I've dabbled in almost every single AMD Ryzen desktop CPU throughout its various generations, and our AMD Ryzen 7 5800X review praised its higher performance, so that's what tempted me for the 5000 Series. There was an issue with its higher price, but that was soon settled with a seasonal discount, and I jumped at the chance to buy one.
However, while it's still a great choice for an affordable custom PC gaming rig, it's a CPU that runs pretty hot. I've used both traditional air cooling and a liquid AIO with the 5800X, and I can happily recommend both of the choices I tried. If you're planning to buy this previous-generation 5800X powerhouse, here's where you should start looking for the best CPU cooler.
The best CPU coolers for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
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It's cheap, but the Peerless Assassin is phenomenal. One of those times where a manufacturer proves that you don't need to have a premium just for the brand name if the product works as it should. Kept my 5800X cool, but takes up a lot of space in the case.
ARCTIC upgraded the fans on its Liquid Freezer III to make it the 'Pro' model, but the rest is just the same as the standard model I used once I upgraded to a bigger PC case that could fit a 360mm radiator. Pick a radiator to fit your case and enjoy.
My personal gaming rig used the Ryzen 7 5800X installed with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, and it worked perfectly. The 5000 Series CPU still managed my modern games, but I eventually upgraded to a 7800X3D.
While it's technically outperformed ever so slightly in pure value by its more lightweight sibling, the Ryzen 5 5600X, I still can't resist recommending the 8-core Ryzen 7 5800X whenever it's on sale. I even bought it for my personal gaming desktop, but there is a glaring oversight that you likely noticed when buying one yourself: there's no CPU cooler in the box.
The best CPU cooler for the Ryzen 5800X depends on your needs and case size. You might want to look at something more affordable, like the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for air cooling or the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 240/280/360 AIO, to keep the costs down.
I usually stick with AIO coolers in my machines since I upgraded to a bigger case to fit a 360mm radiator, but even an air cooler needs a good amount of space from the side panel for the heatsink fins, so double-check your available space for clearance over other components like low-profile RAM. If you're building a system from scratch, be sure to check out our favorite motherboards for the Ryzen 7 5800X.
Should you choose air cooling or liquid cooling?
The choice between air and liquid cooling for your Ryzen 7 5800X ultimately comes down to budget and available space in your PC case. Liquid cooling used to be a much more involved process before AIO radiators, but you can now drop a loop into your PC without a lot of effort. Just get the head situated on your CPU and install the radiator at the front or top of your case.
An AIO might be the better option if you have limited space around your CPU, whether due to RAM or other hardware getting in the way. AIOs generally run cooler and offer better cooling performance; RGB lighting on the fans is just icing on top.
However, air coolers are still more than capable of keeping the Ryzen 7 5800X cool. You'll need more clearance around your CPU, but you can usually spend quite a bit less on reliable cooling.
What about an upgrade to AMD's AM5 socket?
The Ryzen 7 5800X operates on the AM4 socket, which is still fully supported by AMD. Heck, AMD even released a couple of "new" Ryzen 5000-series chips in 2024 alongside its new AM5-based Ryzen 9000 "Granite Ridge" hardware launched last year, like the incredible 9800X3D.
If you do eventually want to move away from the AM4-based Ryzen 7 5800X, the coolers listed here should be compatible. At worst, you'll have to pick up a separate conversion kit, which is still a lot less money than a brand-new cooler. Most companies ensure easy compatibility even across AMD and Intel, so your choices remain mostly open when it comes time to upgrade.
