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Okay, so you’ve decided to get the latest Ryzen 5 9600X—a great choice indeed. The CPU offers great value, given its mid-range pricing, and you’ll have no performance hiccups whatsoever. Plus, the 65W TDP means it will consume power very efficiently (Dear Intel, please take notes). Nevertheless, if you’re planning to treat yourself with a new CPU cooler as well, worry not because I have your back. My team and I have been hard at work the past couple of weeks, and we have done thorough testing to round up the best coolers for the Ryzen 5 9600X. These coolers not only perform great, but they also offer exceptional value thanks to their attractive price tags.
Here’s an overview of my picks for the best CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X, all compared against one another:
My team has also tested:
Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 5 9600X
These are my top cooling choices for the Ryzen 5 9600X:
- Best Overall: EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB
- Best Value: ENERMAX LIQMAXFLO 360 A-RGB
- Best Performance: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB
- Best Air Cooler: Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black
EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB
Best Overall CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X
Cooler Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Dimensions: 400 x 124 x 27mm | Fans: 3x EK-Loop fan FPT D-RGB 120mm | Fan Speed: 550 — 2,300RPM | Noise Level: 36dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 115X, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM5, AM4 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Outstanding cooling performance
- Removable & rotatable pump lid
- Six-year warranty
- EK OmniLink
- Beautiful radiator design
- Easy installation process
Cons
- The price could be better
The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB is a 360mm AIO cooler powerhouse and has no problems keeping high-end CPUs cooled even at high workloads. So, if you want to keep the Ryzen 5 9600X’s temperatures at the lower levels, allowing higher overclocking capabilities, this AIO is for you with its incredible 120mm fans running at 2,300RPM speeds.
Aside from its performance, the AIO’s installation process is pretty simple, making it user-friendly. Add its beautiful radiator design, customizable pump lid, and daisy-chainable fans for better aesthetics and reduced cable clutter. I love the AIO cooler’s customization capabilities and incredible cooling, but I wouldn’t say I like its price tag.
Our hardware reviewer, Awais Khan, loved the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB’s aesthetics and cooling performance. This is what he commented in his review:
EK Water Blocks is back in business with its new generation of liquid coolers in the AIO category. Meet the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 LUX D-RGB cooler, which is quite innovative from its design. It packs a solid performance punch that the competition has to manage. The digital RGB lighting is quite brilliant. We have everything to love about this cooler, albeit a bit high price tag.
What Makes It The Best Overall CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X?
The EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB AIO cooler has outstanding cooling performance and considers aesthetics and less cable clutter with the EK OmniLink feature. Moreover, thanks to the rotatable and removable pump lid, I love its customization capabilities. Therefore, in my book, all these features make it the best overall CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X.
What makes the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB AIO cooler so likable for me is its outstanding cooling performance, allowing incredible overclocking support, along with its beautiful aesthetics and customization capabilities. If you have the budget, you should definitely purchase this AIO cooler.
– Hayyan Serwer
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 10/10 | Design: 9/10 |
ENERMAX LIQMAXFLO 360 A-RGB
Best Value CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X
Cooler Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Dimensions: 400 x 120 x 38mm | Fans: 3x 120mm digital RGB fans | Fan Speed: 500 — 1,800RPM | Noise Level: 23.46dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 115X, 1200, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, 1366 AMD: AM5, AM4, AM3+, FM2+, FM1 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Outstanding thermal performance
- 400W TDP
- Beautiful digital lighting
- Easy daisy-chaining
- Incredible value
Cons
- No control of the embedded fan
- Slightly noisy fans
Suppose you’re trying to stay within a smaller budget with your Ryzen 5 9600X CPU upgrades. In that case, I recommend purchasing the ENERMAX LIQMAXFLO 360 A-RGB AIO cooler because of its insane performance and value. What shocked me the most was the AIO’s 400W TDP rating, even with slower 1,800RPM fans.
Aside from the slightly noisy fans, you get a beautiful AIO cooler with tons of RGB and an innovative pump design. I also love that the AIO’s fans are daisy-chainable, decreasing the cable clutter on the PC. The cooler also comes with incredible RGB lighting, further improving its aesthetics.
Impressed with the AIO’s value, performance, and aesthetics, our hardware specialist, Nauman Siddique, stated the following in his review:
The ENERMAX LIQMAXFLOW 360mm is a powerful AIO CPU cooler perfect for high-end CPUs. It features a thick radiator, dual-chamber pump, and a unique VRM fan to keep your CPU cool and quiet, even under heavy loads. It’s also compatible with a wide range of sockets, has a refill port, and is rated for 400W TDP, making it an excellent value for the price.
What Makes It The Best Value CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X?
With the performance and aesthetics the ENERMAX LIQMAXFLO 360 A-RGB AIO cooler delivers, one would easily mistake it for a fairly expensive CPU cooler. However, the cooler’s lower price while offering features such as daisy-chainable fans and brilliant digital lighting make it the best value CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB
Best Performance CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X
Cooler Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | Dimensions: 394 × 119 × 27.2mm | Fans: 3x SickleFlow Edge 120mm A-RGB fans | Fan Speed: 690 — 2,500RPM | Noise Level: 27.2dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 115X, 1200 AMD: AM5, AM4 | RGB: Yes
Pros
- Low noise fans
- 3D-printed block designs
- Easy installation process
- Outstanding overclocking headroom
- Incredible thermal performance
Cons
- Lots of cable clutter
If you’re looking for a CPU cooler that provides the best performance for the Ryzen 5 9600X with no holds barred, I recommend the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB AIO cooler with its decent 120mm fans running at 2,500RPM speeds with a 70.7CFM, ensuring a positive airflow in the chassis at all times, reducing temperatures, improving overclocking capabilities.
I love that the flagship AIO cooler from Cooler Master has low noise levels and maximum fan usage. Moreover, it has an easy installation process and allows users to mount their 3D-printed designs on the pump block, improving customization possibilities and the cooler’s overall look. Thanks to its features and decent pricing, I’m impressed with the AIO cooler.
Here’s what I said about the MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB in my dedicated review:
The Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 ATMOS is a high-performance AIO liquid cooler with excellent thermal performance and low noise levels. The cooler also features a unique pump cover that allows users to design and 3D print their own custom designs. Overall, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 ATMOS is a great option for users who are looking for a top-performing AIO cooler with a unique design.
What Makes It The Best Performance CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X?
Keeping lower thermals, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB AIO cooler’s 3x 120mm fans keep a lower noise output while providing impressive 70.7CFM airflow. Furthermore, the aluminum radiator build helps keep the temperatures under control, making it the best performance CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X.
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black
Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X
Cooler Type: Single Tower Air Cooler | Dimensions: 158 x 125 x 112mm | Fans: 2x NF-A12x25 PWM 120mm fans | Fan Speed: 450 — 2,000RPM | Noise Level: 22.6dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5 | RGB: No
Pros
- Decent RAM clearance
- All black aesthetic
- Premium build quality
- Quiet fan
- Decent overclocking headroom
Cons
- No RGB
- Expensive
Enough with the AIO coolers; if you’re looking for an air cooler that can adequately cool the Ryzen 5 9600X’s, then the Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black cooler is the cooler you should be looking for. During my testing, the cooler performed similarly to 240mm AIO coolers. You also get a premium build quality with seven nickel-plated copper heat pipes and a fully aluminum heatsink.
The Noctua NH-U12A comes in a discrete black cooler with a slim design, making it a perfect fit for stealth PC builds. However, if you’re an RGB fan, you won’t like this cooler because it has no signs of RGB lighting. While the design isn’t innovative, I like its metallic feel and the fact that it easily fits most PC cases without causing RAM clearance issues.
I was very impressed by the cooler’s build quality, these were my final impressions after testing this beast:
The Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black stands out as a top-tier air cooler offering impressive cooling efficiency, an elegant all-black design, and compatibility with larger components, making it an excellent choice for users who prioritize performance and aesthetics.
What Makes It The Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 5 9600X?
The Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black air cooler houses seven nickel-plated heat pipes connected directly to a copper baseplate, providing some of the best air cooling I have witnessed. Its low-noise fans, decent RAM clearance, and all-black aesthetic make it the best air cooler for the Ryzen 5 9600X, coupled with its thermal performance.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Why We Didn’t Choose These CPU Coolers For The Ryzen 5 9600X
Because not every decent-performing CPU cooler meets all of our criteria, there are many CPU coolers we couldn’t add to this list. However, these are a few good matches with the Ryzen 5 9600X, which didn’t make the list:
- Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2: The air cooler doesn’t provide enough cooling for adequate overclocking capabilities compared to its competition at the same price range.
- Enermax ADV Aquafusion 360: The AIO cooler’s aesthetics aren’t on par with others within its price range.
Specifications Comparison
To make it easier for you to browse the CPU coolers we have chosen, we have created a specifications comparison table to help you navigate through each cooler’s specifications with ease:
| CPU Cooler Model | Number Of Fans | Fan Speed (RPM) | Noise Levels (dBA) | CFM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB | 3 | 2300 | 36 | 72 |
| ENERMAX LIQMAXFLO 360 A-RGB | 3 | 1800 | 23.46 | 58.03 |
| Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos A-RGB | 3 | 2500 | 27.2 | 70.7 |
| Noctua NH-U12A Chromax.Black | 2 | 2000 | 22.6 | 102.1 |
Benchmarks Of The Best CPU Cooler For The Ryzen 5 9600X
To best understand which CPU cooler is perfect for your use case scenario, you should have results from real-time tests. Therefore, we have conducted several tests with the Ryzen 5 9600X and have compiled our findings in the following chart below:
Key Cooling Terms To Look Out For
- CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) measures the volume of air a fan moves in a minute. Higher CFM values generally mean better cooling performance.
- RPM: Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) tells you how fast a fan spins. Higher RPM means more airflow, which enhances cooling but can also increase noise levels.
- Radiator: Radiators use water to cool the CPU. They have tightly packed fins, and attached fans expel the heat. As liquid carries heat from the CPU and flows through the radiator, the attached fans blow air to cool it down, this process continues in a loop.
- FPI: Fins Per Inch (FPI) refers to the density of fins in a heatsink. More fins improve cooling by increasing air contact but can make radiators and coolers thicker, potentially causing clearance issues.
- Heatsink: Heatsinks disperse heat from your CPU, pushing hot air out of the PC case.
- TDP: For CPUs, TDP measures the heat output. For coolers, it indicates how much heat they can handle. A cooler’s TDP should exceed the CPU’s for optimal performance.
My Testing Strategy To Find The Best Coolers
Apart from focusing on just the thermal benchmarks, I also emphasized a lot on these features before making my recommendations:
- Cooling Performance: To make sure the cooler prevents thermal throttling and offers good overclocking potential, I focused on its airflow, heat dissipation, and fan specs. Of course, these translate to good thermal performance.
- Acoustic Performance: I checked how noisy the cooler was by listening to the fans and pump. For air coolers, only the fan noise mattered.
- Compatibility: After picking a cooler, I made sure it was compatible with my system. This means checking for any RAM clearance issues with air coolers and radiator clearance issues with AIOs.
- Build Quality: The durability of the cooler was important to me, so I examined the materials used, the construction of its components, and its overall sturdiness. This includes making sure the fins were not bent out of the box.
FAQs
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[CPU Coolers & RAM Expert]
Hayyan Serwer is a tech enthusiast, with a love for PC building and article writing. Hayyan specializes in writing about CPU coolers and RAM kits. Hayyan has been familiar with the tech industry for over half a decade now, and has now stepped into providing quality reviews for the latest and greatest tech.
Get In Touch: hayyan@tech4gamers.com
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