Best air cooler for Ryzen

Dirk Diggler · 3 Jul 2019 at 12:53

As title, what is generally considered the best air cooler for AM4? I have a Cryorig H7 - how would that cope? I'm happy to purchase something better if the H7 isn't up to it, but not looking to spend for the sake of it.

EsaT · 3 Jul 2019 at 13:34

Should be good for 100W models at stock.
Overclocking/PBO could again start causing hotter temps, depending on how agressive fan profile you have.
Especially with 12 core.
If you're not planning on overlocking and getting 8 core could check how well it does.

As for better ones Scythe Mugen 5 would be step from the best for very reasonable price.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-rev.b-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html

orbitalwalsh · 3 Jul 2019 at 14:08

@EsaT

any experience with

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Alpenfohn Brocken ECO Advanced CPU Cooler - 120 mm= £29.99

Total: £32.73 (includes shipping: £2.74)

loved their wing boost 2 fans but not tried the 3rd series. cooler looks good on paper

if your pushing 16 cores

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU Cooler= £69.95

Total: £78.65 (includes shipping: £8.70)

doyll · 3 Jul 2019 at 15:11

String said:
As title, what is generally considered the best air cooler for AM4? I have a Cryorig H7 - how would that cope? I'm happy to purchase something better if the H7 isn't up to it, but not looking to spend for the sake of it.

Really depends on which AM4 you are getting. For many H7 will be fine. If it was me I would probably build with H7, setup case with some good fans .. what case are you using? Some come with good fan, but many do not and few have enough fans.

EsaT · 3 Jul 2019 at 15:22

orbitalwalsh said:
@EsaT

any experience with

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Alpenfohn Brocken ECO Advanced CPU Cooler - 120 mm= £29.99

Total: £32.73 (includes shipping: £2.74)

Not much reviews for it.

But weight is 660 grams with fan, which loses to Cryorig H7's 710 grams.
So it certainly isn't beefier.
Design wise heatpipes are pretty tightly grouped and far from center area of fins, so heat distribution to fins might not be the best.
High end coolers try to space heatpipes more evenly to spread heat evenly into fins...
And pretty good corner area of fin stack near heatpipes is out of 120mm's fan's airflow, while center area perfectly in fan's airflow is farther from heatpipes.

So wouldn't expect record performance for the size.
Of course per price performance should be good and it has off center design for full memory clearance.

Direct touch heatpipes can also be unknown factor for Zen2.
As computing die is positioned off center, at least farthest heatpipe might not work that efficiently.
In traditional base coolers heat could be distributed better.

doyll · 3 Jul 2019 at 15:26

If going for more cooling on a budget, the Alpenfohn Matterhorn Pure is only £33.95 and works very well.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/alpenfohn-matterhorn-pure-edition-cpu-cooler-120mm-hs-037-al.html

Dirk Diggler · 3 Jul 2019 at 17:14

I'm looking to get a 3800x and would like to get the most from it. I can take the fan curve to maximum aggression i.e. all the way to 100% when required. Actually, I really should have mentioned that in the OP. So the question is really:

Will an H7 with dual fans at 100% (when required) be enough to get the most from a 3800x, or should I look to buy something else to run under similar conditions?

doyll · 3 Jul 2019 at 17:38

You should be fine with H7 on AMD 7 3800X, even with 1 fan as long as case is flowing cool air to it. The difference between 1 and 2 fans is only 1-2c .. not really worth expense of 2nd fan.

Dirk Diggler · 3 Jul 2019 at 17:44

@doyll thanks.

I've ordered the conversion bracket and will test it out. I'll be housing the system in a Parvum S2.0 with 120 (front), 240 (base) pulling air in and 240 (top), 160 (rear) sucking air out.

dogma77 · 4 Jul 2019 at 20:29

how about this one for a ryzen 3700x?
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-freezer-34-esports-duo-red-cpu-cooler-2-x-120mm-hs-075-ar.html

EsaT · 4 Jul 2019 at 21:37

dogma77 said:
how about this one for a ryzen 3700x?
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-freezer-34-esports-duo-red-cpu-cooler-2-x-120mm-hs-075-ar.html

It's really basic level heatsink, but at least it doesn't cost much and you can take other fan into use as case fan.

LewisRaz · 4 Jul 2019 at 22:10

dogma77 said:
how about this one for a ryzen 3700x?
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-freezer-34-esports-duo-red-cpu-cooler-2-x-120mm-hs-075-ar.html

I use the esports "one" (I won it for free and it was the only thing i had with AM4 mounts when I built this PC). Very surprised my 2700 @ 4ghz. peaks in low 60s. CPU fan is less than 1000rpm (Corsair ML120mm). Was not expecting it to perform that well.

For the X versions tho I would probably want something a bit beefier.

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:14

I've got the H7 installed and it's fine at stock, however I want to see how it performs with PBO enabled. What's the best test for realistic heat, not a synthetic torture test, just a real world test? Handbrake a large movie file?

Also, I'm assuming peak temperature should be around 80C?

Grandmaster Fap! · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:36

Ive got a Thermalright Macho Rev B on my 2700x, its absolutely stellar, got no worries at all when i get a 3900x

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:44

With Handbrake, it's hitting low 80s with all core boost 4.0GHz. I think I would be better with PBO disabled as the performance boost isn't there anyway.

Dirk Diggler · 5 Jul 2019 at 17:22

Wow, 20C lower with a loss of 100-200MHz... Great thermal gain for minimal performance loss. A bit of a no brainer, TBH.

It'll be interesting to see the new Ryzen performance and thermals. Not long to go now.

doyll · 7 Jul 2019 at 17:50

What Sting said.

Handbrake is what I use for torture testing too.

havenrl · 8 Jul 2019 at 09:44

doyll said:
You should be fine with H7 on AMD 7 3800X, even with 1 fan as long as case is flowing cool air to it. The difference between 1 and 2 fans is only 1-2c .. not really worth expense of 2nd fan.

Thanks.

I'm in the market for a CPU cooler for my Ryzen 3700x upgrade.
I am choosing between 3 options;

£34.99
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cryorig-h7-single-tower-heatsink-with-120mm-fan-hs-008-cy.html

£42.95
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-rev.b-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html

£89.99
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/noctua-nh-u12a-high-performance-cpu-cooler-120mm-hs-03k-nc.html

I like the Noctua even over the price, as I'm using NH D14 in my current build.
But, lowering the price for a few degrees, seems a viable option.

'Wes · 8 Jul 2019 at 09:59

I've got the Cryorig H7, i purchased an additional fan for a push pull system and it hasn't disappointed.

EsaT · 8 Jul 2019 at 10:00

havenrl said:
£34.99
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cryorig-h7-single-tower-heatsink-with-120mm-fan-hs-008-cy.html

£42.95
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-rev.b-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html

£89.99
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/noctua-nh-u12a-high-performance-cpu-cooler-120mm-hs-03k-nc.html

I like the Noctua even over the price, as I'm using NH D14 in my current build.
But, lowering the price for a few degrees, seems a viable option.

Mugen 5 with push-pull fans would likely be very near NH-U12A for whole lot cheaper.
For example Arctic's pressure oriented P12s are very affordable.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-cooling-p12-pwm-pst-black-fan-120mm-fg-04h-ar.html
In push-pull also F12s might work well.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/arctic-cooling-f12-pwm-fan-rev.-2-120mm-fg-047-ar.html

Of course unless you're planning to give NH-D14 away with your old PC, reusing that would be perffectly viable.
I think you should get AM4 compatible mounting kit free from Noctua if you've got proof of purchase of that cooler, but it's also available:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/noctua-nm-am4-mounting-kit-hs-037-nc.html