Would you require a cooler if you don't plan to overclock?
Would you require a cooler if you don't plan to overclock?
It relies on the desired quietness of your PC, as well as whether a windowed case suits you. If you relocate the PC for LANs or similar purposes, it might not be ideal. The setup of your case fans and the heat generated by your graphics card also play a role.
You don't necessarily require an after-market CPU cooler, though it can help achieve a quieter and cooler system. Intel CPUs are already quite efficient. Excessive fan noise often stems from fan size—smaller fans tend to be noisier than larger ones. Switching to a cooler with a 90mm fan (common in Intel models) might not significantly lower the noise, but it could reduce it more. A 120mm fan would be much quieter, though it would add to the system's size and expense.