Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 9 7950X

The Ryzen 9 7950X is the newest flagship processor from AMD. It is the successor to the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. It is a 16-core 32-thread processor with a base clock speed of 4.5GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.7GHz. It is based on the new Zen 4 architecture and is manufactured on a new 5nm process. The unique architecture and smaller transistors have improved this paired with a higher TDP of 170W resulting in better single-core performance.

The Ryzen 9 7950X is targeted toward professional gamers and streamers, who tend to game for long periods. With the 170W TDP and support for overclocking an excellent liquid or air cooler is essential to keep the processor under practical temperatures to avoid any thermal throttling.

This article will list some of the best CPU coolers for Ryzen 9 7950X. With many different types of coolers available in this article, we’ll recommend our favorite coolers for each category such as 360mm AIO Liquid coolers, 240mm AIO Liquid coolers, High-Performance Air Coolers, and Affordable/budget Coolers.

Our Recommended CPU Cooler

The Ryzen 9 7950X is a high-end 16-core processor. It requires excellent cooling performance due to its 5.7GHz boost clock speed. A 360mm AIO liquid cooler is the best possible variation of coolers that offers the best cooling performance. We recommend the NZXT Kraken X73 AIO RGB CPU Liquid Cooler for Ryzen 9 7950X.

The NZXT Kraken X73 AIO RGB CPU Liquid Cooler comes with three 120mm Aer P fans and a 360mm radiator. At its maximum speed of 2300RPM, it manages to be quiet at 36dB. Another similar cooler with outstanding performance is the CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE Liquid CPU Cooler. We will be comparing the NZXT Kraken X73 and CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE for build/design, RGB lighting, performance, and noise levels to find out which is a better buy.

Build and Design

In terms of build, both the NZXT Kraken X73 and CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE come with a premium build. The exterior of both of these AIO liquid coolers is mainly plastic. The NZXT Kraken X73 pump head features RGB lighting along with the NZXT logo. The CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE on the other hand features an LCD display on the head pump that can display temperature. It can be customized through the included iCUE software.

RGB lighting

The NZXT Kraken X73 liquid cooler has RGB lighting only on the pump head. The Aer P fan misses out on RGB. The RGB lighting can be controlled and customized through the NZXT CAMS software.

The CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE on the other hand comes with a customizable LCD display on the pump head which by default displays CPU temperature. It can be customized using the Included iCUE software. The 120mm CORSAIR ML RGB ELITE comes with RGB lighting which can also be customized and synced with other RGB enables devices using the iCUE software.

Performance

The NZXT Kraken X73 AIO liquid cooler has a 360mm radiator along with three high-performance Aer P 120mm fans. The Pump delivers excellent performance running at a max speed of 2800RPM. The Pump water block is made of copper for improved heat conduction. The radiator is made of aluminum for better heat dissipation. The Aer P 120mm fans are PWM controlled and can reach a max speed of 2300RPM.

The CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE liquid cooler comes with three 120mm CORSAIR ML RGB ELITE fans. These fans come with RGB lighting and have advanced magnetic levitation technology instead of traditional bearings. The pump can run and variable speeds depending on CPU load with the fans having a zero RPM fan mode. All of these can be controlled from the iCUE software. It also comes included with Corsair iCUE commander core that can control 6 individual fans for varying speeds and customizable RGB lighting.

Noise Levels

The NZXT Kraken X73 liquid cooler features three 120mm Aer P fans. These Aer P fans run at a max speed of 2300RPM which can be controlled by the NZXT CAMS software. At peak performance, the NZXT Kraken X73 AIO liquid cooler manages to run at 36dB, which is surprisingly quiet for a 360mm radiator.

The CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE comes with three 120mm CORSAIR ML RGB ELITE fans. These fans run at a max speed of 2000RPM. At full load, they manage to run at around 37dB. 

Verdict

The NZXT Kraken X73 AIO Liquid Cooler managed to keep the temperature around 1.7 deg celsius lower than the CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE. But the CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE offers RGB lighting, powerful iCUE software, and an LCD display on the pump head.

High-Performance Air Cooler

The Ryzen9 7950X has a 170W TDP and comes with 16-cores. A high-performance dual-fan air cooler is recommended. Many of these air coolers are rated for up to 250W. We recommend the Noctua NH-D15 Air Cooler for Ryzen 9 7950X.

The Noctua NH-D15 Air Cooler comes with an advanced nickel-plated heatsink for improved heat dissipation. The heatsink is paired with dual NF-A15 140mm fans to provide the best possible cooling. The NF-A15 fan comes with PWM for automatic speed control. These also feature low-noise adapters which help them remain ultra-quiet even under peak performance. All these features packed together offer one of the best cooling performances from an air cooler. At a max speed of 1500RPM, the Noctua NH-D15 Air Cooler manages to run at 19.2dB.

Another great alternative is the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 Air Cooler. This is a dual 120mm fan air cooler. The advantages of the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 Air Cooler includes its all-black design and premium aluminum finish.

Affordable CPU Cooler

Since the Ryzen 9 7950X is a 16-core CPU with a boost clock speed of 5.7GHz, a cheap air cooler will not provide enough cooling performance and will lead to thermal throttling. There are many affordable 240mm and 360mm AIO liquid coolers available. We have gone through some of the bestselling ones and recommend the MSI MAG CoreLiquid 360R AIO Liquid Cooler as the best affordable AIO liquid cooler for Ryzen 9 7950X.

The MSI MAG CoreLiquid 360R AIO Liquid Cooler features a 360mm radiator paired with three 120mm fans. The 120mm fans have PWM for automatic speed control and come with RGB lighting. These fans are designed to provide high pressure and airflow while running very quietly. The RGB lights can be controlled through the included MSI software.

The Pump also features RGB lighting and can rotate 280 degrees for easy installation. The MSI MAG CoreLiquid 360R AIO Liquid Cooler has a different setup. The pump is integrated into the radiator, this helps in sound dampening and lower noise. The pump consists of a three-phase motor which reduces resonance. All these features result in a noise level of 34.3dB.

The radiator is made from aluminum and with a unique split-water cooling system. This along with the motor pump help eliminate resonance resulting in redacted noise. The MSI MAG CoreLiquid 360R AIO Liquid Cooler has excellent cooling and is on par with more expensive 360mm AIO coolers.

Another great alternative is the Thermaltake TH360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler. It also comes with RGB lighting on the three 120mm fans and on the pump head. It can sync with any third-party RGB software. With a low-profile pump, it is a good choice for compact gaming PC builds. With a copper-based plate, the radiator along with the three 120mm fans provide outstanding cooling performance.

240mm Liquid Cooler

Many compact PC builds with the Ryzen 9 7950X cannot accommodate a 360mm. The best option is a 240mm AIO liquid cooler. We recommend the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm AIO RGB Liquid Cooler for Ryzen 9 7950X as it offers the best cooling performance.

The NZXT Kraken X53 comes with dual 120mm Aer P fans. These come with dynamic fluid bearings which help in noise reduction and increase longevity. The pump comes with RGB lighting on the top that can be customized using the included NZXT CAMS software. The radiator is made using aluminum for better heat dissipation.

At peak performance the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm AIO RGB Liquid Cooler manages to run fairly quietly at 36dB. To conclude, the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm AIO RGB Liquid Cooler is one of the best 240mm AIO liquid CPU coolers for Ryzen 9 7950X. A detailed comparison of the NZXT Kraken X53 240mm AIO RGB Liquid Cooler is on our Best RAM for Ryzen 9 7900X article.