What kind of cooler do you need for AMD’s middle of the road Ryzen 7 7700X?
Updated: Sep 23, 2022 5:49 pm
The Ryzen 7 7700X sits in the middle of the mighty Ryzen 9 processors and the more affordable 7600X.
Despite this, the overall TDP is the same as Ryzen 5 7600X, meaning CPU coolers from 240mm to 360mm should be able to handle this processor.
The new Ryzen 7000 launch brings us four new SKUs, all now coming with higher TDPs when boosted, so the best CPU cooler for the job is an absolute must.
READ NOW: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X vs Ryzen 7 5700X
Best cooler for 7700X: First look
01
Editor’s Choice
The best CPU cooler for Ryzen 7 7700X
Asus ROG RYUJIN II 360 CPU Cooler
02
Runner Up
The best 7700X cooler for those with Corsair iCUE
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix Liquid CPU Cooler
03
Air Pick
The best air cooler for the Ryzen 7 7700X
Noctua NH-D15
Can you use an air cooler for Ryzen 7 7700X?
Yes, unlike the Ryzen 9 SKUs from AMDs 7000 series, you can air cooler the Ryzen 7 7700X, however, it is still a good idea to go beefy.
The base TDP for the Ryzen 7 7700X is 105W, however, under boost, you can see as much as 142W.
This means the stock coolers we were once treated to would no longer cut it but there is a wide range of coolers that are up to this task.
Is an AIO overkill for a Ryzen 7 CPU?
Not necessarily but if you are on a budget you may want to consider a more affordable cooling solution.
Generally speaking, a liquid AIO CPU cooler will take care of all your needs but as we are dealing with a relatively low TDP in comparison to the higher SKUs, a good quality air cooler could be all you need.
We have recommended two AIO coolers and a beefy air cooler below but the reality is that most users will need a cooler that can handle up to 150 TDP.
Best cooler for the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Here are our top selections for the middle SKU – AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU.
ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360
Pros
- LCD Screen
- High Performance
- Aesthetically, one of the best looking AIOs on the market
Cons
- Expensive
- More affordable options that perform similarly
The ASUS ROG Ryujin II is a solid cooler and while it may be a little overkill for the Ryzen 7, it is one of the best on the market.
This cooler comes in both 240 and 360mm, giving different options for various form factor cases. For the purposes of this article, the 240mm may be the better option if you are trying not to overspend.
The main feature of the Ryujin II is the LCD screen, allowing you to display any image, GIF, or even AIDA64s information to be shown on the 3.5″ full-color screen.
The Ryuijin ii comes with 380mm sleeved tubing, adding to the overall durability.
This has all the efficiency and cooling capacity your Ryzen 7 7700X would ever need and with the fabulous pump, it’s a looker too.
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix Liquid CPU Cooler
Item Dimensions LxWxH
15.63 x 4.71 x 4.71 inches
Pros
- Quiet Running Volume – This system should rarely break 36dBA.
- RGBs – bright and punchy, these RGBs will breathe new life into your case.
- Pump Design – A split-flow copper cold plate and a ton of micro-skived fins enable you to push your CPU to the limit.
Cons
- Price – You may have to liquidate your assets to afford this liquid asset.
- Installation – The fans can be difficult to screw into place.
The Corsair H150i iCUE Elite Capellix is another possible liquid option for the Ryzen 7 7700X CPU.
The cooling potential is as good as the rest and if you feel a 360mm is too big or too expensive, you can always go for a 240 or 280mm option instead.
This, like the others, features 3x 120mm fans, a large radiator, and powerful pump, giving your new chip all the cool water it needs to run efficiently.
This cooler features an LCD screen upgrade if you struggle to find stock on the model that comes with the LCD included.
Noctua NH-D15
Noctua NH-D15
Dimensions
(H)165 x (W)150 x (D)150 mm
Pros
- Solid thermal performance
- Excellent acoustic performance
- User-friendly mounting system
- Outstanding build quality
- Comes with (2) 140mm fans
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Hefty size
The Noctua NH-D15 is arguably one of the best air coolers on the market.
The design is a bit hit and miss for some, however, the cooling performance is superb.
The size means this will only be suitable for mid-towers and up, with extra clearance needed for the two large heatsinks and accompanying 140mm fans.
Noctua does offer an ‘S’ variant, which is significantly smaller for those that lack the room for the larger model, without compromising too much on cooling efficiency.
The max noise sits near 24.6dB and with a max RPM of 1500.
Overall, this is one of the best air coolers and will handle the Ryzen 7 without issue.
Final word
There are a lot of options when it comes to the best cooler for the Ryzen 7 7700X but the basic principles are to make sure you aim for a cooler that handles over 150 TDP.
All our selections are the best on the market, however, it is viable to go for slightly smaller-sized variants if needed.
