Contact frame with AM5 and Arctic MX-4 paste?

GreyPlayer · Thursday at 18:49

I'm putting together a new build with a Ryzen7 9800X3D + Arctic AIO, using Arctic MX-4 paste.
It's non-RGB in a Lian li O11 Vision Compact case, so I'm going for 'stealthy' aesthetics.
Is a contact frame (Grizzly or otherwise) worth the extra £20 for either cooling or aesthetics or both?
My instinct is to save the cash as the cooling difference will be minimal and it will be too dark to see

but am I missing something here?

hornetstinger · Thursday at 18:51

not needed. Also more risk to damage as modding the CPU bracket

pastymuncher · Friday at 11:48

I fitted a Thermalright one when I built this pc. The main reason being it keeps thermal paste from going down the sides of the stupid shaped IHS of the Ryzen CPU's and for less than seven quid it was worth it for me.

Shaolin Chicken · 2025-12-06T07:50:26+0000

pastymuncher said:
I fitted a Thermalright one when I built this pc. The main reason being it keeps thermal paste from going down the sides of the stupid shaped IHS of the Ryzen CPU's and for less than seven quid it was worth it for me.

Same reason I bought and used one.