Question Ryzen 9 5950x: Air cooling or 240mm aio?

[Joergfyeg]

I have a question regarding my ryzen 9 5950x cpu. I was wondering whether using a 240mm coolermaster aio cooler or a high end air cooler (probably a nh-d15) plus two more case fans would be more effective. I would normally just buy a 360mm aio cooler but my case unfortunately doesn’t support it. What do you guys think?

Ps. If i bought and used the 240mm aio cooler i mentioned, I wouldn’t be able to have two more case fans.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

What is the make and model of your case and motherboard?

Moved thread from CPU's section to Cooling section.

 

[Joergfyeg]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

What is the make and model of your case and motherboard?

Moved thread from CPU's section to Cooling section.

i have a cooler master argb h500 case and a asus rog b450-f gaming motherboard

 

[Lutfij]

You can fit a 360mm AIO/radiator at the front;
https://coolermaster.egnyte.com/dl/0wavUHfCJf
+
https://pcpartpicker.com/b/qgn7YJ

 

[Joergfyeg]

You can fit a 360mm AIO/radiator at the front;
https://coolermaster.egnyte.com/dl/0wavUHfCJf
+
https://pcpartpicker.com/b/qgn7YJ

Oh, perfect! Thank you!

 

[Joergfyeg]

You answered my question!

 

[bill001g]

Be careful about chasing cooling numbers. As long as you stay below the thermal limits the cpu will run at maximum clocks. It does not really matter if you are 5 degrees below or 10 degrees below it will run the same.

Think very carefully why you want a AIO. A 5950x can easily be cooled by most of the later air coolers. If you look at the results many are as good as 240 AIO. With a air cooler the worst that can happen is you replace a fan. AIO the pump will eventually die and you have to replace the whole unit.

Also be careful about chasing name brands like noctua. For many years they were the best and nobody came close so they could charge huge prices. Now days even very cheap coolers like peerless assassin can meet or exceed the d15 for 1/2 the cost.

 

[Joergfyeg]

Be careful about chasing cooling numbers. As long as you stay below the thermal limits the cpu will run at maximum clocks. It does not really matter if you are 5 degrees below or 10 degrees below it will run the same.

Think very carefully why you want a AIO. A 5950x can easily be cooled by most of the later air coolers. If you look at the results many are as good as 240 AIO. With a air cooler the worst that can happen is you replace a fan. AIO the pump will eventually die and you have to replace the whole unit.

Also be careful about chasing name brands like noctua. For many years they were the best and nobody came close so they could charge huge prices. Now days even very cheap coolers like peerless assassin can meet or exceed the d15 for 1/2 the cost.

Do you think I could just use a peerless assassin or other equivalent air cooler and the two extra case fans I mentioned? I would like to have a low-maintenance build where I don't have to replace things like you mentioned. I would hate to have to replace something expensive especially if I am short on money when I have to do so (just in case i am).

 

[Phaaze88]

Ps. If i bought and used the 240mm aio cooler i mentioned, I wouldn’t be able to have two more case fans.

The fans on AIOs fill both cpu and case fan roles.

I would like to have a low-maintenance build where I don't have to replace things like you mentioned. I would hate to have to replace something expensive especially if I am short on money when I have to do so (just in case i am).

Then air cooler. With AIO, I would recommend having TWO coolers - the AIO, and another to serve as a backup for whenever the AIO inevitably fails.

As long as you stay below the thermal limits the cpu will run at maximum clocks. It does not really matter if you are 5 degrees below or 10 degrees below it will run the same.

This is true for Core i and Ultra, but frequencies on Ryzen have been scaling with temperature since 3000 series.