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With the release of AMD’s highly anticipated Ryzen 5000 series CPUs, many people are excited to upgrade (or build new) PCs that utilize the workstation and gaming performance of these new-generation CPUs.
Despite seeing the highest increase in price (in the leap from Zen 2 to Zen 3) the Ryzen 5 5600X has no equal when it comes to content creation and gaming performance in the entry-level CPU market. The only CPU that can come close to matching its performance (in gaming) is Intel’s 10th generation i5-10600K(F). This CPU, which is $40-$60 cheaper in price, is not PCIe 4.0 compatible, and it has nearly double the TDP (thermal design power) demand – meaning that even if it did perform on the same level as the Ryzen 5 5600X (which chances are it won’t), the price difference would be recuperated from the difference in power consumption alone.
The Ryzen 5 5600X also includes a stock cooler, absent from the i5-10600K: The AMD Wraith Stealth. Though it’s great that AMD includes a stock cooler with the $300 dollar purchase of the Ryzen 5 5600X (it being the only CPU of the Ryzen 5000 Series that comes with a cooler so far), still, many will find that the Wraith Stealth is not to their liking, as Techspot’s benchmarks show us how this stock cooler can lack the cooling power necessary to maintain optimal CPU temperatures for Ryzen processors – while also being quite noisy.
Luckily enough, there are several CPU coolers that can provide great performance, low noise emissions, and fit into any form factor at fairly low prices. To find the best CPU cooler to pair with the new Ryzen 5 5600X, we’ve compiled a list of four coolers that can work for those on a budget, those looking for maximum performance, those looking for a low-profile cooler, and even those that prefer AIO liquid coolers – all at under $100.
Read Also: Best Motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X
Best CPU Coolers for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
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Best Budget CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X – Arctic Freezer 7X
| Brand | ARCTIC |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.93 x 4.35 x 5.22 inches |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Noise Level | 0.3 Sones |
| Material | Aluminum (Fin Material) |
If you’re looking to replace the stock Wraith Stealth without breaking the bank, then the Arctic offers a great cooler for only $24: The Arctic Freezer 7X.
This cooler uses a 92 mm, PWM-controlled, fan that cools a 44-fin heatsink which, in turn, comes in contact with the CPU via two double-sided 6 mm, direct touch, copper heat pipes that have a pre-applied MX-2 high-performance thermal paste on the baseplate.
Benchmarks run by Ponchato show that, when supplied with 1.35V, the Arctic Freezer 7X will have the Ryzen 3 3300X cooled to temperatures 20 degrees Celsius below that of the Wraith Stealth (44.5 vs 65.3) when regulated to run at a 40-decibel noise level.
For its $23.99 price tag and its overall performance, the Arctic Freezer 7X is definitely a worthy pairing with the new Ryzen 5 5600X.
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Best Performance CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X – Noctua NH-U12S
| Brand | Noctua |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6.22 x 1.77 x 4.92 inches |
| Power Connector Type | 4-Pin |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Cooling Method | Fan |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Noise Level | 22.4 dB |
| Material | Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints & nickel plating |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 1500 RPM |
If you plan to overclock the Ryzen 5 5600X on a regular basis, you will need all the extra cooling power you can get to keep its performance high and stable. For this task, we recommend Noctua’s mid-range NH-U12S CPU cooler.
The NH-U12S features a 120 mm NF-F12 fan, which outputs 2.61 mmH2O of static pressure (air pressure meant for penetrating through heatsinks) that makes use of SSO2 magnetic ball bearings for increased longevity and low noise emission.
The NH-U12S has proven to keep a Ryzen 7 3700X below 66 degrees Celsius during a blender stress test by TechPowerUp; while TweakTown also displays benchmarks that show the cooler outputting only 40 decibels of noise when supplied with 12 V of electromotive force.
It’s also important to mention, that the NH-U12S can be upgraded by adding a second 120 mm fan of your choice – though the Ryzen 5 5600X will surely not require this upgrade, as the NH-U12S has more than enough power to keep it cool.
This Noctua cooler has an MTBF (mean time between failures) of 150,000 hours, and includes a 6-year warranty.
The NH-U12S can currently be found for as low as $59.95: A must-buy for those looking to maximize the power of the Ryzen 5 5600X.
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Best Low-Profile CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X – Scythe Big Shuriken 3
| Brand | SCYTHE |
| Cooling Method | Air |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Material | Rubber |
When it comes to low-profile CPU cooling, few can compete with Scythe’s Big Shuriken 3. This CPU cooler is capable of not only cooling the Ryzen 5 5600X, but it can cool any Ryzen 5000 series processor with the use of its upgrade capacity.
The Big Shuriken 3 utilizes a 15 mm thick, 120 mm, Scythe Kaze Flex slim fan, bringing its overall height to 69 mm. This PWM-controlled, fluid dynamic bearing fan offers a sufficient amount of cooling at noise levels that will not exceed 35 decibels – as proven by TweakTown’s benchmarks.
But if you wish to enhance its cooling capabilities, and lessen the noise output, even more, you can replace the Scythe Kaze Flex slim fan with a Noctua NF-12×25 fan (which adds 10 mm of thickness), as the Big Shuriken allows you to replace the mounted fan to one of your likings.
You can currently find Scythe’s Big Shuriken 3 for only $46.99, and if you do decide to replace the fan, you can find the NF-12×25 for $29.90.
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Best Budget AIO Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X – Corsair Hydro Series H60
| Brand | Corsair |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 14.17 x 6.29 x 4.72 inches |
| Cooling Method | Water |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Noise Level | 28.3 dB |
If you like the idea of keeping your CPU liquid-cooled, then nothing beats the pocket-sized beast known as the Corsair Hydro Series H60.
This small form factor compatible AIO liquid cooler includes a 120 mm Corsair SP Series PWM fan, which pumps out 57.2 CFM that is used to chill its accompanying 120 mm all-aluminum radiator (includes an IP32 certification for water and dust resistance). In fact, TweakTown shows us that the Hydro Series H60 will even outperform full-sized AIO liquid coolers in real-world benchmarks, and does so with a noise level peaking at 47-64 decibels, at high loads.
For additional style, the pump head has a white monochrome LED display with Corsair’s logo. If you want a liquid cooler with additional RGB pizzazz, there is always the CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML120L ($64.99) but keep in mind that it does not perform anywhere near the level of the Hydro Series H60.
The Corsair Hydro Series H60 is currently selling for $79.16, which is an excellent deal for a high-performing AIO liquid cooler on a budget.
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