This review guide aims to give you the best CPU cooler for ryzen 5 5600X in 2022.
If you’re in a hurry and want to know about our best pick quickly, we’ve found Noctua’s NH-U12A to be the best CPU cooler for ryzen 5 5600x and the perfect option for most people.
The only thing you might dislike in this cooler would be its premium price and color scheme. In that case, we would advise you to read the whole guide and look at other options.
Among all Ryzen 5000 CPUs, the Ryzen 5 5600X arguably has the best value for money. Coming in with 6 cores and 12 threads, it performs better than any Intel offering in most single-threaded workloads, including gaming.
Even in productive apps, it manages to beat the last-gen premium models such as the 3800X.
And the fact that AMD hasn’t made any drastic changes with Zen 3 architecture, and carried on with the same 7nm node, makes this feat even more praiseworthy.
Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 5 5600X
Its predecessor (Ryzen 5 3600) was a great all-around CPU in its own regard, but 5600X offers roughly 20% better performance on average – across all games.
Technically, Ryzen 5800X and 5900X/5950X CPUs perform slightly better than the 5600X, but their big price differences don’t translate well to their little performance increase (especially in games).
Overall, it is the best gaming processor right now and can give you 60+ FPS at 4K on any modern AAA title out there (unless you’re playing Cyberpunk 2077, LoL).
Keeping the Ryzen 5 5600X cool will be no easy task, as the chip has a boost clock speed of 4.6 GHz! Given that this six-core monster will be blazing fast right out of the box picking up an adequate cooler is a must.
We have put together a list of what we consider the top 4 and the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x below.
1. DEEPCOOL GAMMAXX400: Best Budget CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x
What We Like
- Great price-to-performance ratio
- Direct contact heat pipes
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly higher noise
- Bland design
DEEPCOOL has been making a name for itself in the CPU cooling market, offering excellent performance to go along with nice aesthetics and a decent price.
The GAMMAXX 400 is a shining example of each of those qualities, giving you everything you need to keep your new Ryzen gaming processor cool.
If you are budget-minded, read carefully here, as this DEEPCOOL cooler could be your best option.
Design
This large air cooler has a very basic overall design, with the aluminum heat fins and smoky fan being the main design features you notice.
The silver contrasts well with the smoky fan color, including a blue LED for a bit of lighting.
While it’s not RGB, the blue color will look really good if your build has an overall dark theme.
Performance
This is a tower cooler, with four copper heat pipes running up through a large stack of fins to dissipate the heat.
The heat pipes directly interact with the CPU, giving it a strong performance score.
It is very similar in design to the legendary Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, which is a very good thing.
Size and Clearance
This cooler comes in at 154.5mm in height, making it a bit too tall for some smaller cases.
Most mid-size and larger cases can handle a cooler this size without issue, but make sure to know what your case can support beforehand.
As with any tower cooler, you will need low-profile memory to fit under the edge of this cooler. For more info, check our 5600X-compatible RAMs guide.
2. Noctua NH-U12A: Best Overall, Air CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x
What We Like
- Silent operations
- Excellent cooling performance
- Top-of-the-line build quality
What We Don’t Like
- No RGB
- Slightly expensive
- Brown color scheme
No other name is as well respected regarding CPU coolers as Noctua. They have been designing some of the best coolers on the market for decades now and continue to do so today.
When it comes to cooling a Ryzen 5 processor, we suggest checking out the Noctua NH-U12A.
It is an extremely high-performing cooler that is surprisingly quiet for the amount of air that it moves.
Design
Noctua is very polarizing when it comes to design. The shiny silver metal is machined to perfection, as the heat pipes let off a sheen like a chrome bumper on a show car.
But they slap on their fans to either side, with the tan and brown color scheme that looks like a suit jacket from the 1930s.
Some people don’t mind the brown fans, prioritizing the performance over the looks, but if you want an aesthetically pleasing color scheme, this may not be the cooler for you.
Performance
This is where the Noctua cooler kills it. The NH-U12A is the smaller of the Noctua high-performance coolers, with only 120mm fans attached.
However, it reaches temperatures nearly matching that of its bigger brother that sports 140mm fans! Quite impressive, especially given just how quiet these fans are.
Even at max RPMs, the Noctua fans are much less noisy than all of the other coolers on this list.
Size and Clearance
Coming in at 158mm in height, this will fit in most cases other than mini-ITX and some microATX sizes.
You shouldn’t have an issue if you have a mid-tower or full-size case.
This is another tower-style cooler, so there could be some potential RAM clearance issues, so make sure you have low-profile memory to combat this possible problem.
3. Noctua NH-L12S: Best Low-Profile CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x
What We Like
- Low profile design
- Midrange price
- Ideal for SFF PC Builds
What We Don’t Like
- Brown color scheme
The second Noctua cooler on this list is for those that have issues with the height restriction in their case.
The previous two coolers were tower style, but this Noctua offering is a more traditional air cooler shape.
This will give you the high performance of the Noctua fan and engineering while remaining low profile.
Design
This cooler has the same “ugly” brown fan design as all other Noctua coolers, but luckily this time it is somewhat hidden under the silver cooler.
This makes it much more bearable to look at and will make it fit much more seamlessly into any build.
If you want that award-winning Noctua cooling performance without the eyesore brown, this could be a great option for you.
Performance
It is a Noctua cooler, so you know it will perform well. It is a low-profile cooler, so the performance may not match the much larger tower coolers in their lineup. But compared to other coolers in this range, it dominates.
The fast and quiet fan is the real difference-maker, especially when combined with their gorgeously engineered heat pipe and fin design.
Size and Clearance
With a height of only 70mm, it will fit in almost every case on the market.
Even if you have the smallest of small form factor cases, there is a strong likelihood that this fan will fit right in.
Check your case specs to make sure, but know that if this doesn’t fit, you will be hard-pressed to find one that does.
4. NZXT Kraken X53: Best AIO CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x
What We Like
- Improved 7th Gen Asetek pump
- Easy to install
- Infinity effect on the CPU block’ LCD
- NZXT CAM software
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- No fan control from the software
We couldn’t leave an AIO water cooler off of this list, and the one we believe fits the best with the Ryzen 5 5600X is the NZXT Kraken X53.
NZXT is one of the biggest producers of AIO coolers, and the Kraken X53 is one of the best they make.
It is not only great at keeping CPUs cool, but it is nice looking as well. It has a ton to offer and is one of the most complete coolers out there today.
Design
The matte black finish on the radiator and fans give it a sleek and stealthy look that will please everyone.
The RGB lighting around the logo on the CPU block is also beautiful, giving it a premium look all around.
Overall, you will be hard-pressed to find a better-looking CPU cooler on the market.
Performance
If you are looking for the best-performing 240mm all-in-one water cooling solution on the market, the Kraken X53 has a claim to the crown.
Your CPU temperatures will be ice-cold even under the most stressful scenarios.
The fans on the radiator have acceptable noise levels even when cranked to the max, allowing you the peace of mind of knowing that you will not burst your eardrums when sitting near your computer.
Size and Clearance
This AIO features a 240mm radiator, so the main consideration here is to ensure you have enough room in your case to accommodate it and the accompanying fans.
The CPU block and hoses offer plenty of clearance room for all of your other computer components.
This is one major positive with going with a water cooler over a high-quality air cooler.
The Best CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x Video Review
Final Thoughts On The Best CPU Cooler for Ryzen 5 5600x
There you have it, the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X Review. Each has its pros and cons, and anyone would make a great addition to your computer rig.
Whether you choose the small air cooler, the larger air cooler, or the water-cooled option, you will not be disappointed with any choices.
If we had to pick the cream of the crop, it would be the NZXT Kraken X53, as long as you have the budget for it.
This cooler has everything you will need to keep your CPU cool for years to come, and those amazing RGB lights will look good while doing it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ryzen 5 5600X have a CPU cooler?
Yes, the Ryzen 5 5600X comes with AMD’s Wraith Stealth stock cooler.
Do I need a 3rd-party CPU cooler for Ryzen 5 5600X?
It depends on your usage.
If you want to get the most out of your 5600X or do overclocking, you will need a high-end air cooler or an AIO option. But the stock cooler can also give you a decent performance if you have a well-ventilated case and are comfortable with a slightly higher CPU temperature.
Does the Wraith Stealth cooler come with thermal paste?
Yes, this cooler has the thermal paste pre-applied on its base. But if you don’t like it, you can remove it and apply your own paste (Like Arctic Silver) for better performance.
Is Wraith stealth cooler RGB?
No, the Wraith Stealth Cooler does not come with RGB lighting.
Is the Ryzen stock cooler loud?
The wraith stealth stock cooler can be noisy under a heavy workload. Thus, if quiet operations are your primary focus, then you should invest in a 3rd-party solution.
Different cases perform differently in containing the inside noise. So you can use the stock cooler for some time before deciding whether you want to have a better cooler for this current build or not.
If you don’t have any extra budget, you can change the fan curve in the BIOS settings, and hopefully, it’ll make much less noise.
