I recently bought a Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE cooler, and I'm wondering if it's a good match for a Ryzen 7 CPU, specifically when I upgrade my build. I know this cooler is different from the Peerless Assassin, and it only has one 120mm fan. While it works well for my current Ryzen 5 5600G, I'm planning to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 and need to keep my temps decent under load without overclocking. The cooler has a TDP of 225 watts, but I'm not sure if that's reliable. Would it be better to add a second fan to improve cooling, or should I just invest in a different cooler entirely, like the Peerless Assassin or Phantom Spirit? Returning this cooler isn't an option for me since Micro Center is quite far away.
5 Answers
You need to check your mounting bracket first and figure out the specific Ryzen 7 model. Also, your build setup (case, GPU, room temperature) matters a lot for cooling effectiveness. Why not give it a try and see how the temps hold up?
The Ryzen 7 family includes a lot of CPUs. Can you confirm which model you’re looking at? That’ll help us provide better advice.
For a 7800X3D or 9700X, your cooler should be okay, but honestly, it might be best to look at the Peerless Assassin. Better cooling equals less noise, and Thermalright’s claims about your cooler might be optimistically generous.
For CPUs like the 7600X3D or 7800X3D, adding a second fan may be necessary for optimal cooling, especially under load. If you're concerned about noise and thermals, a stronger cooler would be wise; the Peerless Assassin is a solid upgrade for that slight increase in price.
So adding a second fan could improve my setup without breaking the bank? That's good to know!
If you're looking for a smaller cooler, consider the Burst Assassin Evo. I've used it on my 5800X3D, and it works great with its push-pull fan setup! Just make sure it fits your case.
I'm thinking about the 9700X or the 7800X3D. Those seem to fit my budget with some of the bundles.