AMD Ryzen 9000 series of CPUs are the latestdesktop processors from Team Red, and they bring minor improvements over the previous generation of processors. There are four SKUs in the lineup, starting from the entry-level Ryzen 5 9600X and going up to the top-tier Ryzen 9 9950X. While its fairly simple and easy to control the temperature of the entry level offering, the high-performance and relatively more power hungry 9950X, depending on the load, can be more challenging to cool.
The new Ryzen 9000 series CPUs are based on the AM5 platform. While the Ryzen 9 9950X is quite power efficient, depending on how hard it is pushed, you may require abeefy AIO cooling system. Especially when gaming, some modern AAA titles push CPUs to their limit and that can sometimes cause stutters, crashes, and overall unsatisfactory performance. There are many AIO coolers on the market and this guide will help make the purchase decision easier.
Game Rant’s 2024 Picks for the Best AIO’s for the Ryzen 9 9950X
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB (Black)
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB (Black) is a 240mm AIO with two 120mm ARGB fans that can operate at up to 2000 RPM. It comes with a 38mm thick radiator and compatibility with not only the latest AMD CPUs but also Intel’s upcoming LGA1851 socket. The Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB uses an in-house designed pump for optimal performance.
ARCTIC is considered to be one of the best brands when it comes to liquid cooling and the Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB is a testament to that. As the name suggests, it is a 240mm AIO cooler that features two P12 PWM PST A-RGB fans that can spin up to 2000 RPM. They can move a lot of air over the thick 38mm radiator. This allows for heat to be dissipated more efficiently, keeping the CPU cool at all times.
While there is no display on the pump head like with some of the other AIO options, it does have RGB lighting. ARCTIC has also made installation easier by providing an all-in-one connector as it allows the pump, VRM, and radiator fans to be controlled via a single PWM setting. In terms of compatibility, the Liquid Freezer III 240 A-RGB will work not just with AMD AM5 and AM4 CPUs, but also with Intel LGA1700 and the upcoming LGA1851 socket.
Another design element that makes this and other ARCTIC coolers stand out is the consideration for offsetting the hotspot in Ryzen CPUs. The hotspot on these processors is not in the center, so the AMD mounting solution comes with a 5mm-offset orientation to compensate for that. All this translates to extremely cool performance no matter what youthrow at your Ryzen 9 9950X.
ENERMAX AQUAFUSION ADV Series 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler
The ENERMAX AQUAFUSION ADV Series 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler is a budget-friendly AIO cooling solution for the latest Intel and AMD processors. It comes with two 120mm RGB fans that can ramp up to 2000 RPM. The water block has an infinity mirror LED design that compliments the RGB ring around the fans. It has a dual-chamber water block where pump is isolated from the heat.
Budget-conscious shoppers will find the ENERMAX AQUAFUSION ADV Series 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler checks all the right boxes. It is a 240mm cooler with two 120mm SquA RGB fans that can ramp up to 2000 RPM. Along with the RGB fans, the pump head has an Infinite RGB Reflection design, which makes the pump give the appearance of an endless void, especially with theRGB lights around it.
The pump, which is located within the water block, is kept away from the heat generating component (the CPU) thanks to a patented dual-chamber design. Another feature that ENERMAX has focused on is how the cool liquid enters the water block. The cool liquid is injected at the hottest spot from where it spreads outwards, and this prevents any heat surges. The flow path for the coolant has also been reduced to speed up heat dissipation.
The radiator itself is fairly slim, coming in at 27mm, but works efficiently thanks to the aforementioned technologies. The ENERMAX AQUAFUSION ADV Series 240mm AIO is compatible with Intel LGA 1851/1700 and older sockets as well as AMD AM5/AM4 and older. For about $80, this is the best budget AIO to keep your Ryzen 9 9950X cool. There are both black and white options available, so depending on your setup aesthetic, a white cooler may work better, and you have that option here.
ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is ASUS’s latest premium tri-fan AIO that offers better cooling, an upgraded LCD, and a new Asetek 8th generation pump as some of its salient features. Thanks to a thicker radiator and a new cold plate, it can reduce temperatures drastically versus both its predecessor and its competition.
Those looking for the absolute best cooling system for their Ryzen 9 9950X and are willing to spend upwards of $300 should consider the ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB. It features a large 3.5-inch LCD on the pump block that can showcase important metrics for system monitoring or personalized animations and wallpapers. It is a 360mm AIO which means there are three 120mm ARGB fans installed that can ramp up to 2200 RPM, moving a lot of air over through the radiator.
While companies like ARCTIC use their own in-house pump, the ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB relies on a stronger player in the water-cooling space: Asetek. The 8th generation pump comes with a three-phase motor that delivers higher flow, lower impedance, and operates at lower noise levels compared to the previous generation. This translates to improved heat dissipation and quiet performance.
What’s also great about the Ryujin III 360 ARGB is the magnetic connection between the fans, which results in a single cable connection to the motherboard. In terms of compatibility, the ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB works withcurrent and next-generation Intel and AMD CPUs, so you can rest assured that even when you push your Ryzen 9 9950X to its limits and beyond, the cooler will ensure optimal performance.
Compatible with the latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, the LIAN LI Galahad II Trinity is a unique AIO cooler which doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It is a 360mm cooler with three 120mm ARGB PWM fans that are daisy-chained together, so there is a single cable for power and data. The fans sit on top of a 27mm thick radiator which is among the slimmer options on the market, but thanks to 2450 max RPM, the cooling is not compromised.
The LIAN LI Galahad II Trinity comes in both black and white options, but it is called Trinity because of three interchangeable pump caps that are included in the package. This is what makes the cooler so unique, as no other AIO allows you to switch out the pump cap to match your aesthetic. The three caps have different designs for how they showcase the RGB lighting within. The Duo-infinity cap is like an infinity mirror while the Sink-hole is a diffuser combined with the infinity mirror style. The Dazzle cap is a full, flat RGB chuck that doesn’t have the LIAN LI branding or the infinity mirror aesthetic.
The company has made mounting the AIO a bit easier with its 45-degree connectors and the included leather straps to organize the tubes. LIAN LI ships this cooler with a thermal paste control film and spreader, so you don’t have to worry about using the incorrect amount of thermal paste.
Corsair iCUE H170i Elite CAPELLIX XT
Corsair iCUE H170i Elite CAPELLIX XT provides a big surface area for heat dissipation and performs very well with flagship Intel and AMD CPUs. The cooler uses a 420mm radiator that constantly dissipates heat with the help of high airflow fans and has distinguished RGB lighting. The fan curve can be customized with respect to the coolant temperature which is an excellent way of improving its performance
There aren’t too many 420mm AIO options on the market and of the few available, the Corsair iCUE H170i ELITE CAPELLIX XT stands out thanks to its cooling potential and stunning RGB lighting. Those who like topush their CPUs to their limitswill find the iCUE H170i ELITE CAPELLIX XT to be extremely performant and efficient. You get a 420mm radiator that houses three 140mm AF RGB ELITE fans. These fans can spin at up to 1700 RPM and are packed with eight LEDs each. These, combined with the LEDs on the water block, make for a stunning light show through Corsair’s iCUE software. Furthermore, the fans have a 0 RPM mode so they will only start spinning when the temperature or load reaches a certain level.
Corsair includes the iCUE Commander Core controller with this AIO and while it makes cable management a bit easier, the lack of daisy-chaining could be a drawback for some. You also get pre-applied thermal paste and Corsair’s is using its XTM70 Extreme Performance thermal paste here.
If the standard RGB pump head does not suit your fancy, you may switch it out for the ELITE LCD sold separately as an upgrade kit. Being this massive and performant, the Corsair iCUE H170i ELITE CAPELLIX XT is on the expensive side, but that’s the price you pay for top-tier performance. It should be noted that this radiator size may not fit in a lot of PC cases, so make sure you check compatibility with your particular case before purchasing.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB
The MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB from Cooler Master is a 360mm AIO cooling system that features three 120mm ARGB fans that can ramp up to 1750 RPM. There is an RGB Cooler Master logo on top of the water block as well. It comes with premium CryoFuze thermal paste that has better thermal conducivity than regular pre-applied thermal paste.
With the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB, you get a solid performing 360mm AIO, RGB lighting, and premium thermal paste, all for under $100. Even though there is plenty of RGB with the three 120mm ARGB fans, Cooler Master has focused on performance more than adding fancy screens or swappable pump caps. There is no display on the pump head and only a small Cooler Master logo in RGB.
The three fans are not the fastest spinning, at 1750 RPM max speed, but this helps in keeping the noise levels down. Despite the slower max speed, they can move 71.93 CFM of air and that’s pretty respectable. This Cooler Master AIO also uses rifle bearing fans that are rated for over 160,000 hours (MTTF) till failure. The pump also has a dual-chamber design to better target hotspots and improve water flow.
It comes in both black and white colors, and is compatible with AM5 and LGA1700 sockets. While the thermal paste is not pre-applied, you get a premium CryoFuze thermal paste with this cooler that has an advertised thermal conductivity of 14W/Mk. This means you don’t need to invest in a better than stock thermal paste. The Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360L Core ARGB is an excellent mid-range AIO to keep theRyzen 9000 series CPUscool.
Finding the Right AIO for Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs
Before you purchase a new AIO, there are a few things that everyone should consider:
Size and Compatibility
The size of the radiator is based on the number of fans that can be installed on it and there are a few different size options to choose from. You can get a compact 120mm AIO that has a single 120mm fan and a radiator of around the same size. On the other end of the spectrum is a 420mm radiator that houses three 140mm fans, but the more common option is a 360mm AIO with three 120mm fans. Most cases can accommodate a 360mm AIO.
The first step in looking for a new AIO cooler would be to ensure it fits inside the case you have or are planning to get. The thickness of the radiator can also be an issue in some cases, but 38mm thick radiators like theARCTIC Liquid Freezer IIshould fit in most cases.
Fan Connectors
The more fans there are, generally, the more cables there are as well. However, some manufacturers like LIAN LI and Thermaltake allow for daisy-chaining the two or three fans that sit on top of the radiator. This means there is only one cable that needs to be managed and connected to the motherboard. The other option is to have a hub like the one that ships with theCorsair iCUE H170i ELITE CAPELLIX XT.
Display
AIO manufacturers have embraced the trend of putting displays on top of the pump head, and you can find an AIO with a screen from most brands. These displays can be used to show essential real-time system metrics or show off the latest GIFs and animations. These AIOs usually have a larger water block or pump head and can be trickier to install.
FAQ
Q: Do CPU coolers work with all CPUs?
CPU coolers fir specific socket types so ensure the CPU you are trying to cool uses the same socket type. Most CPU coolers work with both Intel and AMD CPUs.
Q: Is liquid cooling better than air cooling?
Liquid cooling has its own advantages over air cooling like better cooling potential and quieter operation, but at the same time they are relatively more expensive and have more moving parts that can fail over time.
