I'm upgrading a friend's PC and this is my first time building and choosing cooling. The system uses a Fractal Pop Mini Air case and a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, with a be quiet! Pure Rock 3 currently installed. Will that cooler be sufficient, or should I replace it with a larger air cooler or a 240mm AIO? I'd prefer air cooling if possible, and pump or fan noise isn't a major concern. I mainly want reliable temperatures and to know what upgrade would make the most sense if the Pure Rock 3 falls short.
4 Answers
The Pure Rock 3 is worth trying first, especially since you already have it. Monitor temperatures during demanding workloads and gaming, then decide based on the results. That said, a Thermalright Peerless Assassin or Phantom Spirit would be a stronger choice and should handle the 9800X3D comfortably. A dual-tower air cooler can deliver performance comparable to a 240mm AIO without the added pump and failure concerns.
The Pure Rock 3 is on the smaller side for this processor. I’d go with a reasonably priced dual-tower cooler instead, such as the Peerless Assassin 120 or Phantom Spirit 120. You generally don’t need to spend more than about $40 for excellent cooling performance.
A 240mm AIO would certainly work, but it probably isn’t necessary for this CPU. Larger air coolers are simpler, cheaper, and avoid pump failure as a potential issue. TDP comparisons can be a rough reference, but real temperature testing with the cooler installed is more useful than relying on the ratings alone.
A dual-tower air cooler should be all you need. The Phantom Spirit 120 and Peerless Assassin 120 are popular because they offer excellent performance for the price. If you later dislike the sound profile of the included fans, standard 120mm fans can be swapped in easily.
I’d be cautious with the Dark Rock Pro 4 or 5 on AM5. They can be a poor value and may not perform as well on that platform as similarly priced Thermalright options.