I recently upgraded to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D and am still using an AM4 system because an AM5 upgrade is outside my budget right now. My EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB has started making a fairly loud whirring noise, seemingly from the CPU block, so I'm considering replacing the liquid cooler with an air cooler. What would be a good, quiet, and reasonably priced option for this heat-producing CPU?
4 Answers
The Noctua NH-U12A is a very capable single-tower cooler with excellent fans and should keep the processor under control, though it costs more than most Thermalright alternatives.
The Thermalright Burst Assassin Evo Dark is a solid choice. It has six heat pipes, a push-pull fan setup, and its layout generally avoids blocking the RAM slots.
A good dual-tower air cooler should handle the 5800X3D without any trouble. You don’t need an especially exotic model for this CPU.
Even an inexpensive Thermalright Assassin X or Assassin SE can work, but the Peerless Assassin is probably the best value if you want more cooling headroom. The Phantom Spirit is another excellent option and would also be suitable if you eventually move to a newer AM5 processor.
Noctua’s fans are excellent, but Thermalright’s sintered heat pipes can transfer heat away from the CPU more effectively. A larger six-heat-pipe Thermalright cooler can outperform the NH-U12A while costing considerably less.