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If you’re building a rig around the Ryzen 5 5600, you’ll want a cooler that’s affordable yet keeps temps in check for the long haul.
After checking multiple cpu coolers and considering performance, noise, and other features, I’ve narrowed it down to two picks: the best budget choice and the best overall value.
Our Top Picks
- Best Budget CPU cooler For The Ryzen 5 5600 – Thermalright Assassin King 120 SE ARGB
- Best Value CPU cooler For The Ryzen 5 5600 – ID-Cooling Auraflow X 240
Why Should You Trust Us?
When it comes to picking the right CPU cooler for your Ryzen 5 5600, experience matters—and that’s where this guide shines. With over 24 years of PC building experience starting at age 14 and a decade in the tech industry, Konstantinos Chiotis brings serious expertise to this guide—especially on CPU coolers. It’s not just about specs on a page; it’s about understanding how coolers perform in real rigs, from budget air towers to sleek AIOs, and knowing what keeps a CPU like the Ryzen 5 5600 humming happily.
This isn’t guesswork—it’s built on a passion for tech and gaming that drives detailed breakdowns of components like CPU coolers, motherboards, and GPUs. Years of testing hardware, comparing thermal results, and tinkering with builds mean these picks are rooted in practical know-how. Whether it’s noise levels, installation quirks, or bang-for-buck value, the insights here come from someone who’s been elbow-deep in PC cases for decades, aiming to help you make a choice you can rely on.
How We Chose The Best CPU Coolers For The Ryzen 5 5600
Picking the perfect CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 5600 means finding options that match its needs without overcomplicating things. This processor, with a 65W TDP and efficient Zen 3 design, doesn’t need extreme cooling but thrives with solutions that handle boosts like Precision Boost Overdrive smoothly. The focus was on performance, affordability, and fit—whether for a budget build or a step-up value option.
Here’s how the top choices were narrowed down, keeping the Ryzen 5 5600 in mind:
Key Factors Considered
- Cooling Performance:
- Idle temps targeted at 30-40°C.
- Full-load temps kept below 70°C, even during heavy use.
- Noise Levels:
- Aimed for under 42 decibels during normal operation.
- Quiet airflow was a must for everyday comfort.
- Compatibility:
- Had to work seamlessly with AM4 sockets.
- Easy installation was a big plus, especially for stock cooler upgrades.
- Cost-Effectiveness:
- Budget air coolers needed to outperform their price.
- Value AIOs offered extras like looks and durability without a high cost.
- Size & Fit:
- Single-tower designs for compact cases.
- 240mm radiators for builds with more space.
Bonus Features Evaluated
- Customizable RGB lighting for style points.
- Durable fan bearings for long-term reliability.
How Testing Worked
- Thermal Benchmarks:
- Checked performance with similar 65W CPUs.
- Ensured coolers could handle gaming or light overclocking.
- Noise Testing:
- Measured decibels under load to confirm quiet operation.
- Competitor Comparison:
- Stacked up against similar-priced options.
- Focused on efficiency and build quality standouts.
Quick Look: What Mattered Most
| Priority | Why It Was Key |
|---|---|
| Thermal Efficiency | Keeps Ryzen 5 5600 cool under pressure |
| Low Noise | No distractions during use |
| Easy Fit | Suits small or mid-tower builds |
| Price-to-Performance | Big value for every dollar spent |
The outcome? A budget air cooler that’s a steal and a value AIO that adds flair—both dialed in for the Ryzen 5 5600. These picks aren’t random; they’re built from real-world insights to deliver practical, effective cooling that makes sense for this chip.
Best CPU coolers For The Ryzen 5 5600 Reviews
Best Budget CPU cooler For The Ryzen 5 5600 – Thermalright Assassin King 120 SE ARGB
Whenever someone is looking for a good budget CPU cooler, Thermalright almost always happens to be my recommendation. While this brand is known for its high-quality dual tower CPU coolers and AIOs, the entry-level options are nothing to scoff at either. The Thermalright Assassin King 120 SE is a single-tower cooler that punches well above its weight, making it a great choice for any budget build.
This specific cooler is known as the SE version, and it’s an iterative improvement over the original Assassin King 120. Mainly, it adds addressable RGB lighting on the fan, allowing for customizable lighting. An even older and cheaper alternative would be the Assassin X120, but the King 120 SE performs better because of the denser fin stack and larger contact base at the bottom.
Design-wise, this cooler doesn’t look cheap at all. It weighs around 520g and uses an aluminum fin stack and heat pipes. This cooler uses a single-tower design, meaning it has a smaller footprint than Thermalright’s beefier options. The coating on both these components is premium and the copper heat pipes have a direct-touch base to make immediate contact with the CPU for better cooling. Other than that, you get a TL-C12C-S fan with decent RGB lighting, and the fan housing itself features a light grey finish. You can also get this cooler in an all-white design if that’s more your style.
Out of the box, you get the single 120mm ARGB fan, a tube ofa Thermalright TF4 thermal paste, the single-tower heatsink with four heat pipes, and mounting hardware for both Intel and AMD. While the included thermal paste is an entry-level addition, it manages to perform well against pricier options like the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut and ID-Cooling Frost X25.
Apart from the ARGB lighting on the fan, it’s nothing inherently special. However, it does provide decent cooling performance with impressively low noise levels. The fan has a maximum speed of 1550 RPM and uses high-quality fluid dynamic bearings for long-term reliability. Like most single-tower coolers, you can install an additional fan at the rear if you can manage to find more mounting clips.
Installing the Thermalright Assassin King 120 SE is a straightforward process for both AMD and Intel platforms. For AMD, the cooler uses the stock backplate, making installation a breeze—just attach the included mounting brackets, secure the heatsink, and mount the fan. On Intel, the process is just as simple, thanks to the included universal backplate and clear instructions. The mounting system feels solid, and the screws are easy to tighten without excessive force.
Performance-wise, this cooler is very surprising. When testing with a Core i7 14700K, it manages to cool an average of 225 watts, which is only 230 watts behind the Noctua NH-D15. Considering this cooler costs almost 4 times less than the NH-D15, this is a very impressive result. When testing with more efficient CPUs like the Ryzen 5 5600, it manages an idle temperature of around 30 to 40 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures are around 70 at full load.
Not bad at all for a budget cooler, and it delivers excellent performance with a low max noise level of 40 to 41 decibels. Even if you enable Precision Boost Overdrive, AMD’s smart overclocking feature, this cooler will easily handle CPUs like the 5600, 7600, and any other chip with a 65W TDP.
In terms of competition, you have the Cooler Master Hyper 212 and the ID-Cooling SE 214-XT for around the same price. The ID-Cooling and Thermalright coolers are cheaper and perform better than the Cooler Master, so the real choice is between those two. Realistically, there is little performance difference between the SE 214-XT and the Assassin King 120 SE, but the Thermalright cooler has better RGB and runs quieter. It’s a marginal victory, but Thermalright is the better option here.
In conclusion, there’s not much wrong I can find with this CPU cooler. It’s obviously not the best for proper overclocking or for more power-hungry CPUs like a 14700K, but it’s easily the best budget choice you can make if you have a 65W AM4 or AM5 CPU. It’s quiet, performs well, and features a clean design with RGB. Not much more I can ask for at this price.
To sum up, what I like is….
Surprisingly good performance for the price
Low noise levels compared to most budget coolers
Dirt cheap pricing
Simple installation process
On the downside…
Not the best for power-hungry Intel chips
Best Value CPU cooler For The Ryzen 5 5600 – ID-Cooling Auraflow X 240
AIOs can be a very tricky purchase. If you spend too much, you’re likely falling prey to gimmicks that don’t add anything to improve performance. If you spend too little, you’re likely compromising thermals and overall system performance. There’s a fine line between the two, and that’s exactly where the ID-Cooling Auraflow X 240 comes in. Available in both black and white, this 240mm cooler is one of the best AIOs you can buy in terms of pure value.
This AIO It is an improvement over the original Auraflow 240 (non-X). Apart from adding the coolest letter of the alphabet into the name, the X version features improved RGB lighting, enhanced pump design, and improved tubing for better durability. It runs quieter, looks better, and delivers the same excellent performance.
Design-wise, you are likely to appreciate what ID-Cooling has done here to improve the overall appearance of the AIO. The circular pump has a small logo on top of it with a tasteful RGB-lit ring around it, and it doesn’t go overboard with the lighting zones. The dual 120mm ARGB fans have plenty of LED lighting zones and a translucent design that boosts the RGB glow. Other than that, the radiator is 27mm thick, and connected to the pump with premium nylon-sleeved tubing.
The integrated fitting has a 90-degree swivel, which allows you to find the right adjustment during installation. On the bottom of the pump, you’ll find a milled copper cooling plate with a satin finish, and it has enough surface area to accommodate almost any CPU out there (including Threadripper).
Out of the box, you get the 240mm radiator attached to the pump, two 120mm RGB fans, mounting brackets and screws for Intel and AMD, a tube of thermal paste, an RGB splitter and power cable, and an RGB fan controller.
As long as your case supports a 240mm cooler (which most cases will), installation is dead simple. The 90-degree swivel fittings allow you to easily adjust the tubes to find the right orientation, and any brackets or screws you might need are included in the box. While installation steps vary for Intel and AMD CPUs, the process itself will take you a maximum of 10 minutes for both.
In terms of cooling, the performance is great for an AIO at this price. When paired with something like a Ryzen 5 9600, you can expect temperatures of around 65 degrees Celsius while gaming at full load. Idle temperatures will lie anywhere between 35 to 40 degrees. It also handles higher-end parts like the Intel Core i7 13700K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D surprisingly well.
However, the best use case for this AIO is if you’re trying to incorporate it with an older CPU, something like a Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X. It will deliver rock-solid performance (even with Precision Boost Overdrive enabled), low noise levels, and great looks.
Most of the time, your fans will run at 50-70% speeds, and the noise levels are between 38 – 42 decibels. In those edge cases where you’re pushing your system to a limit, the fans ramp up to 1800 RPM, and the noise measures in at 48 decibels. While this makes it a bit noisier than single or dual-tower air coolers that are around the same price, this result isn’t bad for an affordable AIO.
The closest alternative to this is the Thermalright Frozen Notte ARGB. While the Thermalright cooler is cheaper, ID-Cooling offers a refined pump and fans that are optimized for radiator performance. This means you get lower noise levels and potentially better reliability in the long run. Considering it’s only a couple of bucks more expensive, the Auraflow X 240 is a great choice.
In conclusion, the Auraflow X 240 is a great addition to your gaming PC build if you prefer the looks of an AIO but don’t want to break the bank. It cools easily a budget CPU like the Ryzen 5 5600 even with Precision Boost Overdrive enabled and the noise levels never get too loud while gaming. They might get a bit noisier when they are at 100%, but those moments are few and far between for most gamers. For the price, it’s an excellent choice.
To sum up, what I like is….
Beautiful pump design with tasteful RGB
Adjustable fittings allow you to rotate tubing
Very affordable for a 240mm AIO
Great performance with most CPUs
On the downside…
Fans can get noisy at 100% speed
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does the Ryzen 5 5600 come with a stock cooler?
The Ryzen 5 5600 does come with a stock cooler, specifically the AMD Wraith Stealth. It’s a basic air cooler that works fine for everyday tasks like browsing or light gaming, but it can get loud and struggle with heat during heavy workloads or overclocking. For better performance and quieter operation, many builders opt for an aftermarket cooler.
2. Do I need a better cooler than the stock one for gaming?
Whether you need a better cooler for gaming depends on your setup and goals. The stock Wraith Stealth can handle gaming at stock settings with decent case airflow, keeping temps around 70-80°C under load. But if you want lower temperatures, less noise, or plan to use Precision Boost Overdrive, a budget aftermarket cooler like a single-tower air cooler will make a noticeable difference.
3. What type of cooler is best for the Ryzen 5 5600?
The best type of cooler for the Ryzen 5 5600 depends on your needs—air coolers or liquid (AIO) coolers both work well. For most users, a single-tower air cooler with a 120mm fan is plenty, offering solid cooling for this 65W TDP chip. If you prefer sleek looks or have extra case space, a 240mm AIO provides great performance and future-proofing for upgrades.
4. Can I overclock the Ryzen 5 5600 with the stock cooler?
You can overclock the Ryzen 5 5600 with the stock cooler but it’s not ideal. The Wraith Stealth can handle mild overclocking, but temps may climb into the high 80s or low 90s, causing noise and potential throttling. For serious overclocking, grab an aftermarket cooler with at least 150W TDP capacity to keep things cool and stable.
5. How hot does the Ryzen 5 5600 get with a good cooler?
How hot the Ryzen 5 5600 gets with a good cooler varies by model, but expect great results. With a solid air cooler, idle temps hover around 30-40°C, and full-load gaming temps hit 60-70°C. A quality 240mm AIO can push load temps even lower, closer to 55-65°C, depending on your case airflow and ambient temperature.
6. Will any AM4 cooler work with the Ryzen 5 5600?
Any AM4 cooler wil work as long as it’s designed for the AM4 socket, it’ll fit the Ryzen 5 5600 perfectly. This CPU uses the same socket as other Ryzen 5000 series chips, so check the cooler’s specs for AM4 support. Most modern coolers include the right brackets, making installation a breeze.
7. How much should I spend on a cooler for the Ryzen 5 5600?
How much you should spend depends on your budget and priorities. A good budget air cooler costs $20-$40 and handles the Ryzen 5 5600’s 65W TDP with ease. For better looks and performance, a $50-$80 AIO or high-end air cooler offers quieter operation and room for overclocking without breaking the bank.
8. Are liquid coolers worth it for the Ryzen 5 5600?
Liquid coolers are not essential for the Ryzen 5 5600, but they can be a smart choice. This CPU doesn’t run very hot, so a good air cooler is usually enough. However, a 240mm AIO brings lower temps (around 55-65°C under load), quieter fans, and a slick look—great if you value aesthetics or plan to upgrade to a hotter CPU later.
9. How do I know if my cooler fits my case with the Ryzen 5 5600?
To know if your cooler fits, check your case’s specs against the cooler’s size. For air coolers, look at the height—most cases support 155-165mm, so measure that. For AIOs, confirm radiator clearance (e.g., 240mm needs top or front space). The Ryzen 5 5600 itself doesn’t affect fit—it’s all about your case and cooler dimensions.
10. What’s the quietest cooler option for the Ryzen 5 5600?
The quietest cooler option depends on design and fan quality, but air coolers often win here. A single-tower air cooler with a high-quality 120mm or 140mm fan running at 1500 RPM or less keeps noise under 40 decibels—super quiet for the Ryzen 5 5600. Look for models with fluid dynamic bearings for extra silence during light tasks or gaming.
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