I'm in the process of building a super quiet PC and am currently at the stage of picking out a CPU cooler. My CPU is a Ryzen R5 9600X. The only restrictions I have are the height of my RAM modules and the first PCI-E slot, but otherwise, I can choose any cooler height. I've narrowed it down to a few options, but I'm struggling to determine which cooler would be the best fit. My candidates are the Dark Rock Pro 5, Noctua NH-D15S, and Noctua NH-D12L. From what I've read, the NH-D12L is newer and typically quieter than the NH-D15S, but it's also smaller, which could change the performance dynamics. On the other hand, the Dark Rock Pro 5 apparently has the quietest fans, even though I thought Noctua fans would be the winners in terms of silence. However, there's an issue with AM5 compatibility that makes comparing noise levels even trickier. Could anyone recommend which of these coolers would be the most silent while still keeping the temperatures in check? Are there any other coolers I should consider?
5 Answers
All your shortlisted options would do just fine, but they might be a bit pricey. Have you considered the Thermalright Phantom Spirit? It's around $35 and offers great value. Plus, if the fans are still loud for you, swapping them out for Noctua or BeQuiet! fans is super easy.
That's a bummer! Definitely check your RAM clearance before committing.
If you're aiming for ultra silence, Noctua has a fanless cooler that works pretty well unless you're really pushing your CPU with heavy tasks like Cinebench. It might be worth checking out!
You can't go wrong with Noctua, but their coolers can be quite hefty. You might also want to look at the Peerless Assassin 120 or the Royal Praetor 130 for something lighter but still effective.
I personally went with the Deepcool Assassin IV for my 9950x3d, and it's quiet enough you don't hear it over my BeQuiet PSU. Try to find a larger cooler that fits your case, and consider replacing the fans if they get too noisy. AIO coolers can be even quieter depending on the model you choose. Also, keep in mind that my older system with Dark Rock parts wasn't as quiet as I expected. If you're looking for complete silence, you might want to explore cases with lower TDP compatibility, like the Streacom FC10, which is ideal for sleeping next to!
Thanks for the suggestions!
Honestly, cooling the 9600X quietly won't be a challenge with any decent dual tower cooler. If it's loud, chances are the fans are just set too fast. Consider making custom fan curves to slow them down a bit.
The Phantom Spirit isn't compatible with my RAM, unfortunately.