I'm currently using a Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE Tower Air Cooler with my Ryzen 7 9700X. I'm noticing CPU temperatures nearing 80 degrees Celsius during heavy use, like when I'm playing Cyberpunk 2077, and the fans are running at full speed, making a lot of noise. I'm considering whether upgrading to a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE would keep my CPU cooler and quieter. Also, I find it confusing that the Peerless Assassin has multiple versions at different price points—why is that? There are two Amazon listings for the same cooler, one at £29 and another at £39, and they look identical.
1 Answer
Your Ryzen 7 9700X is a 65W CPU, so it shouldn’t be getting that hot. Have you checked if the thermal paste is applied properly? If you're looking for an upgrade, the Phantom Spirit is an improved version of the Peerless Assassin and generally priced similarly. Just go for the cheapest option; they all perform about the same.
I applied the thermal paste correctly, but I'm getting around 75 degrees Celsius during testing. After some long gameplay, it might even hit 80. I did increase the TDP to 105W, but even then, Cyberpunk barely touches 70 or 75W at full usage.