A lot of gamers and streamers have built their systems with Ryzen 5 3600x, and considering that it’s highly likely that you too did the same.
We expect a lot of people to buy Ryzen for streaming and video editing purposes which usually puts a heavy load on the CPU, making us consider some of the best cooling options for this processor.
The Ryzen 5 3600x is one of the best CPUs currently available. It combines performance, affordability, and power efficiency into a compelling package.
Whether you’re looking for the ultimate gaming rig or a budget-friendly option, the 3600X has everything you need at a price you can afford.
However, when it comes to heating issues, it is something inherent to every CPU. This is the reason why you need a proper cooler.
The stock fan that comes with Ryzen 3600x isn’t bad, but it’s not the best either. So if cooling is your priority, go for aftermarket coolers, and here is a list of the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 3600x.
Table of Contents
Best Budget CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600x
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
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Noctua NH-D15 | Check Price |
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Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B | Check Price |
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Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo | Check Price |
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Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M | Check Price |
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Corsair Hydro Series H60 | Check Price |
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Arctic Freezer 34 eSports DUO | Check Price |
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NZXT Kraken X73 RGB | Check Price |
7 Best CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600x
1. Noctua NH-D15 – Editor’s Recommended
Noctua NH-D15 is a dual-tower air cooler which is one of the features that makes this unit a good contender in the market. People who love silence can enjoy it because the fans that it comes with produce almost no noise at heavy loads. It’s a budget unit; however, it doesn’t come with RGB lights, so you won’t be able to use it for fancy lighting designs. It’s the best budget air cooler.
The fins Noctua NH-D15 are wider and spaced out, which allows for greater surface area and better heat dissipation. The base and heatpipes are built using copper, and the product is shipped with high-end NT-H1 thermal past. The two fans attached to this heatsink are also of great quality and are highly durable and reliable.
It can easily cope with the heat produced by the processor and keeps the temperature to an acceptable level. Its TDP rating is only 125W; therefore, it can easily deal with the heat produced by the CPU without any trouble. Overall, the cooler delivered an exceptional cooling performance during our test, and we highly recommend giving it a try for your Ryzen 5 3600x.
Pros
- Excellent cooling performance
Cons
- No RGB
2. Scythe Mugen 5 Rev.B – Best Overall
The Scythe Mugen 5 has a large base area and a thick radiator that is able to keep the processor cool. The 120mm fan is a nice touch as it’s not loud at all and provides excellent airflow. It’s well built and designed with easy-to-use mounts and can be used with a range of different AMD processors.
Scythe Mugen 5 is one of the best options for overclockers using the Ryzen 5 3600x processor. It’s not only quiet but also provides excellent cooling capabilities, even during extreme productivity. The cooler has all the features you will ever need; for instance, you get a PWM fan, a 120mm stock fan, a thermal paste, and a mounting system.
While it’s no liquid cooler, it does have adequate cooling performance, and the fact that it has a great design makes it stand out. This is one of the most affordable coolers that you can find in the market today, so we highly recommend it for those who are looking for a budget cooler with features that comes at a premium price.
Pros
- Efficient airflow
- Very good value for money
- Easy to install
Cons
- None
3. Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO – Best Runner Up
The Hyper 212 EVO is a popular choice for high-performance computer builds. This product is ideal for those looking for a cost-effective solution for building a new PC. It’s easy to install and offers great cooling performance for a reasonable price.
The Hyper 212 EVO has a 120mm PWM fan that rotates at 600 ~ 2000 RPMs, thus allowing for great airflow at low noise levels. It comes with a solid construction that makes it resistant to thermal shock and other issues.
The Hyper 212 EVO includes an exclusive Direct Contact Technology (DCT) heatpipe design that allows for great cooling efficiency and superior performance. This is made possible thanks to the patent-pending technology that eliminates the gaps between the heat pipes for maximum cooling efficiency when attached to your CPU.
During our test, the cooling performance was mostly excellent with the EVO, especially at stock and idle loads. The cooler was able to keep temps down, but we still had some struggle finding the right balance between performance and noise, so you don’t have to hear the fan the entire time.
Pros
- Compact design
- Easy installation
- High performance
Cons
- Only one fan
- Lacks RGB
4. Cooler Master MasterAir MA410M
The MasterAir MA410M is one of the best cooling solutions for Ryzen 5 3600x that you can find on a budget. It has been designed with the most modern technology available in the market and also comes with an RGB lighting system. It has a unique fin design that is made to dissipate heat quickly, which makes it a great choice for all types of Ryzen and Intel CPUs.
The performance of this CPU cooler is amazing, especially considering its low price. This cooler is made for gamers and is a single fan with a push-pull design that allows you to adjust the airflow. In addition to that, there are RGB LEDs that are present on both the shroud and fans.
This is a full tower air cooler and comes with a hexagon design that creates a lot of positive air pressure. The special fins have been made from aluminum and can be customized in terms of color. The fans are also specially designed to be able to offer a higher RPM while still keeping noise levels at a bare minimum.
Pros
- Push-pull design
- RGB Lighting
Cons
- Somewhat noisy under extreme load
5. Corsair Hydro Series H60
Corsair H60 is the new generation of Hydro Series CPU Cooler from Corsair, a highly efficient and effective AIO liquid cooling solution for gamers and enthusiasts. It features a redesigned pump head and top panel to give an unobstructed view of the radiator.
This AIO liquid cooler for Ryzen 5 3600x is designed to provide users with a stable cooling performance while adhering to low noise levels during extreme operation. It’s affordable and should outperform most low-profile air coolers without having to resort to unreasonable noise levels.
It consists of a single 120mm radiator that can fit into most mid-size cases and comes with PWM and speed controls, a built-in pump, and adjustable mounting holes.The Corsair H60 is a popular product due to its low noise, compact design, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a small CPU cooler, the Corsair Hydro Series H60 might be the perfect solution for your needs.
Pros
- Large radiator
- Compact and easy to install
Cons
- Airflow is poor
- Not the quietest
6. Arctic Freezer 34 eSports DUO
Arctic Freezer 34 eSports DUO is the best processor cooler for overclocking your Ryzen 5 3600x and is very quiet and easy to install. This cooling solution is made from durable materials, and the product features a dual-fan design with push-pull functionality. The two BioniX P-fans run at rated speeds of 200 to 2100 RPM, both of which can be easily controlled through the built-in PWM.
The Freezer 34 eSports DUO is an extremely affordable CPU cooler that offers incredible performance for its price tag. In terms of design, the cooler features 54 cooling fins to increase heat dissipation, and its push-pull configuration ensures optimal airflow. The Arctic Freezer 34 eSports DUO’s cooling performance is impressive, even when overclocked. The PWM fans have the same quiet performance as the Noctua fans, and the heatsink provides decent performance for the price.
The build quality is top-notch, and the cooler is shipped with a pre-applied thermal paste. The Freezer 34 eSports DUO is a well-rounded product that is perfect for budget-conscious PC builders. It’s also one of the quietest CPU coolers we have tested so far.
Pros
- Quieter operation
- Push-pull functionality
- Decent built quality and design
Cons
- No LED
7. NZXT Kraken X73 RGB
The NZXT Kraken X73 RGB 360mm is a water cooler that has been designed to be compatible with a broad range of CPUs. It is an all-in-one best CPU liquid cooler for Ryzen 5 3600x that offers exceptional performance, thanks to its three 120mm radiator fans that operate at high speeds while ensuring a quiet operation. In addition, the package comes with a nylon mesh sleeve on the rubber tubes for easy installation.
Furthermore, the product is compatible with the NZXT CAM software, which lets you adjust the LED lighting, pump performance, fan speed, and much more. In addition, you can customize the NZXT Kraken X73 RGB’s RGB LED lights. NZXT Krake is the best rgb cpu cooler for ryzen 5 3600x.
The NZXT Kraken X73 RGB’s caps feature an infinity mirror ring LED that makes it possible to re-orient the logo to suit your needs, and the entire package is compatible with Ryzen 5 3600x. It offers superior cooling performance with its powerful radiator, 360mm fan design, and fluid dynamic bearings for quiet operation.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Excellent 7th Gen Asetek Pump
- CAM Software
Cons
- None
Frequently Asked Questions
What cooler should I get for Ryzen 5 3600X, which will also support overclocking?
The best air CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 3600x you can get at the moment is the Noctua NH-D15; however, if you’re also planning to overclock the CPU to the extreme, you’d get the NZXT Kraken X73 RGB 360mm for instance.
Is stock cooler enough for Ryzen 5 3600X?
No, you’d have to replace the stock cooler with something more powerful if you are into serious overclocking and gaming.
Do I need a cooler for Ryzen 5 3600X?
Yes, you need better cooling for Ryzen 5 3600X if you plan on overclocking it. If not, the stock cooler that comes with the CPU would be fine as well. Having a cooler is mandatory for any CPU to be able to both perform well and not damage or negatively affect it.
What’s the best budget cooler for Ryzen 5 3600X overclocking?
There are a lot of products that are perfect for overclocking while being budget-friendly; the best option is Noctua NH-D15. It’s a great cooler overall and won’t let you down, especially since it offers similar performance to more expensive coolers while costing way less.
What is the best AIO liquid cooler for Ryzen 5 3600X?
If you are willing to get one of the best cooling units for Ryzen 5 3600X, then there are several things that you should be mindful of. You can choose between air and liquid coolers depending on your preferences but don’t forget that there is a vast amount of aftermarket cooling options available.
In order to ensure that you will be making the right choice, there are a few things that you should always keep in mind. You have to remember that air coolers don’t usually come with an RGB lighting system and many models aren’t compatible with all motherboards as well. With liquid coolers, however, you always have to keep in mind that they come with a pump, reservoir, and tubing, so if the overall design doesn’t appeal to you, this may not be the best choice.
If you want excellent cooling performance for Ryzen 5 3600X with both great hardware and software, then I recommend getting NZXT Kraken X73 RGB. It’s an AIO liquid CPU cooler that offers superior cooling performance with its powerful radiator, 360mm fan design, and fluid dynamic bearings for quiet operation.
Conclusion
The Ryzen 5 3600X is a very powerful CPU; however, if you are thinking of overclocking it to a performance that will match its power, you should know that using the stock cooler would greatly limit both the potential and overall speeds.
Adding an aftermarket cooler, for instance, would totally change things because what was once considered as being limited by the CPU would now be a matter of having a cooler that is powerful enough.
So, if you want to have the best experience possible, consider getting a better cooler for your Ryzen 5 3600X and see how it will change things as well as how much it will improve performance when gaming or streaming.
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