ultimately, it is a better-looking, smaller, and quieter cooler than the Cryorig C7, but the hefty price tag and the lacking performance do make it a rather dubious investment.
Noctua NH-L9x65
RPM: 600-2500
Noise: 14.8-23.6 dBA
Compatibilities: Intel, AMD
The Pros:
- Great performance
- Extremely low noise generation
The Cons:
- AM4 mounting kit sold separately
- On the expensive side
- Not that much better than cheaper coolers
About The Cooler
And for the final entry, we come back to Noctua, only this time, it is the NH-L9x65 cooler. It is virtually identical to the cheaper and more compact NH-L9i, except for one very obvious difference: the heatsink of this model is twice as tall.
That extra bulk can mean only one thing: better cooling efficiency. And of course, since it’s Noctua and it is the same fan like the one shipping with the L9i, the L9x65 is also remarkably quiet. As a matter of fact, it is even quieter thanks to the larger heatsink, as the fan doesn’t have to spin as fast as that of the L9i.
Specifications
| Socket compatibility |
Intel: LGA 2066, 2011-0, 2011-3, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156 AMD: FM1, FM2, FM2+, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4* |
| Dimensions | 95x95x65mm |
| Weight | 413g |
| RPM | 600-2500 |
| Noise generation | 14.8-23.6 dBA |
| Heatsink material | Aluminum, copper |
*AM4 socket requires a mounting kit, which is sold separately.
Our Thoughts
To put it bluntly, this is one of the best aftermarket coolers you can get if you’re looking for a cooler that can strike the golden balance between “efficient” and “quiet” in a Mini ITX case.
Still, despite the extra bulk, it only remains a couple of degrees ahead of the significantly cheaper Cryorig C7, although that comes with the territory. You can rest assured, however, that the L9x65 will still perform better, and be significantly quieter while doing so.
So, as with the L9i, the primary advantage of the L9x65, as well as the main reason why you might consider buying it, is the extremely quiet fan. Other than that, there are the same two issues as with the L9i — the cooler is fairly expensive, and a mounting kit for the AM4 socket is sold separately.
Conclusion – The Best Low Profile Cooler For 2023
At the end of the day, our low-profile cooler of choice would have to be the Cryorig C7. Sure, its fan is not as quiet as those that come with Noctua coolers, but when push comes to shove, the two are evenly matched. More importantly, the C7 is a bit cheaper than both Noctua coolers listed here, and that’s definitely something to keep in mind.
So, if what you’re looking for is a well-performing cooler to replace the lackluster stock one, the C7 should be your first choice. The only time that we’d definitely recommend a Noctua over it is if you just can’t stand loud fans. And true enough, if you’re building a Mini ITX gaming PC, chances are you have some trouble with fan noise.
