Buyers Guides CPU Coolers

Best CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5 13400F

Best CPU Coolers 13400F Feature Image

Introduction

Intel’s 13th-Gen range has been an astounding success in the PC gaming space. Intel launched an entire new set of CPUs that offer significant generational improvements whilst maintaining very competitive prices, despite all of the new hardware. The 13th-Gen set of CPUs offer exceptional value, especially for first-time builders.

Even at the low-end, consumers have plenty of choice, such as Intel’s Core i5 13400F, or the 13500 SKUs, that offer solid core and clock speed improvements. This makes them perfect for a 1080p or 1440p gaming system, with some decent legs in workstation applications.

In this article we’ll be alleviating any stress that comes with picking out components, by rounding up the best CPU coolers for the Core i5 13400F. We’ll be delving into why the 13400F is a competitive option, alongside compatibility, and of course, some CPU cooler recommendations!

Best CPU Cooler for the Intel Core i5 13400F: Deepcool AK620

Deepcool AK620

📸 View the Deepcool AK620 gallery.

To conclude, the best CPU cooler to pair up with the 13400F is Deepcool’s AK620. The AK620 time and time again beats out the vast majority of other options on the market due to its competitive price point, and astounding performance. Yes this cooler doesn’t look the best, but I’d argue that the vast majority of consumers won’t be worrying about this based on the value proposition. Needless to say, if you’re on a budget, or you want a high performing air cooler, the Deepcool AK620 is an excellent option.

Design: 3.8/5

Performance: 4.5/5

Value for Money: 4.2/5

Our Verdict: 4.2/5

Skip to the full testinggallery and where to buy the Deepcool AK620. ⬇️

Suggested Article: Intel Core i5 13400F Review – Architecture, Thermals & Performance

All CPU Coolers in our Roundup

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo

Deepcool AK620

Thermaltake TH120

Deepcool LS520

1. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo

Best for Aesthetics

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Resized
GeekaWhat Cog with Arrows Icon

27dB

Max Fan Noise

2050RPM

Fan Speed

154mm

Cooler Height

GeekaWhat Fan Icon

1

Number of Fans

First up in our roundup is Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 Halo. This cooler is a familiar but revamped version of a cooler that we love and hold dear – the Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition. The Hyper 212 Halo takes all of the awesome features that came with the original Hyper 212, but mixes it up a little with a revitalised and refreshed design.

As you can probably imagine, the ‘Halo’ part of the of the Hyper 212 is the biggest change. Cooler Master have opted to use a circular style MF120 Halo fan which offers an RGB ring surrounding the entire fan, and the fan blades themselves. Cooler Master have also made the entire heatsink pipes, and block, a stealthy black colour. This further adds to the aesthetic, and will allow the cooler to blend in relatively well with a black build. Gone are the days of silvery aluminium heatsinks with ugly copper heat pipes.

Although the Hyper 212 Halo offers pretty solid performance all around, but noise levels can get quite loud. If you’re wanting a silent system this might not be the cooler to go for.

The biggest caveat to this cooler, is that it is very much designed for budget systems. Consumers may want to look at an upgrade if you plan on picking up a more powerful CPU.

Pros

Cons

Our Ratings:

Design: 4/5

Performance: 4/5

Value for Money: 4/5

Our Verdict: 4/5

Where to Buy

Buy the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo on:

$30.99 at Amazon
Last updated: 2024-03-28 19:38:59 ET

2. Deepcool AK620

Best for Performance

DeepCool AK620 Zero Dark Resized New
GeekaWhat Cog with Arrows Icon

28dB

Max Pump Noise

1850RPM

Pump Speed

157mm

Cooler Height

GeekaWhat Fan Icon

2

Number of Fans

Next up in our roundup is a returning favourite that we’ve featured in a number of other buyers guides, the AK620 from Deepcool. This cooler is one of the best air coolers on the market right now, offering incredible performance in budget and mid-range builds. This dual-tower option can keep up with a plethora of mid-range liquid coolers, all whilst keeping noise levels relatively low across the board.

The biggest upside is that this cooler is also super cheap, sitting around the $50 mark the majority of the time, with prices dropping below this dependent on stocking. The AK620 isn’t the best looking cooler on the market, lacking RGB for the most part, but Deepcool do provide a Zero Dark version which ups the aesthetic with an all-dark look similar to the Hyper 212 Halo above.

Although I’m a big fan of this cooler, I can understand how the aesthetic might not fit in for a large variety of builds. Consumers looking to spice up their system with some RGB or a fancy looking cooler may want to consider other options.

The AK620 is one of the bigger coolers we’ve looked at in quite some time, offering a dual-tower design with two fans. You may want to take a look at your case and other components to make sure everything can be installed without any clearance or airflow issues.

Pros

Cons

Our Ratings:

Design: 3.8/5

Performance: 4.5/5

Value for Money: 4.2/5

Our Verdict: 4.2/5

Where to Buy

Buy the Deepcool AK620 on:

$69.99 at Amazon
Last updated: 2024-03-29 01:35:30 ET

3. Thermaltake TH120

Best 120mm

Thermaltake TH120 ARGB Sync Resized
GeekaWhat Cog with Arrows Icon

28dB

Max Fan Noise

1500RPM

Pump Speed

120mm

Radiator Size

GeekaWhat Fan Icon

1

Number of Fans

If you’re looking for a liquid cooling option, but you’re on a budget, or you’d rather avoid picking up a 240mm radiator, what are your choices? Well, 120mm options serve as a great option for those with limited space, or those with less money to spend on cooling. This is where Thermaltake’s TH120 comes in.

This ARGB cooler offers a very simple CPU pump block, attached to a 120mm radiator that can be mounted wherever you see fit. The TH120 offers a high efficiency radiator delivering great heat dissipation, while offering some flair in the form of RGB. Alongside some other 120mm (or bigger) fans, this cooler will be able to provide solid performance, with plenty of room to upgrade in the future.

This isn’t the most expensive cooler that we’ve looked at, but the TH120 is pricier than other options in this roundup. If you’re on a restrictive budget, this cooler won’t be a great choice.

The biggest caveat to 120mm AIOs is that they often can’t outperform some of the various air cooling options. It may be worth spending a little bit more to secure a cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 to ensure your system is cooler, quiet, and has some upgrading room.

Pros

Cons

Our Ratings:

Design: 4.1/5

Performance: 4/5

Value for Money: 4/5

Our Verdict: 4/5

Where to Buy

Buy the Thermaltake TH120 on:

$59.99 at Amazon
Last updated: 2024-03-28 19:38:59 ET

4. Deepcool LS520

Best Budget

Deepcool LS520 Resized
GeekaWhat Cog with Arrows Icon

19dB

Max Pump Noise

3100RPM

Pump Speed

240mm

Radiator Size

GeekaWhat Fan Icon

2

Number of Fans

For our final recommendation in this buyers guide roundup we’ve picked out Deepcool’s LS520, which is another favourite at the GeekaWhat office. The LS520 is an awesome budget cooler sporting a 240mm radiator with plenty of RGB across the fans and CPU cooling block. This cooler also features an infinity mirror design which provides some additional flair to your build.

The LS520 offers a great value proposition because it is both very quiet and performs extremely well, whilst keeping cost at a reasonable level. This cooler is pricier comparative to air coolers, but you’re getting what you pay for when it comes to performance. The CPU block also comes with an additional logo plate, which allows consumers to customise their build further. I must admit, I do like this touch from Deepcool as it provides users with some extra design options if you plan on showcasing your build a little bit more.

The LS520 also doesn’t have access to Deepcool’s software, which means you’ll have to configure lighting through your motherboard software, and cooling through the BIOS.

Pros

Cons

Our Ratings:

Design: 4.2/5

Performance: 4.2/5

Value for Money: 4/5

Our Verdict: 4.2/5

Where to Buy

Buy the Deepcool LS520 on:

$94.80 at Amazon
Last updated: 2024-03-28 19:38:59 ET

Is the Core i5 13400F Any Good?

In short, yes! The 13400F received quite an upgrade, contrasting to the 12th-Gen iteration, making it perfect for a budget, or mid-range build. This CPU sits mostly on par to the 12600K when it comes to specs, so consumers can expect great 1080p and 1440p performance when paired up with the right graphics card. Although we wouldn’t recommend this CPU as a workstation option, it does have enough cores and threads to be able to handle some lighter workloads too.

However, one point to touch upon, is use-case. Although the Core i5 is a pretty strong contender, you’ll want to consider what kind of things you’ll be doing with your build to ensure that your CPU can keep up. As we’ve established, 1440p gaming will be perfectly fine, but 4K could potentially be a struggle. On the other end of the spectrum, if you plan on doing some 3D modelling work, or other intense productivity workloads, this CPU won’t be able to keep up comparative to other stronger options on the market.

Intel Core i5 13400F in Front of Box

Do I Need to Worry About Compatibility?

One of the big questions that we always get asked when a manufacturer brings out a new range of CPUs, is whether the old coolers will work with the new hardware. You should always consider compatibility when picking out components, but consumers shouldn’t need to worry when it comes to the 13400F. Intel have retained the LGA1700 socket for the 13th-Gen SKUs, which means all of the coolers that have 12th-Gen mounting will work on 13th-Gen motherboards, whether you’re using a Z790, B760 or H770 motherboard.

ASUS ROG STRIX B760-A Gaming WiFi D4 Top Half

However there are some small caveats. Intel 13th-Gen is the last range of CPUs on this particular socket, which means that when Intel bring out a potential 14th-Gen, the socket will be entirely different. We’re expecting manufacturers to update their most popular coolers, but there are likely to be quite a few older options that won’t work on the next socket iteration. Regardless, you don’t need to worry about compatibility for the time being, as all of the coolers we’ve recommend will work with the LGA1700 socket. But you should always double check what mounting hardware your cooler comes with, just to be sure.

How We Tested CPU Coolers for the Intel Core i5 13400F

In order to test and evaluate the range of CPU coolers that are compatible with the i5 13400F, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:

  • Cooling Performance
  • Compatibility
  • Design
  • Value Proposition

Frequently Asked Questions

RR-Question-Mark New

Do I Need to Worry About Clearance?

Whenever you’re picking out a cooler, you should always consider clearance before settling. We recommend looking at your case manufacturers website to ensure you don’t run into any installation issues.

RR-Question-Mark New

Are CPU Coolers Difficult to Install?

Honestly this depends. Most manufacturers have streamlined their mounting hardware to make installation simpler. But some coolers are more complicated to install than others, Google and YouTube will be your friend if you’re not sure how to install your cooler.

RR-Question-Mark New

Can I Overclock the 13400F?

Unfortunately not. All of Intel’s overclockable CPUs are designated as ‘K’ SKUs. The 13400F has a locked core multiplier, so overclocking the CPU itself won’t be possible.

editor
Jay Harris is an expert in everything PC hardware! With a degree in Cybersecurity, and a PC hardware background Jay has all of the technical knowledge required to make informed recommendations. Jay is an avid keyboard builder and gamer, with a major passion for tech. In fact, Jay's personal rig boasts a white RX 7900 XTX graphics card, inside of the Lian O11D Mini - a true enthusiast's dream!