Buying Guide
The Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen
Five air coolers ranked on heat pipe count and fan size, where the NH-D15S chromax.black has the largest fan size; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Ryzen chips run hot at boost, so a tower cooler is a better match than the stock Wraith. Every pick is a tower air cooler with AM5 support, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects heat pipes, fan size and height from maker specifications; a missing heat pipes is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Height
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SEThe lowest height here (154mm).
Best for: Buyers who put height first.
Check price for Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Digital ARGB WhiteA magnetic digital display board.
Best for: Buyers who want magnetic digital display board.
Check price for Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Digital ARGB White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Noctua NH-U12S reduxA slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Best for: Buyers who want slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Check price for Noctua NH-U12S redux on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Noctua NH-U12S chromax.blackA slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Best for: Buyers who want slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Check price for Noctua NH-U12S chromax.black on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Fan Size
Noctua NH-D15S chromax.blackThe largest fan size here (140mm).
Best for: Buyers who put fan size first.
Check price for Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Height1 of 5
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE packs seven heat pipes and two 120mm fans into a 154mm-tall dual tower.
Best for
- Buyers who put height first.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: fan size of 120mm, behind the NH-D15S chromax.black (140mm).
Why we like it
Thermalright rates it for CPUs up to 280W, which covers most gaming chips with room to spare. Thermalright rates it for CPUs from 105W to 280W, and mounting kits cover AM4, AM5 and Intel up to LGA1851. It matches the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White, the NH-U12S redux and the NH-U12S chromax.black on fan size (120mm).
Its 154mm height is the lowest here; the NH-U12S redux comes next at 158mm. Check that your case offers at least 154mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White was closest. What it gives up: fan size of 120mm, behind the NH-D15S chromax.black (140mm); by contrast, the NH-D15S chromax.black comes in at 140mm.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 7
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 154mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 7 heat pipes
- Two fans included
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Dual-tower heatsink
Cons
- Fan size of 120mm, behind the NH-D15S chromax.black (140mm)
Also Consider2 of 5
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Digital ARGB White
The Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White adds a temperature display to the six-pipe Peerless Assassin in a white finish.
Best for
- Buyers who want magnetic digital display board.
Skip if
- Skip it if height matters most to you; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers 154mm.
Why we like it
Its ARGB fans sync through a standard 5V 3-pin header. On fan size it ties with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, the NH-U12S redux and the NH-U12S chromax.black at 120mm. On height it trails the group at 162mm, while the Phantom Spirit 120 SE comes in at 154mm.
You also get a 25.6dB(A) noise rating. Check that your case offers at least 162mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. The maker names AM5 but not Intel LGA1851, so check the maker's site if you are building on Core Ultra. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Phantom Spirit 120 SE and the pricier NH-U12S redux, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Heat pipes
- 6
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 162mm
- Fans included
- 2
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, Intel
Pros
- Two fans included
- Magnetic digital display board
- 25.6dB(A) noise rating
Cons
- Height trails the Phantom Spirit 120 SE (154mm)
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Noctua NH-U12S redux
The NH-U12S redux is a slim single tower with one 120mm fan.
Best for
- Buyers who want slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It sits clear of the RAM slots and suits 65W to mid-range CPUs in narrower cases. It is a lower-cost redux version of the NH-U12S, with an NF-P12 redux fan that is near silent at idle. It ships with an NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM fan, NT-H1 thermal paste and the SecuFirm2 mounting system, and it covers Intel LGA1700 and LGA1200 as well as AMD AM4.
It matches the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White and the NH-U12S chromax.black on fan size (120mm). Check that your case offers at least 158mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. If you want a confirmed heat pipe count, look to the Phantom Spirit 120 SE instead: it offers 7, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 158mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots
- Height of 158mm, ahead of the NH-D15S chromax.black
Cons
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
Noctua NH-U12S chromax.black
The NH-U12S is a slim 120mm tower that never overhangs the RAM or blocks the top PCIe slot.
Best for
- Buyers who want slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Skip if
- Skip it if fan size matters most to you; the NH-D15S chromax.black offers 140mm.
Why we like it
At 158mm it fits most towers, and the black finish suits a dark build. It ships with an NF-F12 120mm PWM fan and a Low-Noise Adaptor, NT-H1 thermal paste and the SecuFirm2 mount, and Noctua backs it with a 6-year warranty. Mounting covers Intel LGA1851, LGA1700 and LGA1200 as well as AMD AM5 and AM4.
On fan size it ties with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White and the NH-U12S redux at 120mm. Check that your case offers at least 158mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Its price falls between the NH-U12S redux and the NH-D15S chromax.black, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed heat pipe count should compare it with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, which offers 7.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 120mm
- Height
- 158mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots
- NF-F12 PWM fan
- All-black finish
Cons
- Fan size trails the NH-D15S chromax.black (140mm)
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
Largest Fan Size5 of 5
Noctua NH-D15S chromax.black
The NH-D15S keeps the dual-tower heatsink but drops to one 140mm fan, which buys 65mm of RAM clearance and a clear top PCIe slot.
Best for
- Buyers who put fan size first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
At 160mm tall it fits most tower cases. Nothing else here matches its 140mm fan size; the Phantom Spirit 120 SE comes closest at 120mm. Its 160mm height ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Phantom Spirit 120 SE (154mm) and ahead of the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White (162mm).
It also offers an all-black finish. Check that your case offers at least 160mm of CPU cooler clearance before ordering. Only the NH-U12S chromax.black came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published heat pipe count figure, whereas the Phantom Spirit 120 SE offers 7.
Key specs
- Fan size
- 140mm
- Height
- 160mm
- Fans included
- 1
- Sockets named
- AM5, AM4, LGA1851, LGA1700
Pros
- 140mm fans that can spin slower for the same airflow
- Mounts on both AM5 and Intel LGA1851
- Asymmetrical dual-tower heatsink with 65mm RAM clearance
- Single NF-A15 140mm PWM fan
Cons
- Costs more than the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at the time of writing
How We Chose These CPU Coolers for Ryzen
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five coolers on heat pipe count, fan size, height and fans included, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and heat pipe count is missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Phantom Spirit 120 SE to the NH-D15S chromax.black, state fan size, height and fans included.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12S chromax.black and the NH-D15S chromax.black give no heat pipe count.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Phantom Spirit 120 SE (under $50) to the NH-D15S chromax.black ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a CPU Cooler for Ryzen
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much fan size you need
The NH-D15S chromax.black tops fan size at 140mm and the NH-U12S chromax.black sits lowest at 120mm. If fan size is your first filter, the NH-D15S chromax.black sets the ceiling at 140mm.
Height
Here height runs from 162mm on the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White to 154mm on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, a 5% spread. The Phantom Spirit 120 SE is the pick for height.
An all-in-one liquid cooler pump block above a graphics card Heat pipe count across these picks
Here heat pipe count runs from 6 on the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White to 7 on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, a 17% spread. Start with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE if heat pipe count decides it. The NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12S chromax.black and the NH-D15S chromax.black give no heat pipe count figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The NH-U12S redux: a slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots. The NH-U12S chromax.black: an NF-F12 PWM fan. The NH-D15S chromax.black: a single NF-A15 140mm PWM fan.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them How much to spend
Under $50 buys the Phantom Spirit 120 SE and the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White; $50 to $100 buys the NH-U12S redux and the NH-U12S chromax.black; $100 to $150 buys the NH-D15S chromax.black at our last check.
How to Choose a CPU Cooler for Ryzen
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put height first | Phantom Spirit 120 SE | The lowest height here (154mm) |
| Buyers who want magnetic digital display board | Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White | A magnetic digital display board |
| Buyers who want slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots | NH-U12S redux | A slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots |
| Buyers who want slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots | NH-U12S chromax.black | A slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots |
| Buyers who put fan size first | NH-D15S chromax.black | The largest fan size here (140mm) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NH-D15S chromax.black leads on fan size at 140mm, ahead of the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 120mm. "Not listed" marks heat pipe count where the NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12S chromax.black and the NH-D15S chromax.black leave the figure out.
| Cooler | Heat pipes | Fan size | Height | Fans included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phantom Spirit 120 SE | 7 | 120mm | 154mm | 2 |
| Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White | 6 | 120mm | 162mm | 2 |
| NH-U12S redux | Not listed | 120mm | 158mm | 1 |
| NH-U12S chromax.black | Not listed | 120mm | 158mm | 1 |
| NH-D15S chromax.black | Not listed | 140mm | 160mm | 1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE was the lowest-priced pick (under $50) and the NH-D15S chromax.black the highest ($100 to $150) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Coolers |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Phantom Spirit 120 SE, Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White |
| About $50 to $100 | NH-U12S redux, NH-U12S chromax.black |
| About $100 to $150 | NH-D15S chromax.black |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Phantom Spirit 120 SE compare with the NH-D15S chromax.black on fan size?
The NH-D15S chromax.black leads at 140mm, with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE at 120mm.
Which has the lowest height: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE or the NH-U12S redux?
Between the top two, it is 154mm on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE against 158mm on the NH-U12S redux, a 3% difference. The spread runs down to the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White at 162mm.
Which has the highest heat pipe count: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE or the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White?
Between the top two, it is 7 on the Phantom Spirit 120 SE against 6 on the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White, a 17% difference. No heat pipe count figure is published for the NH-U12S redux, the NH-U12S chromax.black and the NH-D15S chromax.black, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the NH-D15S chromax.black add over the Phantom Spirit 120 SE?
What it brings is fan size (140mm against 120mm). It does not win everywhere: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE still leads on height (154mm). On our last price check the Phantom Spirit 120 SE was in the under $50 tier and the NH-D15S chromax.black in the $100 to $150 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if fan size decides your purchase.
Why is the NH-D15S chromax.black our Largest Fan Size pick?
It earns the label for the largest fan size here (140mm). On fan size it leads the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, 140mm against 120mm, a 17% margin. The price of that: the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, the cheapest pick, still beats it on height (154mm against 160mm). It suits anyone who puts fan size first.
What extras do the Phantom Spirit 120 SE and the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White include?
The Phantom Spirit 120 SE: a dual-tower heatsink. The Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White: a magnetic digital display board. The NH-U12S redux: a slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Phantom Spirit 120 SE, chosen for the lowest height here (154mm). Look at the Peerless Assassin 120 Digital White for a magnetic digital display board, the NH-U12S redux for a slim single tower that does not overhang the RAM slots and the NH-U12S chromax.black for a slim tower that does not overhang the RAM slots if those matter more to you.
AM5 uses the stock backplate for most coolers; keep it in place.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Air Coolers
- Related guideThe Best CPU Air Coolers
- Related guideThe Best Low-Profile CPU Coolers
- Lower budgetThe Best CPU Coolers Under $30
- Similar guideThe Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 5 7600X
- ExplainerPC Airflow Explained
- ExplainerHow Many Case Fans Do You Need?
- Check compatibility: processorsHow to Choose a CPU for Your PC
- Similar guideThe Best CPU Coolers for the Ryzen 5 9600X
- Topic hubAll cpu coolers and cooling guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
View all articles