Best cooler for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

With the confirmation of the 285K’s specs comes the inevitable conversation about cooling, which, of course, leads to people wanting the best cooler for the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. Luckily, the job is considerably easier than it usually is.

This is because the new LGA 1851 works just fine with any LGA 1700-compatible cooler. However, if you’re in the market for a new cooler, the ones on this page are great options. It’s also worth noting that, because the 285K is Intel’s top-dog, any of the options here are perfect for the other Ultra Series CPUs, as they will be even easier to cool.

During normal operation, the 285K won’t heat up much, as it only consumes up to 125W of power. However, if you’re really pushing it with demanding games, benchmarks, or the obligatory AI tasks, its turbo mode can pull up to 250W. This generates a lot of heat, so the cooler must be able to keep up – even if you won’t often push the CPU that hard.

AIOs are popular cooling solutions for many good reasons. They look great, take up minimal space within the PC case, and of course, provide fantastic cooling. Our AIOs come in various sizes, but given the high potential temperatures of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, we strongly recommend the iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX RGB. (Just make sure that your case can fit a 360mm radiator.)

The TITAN AIOs are the only coolers in our current lineup that utilize both iCUE LINK and the FlowDrive Cooling Engine. ICUE LINK simplifies connections by eliminating obtuse and confusing RGB PWM hubs in favor of a single cable that doesn’t care about the order of connections.

The FlowDrive Engine is the business end. The core principle of AIOs remains the same, but it’s more refined here. Firstly, the cold plate (The part of the AIO that presses down onto the CPU) is slightly convex, so that when the correct mounting pressure is applied, it flexes into a flatter shape, resulting in better contact.

In addition to the improved cold plate design, the pump uses a 3-phase motor, instead of the typical single-phase. This results in better flow rates and lower noise. Even when the pump is running at full capacity, the noise is more of a gentle hum, in contrast to the buzz or whine that AIOs can often produce.

However, what if you’re old-school? What if you don’t trust things like water and pumps? An air cooler might be a better option for you.

For those looking for a traditional, bulletproof solution, the A115 Twin Tower CPU Air Cooler is the way to go. With two fans, two fin stacks, and six heat pipes, air coolers like this one are as reliable as it gets.

That being said, the A115 still has a couple tricks up its proverbial sleeve. First is the Slide-And-Lock fan system. Put simply, both of the included AF140 ELITE fans are mounted on a mechanism similar to a ratchet system. This means that those who prefer monolithic RAM modules, like the Dominator Titanium series, can easily click the fan up a few notches to ensure clearance.

Those with ample capital and the requisite technical knowledge should consider a custom loop with parts from our Hydro X lineup. Custom cooling results in the best performance and lowest temperatures, but it costs more, takes longer to assemble, and requires ongoing maintenance.

With the caveat out of the way, we still recommend custom cooling, as it can be a lot of fun and retains a slightly scrappy DIY vibe. The best way to get started is with the iCUE LINK XH405i kit. It comes with everything you need to cool the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and allows you to expand the loop later on with additional radiators, components like the GPU, and a variety cooling accessories. (You will need to source your own heat gun to bend the tubing, though).

Those with custom cooling experience can use the XH405i kit to take advantage of the lower cost of the bundle or browse our selection of water blocks, pump reservoirs, fittings, and tubing on our webstore to build out a unique loop that keeps the 285K operating smoothly.