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Need to keep your Ryzen 9 5900X cool?
The Ryzen 9 5900X is a powerful 24-threaded productivity monster with great gaming performance as well. The best part is that it is also quite easy to cool compared to other high end CPUs.
After digging deep, I’ve picked the top three CPU coolers that’ll keep your system running smooth and quiet.
Trust me, you won’t want to miss my number one pick.
Let’s jump right in!
Our Top Picks
- Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 (amazon link) – Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 (amazon link) – Best Premium CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900x
- be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 (amazon link) – Our Top Choice
(affiliate links)
Why Should You Trust Us?
With over 24 years of hands-on PC building experience, starting at age 14, Konstantinos Chiotis brings a deep well of expertise to selecting the best CPU coolers for the Ryzen 9 5900X. His decade-plus in the tech industry, combined with a passion for dissecting hardware like coolers, motherboards, and processors, ensures every recommendation is grounded in real-world testing and practical knowledge.
From tweaking air coolers for silent operation to optimizing AIOs for compact builds, Konstantinos’s insights come from years of trial, error, and success in crafting high-performance PCs tailored to enthusiast needs.
How We Chose The Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 5900X
The Ryzen 9 5900X, a 12-core, 24-thread powerhouse with a 105W TDP, demands a CPU cooler capable of handling its unique thermal characteristics, especially during intense multi-threaded workloads like content creation or gaming. Unlike other high-end CPUs, the 5900X is relatively easy to cool, but its chiplet design and potential for overclocking require specific considerations to ensure optimal performance, low noise, and compatibility. Below is an outline of the tailored criteria used to select the best coolers for this processor, reflecting its needs as highlighted in the top picks.
- Thermal Performance for Chiplet Architecture: The 5900X’s chiplet layout generates localized heat spots, requiring efficient heat transfer. Coolers were chosen for their ability to manage these thermal demands, prioritizing air coolers with at least six high-quality copper heat pipes and AIOs with 240mm or larger radiators. The focus was on maintaining temperatures below 80°C under sustained loads like Cinebench R23 or 3D rendering, with headroom for overclocking.
- Optimized AM4 Mounting: The 5900X benefits from precise cooler contact due to its chiplet design. Preference was given to coolers with AMD offset mounts or contact frames to maximize heat transfer from the CPU’s hotspots. Easy-to-install AM4 mounting hardware with pre-applied thermal paste was a must to ensure proper alignment and pressure.
- Low Noise for Productivity and Gaming: The 5900X is often used in quiet workstation or gaming setups. Coolers were evaluated for silent operation, targeting fan speeds below 1700 RPM and pump designs that minimize vibration. Models with high-static-pressure fans and dense fin arrays were favored to achieve near-silent performance, even during prolonged multi-core tasks.
- RAM and Case Compatibility for AM4 Builds: Many 5900X builds use tall DDR4 RAM and compact cases. Air coolers needed at least 40mm of RAM clearance, with adjustable fan clips to accommodate taller DIMMs. For AIOs, flexible, longer tubing was critical for fitting into ITX or mid-tower cases, ensuring no interference with VRM heatsinks or GPU slots on AM4 motherboards.
- Value for 5900X-Specific Performance: The 5900X doesn’t require overbuilt coolers, so the selection balanced cost and performance. Budget air coolers under $50 were tested to match or rival premium models, while AIOs around $100 were chosen for their superior cooling and features like redesigned pumps. Durability, backed by strong warranties, ensured long-term reliability for this enthusiast-grade CPU.
Evaluation Process
The selection was rigorous and tailored to the 5900X:
- Thermal Testing: Coolers underwent stress tests with the 5900X running multi-threaded benchmarks and gaming workloads to verify temperatures stayed within safe limits (below 85°C at stock, below 80°C with mild overclocks).
- Noise Measurement: Decibel levels were recorded at idle, 50% fan speed, and max load to confirm quiet operation suitable for distraction-free environments.
- Compatibility Verification: Physical measurements ensured fitment with popular AM4 motherboards (e.g., X570, B550) and cases, checking for RAM and VRM clearance.
- Installation Simplicity: Mounting systems were tested for ease of use, prioritizing designs that simplify securing the cooler to the 5900X’s AM4 socket without excessive force.
This focused approach ensured the selected coolers address the Ryzen 9 5900X’s specific thermal, compatibility, and performance needs, delivering quiet, efficient cooling for both stock and overclocked configurations.
Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 5900X Reviews
Number 3. Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 – Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
If you’re looking for an affordable cooler that provides an impressive level of cooling performance for the Ryzen 9 5900X, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 is an incredible choice. It competes with high-end air coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15 and the Deepcool AK620 at a much lower price. Thermalright has raised the bar high with this one, and it’s going to be tough to beat for a while.
One of the reasons this cooler is so great is that it improves upon its already impressive predecessor — the Peerless Assassin 120. This new cooler from Thermalright adds an additional heat pipe, a new fin array setup, and lower noise levels. It’s available in the form of the Phantom Spirit 120, the 120 SE/SE-RGB, and the 120 Evo.
All three of these models are excellent in terms of cooling, but the SE is ever so slightly smaller. As for the EVO, it delivers better performance because of the powerful fans but tends to get a bit louder. Considering that, the standard Spirit 120 is the best balance of noise levels, performance, and price.
As for the design, the cooler features two 120mm high static pressure fans and seven heat pipes to effectively dissipate heat from the 5900X. RAM clearance is up to 42mm, meaning taller DIMMs will have a harder time with compatibility. Fortunately, you can adjust the fan clip to increase the height of the front fan.
Of course, that’s a sacrifice you have to make with any dual-tower air cooler. Like other air coolers of this caliber, this CPU cooler is massive. It won’t fit into every case, and memory clearance can be an issue for some.
However, if you can accommodate it in your case, you’ll be anything but disappointed. In terms of cooling, the Spirit 120 manages to match the Noctua NH-D15. The NH-D15 has been the gold standard for air cooling for years now, and seeing a cooler match its performance for half the price is saying something.
Rest assured, this cooler leaves a lot of headroom for overclocking, and won’t have any trouble keeping the 5900X within reasonable temperatures. The best part is that it achieves this performance with very respectable noise levels. In a typical case with average ambient noise, you likely won’t notice the sound of the fans.
So, the only real knock against this cooler is its size and the fact that it’s not available in more color options. The Evo version looks great, but the standard Spirit 120 looks like your average run-of-the-mill cooler. Perhaps that’s acceptable for a budget offering, but a white colorway in the future would be great to attract more people.
As for the competition, there aren’t any coolers that can keep up at this price. The closest is the Deepcool AK620, but even that costs twice as much.
Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 Evo is around the same price but is nowhere near the same level of performance. Thermalright has done a great job with this cheap air cooler, and it’s a safe bet for the 5900X.
RATINGS:
Design and Aesthetics: 7/10
Cooling Performance: 9/10
Noise: 9/10
Installation: 9/10
Value for Money: 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
Number 2. ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 – Best Premium CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900x
ARCTIC redefined the AIO market with their Liquid Freezer II series of coolers thanks to offering the best possible CPU cooling at a phenomenal price. It only made sense for them to repeat their success once again and offer the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III lineup which has replaced the older ones as the best liquid coolers.
At first glance, it seems as if ARCTIC has simply relaunched the older cooler with a redesigned pump but that isn’t the whole story. There are some similarities and then there are some complete overhauls.
The Liquid Freezer II already had an excellent radiator and the P12 fans were also good enough for silent operation. This time ARCTIC increased the space between the fins in the radiator for more efficient airflow and used the same P12 fans for heat dissipation.
The biggest changes come in the tubing and the pump – the tubing is much more flexible and has a singular color unlike the accented stripes on the Liquid Freezer II. Orienting the Liquid Freezer II was difficult but now that the tubes are longer and more flexible, they are easier to bend and orient however you’d like.
This is especially helpful when fitting the AIO in small ITX cases where every single millimeter is important. Besides the flexible tubes, the pump is completely redesigned and is much taller. It is completely silent now even if the case is open because of the large turbine design. I personally don’t find this design particularly appealing, but it is practical; the only problem is that the pump is almost 68 mm tall now which could be an issue with some ITX cases.
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III lineup reuses the same P12 fans from the last generation. In my opinion, it isn’t a bad thing, but this could’ve been an opportunity to improve the design and thermal performance.
Speaking of thermal performance, now is the perfect time to mention that ARCTIC has tried their absolute best to go above and beyond once again. The Liquid Freezer III has an Intel contact frame and AMD offset mount included in the box which is surprising to see. I think ARCTIC is the only manufacturer to ever include these with the cooler so that you don’t have to purchase them separately to improve thermal performance which is simply fantastic.
In terms of competition, it seems like everyone has an AIO at the $100 price mark. Coolers like the be quiet! Pure Loop and Lian Li Galahad do offer decent performance, but get absolutely crushed by the Liquid Freezer as a complete package.
Overall, ARCTIC has managed to improve upon an already top-notch liquid cooler and have brought it ever so close to perfection. Except for using older fans and an outdated aesthetic, the Liquid Freezer II is simply the best AIO under $100.
To sum up what I like is the…
Top-of-the-line cooling performance
Incredibly competitive price
Redesigned tubing and pump
On the downside…
Old design and aesthetic
RATINGS:
Design and Aesthetics: 7/10
Cooling Performance: 9.5/10
Noise: 9/10
Features: 8.5/10
Value for Money: 9.5/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
Number 1. – be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 – Our Top Choice
There are cases when you just want the peace of mind that your PC does not have liquid running through it but also want the same level of performance as some of the best AIO liquid coolers without breaking the bank. If that’s the case and you wish to tame a hot and hungry high-end CPU like the Ryzen 9 5900x then you should consider the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5.
The Dark Rock Pro 5 is the successor to the legendary Dark Rock Pro 4 which was already one of the most powerful air coolers and quite popular among enthusiasts. The new model features 7 copper heatpipes that move heat away from the nickel-plated copper base. Be quiet! rated it to handle 270 watts of heat which basically covers every single CPU whether it’s from Intel or AMD.
Generally, I am not that keen on choosing a cooler based on looks, but this is one of the most well-built CPU coolers with a lot of thought behind the design and aesthetics. A lot of thought was definitely put to make sure that the fans don’t stick out or protrude from the cooler.
The fans are not identical in size and this is a deliberate choice by be quiet! There is a standard 120 mm fan on the outer rim and a custom 135 mm fan in the middle of the aluminum fin array. It can very easily pop off the middle and is easy to clean and maintain. The fans also have different top speeds; the 135 mm fan tops out at 1700 RPM while the 120 mm fan can theoretically top out at 2000 RPM.
The fans have been redesigned with more blades that push more air without spinning a lot. The fan speed starts at 500 rpm which is completely dead silent. Even till 1200 rpm, you cannot hear any sound coming from the cooler whatsoever. Being true to their name, be quiet! has done a fantastic job at making an inaudible cooler. You only really hear it at 1600 to 1700 RPM which is the maximum speed anyway.
With so many great things about the cooler, it is also important for me to address some of the main concerns with it. The Dark Rock Pro 5 is quite large in size and with a height of 168 mm, you will definitely need space in your case to fit this properly. Thankfully, the outer 120 mm fan is not going to interfere with large RAM kits so you can easily choose a decently tall kit without worrying that the fan will obstruct it.
Other than the massive size, the Dark Rock Pro 5 uses a custom fan header which comes from the middle fan. The outer fan connects to the middle fan so that it can control the speed of both fans. The middle fan also does not use a standard 120 or 140 mm fan. Instead, this strange 135 mm design is custom built according to be quiet!’s liking and in case of a replacement, it needs to be done by the manufacturer.
Although I can understand be quiet! for using a custom fan because they can fine tune every aspect of it, it would’ve made things a lot more convenient had they used a standardized fan with a custom brace.
The other issue I have is that the price in my opinion is a tad higher than I’d like it to be. Nevertheless it still holds a comfortable lead in terms of overall performance, size, and sound profile. The only cooler with the same level of build quality in this price range that I could think of is the Noctua NH-D15S. Personally, I am a huge fan of the NH-D15S but the Dark Rock Pro 5 edges it out in everything. It looks better, runs quieter, is slightly smaller, and costs less.
In conclusion, for around $80, the Dark Rock Pro 5 is a powerful air cooler that can give liquid cooled AIO’s a run for their money. It is especially perfect for anyone building a workstation PC and don’t want to use a liquid cooler to extend the life of the PC as long as possible. And if you do not like fan noise at all, the Dark Rock Pro 5 is dead silent even at high loads.
To sum up what I like is the…
Water cooler levels of performance in an air cooler
Silent operation even under maximum load
On the downside…
The middle fan is hard to replace
Custom fan header
RATINGS:
Design and Aesthetics: 9/10
Cooling Performance: 9/10
Noise: 9.5/10
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 5900X
- Do I need liquid cooling for the Ryzen 9 5900X?
No, liquid cooling isn’t necessary for the Ryzen 9 5900X. Although it’s a powerful CPU, it’s relatively easy to cool effectively with a high-quality air cooler. Premium air coolers perform similarly to liquid coolers while typically costing less. - How big of a CPU cooler can I fit with Ryzen 9 5900X builds?
The size of the CPU cooler depends on your PC case and RAM height. Generally, dual-tower air coolers up to around 168 mm tall fit comfortably in most mid-sized ATX cases. Check your case specifications and RAM clearance (usually around 40-45 mm) before choosing. - Can the Ryzen 9 5900X be overclocked effectively with an air cooler?
Yes, you can safely overclock the Ryzen 9 5900X using a powerful dual-tower air cooler. High-end air coolers easily handle moderate overclocks, keeping temperatures low and stable without excessive noise. - Are expensive coolers worth the investment for the Ryzen 9 5900X?
Expensive coolers aren’t always necessary, but premium options typically offer quieter operation, better thermal performance, and improved build quality. If you want silent operation or plan to heavily overclock your Ryzen 9 5900X, a premium cooler may be worth the investment. - What is the ideal temperature range for Ryzen 9 5900X?
The ideal operating temperature for Ryzen 9 5900X is typically below 80°C during heavy workloads. Most quality CPU coolers recommended for this processor comfortably maintain temperatures between 60-75°C under full load. - Will large air coolers block RAM modules in a Ryzen 9 5900X build?
Large dual-tower air coolers can sometimes block tall RAM modules. However, most high-quality coolers designed for the Ryzen 9 5900X allow fan adjustments or provide at least 40 mm RAM clearance, which suits standard-sized and many RGB memory modules. - Should I prioritize cooling performance or noise levels for the Ryzen 9 5900X?
Cooling performance should come first, but the Ryzen 9 5900X doesn’t require excessively loud fans to cool efficiently. Selecting a cooler that balances strong cooling with quiet operation (below 1200 RPM under normal conditions) is ideal. - How many heat pipes should an air cooler have for Ryzen 9 5900X?
An effective air cooler for Ryzen 9 5900X typically has at least six copper heat pipes. More heat pipes can improve heat transfer efficiency, but beyond seven heat pipes, the practical cooling improvement is minimal. - Is installation difficult for high-performance CPU coolers on Ryzen 9 5900X?
Installation difficulty varies, but most modern CPU coolers designed for Ryzen processors, including the 5900X, offer user-friendly mounting hardware and clear instructions. High-quality coolers typically include brackets and mounting kits specifically for AM4 sockets. - Does Ryzen 9 5900X include a CPU cooler in the box?
No, the Ryzen 9 5900X does not include a stock cooler. AMD expects users to provide their own aftermarket cooling solution due to the CPU’s higher performance and thermal requirements.
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