Intel might refresh its reference CPU coolers for Alder Lake series

Intel reference coolers to receive a redesign

Intel is planning to release new coolers for the 12th Gen Core boxed CPU series.

A slide posted by Ayxerious on Twitter might suggest Intel will be refreshing its stock coolers that are added to boxed versions of the desktop processors. What is worth noting is that the slide does not feature final designs of the coolers but has three design suggestions that might be adopted in some form for the final design. Those coolers are called Intel Laminar RH1, RM1, and RS1 coolers.

Intel Alder Lake reference coolers, Source: @ayxerious

Regardless of how accurate those preliminary designs are, it seems that Intel has finally noticed that the AMD desktop CPU offer is simply more attractive to customers due to bundled coolers. The premium ones are even offered with RGB lighting, which means that many customers may rely on reference coolers alone without the necessary 3rd party cooling upgrade. Two out of three Intel thermal solutions for ADL-S (Alder Lake-S) CPUs feature some kind of lighting effects.

AMD currently offers as many as six cooling solutions (including Wraith Ripper Cooler for Threadripper series). Those coolers were introduced with Zen2 based Ryzen 3000 series.

AMD reference coolers for AM4 Ryzen CPUs, Source: AMD

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