6 Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 5 3600: Reviews

Introduction

There’s a lot to love about the Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, especially if you’re into desktop gaming. It’s been tuned for optimum streaming, multitasking experiences, and can sustain intensive workloads. The Ryzen 5 has six cores and 12 threads to deliver up to 4.5 GHz clock speeds. Also, the chipset eliminates game lag with its big 35MB game cache. If you looking to round out your build for a Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, you can read up on finding a motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, and on finding a GPU for Ryzen 5 3600.

However, with all that power and grunt, the Ryzen 5 has a relatively high energy output. As a result, running intense processes such as games or video editing, the CPU can heat up which throttles its performance significantly. You can remedy the situation by installing a capable CPU cooler, to cool the CPU down and keep it running at its capacity.

How do you pick the best CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5 3600? This article highlights six of the best CPU coolers currently on the market, complete with their defining features to help you choose the right one for your budget range and use case.

• Best Overall CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D15
• Best Premium CPU Cooler – NZXT Kraken X73
• Best Budget CPU Cooler – Scythe Mugen 5
• Best RGB CPU Cooler – Cooler Master MasterAir
• Best Low-profile CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-L12S
• Best Liquid CPU Cooler – Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO

Quick Summary:

Image	Motherboard	Features	Price
Best Overall CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-D15 Dimensions: 5.9 x 6.3 x 6.5 inches Voltage: 12 V Material: Copper, Aluminium, Nickel Noise Level: 19.2 dB Cooling Method: Fan Weight: 2.86 Pounds	9.8	Check Price
Best Premium CPU Cooler	NZXT Kraken X73 Dimensions: 18.66 x 7.1 x 5.7 inches Material: Nylon Noise Level: 21 dB Cooling Method: Fan Weight: 4.60 Pounds Compatible Devices: Desktop	9.7	Check Price
Best Budget CPU Cooler	Scythe Mugen 5 Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.7 x 3.9 inches Voltage: 12 V Material: Metal Air Flow Capacity: 51.17 CFM Cooling Method: Air Weight: 2.9 Pounds	9.7	Check Price
Best RGB CPU Cooler	Cooler Master MasterAir Dimensions: 6.5 x 9.1 x 6.1 inches Air Flow Capacity: 53.38 CFM Material: Aluminium Noise Level: 31 dB Cooling Method: Fan Weight: 2.5 Pounds	9.7	Check Price
Best Low-profile CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-L12S Dimensions: 5 x 5.8 x 2.8 inches Voltage: 12 V Compatible Devices: Desktop Noise Level: 23.9 dB Wattage: 1.56 Watts Weight: 1.15 Pounds	9.6	Check Price
Best Liquid CPU Cooler	Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO Dimensions: 10.9 x 4.7 x 16.8 inches Air Flow Capacity: 75 CFM Noise Level: 37 dB Cooling Method: Water Weight: 1.64 Pounds Processor Count: 1	9.6	Check Price

The Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler is a product that’s perfectly suitable for a powerful chipset like the Ryzen 5 3600. It has a modern double-tower design with a combined six heat pipes and two fans that give off a versatile cooling performance. Also, the setup means that you can run the CPU cooler in quiet or “blitz” overclocked configurations.

Furthermore, the fans are state-of-the-art, with NF-A15 optimizations. Both of them measure about 140mm and support PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation). In addition, the Noctua cooler features low-noise adaptors that enable it to fine-tune its fan speeds and maintain an ultra-quiet performance whenever needed.

The entire package also comes with added extras, like the NT-H1 grade thermal paste and a SecuFirm2 mounting rig, allowing a seamless installation of your CPU.

If you’ve got a tall RAM module requiring a higher clearance, the Noctua CPU cooler can fit nicely with its single fan mode. It’s got lower fins that sit further in to create about 64mm of clearance on a typical memory heatsink. Noctua uses premium materials like copper, aluminum, and nickel plating for some of the best cooling performances you can get for your Ryzen 5 3600.

One crucial detail customers may look out for in a CPU cooling product is recognition and pedigree, and it’s comforting to know that the Noctua NH-D15 has lots of that. The manufacturer based the NH-D15 on the NH-D14 model before it, which got over 300 awards globally. The new model retains the renowned quiet cooling system and improves on it wherever it can.

Overall, the Noctua NH-D15 is perhaps one of the best budget CPU coolers for the Ryzen 5 3600 you can buy. For the price, you’d appreciate the dimensions as well: only ‎5.9 x 6.3 x 6.5 inches without the fan and 5.90 x 6.3 x 6.5 with the fan attached. Also, its max weight isn’t outrageous at 1320g with both fans attached.

Regular CPU coolers might not keep up if you intend to overclock your Ryzen 5 3600 CPU often. In addition, intensive CPU workloads sometimes demand more cooling power than double-fanned coolers can deliver.

The NZXT Kraken X73 is a beefy alternative that boasts a three-fan cooling array. It’s a water cooler with a self-orienting pump head that shows the logo the right way up, no matter how you install it. In addition, it has an RGB connector on the mirror cap that you can tweak through software.

Moreover, there’s a mirror LED ring around the cap and the “Kraken X” logo. These details are much more prominent than they were in the previous iterations of NZXT CPU Coolers. Additionally, it has an RGB connector on the mirror cap that you can tweak with software.

Performance-wise, the Kraken X73 has excellent cooling prowess, thanks to its Aer P radiator fans with chamfered intakes. A fluid dynamic bearing within the fans delivers a quiet and smooth operation under medium-to-intense CPU processes. The estimated noise level you can expect from the product is 21 dB.

You can customize and fine-tune the NZXT Kraken’s performance with the proprietary “NZXT CAM” application. In addition, the package comes with nifty conveniences like nylon mesh sleeves on the rubber tubes. They’ll help you to install the CPU cooler more quickly and prevent mishandling.

Overall, the NZXT Kraken X73 CPU cooler is the top-of-the-line option in the Kraken X series. Expectedly, its dimensions are bulkier than other standard offerings: the Kraken X73 comes in at 18.6 x 7.1 x 5.7 inches. The CPU cooler can be an irresistible offer if you specifically need three cooling fans for your Ryzen 5 3600. It’s also not a bad idea if you need the most active cooling performance for your desktop tasks.

The Scythe Mugen 5 is one of the most powerful CPU air coolers you can buy at the moment. The metallic build offers more durability and heat dissipation than competitors. In addition, you’ll appreciate the single tower design that fits nicely into your Ryzen 5 setup. The 120-mm fan blades use the Fluid Dynamic Bearing technology to remain quiet and take in more air.

If you want raw numbers, the Scythe Mugen 5 pulls in about 51 cu. ft. of air every minute, which is more than the average on the market today. Furthermore, the Mugen 5 has a spring-loaded mounting rig that enables it to fit in a broad range of sockets.

The CPU cooler handles heat dissipation expertly, as it uses six 6-mm heat pipes and a copper-coated base. The fans can spin up to 1200RPM, and there’s an added clip with a push-pull mechanism when you need more fan power. At 12 volts, the voltage is on par with what you’d expect on a desktop configuration. With all that cooling capability, Scythe Mugen surprisingly isn’t much of a power hog either according to our testing of the product.

Are you worried that your RAM modules already have tall heat sinks? The Scythe Mugen 5 allows you more access to the memory banks, much more than most alternatives on the market. The CPU cooler also has rubber pads at the corners to avoid wobbling and vibrations during heavy workloads, which was an annoyance we found with other CPU Coolers similar to the Scythe Mugen 5 in price.

The Scythe Mugen 5 is compact and versatile, measuring 6.5 x 5.7 x 3.9 inches. Overall, it’s one of the best CPU coolers for the Ryzen 5 3600 processor, especially if you’re on the market for an air cooling option for your powerful chipset.

Do you need an over-the-top RGB CPU air cooler? Then, the Cooler Master MasterAir is a product that’s right down your alley. It features a hexagonal “hologram” lighting cutout that gives off a mesmerizing RGB glow while the cooler is in operation.

While you might think that Cooler Master might have sacrificed functionality for the elaborate looks, you’d be happy to find out that they haven’t. Instead, the MasterAir is teeming with CPU cooling smarts. For instance, it handles about 53 CFM of airflow and keeps the noise levels down to 31 dB – barely a whisper per our experience.

As the MasterAir passes cooling air along with the CPU, it employs the Air Guide Armor, which streamlines the flow and eliminates dead spots around the rig. Beyond that, the CPU cooler uses aluminum fins along its sides to bolster heat dissipation during heavy workloads. It’s got a CPU thermal sensor connected to the color lighting setup, allowing you to view the CPU temperature changes through the RGB effects (a very cool feature indeed!). The lighting system consists of 28 separate RGB LED beads connected to a central motherboard that you can control with an application.

Furthermore, the CPU cooler has a much bigger base than its previous iterations, which can mean a significant heat dissipation index for your Ryzen 5 3600. It achieves more surface area by merging its heat pipes and using the CDC 2.0 (Continuous Direct Contact) technology to better interface with the CPU module.

The double fans on the MasterAir sit opposite one another and are of MF120R specifications. In addition, they support the push-pull mechanism for more dynamic cooling. The MasterAir is probably the best Cooler Master CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 3600 that most people might consider. That’s because it’s got medium dimensions (6.5 x 9.1 x 6.1 inches) and keeps the vivid, holographic RGB lighting as well.

The NH-L12S is another Noctua CPU cooler on the list, and it’s got numerous features to earn the spot over competitors. The product is a low-profile air cooler, which means its fan lies horizontal to the rest of the rig. The layout makes for a smaller, compact dimension while leaving room for standard cooling performance. The NH-L12S has a premium feel, and its 120mm fan has the NF-A12x15 tuning. The fan blades are wispy quiet when it’s in operation, whizzing along at 23.9 dB.

The manufacturer also includes PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) for more dynamic speed control and a Low-Noise adaptor that allows the rig to run quietly at certain times. Furthermore, Noctua includes NT-H1 thermal pastes and SecureFirm2 mounting mechanisms in the package. These add-ons can help you to avoid difficulties when affixing this CPU cooler to your Ryzen 5 3600.

Aesthetically, low-profile CPU coolers look better than standard-sized ones in most desktop setups. Their small footprint means you don’t have to deal with excess bulk when you don’t need it. In addition, the NH-L12S stands 70mm high, which is much lower than standard cooling tower heights. Therefore, it’s a compelling option if you’re in the market for a minimalist solution to your Ryzen 5 3600 cooling.

However, it bears mentioning that the NH-L12S works best for low to medium workloads in our testing. It might struggle to keep up with heavier and more intense processes like any other low-profile CPU cooler. If you’d only use your Ryzen 5 3600 on medium performance settings, the Noctua NH-L12S is one of the most suitable coolers to get. The same also applies to desktop users that can utilize a single 120mm cooling fan for their workflow. The CPU cooler comes in at 5 x 5.8 x 2.8 inches.

Corsair is a big name in the desktop accessory industry, and their Hydro series offers some of the most exciting CPU coolers currently on the market. The H100i PRO features vivid and bright RGB lighting on its liquid pump head that you can customize to your build preference. It also manages about 75 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) air displacement, which is excellent for a water CPU cooler.

The H100i produces minimal noise, topping out at 37 dB under intensive tasks. This is one of the louder CPU Coolers on our list, but this is typical for CPU Coolers of this type due to the Magnetic Levitation technology behind the twin fans in the device. They can reach speeds of up to 2400 RPM and drop down to 400 RPM according to need.

Both fans span 120mm across, are laid over a 240mm radiator, and deliver optimal airflow suitable for your Ryzen 5 3600. Also, they can maintain their static pressures without any noise increase. Corsair didn’t skimp on the heat-dissipating materials, as the price might suggest. The cold plate is made of copper, while the radiator is aluminum. These should translate to consistent and reliable cooling for your CPU workloads.

The CPU cooler uses Corsair’s “iCue” application to set fan speeds, RGB lighting, and more. The app syncs with the installed device in real-time, so settings changes are instant. The H100i PRO has a “Zero RPM” mode that automatically turns off the cooler’s fans at low temperatures if you’d like more control over fan performance which was a great feature we could not find on other CPU Coolers.

If you’re searching for the best RGB CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 3600, the Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO is worth checking out. It’s a functional liquid-cooled product with the right amount of RGB fanciness and customizability. The dimensions aren’t daunting either: the liquid CPU cooler measures ‎10.9 x 4.7 x 16.8 inches and has sockets that snugly fit the Ryzen 5 3600.

Here at OvrClock, we are committed to keeping our editorial and product recommendation processes completely independent from our monetization — so, you can always be sure we are recommending the best PC Parts for you without any partiality.

The OvrClock team has been reviewing all parts of a PC build for years now, and we use our expert opinion and experiences when making recommendations. We try to get our hands on and actually test all of the products we recommend, in addition to the dozens of alternatives that are not on the final list. This allows us to provide insights beyond what you can find from reading other online reviews, and get a true and more clear understanding of the best options. Our diverse team and vast experience also allow us to highlight each product’s ideal use cases, as well as the perfect customer profile for any given product.

For CPU coolers, we test things including but not limited to: build quality, fan speed, CPU temperature, noise level, and form factor, among many other factors. Our experience allows us to translate these insights into actionable conclusions and purchase recommendations for you, without you having to test all the products, or having to sift through piles and piles of data from our testing. All of the recommended CPU Coolers and dozens of others not in this roundup have been tested with a Ryzen 5 3600 processor, and the aforementioned CPU Coolers have been shortlisted based on their stellar performance with the Ryzen 5 3600 processor.

For any questions about our product selection and recommendation process, feel free to contact us.

Choosing the suitable CPU cooler for your Ryzen 5 3600 might be confusing at first, and that’s why we’ve come up with a comprehensive list containing some of the best products you can check out. Our recommendation on the overall best CPU cooler would be the Cooler Master MasterAir, thanks to its vibrant RGB support and robust cooling customizability.

The Scythe Mugen 5 would be our budget pick, as it offers effective cooling for less than $50. On the other end, you can go for the NZXT Kraken X73 as our premium pick of the bunch – however, we’ve left it out of the summary below as its extra performance is likely only needed in limited situations.