Unlocked Intel CPUs come with stock coolers whereas locked ones do not. On the other hand, all the AMD’s Ryzen CPUs come with a stock cooler. Only the 5000 series of the Ryzen CPUs have an exception. High-end Ryzen 5000 CPUs do not come with a cooler as they are optimized for enthusiasts.
CPUs usually come with a heatsink and a fan if you are not a heavy user. For those who need more power than usual for their PCs, the cooling system should be powerful as well. That is why high-end CPUs do not come with stock coolers so that users can choose something more capable than a stock cooler.
Do CPUs Come with Coolers
Most CPUs do come with stock coolers and heatsinks with them. But the cooler that comes with the CPU is the most minimal for the CPU for average usage. For office tasks like word, excel or minimal usage by your PC will not need a cooling system that is more dominant than the stock cooler.
Intel
Intel Core CPUs which are marked with a ‘k’ in their naming is unlocked CPUs, do not come with a cooler and a heatsink. E.g.: 7600k, 9600k, 4770k etc. You can change the settings of these kinds of CPUs and overclock them.
AMD
All AMD Ryzen CPUs come with a stock cooler except the high-end 5000 Ryzen CPUs. You have to get an aftermarket cooler if you are planning to buy a Ryzen 9 5950x a Ryzen 9 5900x or a Ryzen 7 5800x. AMD offers 3 types of coolers with their CPUs. They are Wraith Prism, Wraith Spire, and Wraith Stealth.
Overclocking with Stock Cooler
Overclocking with a stock cooler is a bit risky for the CPU. Stock coolers are usually made for regular use. When you overclock the CPU, it becomes a lot hotter than usual. So, a more powerful cooling system than a stock cooler is recommended to overclock the CPU so that no component gets damaged.
Stock Coolers vs Aftermarket Coolers
The stock cooler comes with CPUs, so it is free. On the other hand, aftermarket coolers can be too much expensive. Aftermarket coolers are capable enough to keep your CPU cool, even if it is a high-end CPU. But stock coolers may not provide good performance when you will put some stress on your CPU.
Stock coolers are usually small. So, there will be enough space for your GPU or RAM in the PC case. But aftermarkets can be sometimes bulky and space-consuming. Sometimes you will find it difficult to close one side of the case if you are using a large aftermarket.
Do CPUs Come with Thermal Paste
Thermal paste will never come attached to a CPU. It may come pre-applied on the bottom plate of the cooler’s heatsink. Nowadays, all the new CPUs come with a heatsink that has thermal paste applied to it.
FAQ
- Can you run a PC without a CPU cooler?
Although it is technically possible to run a CPU without a cooler, it will most likely break. Then the CPU may begin to smoke, potentially causing damage to the board. So, a cooler of some sort is an absolute must. It isn’t necessary to purchase an aftermarket cooler. A cooler is included in the box when you buy a CPU.
Conclusion
As a regular CPU comes with the most minimal cooler, you will be needing an aftermarket cooler if you are going to put some stress on your CPU. And if your CPU does not have one inside the box, you can find some very good budget aftermarket coolers at the market.
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