After three consecutive years of growth, the gaming market slowed in 2022, with shipments down by 6.4 percent for PCs and 7.1 percent for monitors from the previous year, according to IDC. In 2023, IDC noted some resiliency despite macroeconomic challenges but forecast that recovery would happen beginning 2024. Its projection is a 4.6 percent CAGR between 2023 and 2027 for the PC segment and 7.7 percent for the monitor category. TechNavio, however, is more upbeat about computers, predicting a 9.71 percent CAGR between 2023 and 2028 and ending the period with $22.31 billion.
This optimism is evident in the global cooling systems market. Based on QY Research’s report, the category realized a total of $1.365 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $1.425 billion in 2024, $1.491 billion in 2025 and $1.934 billion in 2029, with a CAGR of 5.21 percent from 2023. The same source said that gaming accounted for 49.95 percent in 2022, and the share will hit 60.17 percent by 2029.
In Transparency Market Research’s latest report, liquid cooling systems were valued at $6.9 billion in 2022 and will reach $10.9 billion by 2031 or at a CAGR of 5.5 percent from 2023. This indicates the future trend favoring them over air coolers.
Largest source of CPU coolers
CPU coolers are mostly produced in China. In 2022, the country accounted for 49.86 percent of this market, followed by North America with 18.49 percent, according to QY Research. Further back and by volume, China turned out 170 million units in 2020 and 184 million in 2021, according to Qianzhan Industrial Research Institute. The volume rose by 10 percent in 2022 and 2023 and is expected to rise at a steady pace until 2025.
To keep this hub status and markets interested, Chinese manufacturers emphasize features such as high ventilation, low noise, light weight and add-ons for differentiation while offering a better price-performance ratio.
Dongguan Xunling Technology Co. Ltd, for instance, uses a three-phase noninductive motor to ensure smooth operation, a ceramic shaft core for high strength and wear resistance, a pure-copper base for zero-distance heat absorption and microchannel technology to improve heat exchange rate for high ventilation. Its CPU coolers feature a screen that shows CPU temperature, pump and fan speeds and can be controlled with the company’s software.
Guangzhou Aojie Science & Technology Co. Ltd’s new liquid cooler has high-density fins, a large area for heat transfer and an inlet coolant for efficient heat dissipation. It has a dual-cavity design, temperature-controlled fans with FEP tubing to prevent liquid leakage for safety and reliability, and an LCD for temperature and speed status indication.
Others are increasing their output. Dongguan Weifeng invested $2.08 million to produce 144,000 CPU coolers and other parts every year.
Multinational maker pool
There are over 500 manufacturers of CPU cooling systems in China, with the majority Chinese enterprises with small and midsize operations. The large ones include DeepCool, ICE Cooler and CoolCold.
Most Chinese suppliers send their products to Hong Kong SAR, Japan, the US and South Korea. They will also try to expand to Southeast Asia and South America.
Top players in the industry, including Corsair, Cooler Master, Noctua, Asus ROG and Arctic, have factories there as well. These five companies owned a combined share of 47.78 percent of the world’s CPU cooler market in 2022.
More than half of suppliers in China are found in Guangdong and Fujian, mainly in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Guangzhou and Xiamen. Others are in Suzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Due to stiff competition, only a few domestic companies are expected to enter this category, with small businesses likely to drop out in the future.
China-made CPU coolers
Typical air and liquid coolers from Chinese manufacturers have a rated voltage of 12V, fan speed of 800 to 2,000rpm, noise level of less than 35dB and operating temperature of -20 to 45 C.
Customization is widely accepted, with orders based on this representing up to 80 percent of their shipments.
For materials such as aluminum, copper, high-temperature plastic and FEP, companies follow buyers’ preferences. So far, their costs have remained generally stable and will stay so in the months ahead, ruling out changes in CPU cooler prices.
CPU cooler, 1,800rpm±10 percent fan speed
Company: Dongguan Soeyi Technology Co. Ltd
Dongguan Soeyi’s 3. CL2913 CPU Cooler-01-2193 has 12V and 0.33A rated voltage and current and 96W power input ratings. It uses a hydrodynamic bearing and has 1,800rpm±10 percent fan speed.
MOQ: 2,000 units
Lead time: 30 days
CPU cooler, ≤30dB noise level
Company: Dongguan Xunling Technology Co. Ltd
The DMP-C240 CPU cooler from Dongguan Xunling has ≤30dB noise level and -20 to 45 C operating temperature. Its pump is rated at 12VDC, 0.26A±10 percent and 3.1W±10 percent and has a 30,000-hour life span.
MOQ: 500 units
Lead time: 7 days
CPU cooler, 1,800rpm±10 percent fan speed
Company: Guangzhou Aojie Science & Technology Co. Ltd
Guangzhou Aojie’s 12V-rated CPU cooler with a metal bearing, the T240MM, has 800 to 1,800rpm±10 percent fan speed, 2,500rpm±10 percent water pump speed, 63CFM air flow, 1.54mmH2O air pressure and 37dB noise. It meets CE, CCC and RoHS standards.
MOQ: 5 units
Lead time: 30 days
CPU cooler, less than 25dB noise level
Company: Shenzhen Sixty-Six Technology Co. Ltd
Shenzhen Sixty-Six offers the 120 DEL-RGB-7138 CPU cooler with 12VDC and less than 0.50A rated voltage and current, 750 to 2,000rpm speed, 56CFM maximum air flow and less than 25dB noise level. It uses a hydraulic bearing and weighs 135g.
MOQ: Negotiable
Lead time: 20 days
