[SOLVED] Need an inexpensive Air Cooler that uses AM4 Stock Clamp/Retention/Latch mechanism?

[NaClKnight]

Hello all,

I'm in the US soliciting suggestions and recommendations for an air cooler for at least 105W CPUs and below that uses the existing AM4 clamp/latch mechanism instead of screwing directly onto the back plate, ideally for less than $40+tax (in the US)

I build PCs for friends and neighbors and so i always have several half built AM4 PCs around. It would be very convenient to have a CPU cooler that i can just latch onto the motherhood for testing a new build rather than having to reach for a screwdriver every time.

Something that will cool a 5800X (105w) or below would be ideal. Because this will just be the test Cooler for use on a test bench I'm not worried about height restrictions or RGB.

 

[COLGeek]

I would suggest one of the OEM AMD Wraith Prism (ignore the LEDs)

https://www.newegg.com/amd-wraith-coolers-199-999575/p/N82E16835205003

A little over your budget, but very reliable and durable. You can get used ones for lower costs.

 

[kanewolf]

I would suggest one of the OEM AMD Wraith Prism (ignore the LEDs)

https://www.newegg.com/amd-wraith-coolers-199-999575/p/N82E16835205003

A little over your budget, but very reliable and durable. You can get used ones for lower costs.

Probably can find one on E-bay from someone that upgraded and is trying to recoup someone the upgrade cost.

 

[Aeacus]

Here's one;
Silverstone AR12 RGB,
specs: https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/coolers/AR12RGB/
amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085VLHKNJ

Has latches, is in your budget and RGB fan is a bonus. Can it handle 105W CPU? Very questionable. Then again, when you pay peanuts - you will get monkeys.

2nd option:
AMD Wraith Prism,
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wraith-Cooler-Processor-AM4-Connector/dp/B07GKRR5WR

Does have latches. But out of budget and also has RGB. Probably same cooling performance as AR12 RGB above.

 

[punkncat]

If you are bench testing components just for function you only need set a cooler on top of the CPU, and even in that case I don't always clean and repaste before the function test. If I am actually going to get system up and running to do testing within OS, I clean/repaste/properly attach them.

I personally like the "4 screw" method. It was well thought and not as fiddly as those clamps are, IMO.

.02

 

[NaClKnight]

I would suggest one of the OEM AMD Wraith Prism (ignore the LEDs)

https://www.newegg.com/amd-wraith-coolers-199-999575/p/N82E16835205003

A little over your budget, but very reliable and durable. You can get used ones for lower costs.

Probably can find one on E-bay from someone that upgraded and is trying to recoup someone the upgrade cost.

Thank you for the suggestion. It's funny you mention this one, because I just used the Wraith Prism on a recent build (

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On a recent post for that build ([SOLVED] - Help pick a used/budget GPU for a teenager's first Desktop | Tom's Hardware Forum (tomshardware.com) ) a few users suggested that the Prism was loud and overrated, so I thought I'd seek alternatives. I should have mentioned that I was looking for Wraith alternatives in my original post.

It's helpful to know that the Prism still has fans! I can likely find a used one near me for $20 if I'm unconcerned with getting the two RGB cables with it.

Here's one;
Silverstone AR12 RGB,
specs: https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/coolers/AR12RGB/
amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085VLHKNJ

Has latches, is in your budget and RGB fan is a bonus. Can it handle 105W CPU? Very questionable. Then again, when you pay peanuts - you will get monkeys.

2nd option:
AMD Wraith Prism,
amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wraith-Cooler-Processor-AM4-Connector/dp/B07GKRR5WR

Does have latches. But out of budget and also has RGB. Probably same cooling performance as AR12 RGB above.

Thank you for the suggestion! I hadn't seen that Silverstone AR. I think it'll be worth my while to search Amazon/Newegg at that budget and see if any other reputable companies (DeepCool, CoolerMaster, etc) have a similar solution.

Or I'll just end up buying another Prism used haha.

 

[NaClKnight]

If you are bench testing components just for function you only need set a cooler on top of the CPU, and even in that case I don't always clean and repaste before the function test. If I am actually going to get system up and running to do testing within OS, I clean/repaste/properly attach them.

I personally like the "4 screw" method. It was well thought and not as fiddly as those clamps are, IMO.

.02

So you just set the cooler on top of the chip physically and use the thermal mass of the cooler to keep the chip reasonably cold while it's in POST/BIOS/UEFI? That's fascinating. I'd never tried that before.

The four screw method is certainly consistent, especially since I have no shortage of Wraith Stealth's sitting around my house, but there's something to be said for toolless installation and removal, and using the clamps allows me to remove the cooler and then remove the CPU itself without removing the backplate of the case or the cooler claps and motherboard. It's all toolless which I really appreciate.

 

[COLGeek]

It would be a solid choice for testing as you previously mentioned and why you got multiple recommendations for the same cooler.

Personally, I don't use them because they can get rather loud. But that is more of a personal thing, than a suitability thing.

 

[punkncat]

So you just set the cooler on top of the chip physically and use the thermal mass of the cooler to keep the chip reasonably cold while it's in POST/BIOS/UEFI?

In a situation where all I want to do is see the system post, yes. If I think it would be on any longer than even a minute it is got to have at least some paste.