Typically, upgrading your system to the latest Intel chip isn’t going to cause any trouble when it comes to using your previous cooler. The better coolers typically come with multiple adapters to cover a good range of processor socket types. This means the same cooler may last quite a while. However, once in a while you get a physical change to the size of the chip that requires shopping for a new cooling option. Unless of course, the company that made the cooler offers an option to buy something to adapt.
In this round, the latter of the two options is quite popular. The new Alder Lake processors take on a slightly new shape that prevents current coolers from completely covering the surface area needing to be cooled. Some companies (but not all) are offering adapter kits that will convert some of the more recent AIO liquid coolers are fan/heatsink combos to properly fit the chips. Some doing better than others. While others are releasing new models in order to achieve even better efficiency.
Not all of the adapter kits are achieving likable results though, which may be why some of them have vanished. Some of our own colleagues have reached out to a few companies like Cooler Master for their own personal builds to inquire on if they will be providing the kits or not or if consumers will be forced to buy them.
Either way, the kits can’t be found anywhere suddenly. Possibly linked to certain AIO issues popping up where the coolers aren’t properly covering the chips fully, resulting in temperature troubles. There are many images going around showing thermal grease patterns missing parts of the surface area where a heatsink wasn’t properly making contact.
Cooler Master never even replied to any of my colleague’s support/contact attempts (which is never a good sign) to ask about the company’s current models and how to find the adapter kits that were supposed to be available last month (but no one seems to have it stock, including CM).
Meanwhile, the company Noctua has been responding to everyone with an adapter kit that appears to be working for those attempting to make use of their favorite heatsink/fan combos from the company. Not only that, but Noctua has been providing the adapter kit for free, which is one of the wonderful attributes of that company.
So far, the verdict seems to be that if you have a Noctua heatsink, you will likely be able to get an adapter. Not all models are covered, but it does seem that most of the company’s popular options are. You just have to reach out to them (via the contact section of Noctua’s site) with a copy of your receipt/invoice for the new chip or board relating to the Alder Lake chips, as well as your proof of purchase for the heatsink.
As for AIO liquid coolers, you may want to stick to one of the newer models specifically designed for the new Alder Lake chips in order to get the best performance. At least, until these adapter kits start to show promise when it comes to temperatures.
For all other heatsink/fan combos, you may also be looking for a new option in order to make sure you get a proper spread across the chip.
