The Ryzen 7 7700X is an excellent CPU which is known for running hot. Replacing the stock cooler is a great idea if you've decided on this processor for your AMD PC build or if you've noticed that yours is running too warm for comfort. A CPU cooler effectively pulls heat away from the chip, and you don't need to spend a fortune to get a good one. It's a worthy expense, too. By regulating temperatures, the best CPU coolers for the Ryzen 7 7700X can help evade thermal throttling, boost performance, and extend your CPU's lifespan.

There's an expansive market for CPU coolers with broad compatibility between socket types. The Ryzen 7 7700X requires an AM5 socket, but most brand-name coolers work with multiple socket types. That means you have a lot of options. If you don't know where to begin, keep reading because we've already picked out the best CPU coolers for the Ryzen 7 7700X and rounded them up below.

Editor's choice

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE isn't just the best Ryzen 7 7700X CPU cooler you're likely to find for this price; it's one of the best dual-tower air coolers, period. Its six copper heat pipes, aluminum fins, and dual 120mm fans expel heat efficiency, and the Peerless Assassin 120 SE can spin up to 1500rpm. It also keeps the noise levels capped at 25.6 decibels, so it's nice and quiet.

$39 at Amazon

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Best value

Thermalright Assassin X120

You can save money on your build with an inexpensive CPU cooler like the Thermalright Assassin X120. This is arguably the best cheap air cooler for around $20, with a four-pipe heatsink design that uses a 120mm PWM fan. The fan has a maximum speed of 1550rpm and a max noise level of 25.6 decibels, putting the Assassin X120 in the same league as air coolers that cost twice as much or more.

$20 at Amazon

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Premium pick

Noctua NH-U12A

The Noctua NH-U12A ranks among the top-tier air coolers, outpacing even the more popular NH-D15. The NH-U12A delivers the performance you'd expect as one of Noctua's flagship CPU coolers, with seven copper heatpipes and dual aluminum cooling fins that work with a pair of beefy 120mm NF-A12x25 PWM fans. The large fans let this cooler pull away excess CPU heat while spinning at up to 2,000 RPM. Despite the impressive speeds, the NH-U12A has a max noise level of just 22.6 decibels.

$130 at Amazon $117 at Newegg

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Quietest

be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5

$90 $100 Save $10

Brand

be quiet!

Cooling Method

Air

Noise Level

~24 dB(A)

Fan Speed

~2,000 RPM

The be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 is another great air cooler for the Ryzen 7 7700X if noise is a concern and you want something cheaper than the Noctua NH-D15. What it lacks in flashy esthetics, the Dark Rock Pro 5 makes up for in performance: Its dual-tower design efficiently keeps your system running cool, and despite its very impressive max fan speed of 2000rpm, this CPU cooler's noise maxes out at just 23.3 decibels.

$90 at Amazon $90 at Newegg

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Best liquid cooler

Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix AIO Liquid Cooler

Overclockers, hardcore gamers, and other enthusiasts looking for maximum cooling performance should consider a liquid cooler like the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite CAPELLIX XT. This all-in-one cooler uses a liquid medium instead of heatpipes to pull heat away from the CPU, then expels it from the case via three 120mm RGB fans. This one has a 360mm radiator, but other radiator sizes are available to fit different case sizes and build layouts.

$220 at Amazon

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Cheap AIO

ID-COOLING FROSTFLOW X 240 CPU Water Cooler

Are you looking to dip your toes in the world of liquid cooling but don't want to spend too much? The ID-COOLING FROSTFLOW X 240 is an excellent AIO CPU cooler for the Ryzen 7 7700X, and it doesn't break the bank. This one features a 240mm radiator with two 120mm fans and a 2500rpm max spin rate. With a max noise level of 30 decibels, it's not the quietest, but it's easy on the wallet.

$55 at Amazon

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For smaller cases

Noctua NH-L9a-AM5

Brand

Noctua

Cooling Method

Air

Integrated Lighting

No

Fan Speed

2200 RPM

If you're building inside a case with a smaller form factor than an ATX tower, you'll need a cooler with a footprint to match. The Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 is the best low-profile CPU cooler for the Ryen 7 7700X with its efficient, powerful, and space-saving design that's only 37mm tall. Mounted atop its copper heatpipes and an aluminum fin is an NF-A9x14 slim 92mm fan that can spin at up to 2500rpm and maxes out at 23.6 decibels of noise.

$45 at Amazon

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Best single-tower cooler

Noctua NH-U12S Redux

There's no denying that modern dual-tower air coolers are bulky, take up a lot of space inside your PC case, and can create clearance issues with other components. A single-tower CPU cooler like the Noctua NH-U12S Redux is a viable alternative. This streamlined air cooler features four copper heatpipes and an aluminum fin attached to a 120mm 1700rpm fan, providing efficient cooling for its size with a peak noise level of 25.1 decibels.

$60 at Amazon

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Best RGB

Arctic Freezer 36 - A-RGB Edition

Brand

Arctic

Cooling Method

Air

Integrated Lighting

12x A-RGB LEDs

Fan Speed

Up to 2000 RPM

Looking to add a little style to your build? The Arctic Freezer 36 A-RGB Edition is one of our favorite CPU coolers with LED lighting. It's available in black or white, so it suits any case, and delivers good cooling performance thanks to its two 120mm fans flanking its single-tower heatsink.

$60 at Amazon

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How to choose the best CPU cooler for the Ryzen 7 7700X

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is a beefy CPU that can run hot, so finding the best cooler for your build is worth the time and money. When selecting the best coolers for the Rysen 7 7700X, we looked for designs with higher fan spin rates and large passive cooling elements (heat sinks, fins, and pipes) capable of handling the heat this powerful CPU creates. We also considered secondary factors such as noise levels, esthetics, and value.

Our favorite Ryzen 7 7700X CPU cooler for the money is the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, which hits the sweet spot on the price-to-performance spectrum. Thanks to its dual-tower heatsink design, it is an excellent performer. The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB can spin its fans at up to 1,500rpm while still keeping the noise levels below 26 decibels. It's also very affordable and has nice RGB styling.

Enthusiast builders and those looking to overclock their Ryzen 7 7700X CPU (although whether the juice is worth the squeeze on this CPU is a matter of debate) should consider upgrading to the Noctua NH-U12A. This dual-tower cooler is faster and quieter than our former top pick, the hugely popular NH-D15, which is also one of the best air coolers for the money. Another great option is an all-in-one system like the Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix liquid cooler. Liquid coolers are also an excellent alternative to air coolers as they take up less space around the CPU and are nearly silent. Finally, if you're building inside a tighter case and other coolers aren't an option, the low-profile Noctua NH-L9a-AM5 offers adequate cooling and a modest footprint.