AMD is set to release its Ryzen 5000 CPU series on November 5. The launch lineup includes the Ryzen 9 5950X, Ryzen 9 5900X, Ryzen 7 5800X, and the Ryzen 5 5600X. Aside from the Ryzen 5 model, Ryzen 5000 CPUs do not come with a box cooler. This means you’ll need an aftermarket cooler if you want to get a high-end Ryzen 5000 CPU.
The Ryzen 9 5900X is placed just below the flagship, 16-core R9 5950X and it should be the best buy for high-end high refresh rate gaming and for professionals who don’t need top of the line productivity performance of the 5950X. The CPU specs include 105W TDP, 4.8GHz max boost clock, and a base clock of 3.7Ghz.
These specs are pretty much identical to the 3900X and 3900XT and it looks like the 5900X will work fine when combined with coolers that can handle the 3900X. This includes a couple of mid-range air coolers as well as the biggest and most powerful air coolers on the market. We’ve also included a solid selection of AIO systems, based on performance, price, and aesthetics. Let’s check them out.
Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 5900X – Our Picks
| Award | Model | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Budget Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X | DeepCool AS500 |  |
| Best High-End Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X | Noctua NH-D15 |  |
| Best Alternative to Noctua NH-D15 | DeepCool Assassin III |  |
| Best SFF Air Cooler for 5900X | Scythe Big Shuriken 3 |  |
| Best Overall AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X | Arctic Liquid Freezer II |  |
| Best RGB AIO Cooler For 5900X | Corsair H115i RGB Platinum |  |
| Best Silent AIO Cooler For 5900X | Fractal Design Celsius+ S36 Prisma |  |
Best Budget Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
DeepCool AS500
| Dimensions | 142 × 98 × 164 mm |
| Number of Fans | 1 |
| Advertised Acoustical Noise | 26 - 29 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 1200 RPM |
If you plan on running the Ryzen 9 5900X at stock clocks or with an undervolt, just get the DeepCool AS500. It’s a bit behind the NH-D15 and the Assassin III when it comes to thermal performance but the temperature difference is too small to justify the price difference. For the money, the AS500 offers the best bang for the buck at the moment and we also like the design and the tasteful RGB implementation.
The cooler looks average, but it weighs more than 1 kg (about 2.2 lbs), making it quite hefty compared to its single tower brethren. The AS500 is also quiet as a church mouse thanks to its 140mm fan; another huge plus. You can get the AS500 Plus, which comes with two fans. But, the performance difference is quite small, the silence is about the same, and the AS500 Plus is much harder to find. The only thing we don’t fancy is the 164mm height. This is too tall for a single tower cooler and the AS500 may not fit inside a large chunk of mid tower cases. .
Best High-End Air Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Noctua NH-D15
| Dimensions | 160 × 150 × 161 mm |
| Number of Fans | 2 |
| Advertised Acoustical Noise | 24.6 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 1500 RPM |
The Noctua NH-D15 still is the best air cooler you can get on the market. It’s made for high-end CPUs and aside from its impressive thermal performance, the NH-D15’s also one of the quietest air coolers around. Get this one if you want the ultimate performance from an air cooler along with whisper-quiet work. The NH-D15 should also handle an overclocked 5900X without issues. Its main problem is huge size so read the specs twice if you own an mATX or a smaller mid-tower case. Also, watch about the RAM clearance, since it’s pretty tight. If Noctua’s color pallette isn’t to your liking they also have a sleek all black version.
Best Alternative to Noctua NH-D15
DeepCool Assassin III
| Dimensions | 161 × 140 × 165 mm |
| Number of Fans | 2 |
| Advertised Acoustical Noise | 34.2 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 1400 RPM |
The DeepCool Assassin III is the best alternative to the NH-D15. It’s a bit louder than the Noctua flagship while achieving very similar thermal performance. Again, the main issue is the sheer size of the thing and tight RAM clearance, making it impossible to fit into smaller cases.
As for other alternatives the Dark Rock Pro 4 from be quiet! is pretty similar in performance but the installation can be a nightmare and it’s a bit louder than both the Assassin III and the NH-D15. The NH-D15S is a single fan version of the NH-D15. It’s cheaper while keeping a very similar thermal performance. Finally, the NH-U12A from Noctua is another premium air cooler, this time with a reduced footprint. The smaller size makes it easier to install inside cases with tall RAM sticks and its reduced height (158mm vs NH-D15’s 164mm) makes it compatible with a wider range of PC cases.
Best SFF Air Cooler for 5900X
Scythe Big Shuriken 3
| Dimensions | 122 × 122 × 69 mm |
| Number of Fans | 1 |
| Advertised Acoustical Noise | 2,7 - 30,4 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 1800 RPM |
Small form factor coolers and a CPU like the Ryzen 9 5900X aren’t the best pairing. No matter how powerful an SFF air cooler is, it’s not meant to run a 12-core beast like the 5900X. Still, if you want to build an SFF rig, you can get either the Sycthe Big Shuriken 3 or the Noctua NH-L12S. They have very similar thermal performance while the Noctua cooler is a bit quieter.
These two SFF coolers should be enough for a stock clock 5900X used for gaming. Heavier workloads could increase the CPU temperature above the thermal throttle threshold. But, if you slightly undervolt the CPU and decrease PPT it should run at safe temperatures even under heavy loads with a single-digit performance loss.
Best Overall AIO Cooler For Ryzen 9 5900X
Arctic Liquid Freezer II
| Dimensions | 280mm (317 × 138 × 38 mm) |
| Number of Fans | 2 |
| Advertised Fan Noise Level | 23.5 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 1700 RPM |
Moving to AIO coolers the best bang for the buck AIO cooler you can get for the Ryzen 9 5900X is the Arctic Liquid Freezer II. You can pick between the 280mm and 360mm versions with the former being the sweet spot for the 12-core CPU. Get the 360mm version if you plan on testing the 5900X’s OC limits or if you want a silent performance since the 360mm version will work at very low RPMs most of the time.
The Liquid Freezer II is both the overall best AIO cooler for the 5900X and the best budget AIO cooler since it sells at a lower price than the majority of AIO cooling systems sell at. If you cannot find the Liquid Freezer II you can get something like the EVGA CLC 280mm or the Fractal Design Celsius S24, maybe even S36 is you want silent performance.
Best RGB AIO Cooler For 5900X
Corsair H115i RGB Platinum
| Dimensions | 280mm (322 × 137 × 27 mm) |
| Number of Fans | 2 |
| Advertised Fan Noise Level | 36 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 2000 RPM |
If you want the best RGB AIO cooler there is a ton of RGB AIO coolers out there. The best combination between the performance and the quality of the RGB lightshow is found on the Corsair H115i RGB Platinum. It’s not the best AIO out there but it’s more than enough for the 5900X. RGB, on the other hand, looks amazing on this cooler.
If you need something larger and don’t care about the price, get the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix. This cooler offers ultimate performance and an excellent lightshow. Aside from the price, the main negative regarding the Capellix is high noise under heavy loads. There’s also the Fractal Design Celsius+ S36 Prisma; even more expensive, almost as pretty than Capellix, and noticeably quieter.
Best Silent AIO Cooler For 5900X
Fractal Design Celsius+ S36 Prisma
| Dimensions | 360mm (403 × 123 × 30 mm) |
| Number of Fans | 3 |
| Advertised Fan Noise Level | 32.2 dB(A) |
| Max Fan Speed | 2000 RPM |
While the Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm was our silent AIO recommendation of choice for a while now, this AIO system is increasingly harder to find. Its successor (the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix) is great when it comes to thermal performance but its noise levels are through the roof whenever the CPU gets under strain. Since Corsair’s out of the picture, we’ve decided to go with the Fractal Design Celsius+ S36 Prisma as our silent AIO of choice from now on.
While it’s very expensive the Celsius+ S36 Prisma has pretty good thermal performance coupled with immaculate silence even when you put your CPU under extreme strains while overclocked. On top of it all, the cooler features a ton of RGB effects and is one of the best RGB coolers around. If you don’t mind the price the Fractal Design Celsius+ S36 Prisma offers the best combination of thermal performance and silent operation on the AIO market.
