Behind the scenes
The Rubik’s cube is cool again
by Alex Hämmerli
Copper beats glamour - Two towers cool better
4.11.2025
Translation: machine translated
Cool, cooler, German PC hobbyists: Galaxus Deutschland customers are buying more than twice as many CPU coolers this year as in the same period last year. The devices that cool computer processors are in high demand. Trends: eye-catching LED models and powerful dual towers. And: Recently, savings have been made on materials.
On social media, people often complain that there is too little air conditioning in German buildings. That may be true. But when it comes to our PCs, we are the cooling world champions. So far in 2025, twice as many CPU coolers have been added to carts at Galaxus Deutschland than in the same period last year (+101%). CPU water coolers, which use cooling liquid and are quieter than air coolers, were also ordered 94% more frequently.
Where does the demand come from? Luca Franziscus, responsible for purchasing CPU coolers in Galaxus Category Management: «The boom could be related to the new CPU generations from Intel and AMD, which often produce more waste heat.» In addition, the DIY scene has become more active again since the extreme prices of graphics cards and hardware bottlenecks have decreased. Gaming in 4K and the increased prevalence of AI tools also require more and more power, which means more and more cooling.
Dual towers are the effective, affordable alternative to water cooling
The Galaxus sales data shows that dual tower coolers have gained in importance: The market share went from three per cent (2021) to over 30% today. Compared to single towers, dual towers have two cooling blocks and therefore offer more cooling surface and performance. They are also quieter because the fans need less speed as the cooling surface is larger. This makes dual tower solutions popular, as the performance is similar to water cooling devices, often at a lower price. Disadvantage: Dual towers require more space.
Colourful is a must
«We're past peak RGB» wrote Matt Safford at Tomshardware.com in June this year and thinks he knows that LEDs are becoming less important for PC components again. The order data at Galaxus speaks a different language: sales of coolers with RGB (Red/Green/Blue LED) or ARGB (addressable RGB, i.e. colour changes and animations) now account for 18% of sales. In 2021, the proportion of LED-less coolers was still 95%.
Material: savings are being made here
LED lighting dominates the sales rankings for CPU water coolers. Most of the models in the current top 10 are illuminated. In terms of materials, however, technology has taken a step backwards. Nickel-plated copper still accounted for 70 per cent of CPU water cooler sales in 2021, compared to just three per cent today. Pure copper dominates the market with more than 90% of products sold. The advantages of nickel-plated copper were longer durability, corrosion protection and a shinier appearance. It was more expensive to produce without any significant advantages in terms of thermal conductivity. This is why manufacturers have largely moved away from this, and water coolers are once again primarily made of pure copper.
The average sales price of CPU coolers at galaxus.de has increased from 39 euros in 2021 to 47 euros in 2021. CPU water coolers cost an average of 113 euros. In 2021, it was still 106 euros.
The sales data from Galaxus shows how the market is changing: Powerful dual-tower models and bright designs are winning, while elaborate material finishes are disappearing. The cooler market is thus following the trend towards greater efficiency, customisation and material economy.
Which solution did you choose? We look forward to your comment.
Header image: Михаил Руденко / iStockphoto
Daniel Borchers
Senior Communications Manager
Daniel.Borchers@galaxus.deA soft spot for good series, loud music, science fiction and (second division) football. As PR Manager, I am available to answer journalists' questions about Galaxus and honest e-commerce.
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