Need assistance choosing a CPU cooler for your build?
Need assistance choosing a CPU cooler for your build?
Hey there! I just wrapped up my very first PC build about two weeks ago. The stock cooler is starting to feel a bit too hot, especially since I’m still getting used to it. I’m thinking about switching to an aftermarket model but am a bit unsure where to start. My case limits me to a height of 160mm or less, so I need something compact. I’m also excited to experiment with overclocking and want to learn more about the process. Any advice would be super helpful—I’d love to hear your recommendations on cooler options. Thanks for taking the time to check this out!
Noctua NH-D15 remains my top pick for maximum air capacity. I don’t enjoy water cooling.
You can place the GPU firmly in position, which likely means the CPU cooler’s sound will be overshadowed by the GPU’s noise. The 3600 offers limited benefits for boosting performance initially. Your main options for cooling are compact, large, or a 360 AIO. I don’t consider 240 AIOs myself since they’re usually noisy, complicated, and expensive. With room for a 360 up front, it makes sense to opt for one of those models instead of a 240 AIO. For big air setups, a Dark Rock Pro 4 would work well. It may be too powerful for your maximum overclocking potential but will run quietly as a result. For small air, a cooler with four or three efficient channels will provide better cooling and less noise than the stock Arctic Pro 33, though there’s limited availability. You might get more performance gains by focusing on memory overclocking. Regarding AIOs, I have no guidance beyond suggesting you choose one if you’re willing to tolerate the hassle. There are knowledgeable individuals online who understand AIOs better than I do, and some people genuinely enjoy them—so it’s not entirely my opinion.
Thanks to everyone so far for the feedback. I was confident about the DH15 since its 160mm size would prevent any contact with the glass. With the 3600 model, there really isn’t any extra overhead? If that’s true, maybe I can just pick something nice and stop searching?
The real height of the dh15 is a bit uncertain since the fans protrude beyond the cooler. I’ve noticed measurements around 160mm and also 168mm. It could work. You might need different fans to achieve this. There are other large air coolers that are slightly shorter. The key point about Ryzen2 is that it automatically overclocks, and this figure is part of their listed speeds. To my eye, a 3600 feels like a 2600 with better memory timing and auto-overclock included in the design. It runs a bit faster than a 2600 that’s been overclocked and had its RAM upgraded, yet it uses less power. My feeling is that if you’re ready to tweak and invest extra watts, you can reach nearly the top performance from a 3600 on a 2600. Both use the same chip architecture, so it isn’t too surprising.
I got a Scythe Mugen 5 Rev. B cooler for my OCed 8700k in a mid-tower setup. It fits perfectly and seems to perform well. I purchased it for $48, but the price has risen to around $62 now. Here’s the link: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8GBrxr/...-scmg-5100