I recently upgraded to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D and am still using the AM4 platform because an AM5 upgrade is outside my budget right now. My current EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB has developed a loud whirring noise, apparently coming from the CPU block, so I'm considering replacing the liquid cooler with an air cooler. What models would provide reliable cooling for this relatively hot-running processor?
5 Answers
The Thermalright Burst Assassin Evo Dark is a solid option. It has six heat pipes, supports a push-pull fan setup, and leaves the RAM area unobstructed.
The Thermalright Phantom Spirit is another excellent pick. It has plenty of cooling capacity, costs less than many competing models, and should also be useful if you eventually move to a newer socket.
The Noctua NH-U12A is a very capable single-tower cooler with excellent fans. It’s more expensive than the Thermalright options, but it offers strong performance and good build quality.
A good dual-tower cooler should handle the 5800X3D without trouble. You don’t need an especially expensive model for this CPU.
Even an inexpensive Thermalright Assassin X or Assassin SE can work, but the Peerless Assassin is probably the best performance-to-price choice if you have room for a larger dual-tower cooler.
Noctua’s fans are excellent, but Thermalright’s sintered heat pipes can move heat away from the CPU more effectively. A six-heat-pipe Burst Assassin can outperform the NH-U12A, while the cheaper four-heat-pipe models come surprisingly close to an NH-D15.