I'm planning to upgrade to an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and I'm currently using a Fractal Design Define 7 Solid case. I'm on the hunt for an effective air cooler that operates quietly. Initially, I considered the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Elite, but I've seen reviews indicating it might not perform well due to its low RAM clearance—though I'm not sure how much of a problem that will be with just two RAM sticks. What are your recommendations for a quiet air cooler? I'm open to any other suggestions regarding my build as well. For context, I'm also using an NVIDIA 3060 ti and have plans to purchase the following components: a 1000W FSP Fortron Hydro Ti PRO PSU, a 4TB Samsung 990 PRO SSD, an MSI B850 GAMING PLUS WIFI motherboard, and a Corsair 64GB KIT DDR5 6000MHz CL30 Vengeance Grey EXPO, along with three Noctua NF-A14 FLX fans to replace my Fractal Design 140mm Dynamic X2 GP.
2 Answers
If you're aiming for a silent CPU cooler, I recommend the Noctua NH-D15. It's one of the quietest out there. But keep in mind, your case’s airflow might be an issue since it can get a bit stuffy with the panels on. It might be worth tuning the fan curve to keep the noise down. Once you get the new cooler, you can see if the noise level works for you. Just make sure to set it up the right way!
I have two intake fans at the front and one on the bottom plus an exhaust fan, and while the noise dampening insulation of the case does help, I'm a bit worried about heat buildup with all those fans. Just keep an eye on your temperatures.
Another solid option is the Thermalright Peerless Assassin Mini 120. It's compact and still manages to provide good cooling performance without being too noisy.
I agree, the NH-D15 is super quiet but can be pricey. If you're trying to save a bit, the Peerless Assassin is a great budget option.