Hey everyone! I'm planning to breathe new life into my 7-year-old PC with some upgrades this weekend. I'm swapping to a new CPU, GPU, and PSU, and I'm adding an NVMe SSD and a better gaming monitor. I'm realizing that with these improvements, a CPU cooler might be necessary to prevent thermal throttling. I've been looking online but I'm not sure which options will fit my motherboard and case without blocking my installed RAM. Any recommendations or thoughts? I'm not looking for anything over-the-top, just something solid that will keep my CPU cool. Here's my build for reference: [link](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/W8Ltxg).
3 Answers
What cooler are you using right now? What's the current setup with your CPU and motherboard? Do you still have all the brackets and accessories that came with it?
Hey! Honestly, the stock cooler that came with the 5800X is probably not enough for heavy loads. But you have a few great budget options! The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE or the Phantom Spirit 120 Evo are both under $50 and will fit beautifully in your case without blocking the RAM. Just check the cooler dimensions against your case clearance; you have 165mm of space, which should work perfectly for these.
I learned the hard way by sticking with my stock AMD cooler (Phantom Wraith) when I upgraded my CPU from a 3600 to a 5700X3D. It caused thermal throttling under load, which I only realized after a year. I ended up getting a Noctua NH-D15S, which is designed to fit better and clear the RAM. My CPU temps dropped instantly, and it rarely goes over 70-75°C now. If you're looking for good options without breaking the bank, there are cheaper alternatives that perform just as well.
Right now, I have a Ryzen 7 2700, and I'm upgrading it to a Ryzen 7 5800X. My motherboard is the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC. I'm currently using the stock fans that came with the case and board, so this would be my first CPU cooler. I’m a bit unsure about what to look for, especially since I have four RAM sticks installed.