I'm running a Ryzen 5 3600 with an RTX 3060 Ti, and newer games such as Helldivers 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, and other recent releases push my CPU above 90°C. I'm currently using a Deepcool Gammaxx GTE V2 tower cooler, with fresh thermal paste and aggressive BIOS fan curves. I'm considering upgrading the CPU later, but for now I want a reasonably priced cooler in the roughly $50–70 range. Would an affordable 240mm or 360mm AIO make sense, especially considering that I'm buying in the Philippines, or would a better air cooler be the smarter choice?
4 Answers
A future upgrade such as a Ryzen 5 5600 may actually run cooler in some games because it can finish workloads faster, but it still won’t justify an expensive cooler by itself. A quality dual-tower air cooler around the $35 range is likely the best value and should also be suitable for a later AM4 upgrade.
A 65W Ryzen 5 3600 reaching 90°C during gaming is unusual for that cooler. Before spending money, check that the heatsink is mounted evenly, the fan is actually pushing air through the fins, the case has a clear intake and exhaust path, and the cooler isn’t clogged with dust. Case airflow can make a bigger difference than changing to liquid cooling.
An AIO probably isn’t necessary for a Ryzen 5 3600. A Thermalright Peerless Assassin or Phantom Spirit, or another good dual-tower cooler such as the Deepcool AG620, should handle it easily and usually costs less than an AIO. It also avoids pump failure and liquid-leak concerns.
If you specifically want an AIO, look for a reasonably priced Arctic Liquid Freezer III or a Cooler Master model available locally. Those brands have a better track record than many very cheap units. A 240mm AIO would already be plenty for this CPU; a 360mm model would be excessive unless the price difference is very small.
The plastic film was removed, and I’ve reapplied the thermal paste several times. The case fans are also configured to ramp up close to full speed while gaming.