While the Ryzen 9 5900X shines as an exceptional gaming CPU with its remarkable memory and clock speeds, you must consider that high-performance CPUs generate significant heat. To ensure your peace of mind, we’ve conducted thorough testing and carefully selected the optimal CPU coolers for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor.
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Here is a quick comparison chart of all the CPU coolers we have selected:
Last update on 2023-12-11
More from the Ryzen 9 5900X:
Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 5900X
Here are our top cooler picks for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X:
- Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black
- Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
- Best 240mm AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB
- Best 360mm AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360
- Best RGB CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT
- Best Recommended CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X: Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black
Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black
Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: Single-Tower Air Cooler | RGB: None | Noise Levels: 27dB(A) | Dimensions: 155.6 x 136.7 x 135mm | Fan: 1x 135mm PWM fan | Fan Speed: 750 — 1,500RPM | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X AMD: AM4, AM5
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Sturdy build quality
- Sleek minimalistic aesthetics
- Retention clips
Cons
- No RGB
- No secondary fan clip
Cooling Performance: The Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black comes with a 1x 135mm PWM fan running at 1,500RPM speeds. According to my performance tests, the cooler provides enough thermal headroom to keep the Ryzen 9 5900X at bay without any thermal throttling. However, I wouldn’t recommend overclocking with this CPU cooler.
Build Quality: Aside from its value cooling, the cooler also provides a high-end build quality with copper heat pipes and a copper baseplate. What I didn’t like about the Zalman CNPS10x cooler’s build quality was that it doesn’t provide a secondary fan clip, which can deter the cooler’s thermal capabilities.
Aesthetics: The Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black showcases a sleek minimalistic design with not much going on with the cooler itself. I found the cooler to be a perfect fit for stealth and darker builds because of the lack of RGB, but that is also a point I disliked regarding its aesthetics.
Buy It If
You want decent cooling from a budget cooler: If you’re on a tight budget but want to adequately cool the Ryzen 9 5900X, the Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black keeps the CPU’s temperatures at bay with a sub-$50 price, making it pocket-friendly.
Don’t Buy It If
You want to install two fans: While the cooler provides adequate cooling with a single 135mm fan, many gamers might want to install a secondary fan for a better experience. Unfortunately, the Zalman CNPS10x Performa Black doesn’t provide a secondary fan clip.
What Makes It The Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
The CNPS10x Performa Black is, without a doubt, the best budget CPU cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, keeping in mind you require an efficient and quiet cooling solution while maintaining a restricted budget.
You may also be interested in the following:
| Performance: 7/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: Single-Tower Air Cooler | RGB: None | Noise Levels: 24.3dB(A) | Dimensions: 135 x 135 x 22mm | Fan: 1x 135mm PWM fan | Fan Speed: 1,500RPM | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 2066, 115X, 2011-3 AMD: AM5, AM4
Pros
- Remarkable air cooling
- Quiet fans
- Elegant design
- Durable build quality
- Easy installation
Cons
- Expensive
- No RGB
- RAM clearance issues
Cooling Performance: The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 comprises six heat pipes along with a 1x 135mm PWM fan running at 1,500RPM that offers remarkable air cooling performance. Through our dedicated testing, the Ryzen 9 5900X showed decent overclocking headroom with its lower temperatures.
Build Quality: The cooler boasts a premium build quality with a double-tower design and a brushed aluminum cover. Furthermore, the top also has a diamond finish, which improves the cooler’s aesthetics. Thanks to the anti-vibration material on the cooler fan, the noise levels are relatively silent, and we didn’t have any noise issues.
Aesthetics: The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 doesn’t focus primarily on its aesthetics and provides a rather plain look with a beefy, dark aesthetic cooler. While we weren’t entirely fond of the aesthetics, the cooler is a great choice if you aren’t planning on setting up a RGB light show in your PC case.
Upon reviewing the cooler, our hardware expert, Awais Khan, stated:
“The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 is a fantastic CPU cooler built for pure performance, with impressive silent fans even at full load, the cooler marks every checkbox.”
Buy It If
We took a few aesthetic images in our review:
You’re looking for exceptional air cooling performance: If you’re new to AIO coolers and feel uncomfortable upgrading to one for your Ryzen 9 5900X, the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 will help you stay on air coolers while delivering remarkable cooling performance on par with 240mm AIOs.
Don’t Buy It If
You’re using taller RAM kits: The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 is a beefy air cooler and may have issues with RAM clearance. So, if you’re using taller RAM kits, we advise you to ensure you have enough RAM clearance before making the purchase.
What Makes It The Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Having excellent air cooling performance, quiet fans, and premium build quality, we can safely recommend the Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 is the best air cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 8/10 |
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB
Best 240mm AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler | RGB: Yes | Noise Levels: 10.64dB(A) | Fans: 2x ARCTIC P12 PWM RGB 120mm | Fan Speed: 200 — 1,800RPM | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011-v3, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5
Pros
- Great value
- Outstanding performance
- Silent fans
- 40mm VRM fan
- Integrated cable management
- Unique pump design
- six-year warranty
Cons
- No user manual included
- No pump RGB
Cooling Performance: The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm AIO offers 2x ARCTIC P12 PWM RGB 120mm fans running at 1,800RPM speeds that make the bulk of its cooling performance. According to my various game tests, the cooler provides outstanding value for its price and allows for decent overclocking without any bottlenecks.
Commenting on the cooler’s value, this is what I stated in my review:
“The AIO’s cooling capabilities are outstanding, especially when compared to comparable AIO coolers in its pricing range.”
Build Quality: While the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB isn’t expensive, it utilizes high-end components for its build. To explain, the cooler has a copper baseplate and an aluminum radiator for better cooling. Moreover, the rubber bumpers on the fans decrease the fan noise, as documented through my noise testing.
Aesthetics: The cooler doesn’t only focus on cooling performance and build quality. Rather, the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB has some of the best aesthetics I have seen in an AIO. With its unique pump and tubing design, the cooler gives a spaceship-like effect. Additionally, the minimal RGB is perfect.
Buy It If
We took a few images during our review:
You want high-end performance on a tighter budget: If you’re on a tighter budget but want to overclock the Ryzen 9 5900X without thermal throttling it, I recommend purchasing the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240 A-RGB because of its remarkable value and cooling capabilities.
Don’t Buy It If
You’re new to AIO coolers: While the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 240mm AIO offers high-end cooling performance, it comes with a tricky installation process and doesn’t have a proper user manual, making it difficult for newcomers to install the cooler properly.
What Makes It The Best 240mm AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Backed up by ARCTIC’s good six-year warranty, high-end cooling, and almost zero fan noise, it’s safe to say you can’t go wrong with the Liquid Freezer II 240-A RGB, which is precisely why we have crowned it the best 240mm AIO cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360
Best 360mm AIO For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: 360mm AIO Liquid Cooler | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 121 × 394 × 27mm | Fan: 3x 120mm | Fan Speed: 2,200RPM | Noise: 36.5dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5, TR4, sTRX4
Pros
- 3.5” LCD screen
- Top-notch performance
- Embedded VRM fan
- Easy installation
Cons
- Expensive
- Loud fans
Cooling Performance: The ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360mm AIO offers outstanding performance for the Ryzen 9 5900X, as also advocated through my game tests. For example, in games like Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption II, and Far Cry 6, the CPU averaged between 50°C and 52°C, enabling extreme overclocking headroom.
Build Quality: The cooler also utilizes decent materials, such as an aluminum radiator and rubber tubing with nylon braiding. Moreover, the copper baseplate on the pump helps with keeping the CPU temperatures low, and the LCD screen on the pump shows those temperatures live.
Aesthetics: The ASUS ROG Ryujin II offers a block-shaped pump, which gives an exotic look to the PC build. While you can use the LCD screen on the pump to play customized GIFs or images, I used it to show the CPU and GPU’s live temperatures.
Buy It If
You want high-end performance without losing out on aesthetics: Frankly speaking, the ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360mm AIO provides almost everything in one package. You get high-end performance for extreme overclocking and superb aesthetics with an LCD screen on the pump. The only thing you require is the budget to purchase the AIO.
Don’t Buy It If
You dislike loud fans: The ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360mm AIO has loud fans, going up to 36.5dB(A) in my noise testing. If you dislike fan noise from your PC, I don’t recommend buying this cooler.
What Makes It The Best 360mm AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Assuming you’re not attempting to set world records in the overclocking department, you’re good to go with the Asus ROG Ryujin II 360, backed up by ASUS’ six-year warranty, earning a coveted spot on our list as the best AIO cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X processor.
You may also be interested in the following:
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT
Best RGB CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: 240mm AIO Liquid Cooler | RGB: Yes | Dimensions: 277 x 120 x 27mm | Fan: 2x AF RGB Elite 120mm fans | Fan Speed: 550 — 2,100RPM | Noise: 34.1dB(A) | Socket Support: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2011, 2066 AMD: AM4, AM5, sTRX4, sTR4
Pros
- Removable pump cap
- Comprehensive software customizations
- Multiple color options
- Superb cooling potential
- Beautiful RGB lighting
Cons
- USB 2.0 header requirement
- Non-magnetic commander core
- Loud fans
Cooling Performance: The Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT 240mm AIO utilizes its 2x AF RGB Elite 120mm fans running at 2,100RPM speeds to provide outstanding performance for the Ryzen 9 5900X. During our dedicated testing, the CPU showed decent overclocking potential at 1440p resolution.
Build Quality: The cooler has a robust build quality, with the fans using fluid dynamic bearings for longevity and slightly lower noise. Additionally, the radiator is made of aluminum with a copper baseplate, providing a sturdier feel and better cooling.
Aesthetics: One of the things we most liked about the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT 240mm AIO is its aesthetics and RGB customization options. To explain, you have a removable pump cap along with an option to choose from multiple colors. If you’re making a white PC build, we recommend going with this cooler.
Stating the cooler’s price to performance ratio, Nauman Siddique, one of our hardware experts states:
“This cooler offers a nice blend of performance and features with a 5-year warranty, albeit at a steep price.”
Buy It If
We took a few images in our review:
You want full customization without losing performance: The Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT offers nearly full customization with regards to its RGB and pumps while providing impressive cooling performance, making it a must-have for those who require more eye candy in their PC.
Don’t Buy It If
You don’t have a free USB 2.0 header: Unfortunately, the Corasir iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT requires a USB 2.0 header for its commander core. However, if you don’t have a free header, you’ll have to install the commander core on the back of the motherboard, which can get messy and inconvenient.
What Makes It The Best RGB CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
The Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix XT provides remarkable cooling performance and showcases lots of customization options, from the color of the cooler exact RGB changes, removable pump cap, and more. All of these features, coupled with its beautiful design, make it the best RGB CPU cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 10/10 | Design: 10/10 |
Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black
Best Recommended CPU Cooler For AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Type: Dual-Tower Air Cooler | TDP: 200W | RGB: No | Dimensions: 135 x 150 x 165mm | Fan: 1x NF-A15 140mm | Fan Speed: 300 — 1,500RPM | Noise: 24.6dB(A) | Socket Support: Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, 2066, 2011-0, 2011-3 AMD: AM4, AM5
Pros
- High-end performance
- Gorgeous black color
- Asymmetrical dual tower design
- Easy installation
Cons
- Larger size
- No RGB
Cooling Performance: The Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black houses six heat pipes with a 1x NF-A15 140mm running at 1,500RPM speeds to provide a bulk of the cooler’s exceptional cooling performance. According to our performance testing, the Ryzen 9 5900X showed reasonably low temperatures, allowing slight overclocking.
Build Quality: The cooler also has an outstanding build quality with an aluminum heatsink and heat pipes in direct contact with the copper baseplate. This helps with heat dissipation and keeps the temperatures of the CPU lower.
Commenting on the cooler’s build quality, Nauman Siddique stated in his review:
“The cooler is also lightweight; many people may assume it would be heavy with such a large heatsink, but it is not because of its build quality.”
Aesthetics: The Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black has a matte black design with a beefy look. While there’s not much going on with the cooler, we personally didn’t dislike the cooler’s overall aesthetic. Of course, you don’t get any RGB, but the cooler is perfect for dark and sleeper builds.
Buy It If
Here are a few images from our review:
You want to overclock the Ryzen 9 5900X with an air cooler: If you’re willing to overclock the Ryzen 9 5900X CPU with an air cooler, the Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black will help you in your endeavours.
Don’t Buy It If
You’re on a tighter budget: While the Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black offers remarkable cooling performance, but it is pretty expensive. Thus making the cooler a bit desirable for many on a tighter budget.
What Makes It The Best Recommended CPU Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Keeping in mind this is essentially speaking an air cooler, what’s not there to love about this gorgeous offering from Noctua? The answer is nothing, which is why we have no problem nominating the Noctua NH-D15S Chromax.Black as the best recommended CPU cooler for the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
How We Picked & Selected These CPU Coolers
When we looked for the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 9 5900X, we really focused on these important points to make sure you’re getting the best one out there.
- Performance: An essential aspect of any CPU cooler would be the relative performance it offers. The fan’s specs, including the max RPMs alongside the amount of airflow it produces, are of utmost importance, not to mention the size of the heatsink and the FPI count.
- Budget: While an AIO cooler would always produce better results as compared to a dedicated air cooler, they’ll also always be more expensive than an air cooler. While there are exceptions, it can be difficult to find a good-performing budget CPU cooler. Therefore, we considered all sorts of budgets.
- Compatibility: Not all coolers will be compatible with the Ryzen 9 5900X since every cooler tends to have a different mounting procedure as well as varying dimensional aspects, which is why you should definitely keep this factor in mind even if you buy a cooler.
- Aesthetics & Build Quality: Manufacturers tend to distinguish their respective offerings for the Best AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU Coolers by offering their unique take on the cooler’s aesthetics and build quality. Some brands might opt for more premium construction and dazzling RGB capabilities, leading to a higher price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X does not come with a stock cooler.
Yes, and no. AMD has acknowledged the fact that users may experience overheating/high temperatures reaching the likes of 90+ degrees Celsius, and they have stated these are typical temperatures for this processor, which won’t affect the life cycle of the CPU.
Yes, you definitely need one because things can be pretty hot under the hood with this specific CPU.
Depending on your budget and your use case scenario, you can either go with a 240mm AIO or a 360mm AIO cooler. Air coolers can be sufficient if you’re only going to use the PC for miscellaneous tasks.
Looking for more options? We have you covered:
- Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 5 5600X3D
- Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 5950X
- Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 7 5800X
- Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 5 5600X
Recent Updates
- November 4, 2023: Few text and grammar changes to improve readability. Added image galleries. One product was changed.
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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.
