I'm finally building a new PC after nine years! I plan to use a 9950X3D in a Fractal Meshify 3 case, which can only fit a 280mm AiO cooler at the top, but has 360mm space at the front. I will mainly play games like iRacing, Dota 2, Battlefield 6, Cyberpunk, and Star Citizen at 2K resolution. I'm looking at the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 280mm cooler, but I'm concerned it might not cool the 9950X3D sufficiently. Would it be better to switch cases or mount the radiator at the front? If switching cases, any suggestions that keep a similar aesthetic to Fractal's? Thanks!
4 Answers
The 280mm cooler will work just fine with the 9950X3D. That said, if you're aiming for the best performance, consider a 360mm cooler for even better thermal management and quieter operation.
If you're mainly gaming, a 280mm cooler should be adequate for the 9950X3D, but I'd recommend checking out the 9800X3D instead. It performs well for gaming, and it's easier to cool. Plus, it’s usually cheaper, so you might save some bucks there!
Is the 9800X3D still good for tasks like graphic design or video editing? I work with Adobe CC as well.
Honestly, the 9950X3D should handle pretty well with that cooler, especially in x3D mode since it only uses 16 cores. But if you want to optimize, a case with a 360mm option could help lower temperatures further.
Stick with the 9950X3D; it’s a solid choice for heavy games like Battlefield 6 and Cyberpunk. Just be ready for it to run hot, so a larger cooler could help a lot.
Does mounting the radiator at the front impact GPU temps? I'm worried about airflow with that setup.