We round up eight sideways-gusting CPU coolers under fifty bucks to see if they can keep an overclocked FX-60 from welding itself to the motherboard. Will these horizontal blowers turn the world of CPU cooling on its side? Most factory CPU coolers blow downwards directly onto the CPU or heat spreader. Horizontal coolers elevate the heatsink radiator fins away from the base, directing airflow either toward the chassis exhaust point or channeled to help cool other motherboard components like the northbridge chipset, memory, or voltage regulators. Also, many of these coolers can be used without a fan. If you don't have a scorching hot CPU and don't plan to do much overclocking, some horizontal coolers can easily transform into silent passively-cooled solutions.

The idea of mounting the cooling fan so it blows horizontally across the radiator fins is similar to what's used in BTX cooling. However, using one of these coolers allows you to continue to use ATX motherboards and cases. Note that the majority of these coolers are quite bulky, so you'll need a case that offers enough clearance above the motherboard. You'll also need to be careful about your choice of motherboard, so that no onboard parts make contact with the heat sink. Finally, you'll also have to be careful about components such as tall memory modules. These coolers may also require additional effort to install.

ExtremeTech