{"id":64327,"date":"2026-08-31T07:44:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T07:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/best-cpu-cooler-for-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T07:47:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T07:47:39","slug":"best-cpu-cooler-for-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/best-cpu-cooler-for-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d\/","title":{"rendered":"Best CPU Cooler for AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gagen-article gagen-v2\"><div class=\"article-intro\">\n  <p>The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is still a 120 W, 8-core Zen 5 chip with 96 MB of L3, AM5, and no cooler in the box. AMD\u2019s sheet still says a liquid cooler is recommended for optimal performance. That is not a 360 mm LCD shopping list. It is the same TDP class as the 9800X3D, with a higher bin: 4.7 GHz base, up to 5.6 GHz boost, boxed ID 100-100001973WOF, launched 29 January 2026.<\/p>\n  <p>The pairing difference is heat, not a different cooler category. Gamers Nexus ran both chips on the same 360 mm Arctic Liquid Freezer II ARGB: the 9850X3D held about 83 \u00b0C all-core Tdie versus 74\u201375 \u00b0C on the 9800X3D (7\u20139 \u00b0C warmer) and pulled 164 W down the EPS12V cables versus 143 W. Gaming is at best about 3\u20134% faster, often a tie. Dual-tower air is still the job. The 2026 default is the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO \u2014 seven heat pipes, 157 mm, AM5 in the box \u2014 because this is the chip GN told people not to put on a borderline cooler.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"quick-picks-box\">\n  <div class=\"qp-header\">\n    <h2>Our Top Picks at a Glance<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"qp-sub\">Updated August 2026 \u00b7 Matched to Ryzen 7 9850X3D 120 W TDP \/ ~164 W EPS all-core, not a 250 W Intel list<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"qp-cards\">\n    <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--gold\">\n      <span class=\"qp-num\">01<\/span>\n      <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall<\/span>\n      <strong class=\"qp-name\">Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO<\/strong>\n      <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.8 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n      <p class=\"qp-why\">7\u00d76 mm heat pipes, 157 mm, AM5. The dual-tower default for the hotter 120 W X3D.<\/p>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n      <a href=\"#best-overall\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--green\">\n      <span class=\"qp-num\">02<\/span>\n      <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value<\/span>\n      <strong class=\"qp-name\">Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE<\/strong>\n      <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.6 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n      <p class=\"qp-why\">Six heat pipes, quieter 1550 RPM fans. Buy it when it is clearly cheaper than the EVO.<\/p>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n      <a href=\"#best-value\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--blue\">\n      <span class=\"qp-num\">03<\/span>\n      <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick<\/span>\n      <strong class=\"qp-name\">Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE<\/strong>\n      <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.4 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n      <p class=\"qp-why\">Single 120 mm tower. Gaming still fits; skip it for PBO \/ all-core on this hotter bin.<\/p>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n      <a href=\"#budget-pick\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"affiliate-disclosure\"><p><em>Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"info-module buying-guide\" id=\"who-should-buy\">\n  <h3>Who should buy what<\/h3>\n  <ul>\n    <li><strong>Most 9850X3D gaming PCs:<\/strong> <a href=\"#best-overall\">Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO<\/a> \u2014 seven pipes, AM5, 157 mm. That extra pipe versus a six-pipe dual tower is the \u201cslightly higher-end cooler\u201d GN asked for if a borderline solution was on the table. Check case CPU height. Pair with low-profile RAM (33 mm Flare X5 class), not a 44 mm RGB kit, unless the front fan can slide up.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Same dual-tower class, often cheaper:<\/strong> <a href=\"#best-value\">Peerless Assassin 120 SE<\/a>. Six heat pipes, slower stock fans. Buy this when it is $10+ under the EVO \u2014 not as a way to cheap out into a single tower.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Short case or tightest budget, gaming only:<\/strong> <a href=\"#budget-pick\">Assassin X 120 Refined SE<\/a>. Fine for game loads in the ~100 W class. Skip it if this PC also runs Cinebench, PBO, or a hot ITX box \u2014 that is the borderline solution on a chip that already runs 7\u20139 \u00b0C hotter than a 9800X3D on the same 360 mm AIO.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Quiet premium air:<\/strong> <a href=\"#premium-air\">Noctua NH-D15 G2 chromax.black<\/a> \u2014 168 mm, six-year warranty. Pays for noise and a mount, not 9850X3D fps (GN: 0\u20134% versus the 9800X3D in games).<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Case already has a 360 mm top mount, or PBO is the point:<\/strong> <a href=\"#aio-pick\">Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360<\/a> \u2014 38 mm radiator, 5 mm AM5 offset, VRM fan. Still not required for stock gaming. Do not default a 360 mm LCD kit.<\/li>\n    <li><strong>Skip:<\/strong> 360 mm LCD AIOs as the default (Kraken Elite, Galahad II LCD), 120 mm AIOs, Intel LGA1700 contact frames on AM5, treating this like a 7800X3D that \u201cruns cool so a 92 mm will do,\u201d and treating it like a 200 W 9950X3D2 that needs a 360 as the floor.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Comparison Table<\/h2>\n<div class=\"comparison-module\">\n  <table class=\"comparison-table\">\n    <thead><tr><th>Product<\/th><th>Best for<\/th><th>Type<\/th><th>Height \/ rad<\/th><th>Heat pipes \/ notes<\/th><th>Price<\/th><th>Buy<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n    <tbody>\n      <tr class=\"highlight-row\"><td><strong>Phantom Spirit 120 EVO<\/strong><\/td><td>Default 9850X3D cooler<\/td><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><td>157 mm<\/td><td>7\u00d76 mm \u00b7 AM5<\/td><td>$40\u2013$55<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>Peerless Assassin 120 SE<\/strong><\/td><td>Cheaper dual tower<\/td><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><td>155 mm<\/td><td>6\u00d76 mm \u00b7 1550 RPM fans<\/td><td>$33\u2013$45<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>Assassin X 120 Refined SE<\/strong><\/td><td>Budget \/ short case, games only<\/td><td>Single-tower air<\/td><td>148 mm<\/td><td>4\u00d76 mm \u00b7 skip PBO<\/td><td>$15\u2013$25<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>NH-D15 G2 chromax.black<\/strong><\/td><td>Quiet air<\/td><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><td>168 mm<\/td><td>Premium fans \u00b7 6-year warranty<\/td><td>$130\u2013$160<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>Liquid Freezer III 360<\/strong><\/td><td>AIO \/ PBO<\/td><td>360 mm AIO<\/td><td>38 mm thick rad<\/td><td>AM5 5 mm offset \u00b7 VRM fan<\/td><td>$85\u2013$120<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>360 mm LCD AIO<\/strong><\/td><td>Skip as default<\/td><td>AIO + screen<\/td><td>360 mm<\/td><td>Pays for RGB, not 9850X3D fps<\/td><td>$150\u2013$300<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr>\n      <tr><td><strong>120 mm AIO<\/strong><\/td><td>Skip<\/td><td>AIO<\/td><td>120 mm<\/td><td>Worse than a $20 single tower on this TDP<\/td><td>$50\u2013$90<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr>\n    <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Street prices move. Thermalright dual towers have sat in the $35\u2013$55 band for years; a 360 mm LCD kit has not. If the EVO is priced like a Noctua, buy the Peerless Assassin 120 SE \u2014 still a dual tower. Do not \u201csave\u201d by dropping to a four-pipe tower and then running PBO.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How We Picked These Coolers<\/h2>\n<ul>\n  <li><strong>AMD\u2019s 9850X3D sheet:<\/strong> 8 cores \/ 16 threads, Zen 5, 4.7 GHz base \/ up to 5.6 GHz boost, 96 MB L3 + 8 MB L2, 120 W default TDP, 95 \u00b0C Tjmax, AM5, Precision Boost Overdrive on, no cooler in the box, \u201cliquid cooler recommended for optimal performance,\u201d boxed 100-100001973WOF. Socket PPT for a 120 W part is still the usual ~1.35\u00d7 ceiling (~162 W) if PBO is allowed to spend it. Same TDP class as the 9800X3D. Not a 170\u2013200 W 16-core X3D, and not the 7800X3D\u2019s cooler-limited stack.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>What the hotter bin actually draws:<\/strong> Gamers Nexus (same 360 mm Arctic Liquid Freezer II ARGB, controlled ambient) measured ~83 \u00b0C steady-state all-core Tdie on the 9850X3D versus 74\u201375 \u00b0C on the 9800X3D \u2014 7\u20139 \u00b0C warmer \u2014 and 164 W EPS12V versus 143 W (~20 W more from higher voltage to hold the extra clocks). Gaming was 0\u20134% at best, often a tie. GN\u2019s cooler note: if buying the 9850X3D rather than the 9800X3D, factor in a slightly more expensive or higher-end cooler if a borderline solution was under consideration. Tom\u2019s Hardware\u2019s faceoff is the same story in games: a few percent more fps for a much larger power bump. That is why this page keeps dual-tower air as the default and tightens the skip on a four-pipe single tower \u2014 not why it jumps to a 360 mm LCD AIO.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>The boxes on this page:<\/strong> Phantom Spirit 120 EVO \u2014 110\u00d7125\u00d7157 mm, 7\u00d76 mm heat pipes, two TL-K12 PWM fans to 2150 RPM \/ 27 dBA \/ 69 CFM, AM4\/AM5. Peerless Assassin 120 SE \u2014 155 mm, 6\u00d76 mm pipes, TL-C12C to 1550 RPM \/ 25.6 dBA. Assassin X 120 Refined SE \u2014 148 mm, 4\u00d76 mm pipes, one 120 mm fan. Dual-tower 6\u20137 pipe air is the class Tom\u2019s Hardware and Hardware Unboxed treat as 240 mm AIO-equivalent on a 120 W part. Seat it on AM5 with the included backplate; do not add an Intel contact frame. The old version of this page led with a 360 mm Arctic AIO and a Pure Rock 3 as a hero. Those are the wrong rungs for stock 9850X3D gaming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Best CPU Cooler for AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D: Detailed Reviews<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"best-overall\" data-badge=\"best-overall\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-best-overall\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall<\/div>\n  <h3>Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> Most 9850X3D mid-tower builds<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> 7 heat pipes \u00b7 157 mm \u00b7 AM5<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.8 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n    <tr><th>Type<\/th><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Size<\/th><td>110 \u00d7 125 \u00d7 157 mm (heatsink)<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Heat pipes<\/th><td>7 \u00d7 6 mm, nickel-plated C1100 base<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Fans<\/th><td>2\u00d7 120 mm TL-K12 PWM, up to 2150 RPM \/ 27 dBA \/ 69 CFM<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Sockets<\/th><td>AM5 \/ AM4 (and Intel 1700\/1851) in the box<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it fits the 9850X3D.<\/strong> Same 120 W sticker as the 9800X3D, plus GN\u2019s extra ~20 W EPS and 7\u20139 \u00b0C all-core. Seven heat pipes and two 120 mm fans cover 120 W TDP and the ~162 W PPT ceiling without a pump \u2014 and they are the step up from a six-pipe or four-pipe kit that GN\u2019s \u201cborderline cooler\u201d warning is actually about. The EVO is the current Phantom Spirit: denser TL-K12 fans than the older SE, same 157 mm envelope that fits most ATX mid-towers listed at 160 mm+ CPU height. AM5 mounting is included. The front fan can be raised on the clips if RAM is taller than a 33 mm Flare X5 \/ ~35 mm Vengeance kit; a 44 mm Trident Z5 Neo RGB is the kit that fights this cooler. This replaces the old Overall on this page (Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360) for stock and gaming loads. A 360 mm AIO is still Layer 2.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the case is under ~160 mm of CPU clearance, or the build is supposed to look like an AIO. Then the Arctic 360 or a different case. If the EVO is sold out or priced like a Noctua, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the same class \u2014 still dual tower. Do not skip downward to a single tower \u201cbecause TDP is 120 W.\u201d<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n    <ul class=\"pros\">\n      <li>7-pipe dual tower sized for 120 W plus the 9850X3D\u2019s extra all-core heat<\/li>\n      <li>AM5 hardware in the box, 157 mm fits typical mid-towers<\/li>\n      <li>Front fan can slide for RAM clearance<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n    <ul class=\"cons\">\n      <li>2150 RPM stock fans are louder at the top than the Peerless Assassin\u2019s 1550 RPM pair<\/li>\n      <li>Tall RGB DIMMs still want the fan raised or a 33 mm kit<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-link\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"best-value\" data-badge=\"best-value\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-best-value\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value<\/div>\n  <h3>Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> Dual-tower cooling on a sale price<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> 6 heat pipes \u00b7 155 mm \u00b7 quieter stock fans<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.6 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n    <tr><th>Type<\/th><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Size<\/th><td>125 \u00d7 110 \u00d7 155 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Heat pipes<\/th><td>6 \u00d7 6 mm, C1100 nickel-plated base<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Fans<\/th><td>2\u00d7 TL-C12C PWM, 1550 RPM \/ 25.6 dBA \/ 66.17 CFM<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Sockets<\/th><td>AM5 \/ AM4 in the box<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it fits the 9850X3D.<\/strong> Still a dual tower, which is the floor this chip wants. Six heat pipes instead of the EVO\u2019s seven, and the stock TL-C12C fans top out at 1550 RPM \/ 25.6 dBA instead of 2150 \/ 27. On a 120 W gaming load that is a noise win. On GN\u2019s all-core 164 W EPS figure, the missing pipe is why the EVO is Overall and this is Value \u2014 not why this page would drop to a single tower. 155 mm vs 157 mm is the same case check. Do not grab Peerless Assassin 120 Vision \/ RGB unless lights are the reason \u2014 the SE is the Value SKU. Same RAM rule as the EVO: 33 mm kits clear; 44 mm RGB may need the front fan shifted.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the EVO is the same price \u2014 then buy the seven-pipe cooler, which is the pairing this CPU actually asked for. Skip the Mini \/ 120 mm single-tower siblings if the case already has 160 mm; that is the Budget card\u2019s job, and even that card has a harder skip for PBO on this chip.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n    <ul class=\"pros\">\n      <li>Usually the cheapest dual tower that still matches the 9850X3D target<\/li>\n      <li>Quieter stock fan curve than the EVO<\/li>\n      <li>AM5 included, 155 mm<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n    <ul class=\"cons\">\n      <li>One fewer heat pipe than the Phantom Spirit EVO on a chip that already runs hotter than a 9800X3D<\/li>\n      <li>Amazon mixes SE, Mini, and Vision listings \u2014 confirm dual tower, two fans, non-LCD<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-link\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"budget-pick\" data-badge=\"budget\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-budget\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick<\/div>\n  <h3>Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> Gaming-only \/ height-limited cases<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> 148 mm single tower \u00b7 4 heat pipes \u00b7 AM5<\/div>\n    <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.4 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n    <tr><th>Type<\/th><td>Single-tower air<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Size<\/th><td>120 \u00d7 46 \u00d7 148 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Heat pipes<\/th><td>4 \u00d7 6 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Fans<\/th><td>1\u00d7 120 mm TL-C12C, 1550 RPM \/ 25.6 dBA<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Sockets<\/th><td>AM5 \/ AM4<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it still has a slot.<\/strong> Game loads on this CPU are still in the dual-digit to ~100 W class, not a 16-core PPT. A four-pipe 120 mm tower can hold gaming. 148 mm and a 46 mm-deep tower also solve RAM clearance that dual towers create, and they fit cases that list 155 mm CPU height. Prefer the black non-RGB SE if it is in stock; ARGB is a different SKU, same cooler. This is not the old page\u2019s Pure Rock 3 hero, and it is not a 240 mm AIO. A 120 mm AIO on this TDP is still the skip.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the case already clears 160 mm and the extra $20 for a Peerless Assassin is available \u2014 buy the dual tower. Treat that skip as stronger than on a 9800X3D: GN measured 7\u20139 \u00b0C more all-core heat on the same 360 mm AIO and called out borderline coolers specifically for this SKU. Also skip it as the only cooler on a 9850X3D that lives in Cinebench \/ PBO \/ a hot ITX box with a fat GPU.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n    <ul class=\"pros\">\n      <li>Covers 9850X3D gaming wattage without a dual-tower or a pump<\/li>\n      <li>148 mm and no front-fan-over-RAM problem<\/li>\n      <li>Usually $15\u2013$25<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n    <ul class=\"cons\">\n      <li>Four pipes \/ one fan \u2014 the borderline all-core\/PBO cooler on this hotter bin<\/li>\n      <li>ARGB and non-RGB listings get mixed on Amazon<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-link\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>If You Need Something Else<\/h2>\n<p>These two are not cheaper versions of the Top 3. One buys silence and a six-year warranty. The other is the AIO to use when the case is already a 360 mm box, or PBO is actually on. Neither is the default for a 120 W 9850X3D.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"premium-air\" data-badge=\"also-great\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-also-great\">\ud83d\udd07 Quiet air<\/div>\n  <h3>Noctua NH-D15 G2 chromax.black <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n    <tr><th>Type<\/th><td>Dual-tower air<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Height<\/th><td>168 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Fans<\/th><td>2\u00d7 140 mm-class NF-A14x25r G2 (LCP)<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Sockets<\/th><td>AM5 \/ AM4 in the box<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Warranty<\/th><td>6 years<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p>Pay Noctua money for the mount, the fan quality, and the warranty, not because the 9850X3D needs more cooler than a Phantom Spirit. GN\u2019s extra 7\u20139 \u00b0C was measured on a 360 mm AIO in all-core; it does not turn this chip into a 9950X3D2. 168 mm is the case check \u2014 many mid-towers that pass 157 mm fail 168 mm. RAM clearance is tighter than Thermalright; a 33 mm kit is the safe pairing, and the inner fan can be shifted or removed for tall DIMMs at a thermal cost. chromax.black is the all-black G2. The beige NH-D15 G2 is the same cooler.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> $130\u2013$160 is three Phantom Spirits. On this CPU that money does not buy frames \u2014 GN\u2019s gaming delta versus a 9800X3D was 0\u20134%.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"purchase-link\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=Noctua+NH-D15+G2+chromax.black&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"aio-pick\" data-badge=\"also-great\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-also-great\">\ud83d\udca7 360 mm AIO<\/div>\n  <h3>Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a><\/h3>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n    <tr><th>Type<\/th><td>360 mm AIO<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Radiator<\/th><td>398 \u00d7 120 \u00d7 38 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Fans<\/th><td>3\u00d7 P12 PWM, 200\u20131800 RPM<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>AMD mount<\/th><td>5 mm offset cold plate for the chiplet hotspot<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><th>Extra<\/th><td>60 mm VRM fan \u00b7 MX-6 paste \u00b7 6-year warranty<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p>This was the spirit of the old Overall pick (the Pro 360), and it is still the right AIO if the case already takes a 38 mm-thick 360 mm radiator. GN\u2019s 164 W EPS \/ 83 \u00b0C all-core numbers were taken on Arctic\u2019s previous 360 mm Liquid Freezer II \u2014 liquid works; it is not required for stock games. Arctic\u2019s AM5 kit offsets the cold plate 5 mm toward the CCD, and the pump block has a PWM VRM fan that a dual-tower already provides with its rear fan. Cables are sleeved into the tubes. The Intel contact frame in the box is for LGA1700\/1851 \u2014 leave it in the bag on AM5. Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 is the same idea with newer P12 Pro fans; buy Pro if the delta is small, III if it is not. A 360 mm LCD Kraken or Galahad is a screen, not more 9850X3D performance.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the PC is stock gaming in a case without a clean 360 mm top or front mount. That is the Phantom Spirit. Also skip 240 mm \u201cbecause AMD said liquid\u201d \u2014 a $40 dual tower is the better 240 mm substitute on this TDP. Skip using the AIO to justify a four-pipe air cooler as the other option; pick one lane.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"purchase-link\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=Arctic+Liquid+Freezer+III+360&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-module\">\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>AMD lists a liquid cooler as recommended. Is a 360 mm AIO required?<\/h3><p>No. The boxed 9850X3D ships with no cooler, and AMD\u2019s language is \u201cliquid recommended for optimal performance.\u201d The TDP is still 120 W. GN\u2019s extra heat versus a 9800X3D was measured on a 360 mm AIO (83 \u00b0C vs 74\u201375 \u00b0C all-core). That argues for a real dual tower instead of a borderline single tower, not for a 360 mm LCD kit as the default. Use a 360 mm AIO when the case is already built for it, for PBO headroom, or for the look.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>Is this chip hotter than a 9800X3D enough to change the cooler class?<\/h3><p>It is hotter. It is not a different class. GN: ~20 W more EPS12V (164 W vs 143 W) and 7\u20139 \u00b0C more all-core on the same 360 mm cooler, from higher voltage to hold the 5.6 GHz bin. Gaming remains 0\u20134% at best. Stay in dual-tower air. Do not copy a 9800X3D \u201cfour-pipe is fine for Cinebench too\u201d habit, and do not copy a 9950X3D2 \u201c360 mm is the floor\u201d habit.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>Is an AM5 contact frame needed?<\/h3><p>No. Intel LGA1700\/1851 contact frames exist because that ILM bends the IHS. AM5 is a different socket. Arctic includes an Intel frame with the Liquid Freezer III; it stays unused on Ryzen. Do not buy a third-party AM5 \u201ccontact frame\u201d as a cooler upgrade.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>Will a dual-tower hit the RAM?<\/h3><p>It can. Front 120 mm fans sit over DIMM A2. A 33 mm kit (G.Skill Flare X5 class) is the easy pairing. A ~44 mm RGB kit (Trident Z5 Neo) often needs the front fan raised on the clips, or the inner fan omitted. Check the case\u2019s CPU height too: 157 mm for the Thermalright dual towers, 168 mm for the NH-D15 G2, 148 mm for the Assassin X.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>Does PBO or Curve Optimizer change the cooler choice?<\/h3><p>Only if those settings are actually used. A negative Curve Optimizer without raising limits is the efficiency path and makes any of the Top 3 quieter. Spending PPT up to ~162 W on this already-hotter bin is when the 360 mm Arctic (or the EVO with fans allowed to spin) earns its keep \u2014 and when the Assassin X should be off the list. Gaming fps barely moves either way; GN\u2019s stock 9850X3D vs 9800X3D gaming gap was already small.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Final Verdict<\/h2>\n<div class=\"conclusion-module verdict-box\">\n  <div class=\"verdict-picks\">\n    <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n      <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall:<\/span>\n      <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 7-pipe dual tower, 157 mm, AM5. The 9850X3D default.<\/span><\/div>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Phantom+Spirit+120+EVO&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n      <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value:<\/span>\n      <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 Same dual-tower job, usually cheaper, quieter stock fans.<\/span><\/div>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Peerless+Assassin+120+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n      <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick:<\/span>\n      <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>Thermalright Assassin X 120 Refined SE<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 Single 120 mm tower for gaming, not for PBO on this hotter bin.<\/span><\/div>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=Thermalright+Assassin+X+120+Refined+SE&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"verdict-summary\">For most Ryzen 7 9850X3D builds, buy the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO, confirm ~160 mm case height, and use a 33 mm RAM kit. The extra heat versus a 9800X3D (~20 W EPS, 7\u20139 \u00b0C all-core per GN) is why the default is the seven-pipe tower, not why a 360 mm LCD AIO is required. If the EVO is the expensive listing that week, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE is the value dual tower. Tight budget or a short case, games only? Assassin X 120 Refined SE \u2014 skip it for all-core PBO. Quiet-at-any-price air and a 360 mm AIO are different jobs. Do not default to a 360 mm LCD kit because AMD printed the word liquid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is still a 120 W chip with no boxed cooler, but Gamers Nexus measured ~20 W more EPS12V and 7\u20139 \u00b0C hotter all-core than a 9800X3D. Dual-tower air is the 2026 default \u2014 the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 EVO \u2014 not a 360 mm LCD AIO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,35],"tags":[444],"class_list":["post-64327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cpu","category-cpu-cooler","tag-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64327"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69036,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64327\/revisions\/69036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}