I've recently assembled a new PC featuring a Ryzen 9 9950X and I'm using an Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 cooler. However, the fans are extremely loud, almost like a jet engine! I've adjusted the fan curve in the BIOS so that the fans start at 25% speed and only ramp up to 50% at 65°C, with a gradual increase to 100% once it reaches 85°C. I do a lot of CPU-intensive tasks for game development, which sometimes pushes the temperature to around 80°C, but it usually averages around 40°C. I chose this AIO cooler hoping for both good cooling and low noise. Am I doing something wrong with the fan settings? Should I consider getting a different cooler?
4 Answers
Honestly, 85°C under load is not a problem at all. You should adjust your fan curve to kick in at lower temps rather than waiting until the last minute. Set it up so it gradually ramps up—like a 25% start and reaching 100% at 95°C. Your settings sound workable, but there's room for improvement.
Before you think about replacing the AIO cooler, consider tweaking your fan settings a bit more. The Arctic Freezer III 360mm is known for its performance and value. If you're not maxing out the CPU consistently, you might find a dual-tower air cooler quieter, like the Noctua NH-D15 G2, though it does come with a higher price tag. Also, if you're comfortable with it, undervolting your CPU could help reduce temps without losing performance.
For a cheaper alternative, check out the Thermalright Phantom Spirit Evo 120mm. It's only slightly less effective than the Noctua but way more affordable. Noctua's been raising prices lately while others have stayed competitive.
Thanks, I’ll definitely try adjusting the fan curve further to see if that helps with the noise.
Your temperatures are actually fine for the 9950X—80-85°C is perfectly normal under load. It’s when it hits around 95°C that you should consider maxing out your fan speed to cool it down.
I thought it’d be too hot too, but good to know those levels are acceptable!
Consider tweaking your fan curve settings to maintain balance. Generally, keeping fan speeds below 80% extends their lifespan and helps with noise. Here’s an example curve for reference:
- 25% @ 30°C
- 30% @ 40°C
- 40% @ 45°C
- 50% @ 50°C
- 60% @ 55°C
- 70% @ 60°C
- 80% @ 65°C+
Undervolting your GPU might also help make it quieter while maintaining decent performance. You could explore limiting the PC’s power in Windows settings to prevent overheating and decrease temps a bit more.
Those values seem a bit too aggressive for my setup. I think I’ll stick to 25% until 75°C.
I’ll try your suggestion for the fan curve, but I still find it challenging to handle the noise!