Hey everyone! I've just put together a new PC using a Ryzen 9 9950X3D and I'm facing a dilemma with my current cooler, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360. It's incredibly loud, and I've noticed the CPU temperatures are quite high—55 to 65°C at idle and sometimes hitting 75 to 85°C, with some peaks even over 90°C. I thought maybe I used too much thermal paste since I applied it using the classic X with four dots, but after reapplying and ensuring the right amount, the problem persists. My previous setup with an i7 8700K and an EVGA CLC 240 was much quieter and didn't exceed 65°C under load. I've read that the Arctic Freezer III can get noisy when it exceeds 2000 RPM, which is approximately 60% of its max speed. Can anyone suggest a better AIO cooler that would keep the Ryzen CPU cool without the annoying noise?
4 Answers
Is it the pump or the fans making all the noise? My Noctua fans on the Liquid Freezer II 280 are pretty quiet. If you can fit a 280 in your case, that might help. Just a heads up, the 280 won’t cool quite as well as your 360, but it could be quieter.
You might want to check out Be Quiet! AIO coolers, they're known for their low noise levels. But make sure to pick the right model as some are quieter than others. What model do you have in mind?
I've heard great things about the Dark Rock series; people say they even outperform some of the more popular AIOs in terms of noise.
You might actually have one of the best AIOs for noise with the Freezer III. Just double-check your thermal paste application and ensure the CPU block is correctly seated. Also, make sure there's no CPU auto-overclocking; that can crank up the heat and noise.
Really? I’ve seen complaints about the noise level online too. I've applied the correct amount of thermal paste, and it spread well. Auto OC isn’t enabled for me.
Sounds like you need to reseat that AIO. No way should your CPU be idling at 50°C. After reseating, consider adjusting your fan curves as well to optimize for quiet operation.
I've reseated it before but wasn't sure how tight I should go. How much force is normal? I've adjusted the fan curves but not getting the results I expect.
Both the pump and fans are noisier than my old setup. I've read that the Liquid Freezer II is generally quieter than the III, so I might look into that option.