Best CPU cooler for Ryzen 9 9900X – our top picks
Table of Contents
The Ryzen 9 9900X has now launched, and those interested in getting this high-end CPU can grab it right now from Amazon. You can also check out our Where to Buy page, as we’ve listed some other retailers that are offering this CPU.
As you know, higher performing CPUs can create a lot of heat, especially when under constant heavy load. And to make sure the processor stays cool, you'll need to pair it with the right cooler.
The 9900X has a default TDP of 120W, and without proper heat dissipation, you could run into thermal throttling issues. On top of that, too much heat can also damage the CPU in the long run.
We’ve reviewed loads of CPU coolers here at PC Guide, and we put them through rigorous testing in the process. We’ve gone ahead and selected which CPU coolers we think are the best for the upcoming processor, to give you a hand with your search. And if you’re looking for more hardware options, be sure to check out our best GPU picks for the 9 9900X if you’re planning on a more major upgrade.
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Best CPU Cooler for Ryzen 9 9900X
ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240
- Cooling Method: Liquid
- Noise level: 36.54dBa
- Material: Copper, Aluminium
- Fan size: 120mm
- Max fan speed : 2,200 rpm
- Thermal paste: Included
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Best RGB CPU Cooler for Ryzen 9 9900X
Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT
- Radiator Type: Aluminium
- Fan Edition: 3x Corsair ML120 ELITE RGB PWM
- Max RPM: 2000 RPM
- Socket Support: Intel 1700, 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066 AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4
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Best Air CPU Cooler for Ryzen 9 9900X
Noctua NH-D15
- Cooling Method: Air
- Material: Aluminium, Copper
- Max fan speed: 1500 rpm
- Noise level: 24.6 dBA
- Fan size: 140mm
- Thermal paste: Included
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Best budget CPU Cooler for Ryzen 9 9900X
APNX AP1-V
- Cooling Method: Air
- Noise level: 16.1 – 32.8 dBA
- Material: Aluminum
- Fan size: 120mm
- Max fan speed : 1800 rpm
- Thermal paste: Not included
How we picked
We never solely rely on online ratings and reviews while selecting the products for our guides. Instead, we take a hands-on approach and test the coolers ourselves to understand their real-life performance. Feel free to take a closer look at our hand-on testing processes to see for yourself.
When selecting a CPU cooler, we consider factors such as price, compatibility, performance, and installation. After all, we don't want you to waste your money on the wrong cooler, one that can't even keep the idle temperature low.
Our top picks
- Cooling Method: Liquid
- Noise level: 36.54dBa
- Material: Copper, Aluminium
- Fan size: 120mm
- Max fan speed : 2,200 rpm
- Thermal paste: Included
- Great cooling performance
- Customizable LED faceplate
- RGB fans are quiet
- Might be more than you want to spend
- Installation is harder than an Air cooler
- Armory crate is needed for fan and RGB control
As the Ryzen 9 9900X is one of the most powerful CPUs in the AMD 9000 series, you'd want nothing but the best for it. And for this, we recommend the ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB. While this may be an expensive option, it is perfect for those who are looking for the ultimate performance. In our ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 review, we found it to be an excellent cooler that didn't let the temperatures go above safe levels.
To begin with, the ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 has a max fan speed of 2,220 RPM, which should help keep the processor cool under load. The fans are also lightweight and very quiet, so you won't run into any noise-related issues. On top of that, the CPU block comes equipped with an 8th Gen Asetek pump, and there's also a fully copper heat exchange plate below it, which helps efficiently transfer the heat from the processor to the CPU cooler.
The ASUS Ryuo is a fantastic cooler for the money and is capable of cooling far beyond the CPU we tested it on.
PC Guide
Installing the cooler is also a pretty simple task, and ASUS includes an installation guide in the box to help you out with that. However, while it comes with pre-installed thermal paste, we'd highly recommend choosing one of the best thermal pastes for better cooling. Otherwise, you may run into overheating issues. If you do, you can check out our guide on how to stop your CPU from overheating.
As far as the performance is concerned, we tested the Ryuo III 240 with the Core i5-14600K. When the CPU was not doing anything intense, the temperature stayed around 29°C, and the max we noted was 31°C. When we decided to put the CPU under stress, the average temperature was around 64°C, and it never went above 77°C. The highest we saw was in the Aida stress test, which is one of the most intensive CPU applications out there.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 is a cooler worth pairing with a high-end processor like this one. It managed to keep the temperatures within safe limits during every test, so you should face no problems during intense gaming sessions. There's also a mini LED on the cooler that can display the core system stats and customize animations.
What users say
According to the reviews on Amazon, the ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 is an excellent choice for high-end processors. One of the reviewers praised its performance and said: “This AIO is superb. A little pricy but still a good chunk cheaper than the Strix cooler with the HD screen. Holds steady temps. Keeps my CPU right around 42C-45C when playing RDR2 at ultra settings. Highly recommend.”
- Radiator Type: Aluminium
- Fan Edition: 3x Corsair ML120 ELITE RGB PWM
- Max RPM: 2000 RPM
- Socket Support: Intel 1700, 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066 AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4
- Excellent cooling performance
- Universal compatibility
- Easy installation
- iCUE is required for proper operation
- Can be expensive
- Fans don’t match those that come with Corsair cases
If you want a cooler for the Ryzen 9 9900X that will not only help keep the temperatures low but also improve the overall aesthetics of your build with custom RGB lighting, then you'd want to check out the Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT. This is one of the largest AIO coolers available in the market, and in our Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT review, we found it to be a perfect choice for high-end processors.
To begin with, its design is similar to most of the AIO coolers out there, so there's nothing special about it. However, its build quality is pretty strong, as it’s made from high-quality materials. On the CPU block, there is a 2.1-inch IPS screen, which is perfect for those who want to see real-time stats about the current state of their CPU. But if that's not a concern for you, then you can ditch that and run some cool custom animations on it instead.
The cooler comes equipped with three ML120 ELITE fans, which offer speeds of up to 2,000 RPM. On top of that, they offer mangentic levitation bearings and air glide technology, and both will help with keeping the fans quiet and smooth.
The fans also offer 24 individually addressable RGB LEDs, and you can also find an RBG ring around the CPU block. These can be controlled using the Corsair iCUE software, which allows you to create custom lighting profiles and synchronize your lighting with other Corsair devices.
The Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT is one of the best CPU coolers on the market right now, despite being a little older.
PC Guide
To learn about its performance, we decided to test the Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT against the Intel i7-14700K. We checked the idle temperature in both ‘Full Fan' and ‘Balanced' profiles, and it didn't go above 30°C. We then decided to push the CPU to its limit by testing it in Aida64.
During a 5-minute test, the average temp was around 79°C in Full Fan mode, and it went up to 84°C in the balanced mode. The max temp that we recorded was 100°C. However, while this may sound alarming, it is important to note that Aida is the extreme end of CPU testing, and you will rarely push your CPU to the limits it will. When we tested the cooler in gaming, the average temp was around 55°C, and the max it hit was 71°C in Days Gone. So, there's nothing to worry about.
Overall, the Corsair H150i ELITE LCD XT is a stunning cooler that will help keep your CPU cool without breaking a sweat. After all, it is one of the best AIO coolers available in the market.
What users say
On Amazon, most reviewers only have good things to say about the H150i Elite. One of them mentioned: “Highly customizable, aesthetically it looks great. It’s a decent cooling solution for my 14900K. Idles at around 33C and 60-68C while gaming.”
- Cooling Method: Air
- Material: Aluminium, Copper
- Max fan speed: 1500 rpm
- Noise level: 24.6 dBA
- Fan size: 140mm
- Thermal paste: Included
- Dual 140mm fans makes cooling a breeze.
- Double stack heatsink makes for great cooling performance.
- Easy (but strange) mounting solution.
- Included high quality thermal paste.
- Quiet mode on the fans can let temps climb.
- Big and bulky.
- Fan design is to a certain taste, although a black version of this cooler is available
If you're not a fan of AIO Coolers or are looking for an affordable option, then we'd recommend the Noctua NH-D15. This cooler features two 140mm fans, and in our Noctua NH-D15 review, we found it to be one of the best Air Coolers on the market.
To begin with, the NH-D15 offers a dual fan setup with two heatsink stacks, which come with six copper and aluminum vapor chambers. While this does make it bigger in size, it also makes it perform better than other Air Coolers out there. On top of that, both fans have a max speed of up to 1,500 rpm. While this may not be as fast as the AIO Coolers on our list, it is still enough to keep processors cool under load.
You also don't have to worry about running into any noise-related issues, as the Noctua NH-D15 has a noise level of 24.6 dBA. For reference, a whisper is generally between 20–30 decibels.
The NH-D15 from Noctua is a fantastic cooler with a brilliant value for money, it is capable of cooling many CPUs in the higher end thanks to it's double stack heatsink and dual 140mm fans.
PC Guide
To check its performance, we placed it on the Core i5-14600K and started the Aida stress test. The average temp was 70°C, while the max recorded temp was 86°C. Again, while this isn't as good as an AIO cooler, it is still pretty impressive for an Air Cooler. In Blender, which isn't as intense as Aida, the max temp stayed around 72°C.
Overall, the Noctua NH-D15 is definitely a great Air Cooler for the this new Ryzen processor. It can help keep the CPU cool, even during long gaming sessions. We also recommend using one of the best airflow cases and the best 140mm case fans for better cooling. However, keep in mind that the cooler only comes in two colors: creamy brown and black.
What users say
According to the reviews on Amazon, the NH-D15 is capable of keeping the temps low, even when paired with high-end processors. One of the reviewers said: “I’ve always heard great things about Noctua NH-D15s, and now that I can finally experience one, those claims are all accurate. The Noctua NH-D15 is great for users who want a quiet and cool air cooler.”
- Cooling Method: Air
- Noise level: 16.1 – 32.8 dBA
- Material: Aluminum
- Fan size: 120mm
- Max fan speed : 1800 rpm
- Thermal paste: Not included
- Affordable option
- Decent performance
- Clean design
- Fan is integrated, so if the fan dies, you need a new cooler
- Not as good as a high-end air cooler
If you don’t have a big budget for a high-end CPU cooler and want something that is affordable yet can help keep the processor cool, then you may want to check out the APNX AP1-V. This cooler provides great value for money and can help keep the temps low. In our APNX AP1-V review, it delivered a great performance in several tests.
To begin with, the design of the AP1-V is different from the DH15 as it features a single fan. However, this 120mm fan can operate at a speed of 1,800 RPM. The single-fan design also helps with keeping the overall look of the cooler clean and minimalistic.
The best part is that the AP1-V is compatible with both AM4 and AM5 sockets. On top of that, it works with Intel processors as well. So, if you decided to make a switch to Team Blue in the future, you won’t have to worry about replacing the cooler.
The APNX AP1-V is a great option for those who want something that offers a great blend of performance and affordability.
PC Guide
Now, let’s get down to the most important part: the performance. We placed the AP1-V on the Intel i5-14600K. The ideal CPU temperatures were around 30°C, and we never saw them go above 40°C. This is pretty impressive for a cooler that falls in the budget category.
Next, we decided to test the cooler in one of the most intense stress tests, Aida64. We were expecting the temperatures to be around 99-100°C. However, to our surprise, the average temperature was around 75°C, while the max it reached was 94°C. Even in Blender, the average temperature was the same, while the max recorded temperature was 86°C. Considering these stress tests push the CPU to the extreme limit, you can expect the temperatures to be lower in gaming and other productivity tasks.
Overall, the APNX AP1-V is a great budget option for the Ryzen 9 9900X. Its performance may not be as good as the other options on our list, but it also does not come with a premium price tag.
What users say
Users on Amazon are satisfied with the performance of the APNX AP1-V. One of them said: “Keeps temps really low at idle at 28°C and low while gaming. For 49 dollars it is a great option, also very quiet.”
How to select the best cooler for this processor
Selecting the best cooler isn’t just about picking up the most expensive option available. Instead, there are some factors that you should consider before making a final purchase, which are mentioned below.
Budget
Your budget will play the biggest role in the selection process. Since you're using a Ryzen 9 9900X, chances are that budget isn't an issue for you. If that's the case, then you should definitely opt for a high-end AIO Cooler, as this will be the perfect choice for a processor like the 9900X.
But if you're not willing to overspend on the cooler or are short on cash, then there's no harm in choosing an Air Cooler. Just make sure that the one you're going with has a decent fan speed and can keep the temps within the safe levels.
Compatibility
Make sure the cooler you're getting is compatible with your CPU and casing. Some coolers only work with a specific brand, so you want to choose the one that either supports the 9 9900X or works fine with both Intel and AMD CPUs.
If you're opting for an AIO Cooler, make sure your case is big enough to accommodate it. This is because a 360mm AIO cooler is pretty large in size, and it won't fit inside every case. So, make sure to check this before getting the cooler, as you don't want to end up getting a 360mm AIO cooler while your casing only supports a 240mm radiator.
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