Here’s our overview of the best coolers for ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X processors in 2021.
When building your new gaming PC, beginners often tend to shift their focus towards the graphics card and processor, and often away from other important components.
The CPU cooler, for example, tends to be forgotten by many. In actuality, this is one of the most important PC components as it ensures that the processor is well-cooled and maintained while in heavy use.
So just like all parts of one’s computer, it is incredibly important to make sure that you have a well-functioning and high-quality CPU cooler that’s worth its value.
Best CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
Today we’ll be checking out some CPU coolers and figure out which one is best for your computer, specifically which one pairs best with the Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X in terms of functionality, practicality, and value. And If you’re looking for 5600X coolers, we have covered them as well (https://pcbuilderz.com/best-cpu-cooler-for-ryzen-5-5600x/).
1. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition
Best Budget Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
- Cool for R7 | i7: Four heat pipes and a copper base ensure optimal cooling performance for AMD R7 and *Intel i7.
- SickleFlow 120 Edge: Experience premium airflow and cooling with our optimized PWM blade curve fan.
- Dynamic PWM Fan: A PWM 4-pin header allows adjustable fan speeds from 690 to 2,500 RPM, to balance noise and airflow.
The Cooler Master brand has made somewhat of a name for itself when it comes to excellent CPU cooling, as its own name suggests, and the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition is no exception.
This cooler has excellent build quality, and has a nice and sleek black finish, easily being one of the nicest looking CPU coolers on the market.
It is also the oldest CPU cooler that we’ll be looking at today; originally releasing way back in 2011, this cooler is ancient compared to the rest of the coolers.
But despite its old age, this cooler still functions quite well, managing to keep the Ryzen 5 3600 down to about 29-30 degrees celsius when working normally, and reached an absolute maximum temperature of just about 65 degrees C when working its hardest. It is a bit loud, however, with volumes louder than just about every other cooler in its class.
The other major gripe to pick with the Hyper 212 Evo is its installation process, which feels very outdated compared to newer coolers.
It must be installed by mounting its back plate to the back of the motherboard and screwing in the included mounting nuts, and threading bottom nuts into the bottom side of the motherboard.
This process is very tedious and long if you don’t know what you’re doing. The second half of the installation process is less time consuming, but can still be a little challenging for beginners.
It involves applying thermal paste to the CPU, and then the cooler to the CPU by mounting it on top using the included cross-arm mounting bar. The mounting bar can also be annoying to deal with, if not properly aligned before applying the thermal paste to the CPU.
But this is made more tolerable by the fact that the cooler will only cost you around 40 bucks, an incredibly small price to pay for a great product. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition comes highly recommended for anybody under a tight budget.
In case you want some lighting, you can have the Hyper 212 Evo RGB instead. Both of the coolers are identical except the RGB implementation.
Pros:
- Excellent Cooling
- Very Cheap Price
Cons:
- Annoying to Install
- A bit loud
2. Noctua NH-L12S
Best Low-Profile Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
- Compact, premium-quality low-profile CPU cooler (70mm total height)
- Further improved successor to the award-winning NH-L12, ideal for ITX and HTPC systems
- Highly optimised NF-A12x15 120mm fan with PWM support and Low-Noise Adaptor for automatic speed control and ultra-quiet operation
The Noctua NH-L12S is a particularly good choice for anyone planning to build a small form-factor PC.
The cooler offers both a low-profile mode that allows for installation between very tight spaces, fitting as low as 70mm in height, as well as a high-clearance mode perfect for fitting around tight corners and maneuvering around other parts that might be in the way.
For anyone building in a very small place with minimal room, this CPU is the perfect choice.
The CPU cooler is also exceptionally quiet, and one of the absolute best coolers of its kind. As previously mentioned, this cooler is perfect for anyone trying to build a small form-factor computer, and should fit inside even the smallest of cases. It costs just about $50, which is very cheap and is more than worth it given its incredibly small size and adjustable height.
One thing to keep in mind about this case, however, is that it is not the most efficient when compared to larger and beefier CPU coolers.
It is not built for cooling overclocked processors and cannot withstand incredibly high temperatures. It’s also not the most visually pleasing cooler, but if you’re building inside of a mini tower, then it likely won’t be seen anyway so this likely isn’t even an issue.
So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for the strongest and most efficient cooler, then look elsewhere. But if small form factor is your most important need, then you’ve come to the right place with the NH-L12S.
Pros:
- Small Form Factor
- Multiple Modes
- Incredibly Quiet
Cons:
- Not the Most Efficient
- Not Made for Overclocking
3. Noctua NH-D15
Best Air Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
- Proven premium heatsink (more than 300 awards and recommendations from international hardware websites), now available in an all-black design that goes great with many colour schemes and RGB LEDs
- Extra-wide 140mm dual-tower design with 6 heatpipes and dual fans provides maximum quiet cooling efficiency on a par with many all-in-one watercoolers, ideal for overclockers and silent-enthusiasts!
- Dual-fan design with renowned, award-winning NF-A15 140mm fans with Low-Noise Adaptors and PWM for automatic speed control: Full cooling performance under load, whisper quiet at idle!
The Noctua NH-D15 offers exactly what the NH-L12S does not: incredible cooling, in a larger form-factor. While it holds a far heftier price tag than the aforementioned coolers on this list, the price feels earned given how highly efficient it is.
The CPU cooler has a beefy setup that includes 6 heat pipes on either side, as well as coming packed in with dual 144mm fans that attach on either side. There is room for a third fan to get attached, which would make for even higher cooling efficiency.
The CPU cooler offers plenty of customization options, with fans having the option of being placed in multiple different orientations along the cooling system. The fans even come with a 6-year warranty, which is appreciated.
Like the NH-L12S, the NH-D15 isn’t the prettiest of coolers. The fans are a dark brown and light tan color, which may depend on personal preference, but generally the colors are not the most complimentary.
The cooler lacks any exciting features like RGB or otherwise, but if those features don’t matter to you, then this is a perfectly adequate CPU cooler. Simply in terms of functionality, this cooler easily stacks up well to even the best liquid coolers, with comparatively great results.
Pros:
- Incredible Cooling Efficiency
- Quiet
- Very Customizable & Easy to Set up
- 6 Year Warranty
Cons:
- Very Large Size
- Not the Prettiest Cooler
4. EVGA CLC 280 AIO
Best AIO Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
- Compatible with Intel LGA2066/2011/2011-v3/1200/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366 and AMD AM2/AM3/AM4/FM1/FM2/TR4.
- 280mm Dual Fan radiator. Radiator size: 312mm x 139mm x 27mm (LxWxH) fan Size: 140 x 140 x 25mm (x2)
- Rgb LED's, can be synced to other EVGA RGB components
Finally, the EVGA CLC 280 AIO comes in as the final CPU cooler to be discussed today. Upon its release, the cooler was priced at $140 but has since dropped slightly. Unlike all other previously mentioned cooler, the EVGA CLC 280 AIO is a liquid cooler, and great one at that.
It is cheaper compared to NZXT and Corsair’s offerings, but because of this, it also lacks a few bells and whistles included in its competitor’s coolers. There is RGB included in this liquid cooler, though it does not have as many customization settings and options as some of the other competing brands but this doesn’t really affect the product.
In terms of functionality, the CLC 280 AIO is another great cooling system, though it is noticeably loud when working its hardest (2200RPM is fairly audible). Depending on how much this matters to you, the cooler working at maximum speed is incredibly efficient, but may both you by its volume.
Overall, this cooler is very efficient, offers some beautiful RGB lighting, but feels just a bit expensive when compared to the other offerings.
Pros:
- Excellent Cooling
- Great RGB Lighting
Cons:
- Loud
- A Little Expensive
Conclusion
Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with any of these CPU coolers when looking for a something to pair with a Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600X.
None of these products will have any issue cooling the said processors, with the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Black Edition as the cheapest option, giving the best bang-for-your-buck in terms of performance.
That’s why it’s such a huge shame that it’s so annoying to install, and feels severely outdated compared to the other coolers. The NH-L12S is perfect for small and compact builds, but will suffers when attempting to deal with overclocking.
The NH-D15 and CLC 280 AIO are both excellent coolers, with the CLC 280 AIO offering beautiful RGB lighting but suffers from being quite loud.
On the other hand, while the NH-D15 doesn’t look as visually pleasing, it stacks up quite well in terms of efficiency and is also quieter.
Because of this, we found the NH-D15 to be the best product, albeit by a small margin. Any one of these products would be an excellent choice, depending on the user’s preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 3600?
The Ryzen 5 3600 comes with a stock cooler out of the box. It’s way better than Intel stock coolers and works fine if you have no issue with relatively higher noise levels.
Does Ryzen 5 need liquid cooling?
Unless you’re into serious overclocking, you don’t need an AIO or custom-loop for Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600X.
Does Ryzen 5 3600 stock cooler have RGB?
No, the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler doesn’t have any RGB lighting.
How hot can a Ryzen 5 3600 GET
The Ryzen 5 3600 can go as high as 95C, but that is only possible under extreme load or if you have an inefficient cooler.
In normal circumstances, you will see temperature within 40C-75C range.
