I'm in the process of building a new PC and I'm in search of a CPU cooler that excels in performance while also being very quiet. Here are my key specs: Ryzen 7 9700X, RX 9070XT 16GB, and 32GB DDR5-6000 MHz RAM. My top priority is having low noise levels. I would prefer an AIO water cooler, but I'm open to an air cooler if it can outperform an AIO while being quieter. Budget isn't an issue as long as I get a top-tier cooler with minimal noise. Also, I'm located in Austria, which might be relevant. Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Personally, I lean towards air coolers. They work simply without pumps or liquids. While top air coolers might lose to premium liquid ones, you can usually trade a bit of performance for quieter operations. Consider tuning down your GPU and adjusting CPU boost targets for even quieter performance.
If you're mainly gaming, the RX 9070XT will likely be the loudest part of your setup, even with a good cooler. I'd recommend the Arctic Freezer III Pro 360mm. It's moderately priced, well-reviewed, and if you keep the fans at lower speeds, it should keep the noise down while still cooling your 9700X effectively.
I've come across reviews mentioning that the Arctic III Pro might be louder than the be quiet! Light Loop 360mm. Just something to consider!