Question Weird artifacts and I don't know if its a GPU or CPU problem ?

[Stef88]

Hy, i have weird artifacts and i don't know if is a gpu,cpu or some program,windows problem..
im using a tv with hdmi 2.1 cable and primary a monitor on displayport 2.1.. the cables are new..and i tried 2x hdmi cable too but it was the same problem
Pc Specs:
GPU: AORUS Radeon™ RX 6900 XT MASTER 16G (rev. 1.0)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
MOBO: Asus ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II
RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZRC
PSU: Seasonic PRIME GX-1000
so i have this problem for some good month's, mobo and ram is new.. i haved before a b450e gaming with 2x Kingston HX432C16PB3AK2/16 ram and the problem was the same even worse because the pc frozed daily 20-30x and i was getting some blue screen's 2.. so like i opened a folder or when browsing the web pc froze for some seconds or black screen for 2-3 seconds and it gived me amd software crash.. i think i haved problem with 1 stick of ram because i made ram test and it gived me error's.. so i changed them.. now i dind't get only 2x per day or some days none of froze just artifacts'
here are some exemples of the problem pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 vid 1 vid2 vid 3 vid 4
the weird thing is that i made some gpu test funmark,valley, msi kombustor,superposition and all are running without crash or artifacts.. insome games i get error- err_gfx_state.. in gta5 it was the first time i get that artifact and in wot is random.. i play 10 games in row and it's all fine then in the 11 game i get artifacts and in 12 game it's all good again.. bios, windows, and all programs are up to date
in who crashed i get this:

System Information (local)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer name: MYPC
Windows version: Windows 11, 10.0, version 2009, build: 26100 (x64)
Windows dir: C:\WINDOWS
Hardware: ASUS, ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC., ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II
CPU: AuthenticAMD AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor 8664, level: 25
Processor count: 24 logical processors, active mask: 16777215
RAM: 32674.4MB




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crash Dump Analysis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crash dumps are enabled on your computer. This system is not configured for complete or automatic crash dumps. For best results, configure your system to write out complete or automatic crash dumps. Select Tools->Crash Dump Configuration from the main menu to configure your system to write out complete memory dumps.

Crash dump directories:
C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump

On Thu 3/20/2025 12:15:52 AM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\032025-11203-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0xD1(0x3945FFBF, 0x7, 0x0, 0xFFFFF80271F4D28C)
Bugcheck name: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Driver or module in which error occurred: amdkmdag.sys (amdkmdag+168d28c)
File path: amdkmdag.sys
Description: ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver
Product: ATI Radeon Family
Company: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Bug check description: This indicates that a kernel-mode driver attempted to access pageable memory at a process IRQL that was too high.
Analysis: This is a typical software problem. Most likely this is caused by a bug in a driver. A third party driver was identified as the probable root cause of this system error.
It is suggested you look for an update for the following driver:
amdkmdag.sys (ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.).

Google query: amdkmdag Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL


On Wed 3/19/2025 11:40:37 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\031925-11328-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x50(0xFFFFF8039FC55150, 0x0, 0xFFFFF8035FB0F1F9, 0x2)
Bugcheck name: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
Driver or module in which error occurred: win32kbase.sys (win32kbase+18f1f9)
File path: win32kbase.sys
Description: Base Win32k Kernel Driver
Product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
Bug check description: This indicates that invalid system memory has been referenced. This can be caused by a faulty driver. Antivirus software can also trigger this error, as can a corrupted NTFS volume. It can also be caused by faulty hardware, (in particular faulty or overheated RAM or video RAM) or an overheated system component.
Analysis: This is likely a software problem which means that it was probably caused by a bug in a driver.
There is a possibility that this is caused by memory corruption. Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues
Since there is no other responsible driver detected, it is suggested that you look for an updated driver for your graphics hardware. It's also possible that your graphics hardware was non-functional or overheated.


On Sun 3/2/2025 11:15:05 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\030325-11953-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0xA(0xFFFFF38400014558, 0x2, 0x1, 0xFFFFF807C7FF680C)
Bugcheck name: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Bug check description: This indicates that Microsoft Windows or a kernel-mode driver accessed paged memory at DISPATCH_LEVEL or above. This is a software bug.
Analysis: This is a typical software problem. Most likely this is caused by a bug in a driver.


On Fri 2/28/2025 8:17:36 AM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\022825-11718-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x1000007E(0xFFFFFFFFC0000005, 0xFFFFF800F12327C8, 0xFFFFD386F466E858, 0xFFFFD386F466E040)
Bugcheck name: SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
Bug check description: This indicates that a system thread generated an exception which the error handler did not catch.
Analysis: This is likely a software problem which means that it was probably caused by a bug in a driver.
There is a possibility that this is caused by memory corruption. Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues


On Tue 10/29/2024 10:48:40 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\LiveKernelReports\WATCHDOG-20241029-2248.dmp (Kernel memory dump)
Bugcheck code: 0x141(0xFFFFB0015B0A7010, 0xFFFFF8067C3B62A0, 0x0, 0xFFFFB00144AD60C0)
Bugcheck name: VIDEO_ENGINE_TIMEOUT_DETECTED
Driver or module in which error occurred: dxgkrnl.sys (dxgkrnl!TdrCollectDbgInfoStage1+0xD29)
File path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\dxgkrnl.sys
Description: DirectX Graphics Kernel
Product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
Bug check description: This indicates that one of the display engines failed to respond in timely fashion.
Analysis: This is a video related crash. A DirectX driver was identified on the stack. Since there is no other responsible driver detected, it is suggested that you look for an updated driver for your graphics hardware. It's also possible that your graphics hardware was non-functional or overheated.


On Fri 10/25/2024 10:44:00 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\102524-9140-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x1C7(0x1, 0xFFFFCD0C758C3000, 0x2EF0C391, 0xF1B7)
Bugcheck name: STORE_DATA_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION
Bug check description: The store component detected a corruption in its data structures.
Analysis: This is possibly a software problem. This is likely a case of memory corruption.
Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 crash dumps have been found and analyzed. A third party driver has been identified to be causing system crashes on your computer. It is strongly suggested that you check for updates for these drivers on their company websites. Click on the links below to search with Google for updates for these drivers:

amdkmdag.sys (ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)

THx in advance and sorry for my english

 

[Aeacus]

here are some exemples of the problem pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 vid 1 vid2 vid 3 vid 4

These are GPU VRAM artifacts.

Possible causes:
* high GPU (VRAM) temp
* GPU OC (especially on memory clock)
* bad VRAM

So, 1st look into ways of lowering GPU temps. E.g GPU fans at 100% and/or case fans at higher RPM.

2nd, which often helps (albeit is short term workaround), is to underclock your GPU. Namely memory clock. But as VRAM deteriorates, you may need to downclock memory again and again, just to have more-or-less fine image.

Only definitive fix is new GPU.

 

[beyondlogic]

Hy, i have weird artifacts and i don't know if is a gpu,cpu or some program,windows problem..
im using a tv with hdmi 2.1 cable and primary a monitor on displayport 2.1.. the cables are new..and i tried 2x hdmi cable too but it was the same problem
Pc Specs:
GPU: AORUS Radeon™ RX 6900 XT MASTER 16G (rev. 1.0)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
MOBO: Asus ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II
RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZRC
PSU: Seasonic PRIME GX-1000
so i have this problem for some good month's, mobo and ram is new.. i haved before a b450e gaming with 2x Kingston HX432C16PB3AK2/16 ram and the problem was the same even worse because the pc frozed daily 20-30x and i was getting some blue screen's 2.. so like i opened a folder or when browsing the web pc froze for some seconds or black screen for 2-3 seconds and it gived me amd software crash.. i think i haved problem with 1 stick of ram because i made ram test and it gived me error's.. so i changed them.. now i dind't get only 2x per day or some days none of froze just artifacts'
here are some exemples of the problem pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 vid 1 vid2 vid 3 vid 4
the weird thing is that i made some gpu test funmark,valley, msi kombustor,superposition and all are running without crash or artifacts.. insome games i get error- err_gfx_state.. in gta5 it was the first time i get that artifact and in wot is random.. i play 10 games in row and it's all fine then in the 11 game i get artifacts and in 12 game it's all good again.. bios, windows, and all programs are up to date
in who crashed i get this:

System Information (local)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer name: MYPC
Windows version: Windows 11, 10.0, version 2009, build: 26100 (x64)
Windows dir: C:\WINDOWS
Hardware: ASUS, ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC., ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II
CPU: AuthenticAMD AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor 8664, level: 25
Processor count: 24 logical processors, active mask: 16777215
RAM: 32674.4MB




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crash Dump Analysis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crash dumps are enabled on your computer. This system is not configured for complete or automatic crash dumps. For best results, configure your system to write out complete or automatic crash dumps. Select Tools->Crash Dump Configuration from the main menu to configure your system to write out complete memory dumps.

Crash dump directories:
C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump

On Thu 3/20/2025 12:15:52 AM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\032025-11203-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0xD1(0x3945FFBF, 0x7, 0x0, 0xFFFFF80271F4D28C)
Bugcheck name: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Driver or module in which error occurred: amdkmdag.sys (amdkmdag+168d28c)
File path: amdkmdag.sys
Description: ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver
Product: ATI Radeon Family
Company: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Bug check description: This indicates that a kernel-mode driver attempted to access pageable memory at a process IRQL that was too high.
Analysis: This is a typical software problem. Most likely this is caused by a bug in a driver. A third party driver was identified as the probable root cause of this system error.
It is suggested you look for an update for the following driver:
amdkmdag.sys (ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.).

Google query: amdkmdag Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL


On Wed 3/19/2025 11:40:37 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\031925-11328-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x50(0xFFFFF8039FC55150, 0x0, 0xFFFFF8035FB0F1F9, 0x2)
Bugcheck name: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
Driver or module in which error occurred: win32kbase.sys (win32kbase+18f1f9)
File path: win32kbase.sys
Description: Base Win32k Kernel Driver
Product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
Bug check description: This indicates that invalid system memory has been referenced. This can be caused by a faulty driver. Antivirus software can also trigger this error, as can a corrupted NTFS volume. It can also be caused by faulty hardware, (in particular faulty or overheated RAM or video RAM) or an overheated system component.
Analysis: This is likely a software problem which means that it was probably caused by a bug in a driver.
There is a possibility that this is caused by memory corruption. Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues
Since there is no other responsible driver detected, it is suggested that you look for an updated driver for your graphics hardware. It's also possible that your graphics hardware was non-functional or overheated.


On Sun 3/2/2025 11:15:05 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\030325-11953-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0xA(0xFFFFF38400014558, 0x2, 0x1, 0xFFFFF807C7FF680C)
Bugcheck name: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Bug check description: This indicates that Microsoft Windows or a kernel-mode driver accessed paged memory at DISPATCH_LEVEL or above. This is a software bug.
Analysis: This is a typical software problem. Most likely this is caused by a bug in a driver.


On Fri 2/28/2025 8:17:36 AM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\022825-11718-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x1000007E(0xFFFFFFFFC0000005, 0xFFFFF800F12327C8, 0xFFFFD386F466E858, 0xFFFFD386F466E040)
Bugcheck name: SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED_M
Bug check description: This indicates that a system thread generated an exception which the error handler did not catch.
Analysis: This is likely a software problem which means that it was probably caused by a bug in a driver.
There is a possibility that this is caused by memory corruption. Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues


On Tue 10/29/2024 10:48:40 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\LiveKernelReports\WATCHDOG-20241029-2248.dmp (Kernel memory dump)
Bugcheck code: 0x141(0xFFFFB0015B0A7010, 0xFFFFF8067C3B62A0, 0x0, 0xFFFFB00144AD60C0)
Bugcheck name: VIDEO_ENGINE_TIMEOUT_DETECTED
Driver or module in which error occurred: dxgkrnl.sys (dxgkrnl!TdrCollectDbgInfoStage1+0xD29)
File path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\dxgkrnl.sys
Description: DirectX Graphics Kernel
Product: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
Bug check description: This indicates that one of the display engines failed to respond in timely fashion.
Analysis: This is a video related crash. A DirectX driver was identified on the stack. Since there is no other responsible driver detected, it is suggested that you look for an updated driver for your graphics hardware. It's also possible that your graphics hardware was non-functional or overheated.


On Fri 10/25/2024 10:44:00 PM your computer crashed or a problem was reported

Crash dump file: C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\102524-9140-01.dmp (Minidump)
Bugcheck code: 0x1C7(0x1, 0xFFFFCD0C758C3000, 0x2EF0C391, 0xF1B7)
Bugcheck name: STORE_DATA_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION
Bug check description: The store component detected a corruption in its data structures.
Analysis: This is possibly a software problem. This is likely a case of memory corruption.
Memory corruption can be caused by a faulty driver, faulty RAM, overheating and more. Read this article on memory corruption. Read this article on thermal issues

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 crash dumps have been found and analyzed. A third party driver has been identified to be causing system crashes on your computer. It is strongly suggested that you check for updates for these drivers on their company websites. Click on the links below to search with Google for updates for these drivers:

amdkmdag.sys (ATI Radeon Kernel Mode Driver, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)




THx in advance and sorry for my english

it could be the gpu failing memory portion

or bad driver uninstall and reinstall the drivers.

otherwise back up all files to a portable drive.

if you didnt do a fresh install of the os from scratch never say keep files it will keep old drivers this can cause driver conflicts and freezing.

also if your air cooling a 5900x i would seriously getting a water cooling aio for it.

also check in the bios PBO asus has its own custom version disable it. it kept overvolting my 5900x and almost killed it.

 

[Aeacus]

also if your air cooling a 5900x i would seriously getting a water cooling aio for it.

You do realize that in AIO, water doesn't cool the CPU. It just transfers heat from cold plate to the rad. While ambient air is used to cool the rad?
With this, there is no cooling improvement since both (air coolers and AIOs) are, in the end, still cooled by ambient air.

 

[stonecarver]

How hard are you pushing the GPU in games. Ultra I'm thinking. Back off some of the pressure in games to high or medium and see if is stabilizes.

Good example with hands on and this happening is yep the original Crysis and running graphics on max with a Nvidia Titan X Pascal and it just tanked the graphics with glitch city.

Back thing down a little and see what happens. Let us know.

 

[beyondlogic]

You do realize that in AIO, water doesn't cool the CPU. It just transfers heat from cold plate to the rad. While ambient air is used to cool the rad?
With this, there is no cooling improvement since both (air coolers and AIOs) are, in the end, still cooled by ambient air.

ok from experience there was a large improvement i had a 7 heatpipe cooler https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product/TKcgXL/deepcool-assassin-iv-791-cfm-cpu-cooler-r-asn4-bknnmt-g.

my cpu kept bumping up to 90. regardless of what paste

spread/ dot/ x whatever pattern didnt do jack. used multiple brands different testing.

most tests i saw running the air cooler where on a test bed and not inside a case which is why I don't recommend it.

yes im well aware how it works and it does cool the cpu with the method you just described.


i only have my own results to go on and i saw a drop on both cpu and gpu temps of 13c.

the distance away from the gpu of having the heat source a good distance away helped they have there place.

air coolers work fine on one ccd they do however struggle when you have 2 ccd. that's from my own experience. there's always about a 8 degree difference between ccd.

 

[Aeacus]

most tests i saw running the air cooler where on a test bed and not inside a case which is why I don't recommend it.

Better look towards reputable reviews, that do test the CPU cooler inside the PC case.
Like TH (inside Be Quiet! Silent Base 802 and DeepCool CK560WH): https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-assassin-iv

i only have my own results to go on and i saw a drop on both cpu and gpu temps of 13c.

Idle temps doesn't matter.

Also, with AIOs, you need to have load on CPU going for ~30mins, to see how well AIO can actually cool the CPU (that's about the time to heat up liquid fully inside the AIO).
Just doing 2-5min bursts of load doesn't show the AIO capability.

 

[Stef88]

thx for the answers, pbo is deactivated and i never made overclock.. it is all runing stock.. i have warranty on both cpu and gpu until 11/25 so that's why i wanted to find the problem to send it to warranty until i have it on them.. i downloaded hwinfo now and with aida 10 min stress test i have cpu die's to hot.. it can be this the problem?? with an aio i can solve this problem?? here is the hwinfo after 10 minutes aida stress test
but it's still weird to be the cpu die too hot problem only because the artifacts occurs in idle like browsing the web or opening folders videos pictures on pc too.. after i changed my ram only randomly occurs there is day that the pc is on 10+ hours and no artifacts no crashes.. other time i open pc and in 5 minutes on youtube the problems appear

 

[beyondlogic]

Better look towards reputable reviews, that do test the CPU cooler inside the PC case.
Like TH (inside Be Quiet! Silent Base 802 and DeepCool CK560WH): https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-assassin-iv


Idle temps doesn't matter.

Also, with AIOs, you need to have load on CPU going for ~30mins, to see how well AIO can actually cool the CPU (that's about the time to heat up liquid fully inside the AIO).
Just doing 2-5min bursts of load doesn't show the AIO capability.

wow ok im not thick i know how to test a aio. 240 works fine and i ran it for 40 minutes actually

and when did i even say idle temps that was cranked with a 13c diffrence.

also nice review its running on a amd ryzen 7 which is a 8 core chip 1 ccd not 2 like the ryzen 9 instead of picking parts of my sentence maybe read the whole response.

multiple chips under air coolers do not cool well.

1 ccd is 8 cores

ryzen 9 5900x has 2 ccd

 

[beyondlogic]

thx for the answers, pbo is deactivated and i never made overclock.. it is all runing stock.. i have warranty on both cpu and gpu until 11/25 so that's why i wanted to find the problem to send it to warranty until i have it on them.. i downloaded hwinfo now and with aida 10 min stress test i have cpu die's to hot.. it can be this the problem?? with an aio i can solve this problem?? here is the hwinfo after 10 minutes aida stress test
but it's still weird to be the cpu die too hot problem only because the artifacts occurs in idle like browsing the web or opening folders videos pictures on pc too.. after i changed my ram only randomly occurs there is day that the pc is on 10+ hours and no artifacts no crashes.. other time i open pc and in 5 minutes on youtube the problems appear

your cpu is def overheating its max operating temperature is 90c. it will either restart the pc its hitting the right voltage at least at 1.5 as its max.

this is the model i use

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/deepcool-ls520

i genuinely think if your air cooling that cpu i assume the heatsink as acting like a radiator next to the 6900x or the heat from the gpu is blowing into it.

having a aio futher distance away from the gpu will drop the temps down.

if your case supports it put it in the top of the case. fans to sky.

the gpu hotspot is worrying at 94c.

if you want to test if its a cpu going haywire.

go into asus bios and set the cpu max temp to pull power back at 85c.

it will lower the clocks and voltage and try to keep your cpu at 85c if it can manage it.

this is how i do it its the same on most asus boards where to find it

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_jccjVk-FY


after you do this try firing up a game and see how it looks. and see if artifacts have gone.

i literally had this issue with 5900x and it was making me pull my hair out lol.

 

[Aeacus]

i have cpu die's to hot.. it can be this the problem??

CPU throttle does not cause data in RAM (either RAM on MoBo or VRAM on GPU) to get corrupt. All it does, is down clocking CPU frequency, reducing CPU compute power.

In a chance your RAM can be an issue (after all, issue was more severe with old RAM), download and run memtest86,
link: https://www.memtest86.com/

1 full pass (all 15 tests) is bare minimum. 2 full passes are better, while 4 full passes are considered acceptable.

If there are no RAM errors during full 4 passes, your RAM is sound. But that then points towards GPU VRAM (if your GPU isn't overheating).
But if there are RAM errors, best to replace the RAM. It's cheaper and easier to replace than GPU.

However, memtest86 takes a while to complete. ~1h per 8GB or ~2.5h per 2x 8GB DIMMs. Since you have 2x 16GB, you're looking ~5h per one pass. Or ~20h for 4 passes. Best to run memtest86 overnight.

with an aio i can solve this problem??

As far as AIOs vs air coolers go, you won't gain any cooling performance if you go with AIO over air cooler since both are cooled by ambient air.
For equal cooling performance between AIOs and air coolers, rad needs to be 240mm or 280mm. Smaller rads: 120mm and 140mm are almost always outperformed by mid-sized air coolers. Single slot rads are good in mini-ITX builds where you don't have enough CPU cooler clearance to install mid-sized CPU air cooler.

Here are the positive sides of both (air and AIO) CPU cooling methods;

Pros of air coolers:
less cost
less maintenance
less noise
far longer longevity
no leakage risks
doesn't take up case fan slots
additional cooling for the RAM
CPU cools down faster after heavy heat output

Pros of AIOs:
no RAM clearance issues*
no CPU clearance issues
CPU takes longer time to heat up during heavy heat output (about 30 mins)
* on some cases, top mounted rad can give RAM clearance issues

While how the CPU cooler looks inside the PC depends on a person. Some people prefer to see small AIO pump in the middle of their MoBo with tubing going to the rad while others prefer to see big heatsink with fans in the middle of their MoBo.

Main difference between AIO and air cooler is that with AIO, you'll get more noise at a higher cost while cooling performance remains the same.
Here's also one good article for you to read where former king of air coolers (Noctua NH-D15) was put against 5x high-end AIOs, including former king of AIOs (NZXT x61 Kraken),
link: http://www.relaxedtech.com/reviews/noctua/nh-d15-versus-closed-loop-liquid-coolers/1

Personally, i'd go with air coolers every day of the week. With same cooling performance, the pros of air coolers outweigh the pros of AIOs considerably. While, for me, the 3 main pros would be:
1. Less noise.
Since i like my PC to be quiet, i can't stand the loud noise AIO makes. Also, when air gets trapped inside the AIO (some AIOs are more prone to this than others), there's additional noise coming from inside the pump.
2. Longevity.
Cheaper AIOs usually last 2-3 years and high-end ones 4-5 years before you need to replace it. While with air coolers, their life expectancy is basically unlimited. Only thing that can go bad on an air cooler is the fan on it. If the fan dies, your CPU still has cooling in form of a big heatsink. Also, new 120mm or 140mm fan doesn't cost much and it's easy to replace one. While with AIOs, the main thing that usually goes bad is the pump itself. And when that happens, your CPU has no cooling whatsoever. Since you can't replace pump on an AIO, you need to buy whole new AIO to replace the old one out.
3. No leakage risks.
Since there's liquid circling inside the AIO, there is always a risk that your AIO can leak. While it's rare, it has happened. It's well known fact that conductive liquids and electronics don't mix.


What AIO essentially does, is moving the heat, via liquid, to the radiator, where the heat transfer then takes place. But radiator is still cooled by ambient air. So, you will not get better cooling when using AIO. Though, it takes time for liquid to heat up fully, ~30mins or so. Due to that, you can't see CPU temps to spike as soon as high load starts. With these short workloads, many people think AIO gives better cooling, but it isn't so. Let the workload continue for longer time, until liquid in AIO heats all the way up, and then you'll see the actual cooling performance of an AIO.
On top of that, when high workload on CPU ends, the AIO will feed the heat back to CPU, since liquid in it is still hot. That can have adverse effects.

Air cooler, in the other hand, is all metal (copper pipes and aluminum fins), and it will heat up fast. Hence why you see CPU temps climbing as soon as you put a load on CPU. But as soon as load on CPU stops, heatsink cools down fast and will not feed the heat back to CPU, as AIO does.


Btw, which CPU cooler you actually have? 🤔 Since R9 5900X doesn't come with AMD stock CPU cooler.
But if you want to get lower CPU temps, then i suggest that you go with better (or the best) air cooler to cool your CPU.

E.g;
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (value king)
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE (king of air coolers)
pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/zyNxFT,GpbRsY,MzMMnQ,vZfV3C/

There is ARGB version of the both as well, if you like unicorn puke fans.

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermalright-peerless-assassin-120-se
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE review: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermalright-phantom-spirit-120-review

No AIO can compete with air coolers based on price, noise levels and longevity.