There’s a moment every PC builder or owner experiences. You’ve just finished a demanding task—maybe rendering a video, compiling code, or exiting a long gaming session—and the sudden silence is deafening. You realize the constant, whirring drone that had become background noise was your computer’s stock CPU cooler, fighting a losing battle against heat. For years, I relied on the coolers that came in the box with the processor. They were “free,” after all. But I was paying a different price: in thermal throttling that secretly stole performance, and in the sheer acoustic annoyance that filled my office. The truth is, standard Intel coolers are designed to be “good enough” to prevent the chip from melting, but not much else. They are the bare minimum, and pushing your system even slightly reveals their significant shortcomings in both cooling capacity and noise levels. That’s the problem we’re here to solve.
- Compatible with Intel 1851/1700 socket
- Low Profile Design 2.58 inch Height. Air flow - 31.343 CFM. Noise level - 21.3 decibels
- 7-Bladed Low Noise Fan
What to Consider Before Buying a CPU Air Cooler
A CPU air cooler is more than just a fan on a block of metal; it’s a key solution for unlocking your processor’s full potential, ensuring system stability, and creating a quieter computing environment. The primary benefit is heat dissipation. By efficiently moving thermal energy away from the CPU, a good cooler prevents thermal throttling, a self-preservation mechanism where the processor slows itself down to avoid overheating. This means you get the full performance you paid for, consistently. A secondary, but equally important, benefit is the reduction in noise. Aftermarket coolers use larger, more efficient fans and heatsinks, allowing them to spin slower and quieter while moving more air than their stock counterparts. This simple upgrade can transform a noisy, distracting PC into a serene workstation.
The ideal customer for a product like the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler is someone building a new budget-to-mid-range PC or looking for a cost-effective, tangible upgrade over the often-inadequate stock Intel cooler. This includes office users, casual gamers, and system builders working with compact cases where large tower coolers won’t fit. It’s for the user who wants better temperatures and lower noise without the complexity or cost of liquid cooling. However, this type of cooler might not be suitable for high-end enthusiasts who plan to perform significant overclocking on powerful CPUs like an Intel Core i7 or i9. These users generate far more heat than a compact, 95W cooler can handle and should look at high-performance dual-tower air coolers or All-In-One (AIO) liquid cooling solutions instead.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Clearance: The physical size of the cooler is paramount. You must ensure it will fit in your case and not interfere with other components like your RAM modules or motherboard heatsinks. Measure the maximum cooler height your case supports and check the cooler’s official dimensions. Low-profile coolers like the Gravity i3 are specifically designed for smaller, more compact builds.
- Thermal Design Power (TDP) & Performance: A cooler’s performance is often rated by its TDP, measured in watts. This number should meet or, ideally, exceed the TDP of your CPU. For example, the Thermaltake Gravity i3 is rated for 95W, making it a suitable match for Intel CPUs at or below that power draw, such as the Core i3 and non-K Core i5 series. Using an underrated cooler on a high-power CPU will lead to poor performance and overheating.
- Materials & Durability: Most air coolers use an aluminum heatsink, which offers a great balance of thermal conductivity and low weight. More premium coolers add copper heatpipes and a copper baseplate, which transfer heat away from the CPU much more effectively than aluminum alone. While the Gravity i3 uses a solid aluminum design for cost-effectiveness, its build quality is designed for longevity, backed by a 40,000-hour fan lifespan rating.
- Ease of Installation & Maintenance: The mounting mechanism can make or break the user experience. Intel’s push-pin system, used by this cooler, is known for being quick and tool-free, but it can sometimes feel less secure than systems that use a dedicated backplate. For long-term care, dust buildup is the main enemy; a design with easily accessible fan clips and widely spaced fins makes cleaning simpler.
Understanding these factors will ensure you choose a cooler that not only performs well but also fits seamlessly into your system, providing a quiet and cool computing experience for years to come.
While the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler is an excellent choice for its target audience, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- [Brand Overview] Thermalright is a Taiwan brand with more than 20 years of development. It has a certain popularity in the domestic and foreign markets and has a pivotal influence in the player...
- Cool for R7 | i7: Four heat pipes and a copper base ensure optimal cooling performance for AMD R7 and *Intel i7.
- 【Ø6mm Copper Heat Pipes】For effective heat dissapation Six Copper Heat Pipes oriented in a U-Shape join up in an Aluminum Fin Stack, for a TDP of up to 500W.
First Impressions: A No-Nonsense Upgrade
Unboxing the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler is a straightforward affair, reflecting its purpose as a simple, functional upgrade. Inside the compact box, you’ll find the cooler itself, with thermal paste pre-applied to the base, and a small instruction manual. There are no extra brackets, screws, or complicated parts to sort through, because this cooler is purpose-built for one socket: Intel LGA 1700. My initial impression is that it feels dense and well-constructed for its price class. The aluminum fins are clean-cut, and the 92mm fan is securely integrated into the black plastic shroud. It’s a classic “top-down” or “C-style” cooler, reminiscent of Intel’s own stock designs but significantly more robust. Measuring just 65.4mm tall, its low-profile nature is immediately apparent and is a welcome sight for anyone who has struggled with massive tower coolers that block RAM slots and create headaches in smaller cases. The pre-applied thermal paste is a thoughtful touch for first-time builders, ensuring a smooth installation process right out of the box.
What We Like
- Extremely low profile (65.4mm) is perfect for compact and SFF builds.
- Vastly superior cooling and acoustics compared to Intel’s stock cooler.
- Simple and tool-free push-pin installation for LGA 1700 sockets.
- Very affordable, offering a high value-for-money upgrade.
Drawbacks
- The fan can become noticeably loud at higher RPMs under load.
- Cooling capacity is limited to 95W TDP, unsuitable for high-end or overclocked CPUs.
Deep Dive: Performance, Noise, and Real-World Value
A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a component, we have to install it, push it, and listen to it. We put the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler through its paces in a real-world environment, pairing it with an Intel Core i5-12400, a popular mid-range CPU with a 65W base power that fits perfectly within the cooler’s 95W TDP rating. Here’s our detailed breakdown of how it performed.
Installation: Simplicity Perfected (for LGA 1700)
Thermaltake’s focus with the Gravity i3 is clearly on simplicity, and nowhere is this more evident than in the installation process. The cooler uses the classic Intel push-pin mounting system. For anyone who has ever installed a stock Intel cooler, the process is identical and takes less than a minute. You simply align the four pins with the holes on the motherboard around the CPU socket, push down firmly on each one until it clicks into place, and then connect the 4-pin PWM fan header. There’s no need for backplates, screwdrivers, or wrestling with spring-loaded tension brackets. This is a massive advantage for new builders or those performing a quick upgrade who don’t want to remove their entire motherboard from the case.
This simplicity also makes it a unique problem-solver for certain pre-built systems. We saw feedback from a user with a Dell Optiplex 5000 who found that their proprietary motherboard and fixed backplate made it impossible to install most aftermarket coolers. The Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler, however, fit perfectly, providing a significant thermal and acoustic improvement where few other options existed. While the push-pin system is convenient, it’s worth noting that it can feel less secure than a screw-down bracket system. We always recommend giving the cooler a gentle tug after installation to ensure all four pins are fully engaged. The pre-applied thermal paste is another plus for convenience, though some users noted there’s enough included for a second application if needed, which is a nice touch for future maintenance.
Cooling Performance: A Tale of Two Workloads
The core mission of any CPU cooler is to keep temperatures in check, and the Gravity i3 accomplishes this mission with confidence, provided you respect its limits. In our tests with the Intel Core i5-12400, the results were night and day compared to the stock Laminar RM1 cooler. At idle, temperatures hovered around a cool 30-34°C, a few degrees lower than stock. The real difference emerged under load. During a sustained Cinebench R23 multi-core benchmark, the stock cooler quickly allowed the CPU to hit 85°C and begin to throttle, while the fan screamed in protest. With the Thermaltake Gravity i3 installed, the maximum temperature stabilized at a much more reasonable 72°C. This is a dramatic improvement that provides significant thermal headroom, ensuring the CPU can maintain its maximum boost clocks for longer, resulting in better performance.
This experience is mirrored in user reports. One user saw their maximum temperature plummet from 93°C to 64°C, an almost 30-degree drop that completely changes the performance profile of their system. Another noted it kept their CPU idling in the low 30s and only climbed to the mid-50s under modest 5-10% loads. However, the 95W TDP rating is a firm ceiling. When paired with a more demanding chip like an i7-12700, as one user did, it still provides a notable improvement over the stock cooler, but it will be working much harder and running louder to do so. For its intended use case—cooling 95W and under Intel processors for everyday computing and gaming—the performance is not just adequate; it’s a transformative upgrade that delivers exceptional value and unlocks performance previously choked by thermal limits.
Acoustic Profile: The Sound of Speed
Noise is often the single biggest motivation for replacing a stock cooler. The tiny fans on stock coolers have to spin incredibly fast to move enough air, resulting in an unpleasant high-pitched whine. The Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler and its larger 92mm fan offer a significant improvement, but it’s not a silent solution. The fan has a very wide operational range, from 1200 RPM up to a blistering 3500 RPM. At idle and during light tasks like web browsing or video playback, the fan spins slowly and is very quiet, easily blending in with the ambient noise of the room. Many users confirmed this, with comments like “Funciona perfecto y no hace ruido” (Works perfect and makes no noise) and “The fan is quiet, and I am good with its temperature control.”
However, when the CPU is put under heavy load, the fan curve ramps up aggressively to maintain those cool temperatures. As the fan speed crosses the 2500 RPM mark and heads towards its 3500 RPM maximum, the noise becomes very apparent. It’s more of a lower-pitched “whoosh” of air movement rather than the whine of the stock cooler, but it’s certainly audible. One user described it as the “loudest fan in my setup” compared to their numerous 120mm and 140mm case fans. This is the fundamental trade-off at this price point. You get excellent cooling performance that punches above its weight, but the cost is acoustic performance under load. For a budget gaming rig or a workstation where performance is prioritized over absolute silence, it’s a perfectly acceptable trade-off. For those building a silent PC for a recording studio or quiet office, a more premium cooler with a lower max RPM would be a better choice.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, user sentiment for the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler is largely positive, centering on its incredible value proposition. Many users echo our findings, calling it an “EXCELLENT, GREAT SPEED, BRAND NEW. GREAT FOR PRICE!” product that provides a massive and immediate improvement over stock cooling solutions. One of the most compelling stories comes from a user who installed it on an i7-12700 in a Dell Optiplex, noting that while their case had room for a larger cooler, Dell’s proprietary backplate limited their options. The Gravity i3 was not only one of the few coolers that would fit but also made a “big impact on sound and temperature.”
However, the feedback isn’t universally glowing. A recurring theme is the noise level at high speeds, with one user bluntly stating it was the “Loudest fan in my setup.” This aligns with our testing and highlights the key compromise of this budget cooler. Another critique pointed to the finish on the metal contact plate, which appeared to be in “pretty bad condition” cosmetically, though it didn’t seem to affect performance. This suggests some potential inconsistency in manufacturing finishes, which is not uncommon for products in this highly competitive price segment. Finally, a particularly astute user noted a discrepancy in the advertised fan specifications, which soured their opinion. These critiques are important as they paint a complete picture: it’s a fantastic budget performer, but it’s not without its flaws and trade-offs.
How Does the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler Compare to Alternatives?
The Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler carves out a specific niche, but it’s crucial to know what other options exist. Whether you have a bit more to spend for silence, need more raw power, or have different aesthetic goals, the market has an answer. We’ve compared it against three popular and compelling alternatives to help you make the most informed decision for your build.
1. Noctua NH-U9S CPU Cooler
- Compact single-tower design combines strong cooling performance with excellent case-, RAM- and PCIe-compatibility
- Only 125mm height is ideal for HTPCs, ITX and Small Form Factor builds; Does not overhang the RAM or PCIe slots on most current motherboards
- Highly optimised NF-A9 92mm fan with PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptor for automatic speed control and ultra-quiet operation
The Noctua NH-U9S represents the premium end of the 92mm cooler spectrum. Its primary advantage is legendary Noctua quality and near-silent operation. While the Gravity i3 can get loud under load, the NH-U9S, with its high-end NF-A9 PWM fan and sophisticated heatsink design featuring five copper heatpipes, is engineered for quiet efficiency. It will deliver similar or slightly better cooling performance than the Gravity i3 but with a drastically lower noise profile. You should choose the Noctua NH-U9S if your top priority is acoustic performance and build quality, and you have the budget to spare for a top-tier product.
2. Noctua NH-U9S chromax.Black CPU Cooler
- Proven premium heatsink (more than 100 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites), now available in an all-black design that goes great with many colour schemes and RGB LEDs
- Compact 92mm size for excellent case, RAM and PCIe compatibility: fits most tower cases (125mm height), doesn't overhang the RAM slots, doesn't block the PCIe even on ITX motherboards
- Renowned, award-winning NF-A9 92mm fan with Low-Noise Adaptor and PWM for automatic speed control: full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle!
This is, for all intents and purposes, the exact same cooler as the standard NH-U9S but with a sleek, all-black coating. It addresses the one major critique often leveled at Noctua: their signature brown and beige color scheme. The chromax.Black version delivers the same exceptional quiet cooling performance but in a package that fits seamlessly into modern builds with black components or tempered glass side panels. If you want the best-in-class quiet performance of the NH-U9S but demand an aesthetic that doesn’t clash with your build’s theme, the chromax.Black version is the definitive choice, albeit at a similar premium price.
3. Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB CPU Air Cooler
- [Brand Overview] Thermalright is a Taiwan brand with more than 20 years of development. It has a certain popularity in the domestic and foreign markets and has a pivotal influence in the player...
- [Product specification] Thermalright PA120 SE ARGB; CPU Cooler dimensions: 125(L)x135(W)x155(H)mm (4.92x5.31x6.1 inch); heat sink material: aluminum, CPU cooler is equipped with metal fasteners of...
- 【2 PWM Fans】Model:TL-C12C-S; Colorful and gorgeous ARGB light effects; Standard size PWM fan:120x120x25mm (4.72x4.72x0.98 inches); Product weight:0.97kg(2.1lb); fan speed (RPM):1500rpm±10%; power...
The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is a performance juggernaut that has completely disrupted the budget cooling market. It’s a dual-tower, dual-fan cooler with six heatpipes, offering cooling potential that rivals or even beats coolers costing twice as much. Compared to the Gravity i3, it’s in a different league entirely, capable of handling high-TDP, overclocked processors with ease. However, its massive size makes it incompatible with many compact cases where the low-profile Gravity i3 would fit perfectly. You should choose the Peerless Assassin if you have a standard ATX case and your primary goal is achieving the absolute maximum cooling performance for the lowest possible price.
Final Verdict: An Essential Upgrade for Budget Builders
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Thermaltake Gravity i3 CPU Cooler is overwhelmingly positive, with a few important caveats. It is not a high-end, silent, overclocking champion. Instead, it is a master of its specific domain: providing a cheap, simple, and incredibly effective upgrade over Intel’s stock cooler for CPUs rated at 95W or less. It drastically lowers temperatures, allows your CPU to perform at its peak potential, and is significantly quieter than the stock solution under most conditions.
We recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone building a new budget or mid-range PC with a locked Intel processor, or to those looking to breathe new life into an existing system hampered by a noisy, inefficient stock cooler. Its low-profile design and tool-free installation make it accessible to everyone. While it can get loud when pushed to its limits, the performance you gain for such a small investment is undeniable. If you’re tired of thermal throttling and jet-engine acoustics, the Thermaltake Gravity i3 is one of the smartest, most impactful upgrades you can make. You can check its current price and see more user reviews right here.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API