Introduction
AMD‘s Ryzen 3D SKUs are some of the most powerful CPUs on the market right now. Although the 7900X3D has had a bit of a rocky start, some future price drops will increase the value of this processor, making it perfect for consumers looking to build a top-end gaming PC that will last for the next three to five years. Regardless of the value proposition of this CPU, the 7900X3D still offers great performance metrics in pretty much everything you throw it at.
With all of this in mind, does this mean that the ‘X3D’ variant is likely to offer a similar thermal output to it’s non-3D counterpart? Or are consumers able to branch out to some cheaper options knowing that temperatures won’t reach a ridiculous level? We’ll be answering both of these questions with a roundup of the best CPU coolers to pair up with the Ryzen 9 7900X3D. We’ll be looking at air and liquid cooling options, with a breakdown of what exactly Ryzen 3D SKUs are!
Suggested Article: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X Review – Architecture, Performance & Benchmarks
Our Recommendations
Without anymore deliberations, here are all of the CPU coolers recommendations to pair up with the Ryzen 9 7900X3D. We’ve covered a multitude of options from cheaper budget selections, all the way up to top-end pricier units designed to keep thermals low.
1. Thermalright Peerless Assassin
👑 The best budget CPU cooler.
Introduction
First up in our roundup is the Peerless Assassin from Thermalright. This component is a new entrant on the market, and is quite an interesting product in the CPU cooler scene. The Peerless Assassin is not only one of the cheapest coolers that you can buy, but it is also one of the highest performing options too. In terms of pricing, consumers can pick this coolers up for less than $50, making it an extremely competitive option.
Performance wise, the Peerless Assassin offers very even pressure when mounting, creating an excellent thermal seal against the applied paste. Looking at thermal capability, the Peerless Assassin compares closely to a multitude of top-end liquid coolers such as Lian Li‘s Galahad 240, or EK’s AIO 240. It is a rarity to compare so well to top-end AIOs, so we were surprised and impressed to see this cooler offer such promising metrics. This tower air cooler is definitely a win for those looking to spend the least amount of money for the best performance available.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Thermalright Peerless Assassin |
|---|---|
| Max Fan Speed | 1550RPM |
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
| RGB | No |
| Heat Pipes | 6 |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel – LGA 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156 / AMD – AM5, AM4 |
Things We Like
Excellent all-round performance: As we’ve previously mentioned, the Peerless Assassin is an incredible cooler when it comes to thermal capability, and this air tower gives many modern liquid AIOs a run for their money!
Incredible price point: The biggest selling point of this CPU cooler is the exceptional price tag. This cooler can be secured for less than $50 making it perfect for consumers on a more restrictive budget.
Things We Don’t Like
Pricing can be volatile: Due to the high demand of this cooler, pricing can fluctuate a fair amount. The value of this cooler starts to decrease significantly once at the $70 or $80. We would recommend waiting for it to go back in stock instead of buying from third party sellers to avoid paying ridiculous premiums due to poor stocking levels.
Won’t be able to handle overclocked CPUs: The 7900X3D can reach relatively high temperatures under max load. Although the Peerless Assassin is a very competitive option, we would only urge consumers to use this cooler for gaming, as overclocking will be a little bit too much for it to handle.
Summary
Thermalright’s Peerless Assassin is a relatively new but rather exciting entrant in the CPU cooler space. This air cooler can easily handle some of the most powerful CPUs on the market, and it comes in at a very competitive price point. Although it can be difficult to pick up at times, this cooler is a worthwhile purchase for consumers looking to get exceptional value for money.
Features: 3.8/5
Design: 3.5/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 5/5
Pros
- Exceptional price point.
- Awesome performance compared to the rest of the market.
- Easy to install.
Cons
- Pricing can be volatile based on stocking levels.
- Not ideal for modern overclocking.
Where to Buy
Buy the Thermalright Peerless Assassin on:
2. Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
👑 The best white CPU cooler.
Introduction
Next up is Cooler Master‘s PL240 Flux! We’ve recommended this 240mm AIO in a number of PC builds and buyers guides in the past, because it is perfect for a mid-range or top-end build, especially if you’ve got aesthetic in mind. We’ve specifically picked out the white version of this cooler, because it is one of the best white coolers on the market right now.
Cooler Master is very well known for manufacturing components with a strong aesthetic, and the PL240 Flux is no exception. This cooler comes with two 120mm RGB PL-Flux series fans designed to maintain constant pressure and strong airflow, whilst also adding some extra flair. The CPU pump block also offers solid heat exchange whilst further adding to the overall aesthetic of the cooler with an RGB ring and logo. This is a pricier option, but I’d argue that if you’re looking to build a white PC with plenty of extra lighting.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux |
|---|---|
| Pump Speed | Not Listed |
| Max Fan Speed | 2300RPM |
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
| RGB | Yes |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel – LGA 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 2011, 2066 / AMD – AM5, AM4 |
Things We Like
Solid aesthetic: The PL240 Flux is one of the best coolers on the market sporting an all-white aesthetic across the fans, radiator, and pump block. If you’re putting together a white build, I’d say this is the go-to option for many consumers.
Comes with an ARGB controller: If you’re the kind of consumer with a plethora of fans and RGB cables, Cooler Master have supplied a controller that comes with the PL240 Flux allowing you to easily install and control all of your RGB accessories!
Things We Don’t Like
Quite pricey: Liquid coolers do come with a bit of a premium, and the PL240 Flux is no exception. Although this isn’t the most expensive option we’ve ever seen, consumers on a budget might want to look at cheaper alternatives.
Some better competition: The PL240 Flux is a strong cooler overall, but there are alternative options out on the market for a similar or better price that can be worth considering. We recommend weighing up the alternatives before making a decision.
Summary
Cooler Master’s Pl240 Flux is one of the best options on the market if you’ve got aesthetic at the forefront of your component choices. This AIO offers solid performance, whilst keeping noise levels low even at higher loads, and the included ARGB controller is a nice touch. This is a pricier option compared to some alternatives on the market, but if you’re willing to pay extra for the aesthetic, this AIO is definitely worth looking at.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Awesome aesthetic.
- Solid performance and noise levels.
- Included ARGB controller makes installation easier.
Cons
- Some alternative options are better at similar prices.
- PL240 is quite expensive.
Where to Buy
Buy the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux on:
[adrotate banner=”8″]3. NZXT Kraken X53 RGB
👑 The best 240mm cooler.
Introduction
NZXT‘s Kraken X53 RGB is the next cooler in this roundup, and is one of the best 240mm AIO coolers on the market. NZXT is well known for manufacturing coolers that offer a nice balance of pricing and aesthetic, and the Kraken X53 follows suit in this instance. This 240mm AIO offers a sleek and sophisticated design with all-black or all-white colouring across the radiator and CPU pump block.
This coolers uses NZXT’s signature AER RGB 2 fans offering great pressure and airflow with an extra tinge of RGB surrounding the fan. The CPU pump block also sports an infinity mirror design with some additional RGB lighting which looks glorious. The 7th-gen Asetek pump offers solid heat exchange dispersing temperatures very easily, whilst keeping noise levels down even under more intense workloads.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | NZXT Kraken X53 RGB |
|---|---|
| Pump Speed | 2800RPM |
| Max Fan Speed | 1500RPM |
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
| RGB | Yes |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel – LGA 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 2011, 2066 / AMD – AM5, AM4 |
Things We Like
Compact design: Liquid coolers can impose some clearance problems based on the size of your case and the cooler itself. However, the Kraken X53 RGB is a relatively compact design reducing some of the limitations that come with larger coolers.
Strong temperatures overall: The Kraken X53 RGB sports a solid 7th-gen Asetek pump that can keep temperatures nice and low. This cooler will be ideal for both gaming or workstation usage, with some potential overclocking capability too.
Things We Don’t Like
Can’t control fans via NZXT Cam: Unfortunately, NZXT has limited fan control to your BIOS. There isn’t a secondary PWM breakout cable on this cooler, so you’ll need to change any fan curve settings through the BIOS.
Rather expensive: Although there are some very enticing selling points of this cooler, the lack of fan control via NZXT Cam, and the fact that this is only a 240mm option does make the $150 price point somewhat questionable.
Summary
NZXT’s Kraken X53 RGB is one of the best 240mm options if you’re looking to build a mid-range or top-end system. The strong cooler performance and well-rounded aesthetic makes this AIO great for those wanting a solid balance of design and thermal efficiency. Whilst this cooler is slightly expensive, I’d argue that the overall cost is worth it for those looking at a well-rounded AIO.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Small and compact.
- Excellent aesthetic and RGB.
- Great performance.
Cons
- Quite expensive.
- Can’t control fans with NZXT Cam.
Where to Buy
Buy the NZXT Kraken X53 RGB on:
4. Thermaltake TOUGHLIQUID 360
👑 The cheapest 360mm cooler.
Introduction
Thermaltake‘s TOUGHLIQUID 360 is one of the best 360mm AIOs on the market right now. This cooler is ideal for a top-end system, sporting a 360mm radiator, equipped with Thermaltake’s TOUGHFAN 12, rated up to 2000RPM. The high performance water block is connected to a low evaporation tube, significantly decreasing the loss of coolant.
Design wise, the TOUGHLIQUD 360 is one of the weaker options when it comes to aesthetic. The radiator and fans are mostly black with no RGB appearing on any of the fans at all. The CPU block does offer a rotational cap allowing you to orient the TT logo in the right direction. The logo also features RGB lighting which can be customised in a number of different software including ASUS AuraSync, and MSI Mystic Light.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Thermaltake TOUGHLIQUID 360 |
|---|---|
| Pump Speed | 3300RPM |
| Max Fan Speed | 2000RPM |
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
| RGB | Yes |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel – LGA 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 2011, 2066 / AMD – AM5, AM4 |
Things We Like
Perfect for a top-end build: The TOUGHLIQUID 360 is ideal for those wanting to push their system to the max. Those putting together a workstation system will want to consider using a 360mm AIO, as this can aid with heat dispersion, keeping thermals cool and crisp.
Pretty reasonably priced: The larger your radiator, the higher the price, is a general rule of thumb that most manufacturers follow. However, the TOUGHLIQUID 360 sits at a similar price to the aforementioned X53 RGB, making it a pretty competitive option if you’re looking to build a high performance system.
Things We Don’t Like
Somewhat lacking on the design front: Although the rotational cap is a neat feature, the rest of the cooler could do with some better options when it comes to aesthetic. We’d love to see an RGB model, or even a white cooler, allowing consumers to spruce up their system.
Thermaltake software isn’t great: If you’re looking to customise the RGB lighting of this cooler, you might be tempted to use the Thermaltake RGB software, however we’ve found it isn’t very intuitive. We’d recommend using an alternative option if you’re looking to configure colours and lighting effects.
Summary
Thermaltake’s TOUGHLIQUID 360 is an excellent 360mm cooler at a very competitive price point. If you’re looking to push your system with more intensive workloads, this cooler can easily disperse heat efficiently keeping temperatures low across the board. Admittedly, the TOUGHLIQUID 360 is slightly weaker on the design front, but I’d argue that this won’t be a deal breaker for most consumers.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Solid price point.
- Good overall performance.
- Rotatable logo is a nice touch.
Cons
- Weaker aesthetic.
- Thermaltake software isn’t great to use.
Where to Buy
Buy the Thermaltake TOUGHLIQUID 360 on:
[adrotate banner=”9″]5. Gigabyte AORUS WATERFORCE X 360
👑 The best performing cooler.
Introduction
For our final cooler, we’ve picked out Gigabyte‘s AORUS WATERFORCE 360 as the best top-end option to pair up with the 7900X3D. This cooler sports an excellent aesthetic, whilst offering some of the best performance money can buy. Gigabyte are well known for manufacturing components with water blocks on them offering solid thermal capability, and their standalone AIOs definitely follow suit.
Consumers can expect a great design with plenty of RGB on the fans and CPU pump block. The block features an adjustable screen which can be rotated 330 degrees and offers some insights into temperatures. Admittedly, the temperature display isn’t entirely intuitive, but it does give you a quick indicator as to how hot your PC is, as opposed to the specific degree metric. This 360mm design offers Gigabyte’s AORUS Silent fans, delivering excellent heat dissipation whilst maintaining low noise levels even at higher speeds.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Gigabyte AORUS WATERFORCE 360 |
|---|---|
| Pump Speed | 3200RPM |
| Max Fan Speed | 2150RPM |
| Connector Type | 4-Pin PWM |
| RGB | Yes |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel – LGA 1700, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 2011, 2066 / AMD – AM5, AM4 |
Things We Like
Ideal for a top-end system: The AORUS WATERFORCE is fully capable of handling the most powerful top-end chips, including the 7900X3D. This makes it ideal for those planning to build a system with more powerful CPU in the future, potentially with some overclocking in mind too.
Awesome RGB lighting: The WATERFORCE X 360 features three 120mm fans equipped with shiny and vibrant RGB. The RGB display also provides some additional flair too and can be fully customised within Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion software.
Things We Don’t Like
Not cheap: The AORUS WATERFORCE X 360 is not a cheap cooler by any means. As this is a 360mm design, consumers can expect to spend upwards of $200 for this AIO, which will be a turn-off for many consumers on a tighter budget.
Summary
Gigabyte’s AORUS WATERFORCE 360 is a high performing and well-designed AIO sporting plenty of RGB for those that like to light up their system. This is a rather pricey product compared to all of the other coolers we’ve looked at today, but it is well worth the cost considering the available performance. We definitely recommend this if you’re looking to push your system to the max!
Features: 4.3/5
Design: 4.3/5
Performance: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Solid thermal performance.
- Great RGB lighting.
- Near-silent performance.
Cons
- Rather expensive.
- CPU block display only provides a vague measurement.
Where to Buy
Buy the Gigabyte AORUS WATERFORCE 360 on:
What are the Ryzen ‘3D’ SKUs?
Ryzen 3D CPUs have been a bit of an underdog option since the Ryzen 5000 days. AMD only provided one of these CPUs on the AM4 platform, and this came in the form of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which was one of the last processors to release within this range. The reason why this CPU was so popular was because of it’s gaming performance, where consumers could expect comparative performance to a 12900K at 4K and 1440p.
If you consider the fact that both of these CPUs are vastly different when it comes to specs, it is even more impressive that the 5800X3D is able to keep up with the previous generation’s most powerful release. The biggest question that arises, is how can it keep up? Well, this is all thanks to AMD’s 3D V-Cache. To explain it in Layman’s terms, the cache acts as storage for CPU instructions, allowing the CPU to read directly off of it’s own hardware. Normally when a CPU acts on instructions it pulls this data from RAM, and while this is still very fast, an in-built cache is so much faster.
The reason why games benefit from this so much, is down to how many instructions come with modern games. Because there is so much data that your GPU is having to feed to the CPU, such as physics, visual fidelity, the map of the world and so on. These instructions can pile up very fast, causing a bottleneck whilst the CPU works through all of the data it has received. Having a cache significantly reduces the latency in which these instructions are acted upon, which is why Ryzen 3D SKUs are some of the best on the market.
It is worth noting, that the 3D SKUs do not provide a huge benefit when it comes to workstation and productivity applications, as these pieces of software often don’t need the extra cache. Instead, they normally require more cores, threads, and a higher clock speed to reduce render or export times. However, a CPU such as the 7900X3D will still handle workstation applications incredibly well compared to lower-end options within the Ryzen 7000 range.
Is Liquid Cooling Required for the Ryzen 9 7900X3D?
One of the biggest caveats to picking up one of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs, are the somewhat extreme thermals. We were caught off guard during the initial launch of AMD’s AM5 platform thinking we hadn’t installed our cooler correctly, but AMD has designed their new CPUs to withstand extremely high temperatures. However, the 3D SKUs don’t share the same architectural design. Due to the cache quite literally being layered on top of the CPU, there are temperature limitations, so the 100-105 degrees all core boost that we saw with non-3D CPUs is closer to 90, or high 80s at the maximum.
But what does this all mean? This essentially means that you can get away with picking up a CPU cooler that isn’t as high-end. For this reason, air coolers become more viable for even some of the top-end options like the 7900X3D, especially as overclocking isn’t an option either. Although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend only sticking to air cooling options, if you’re utilising workstation applications, for gaming you’ve got way more options!
As a general rule of thumb we would veer more towards liquid cooling options for a CPU of this calibre, just to ensure that temperatures are dispersed efficiently and quickly. However, if you’re not worried about building the most efficient PC that you possibly can, air cooling will suffice. This provides plenty of options for consumers who are on a potentially more restrictive budget.
Not only this as well, but as gaming isn’t the most intense activity, it doesn’t make sense to buy the most kitted out cooler you can find. To summarise, we would recommend looking at liquid coolers predominantly as they are much better when it comes to heat dispersion. But if you’re not pushing your PC to the max, or you’d rather spend less, air cooling is perfectly fine!
[adrotate banner=”12″]Why You Can Trust Us
Before jumping into our recommendations, we wanted to briefly mention why you can trust all of the products that we’ve picked out for this roundup! Our team of PC enthusiasts always work hard to ensure that any components or products we get in the office are tested rigorously for gaming and workstation usage. They spend hours with each part, evaluating whether they have a strong value proposition versus other components on the market. For those interested in learning more about our editorial team, head over to the About Us section, where you’ll find more detail on our editorial promise too!
How We Picked the Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 9 7900X3D
We’re very lucky to have a plethora of components from a number of manufacturers enter the GeekaWhat offices each week. Our editorial and benchmarking team have hands-on experience with all of these products, putting them through a range of tests and evaluation procedures in order to determine their value proposition is worth it. We then us all of this information and metrics to provide our audiences with a clear-cut view and explanation of what to expect alongside a number of our insights.
For CPU coolers we tend to look at a few key factors that consumers should take into account before choosing a cooler. These are: motherboard compatibility, thermal capability, aesthetic, and pricing. After evaluating these, we provide a generalised view of how these can affect your setup, with pros and cons of each product. For a more in-depth look at our testing and evaluation methods, take a look at some of our reviews and buyers guides that we’ve provided in the table below!
| Brand(s) | Article Link |
|---|---|
| Deepcool, Noctua, NZXT, Corsair, MSI | The Best CPU Coolers to Buy for Intel 13th Gen CPUs |
| Cooler Master, Deepcool, Corsair, MSI | Best Budget Liquid CPU Coolers to Buy Under $100 |
| Cooler Master | Cooler Master Hyper 212 Spectrum V3 Review |
| be quiet!, Noctua, Corsair, MSI | The Best Silent CPU Coolers To Buy For Any Gaming PC Build |
Conclusion
Best Overall CPU Cooler for the Ryzen 9 7900X3D: Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 Flux
The PL240 Flux is the best overall option to pair up with the 7900X3D. This cooler offers an awesome design, and pretty solid performance contrasting to other options on the market. The white design makes it perfect for a cleaner all-white build, and the RGB looks great. Performance wise, I’d say the PL40 Flux offers a good middle ground for thermals, with the ability to disperse heat quickly even when under intense workloads. Ultimately, if you’re the kind of consumer looking to pick up something more powerful in the next couple of years, you might need an upgrade, but I’d say that the PL240 Flux perfectly suffices for the 7900X3D!
Check out our review on another Cooler Master CPU cooler, or buy the Cooler Master PL240 Flux on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use my AM4 Cooler with the 7900X3D?
To briefly summarise yes. All AM4 coolers should work with AM5 motherboards, as AMD has decided to retain the same socket mounting mechanisms. This won’t be the case with all coolers, as there can be compatibility issues, but the vast majority of modern coolers work without issues!
Do I Need to Worry About Case Clearance?
Whenever you’re picking out a CPU cooler, case clearance should always be a consideration. Cases come in all different shapes and sizes, and so do coolers. So dependent on the case and cooler that you’ve picked out, you may have installation issues, if you haven’t done the necessary research.
Can I Overclock the 7900X3D?
Unfortunately no. Due to the temperature limitations of the 3D V-Cache, consumers can’t play around with their core multiplier. Voltage increases will up the CPU temperature which can damage the cache of the CPU.
Are CPU Coolers Hard to Install?
As a general rule, no! However, this entirely depends on the cooler that you’ve picked up. Liquid coolers will require some extra steps because you have to install the radiator, but air coolers can be hard to install dependent on mounting mechanisms and the size.
