ID-Cooling IS 50 & IS 40 Low-Profile CPU Cooler Review

Introduction

Picking a good CPU, GPU and motherboard is often where people put most of their focus, as well as the majority of their budget. Picking a good CPU cooler is important too, especially since an overheating CPU can lead to reduced component life expectancy, more noise from your system and even reduced performance. Of course, you don’t all need a high-end enthusiast cooler that costs north of £100, but it’s always worth finding the best cooler that’s suitable for your needs and budget.

The two latest coolers from ID-Cooling are not only budget friendly, but their low profile design also makes them extremely versatile, especially for those building small form factor systems such as LAN gaming PCs, HTPCs and much more. The IS 50 is the bigger of the two, offering up 130W TDP, as well as a larger fan to deal with more powerful hardware, which the IS 40 is designed for up to 95W TDP, features a smaller fan and a slightly lower price; we’ll be testing them both today. I think it’s obvious which is going to perform better, but keep in mind they’re not both designed to compete, but rather offer more options for those with compact system builds.

In the box, you’ll find a fairly straightforward mounting kit for AMD and Intel CPUs, as well as a spanner and a tube of thermal grease that’s handy for re-installations and maintenance. The mounting kit for both coolers is identical, so there’s no need to show you each separately.