I'm using an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with the stock cooler on an ASUS Prime B450M-K II motherboard, but my temperatures are extremely high and the system sometimes shuts down because of overheating. I live somewhere with a very hot climate, even during winter, so I'm looking for an affordable replacement cooler. What would be a good budget option?
3 Answers
The Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE is a sensible budget choice for the Ryzen 5 3600. It’s compatible with your AM4 motherboard, offers much better cooling than the included cooler, and shouldn’t be excessive for this processor. Just confirm that your case has enough height clearance before ordering.
Before buying anything, make sure the stock cooler is clean and properly mounted, then replace the thermal paste if it’s old. Adding at least one inexpensive intake fan can also improve airflow through the case. The Ryzen 5 3600 normally shouldn’t overheat badly with its stock cooler, so shutdowns could point to a mounting, airflow, or fan problem.
The case fans spin, but I barely feel any air coming from the intake or exhaust. I may need to check whether they’re actually moving enough air.
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 is a common recommendation because it performs very well for the price, but its dual-tower design may be more cooler than you need. If local taxes make it too expensive, look for any affordable Thermalright single-tower cooler with a 120 mm fan. It should still be a major improvement over the stock cooler.
The Phantom Spirit ends up costing about a third of my monthly wage after taxes, so I need something considerably cheaper.
I repasted it yesterday and only gained about 4°C. The room is extremely hot where I live, and the computer still sometimes shuts down from the temperature.