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Don't Overspend: 4 Best Value CPU Coolers for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X in 2025

  • arytechblog
  • 7 hours ago
  • 4 min read

Think you need to spend a fortune to keep your new Ryzen 7 9700X icy cool? Think again!


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AMD has done an excellent job with the efficiency of the 9000 series, and that means great news for your wallet. Today, we’re diving deep into "budget" cooling options that deliver top-tier performance without emptying your bank account. Get ready to build a powerful rig and save serious cash for what really matters (maybe a better GPU?).


Here are our top picks for the best budget coolers in 2025 for the Ryzen 7 9700X.


1. Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE

Verdict: The Undisputed King of Air Cooling


Dual tower CPU cooler with large fans on a motherboard. Text: "COOLING CPU WITH EASE," highlighting design features and thermal paste. Black background.


First up is, without a doubt, the king of value in air cooling: the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE. If you think you absolutely need liquid cooling for a 9700X, let me stop you right there.

This model is an evolution of the legendary Peerless Assassin. It features a massive dual-tower design, equipped not with six, but with seven 6mm heat pipes and two 120mm PWM fans.


Why is it a budget winner?


For a price that often drops under $40, this cooler competes with—and often beats—coolers that cost three times as much. The Ryzen 7 9700X is an incredibly efficient chip, and the Phantom Spirit can handle its thermal load easily, even when PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive) is enabled.

It’s quiet, fits most RAM heights, and purely for price-to-performance, nothing on the market beats this air cooler in 2025. If you want reliability without the fear of pump failure, this is the one.


Technical Specifications


  • Type: Dual Tower Air Cooler

  • Dimensions: 110 x 125 x 154 mm (H)

  • Weight: 765g (heatsink only)

  • Heatpipes: 7x 6mm (Nickel-plated copper)

  • Fans: 2x 120mm TL-C12B V2 PWM

  • Fan Speed: Max 1500 RPM

  • Noise Level: 25.6 dBA

  • Airflow: 66.17 CFM

  • Compatibility: AM4, AM5, LGA1700


2. Montech HyperFlow ARGB 360

Verdict: The Best Budget ARGB AIO


RGB-lit PC interior with cooling fans, tubes, and motherboard on blue background. Text: Effortless Excellence: Attain Premium Performance with Ease.


If you want your PC to look like a showroom centerpiece without paying the premium price tag, take a look at the Montech HyperFlow ARGB 360.

This is our pick for the Best Budget ARGB cooler. Montech has aggressively priced this unit, but they didn't cut corners on quality. It rocks a powerful 3100 RPM pump that effectively moves coolant to keep those Zen 5 cores chilly.


Why is it a budget winner?


Usually, "budget" AIOs look... cheap. Not this one. It features a gemstone-style pump block and vibrant ARGB fans that come pre-installed, making cable management a breeze.

For the 9700X, it offers massive thermal headroom. You’re getting a 360mm radiator and stunning aesthetics for a price closer to a 240mm unit. It’s the perfect choice for gamers who stream and want their rig to look as good on camera as it performs in-game.


Technical Specifications


  • Type: AIO Liquid Cooler (360mm)

  • Radiator Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 27 mm

  • Pump Speed: 3100 RPM ± 10%

  • Fans: 3x Metal Pro 12 ARGB

  • Fan Speed: 600 - 2100 RPM (PWM)

  • Noise Level: Max 29.1 dBA (Fan)

  • Airflow: 76.2 CFM

  • Warranty: 6 Years (typically standard for Montech)


3. Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360

Verdict: The Heavyweight Champion (Best Budget 360 AIO)


Black ARCTIC liquid CPU cooler with three fans and a radiator, featuring a coiled hose. Set against a plain white background.


Moving on to the heavyweight category. If you follow PC tech, you saw this coming: the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360.

This is widely considered the best AIO on the market, period. And somehow, Arctic manages to keep the price in the "budget-friendly" tier compared to big brands like Corsair or NZXT.


Why is it a budget winner?


The secret sauce here is the radiator thickness. It is 38mm thick, compared to the standard 27mm, meaning it has a massive surface area for heat dissipation. It also features a specialized VRM fan on the pump head to cool your motherboard’s power delivery—crucial for sustaining high boost clocks on your Ryzen 9700X.

It also comes with a custom offset mount specifically for Ryzen CPUs, ensuring the cold plate sits directly over the hottest part of the processor chiplet. For raw cooling efficiency per dollar, this is the gold standard.


Technical Specifications


  • Type: AIO Liquid Cooler (360mm)

  • Radiator Dimensions: 398 x 120 x 38 mm

  • Fans: 3x Arctic P12 PWM

  • Pump Speed: 800 - 2800 RPM (PWM)

  • VRM Fan: 400 - 2500 RPM (Integrated in pump)

  • Static Pressure: 2.20 mm H2O (Standard fans)

  • Special Compatibility: Native Offset Mount for Ryzen AM5

  • Thermal Paste: MX-6 included



4. Valkyrie V360 Lite

Verdict: Best Performance for Money


RGB computer cooling fans in black casing with vibrant colors. A tech logo is visible on each fan and the pump, set against a white background.


Finally, we have a contender that has been shaking up the market recently: the Valkyrie V360 Lite.

While Valkyrie is a newer name to some, the V360 Lite is earning a reputation for punching way above its weight class.


Why is it a budget winner?


Valkyrie has stripped away the expensive LCD screens and unnecessary gimmicks to focus purely on raw horsepower. It comes with high-static pressure fans that drive air through the radiator with serious force.

In testing with the Ryzen 7 9700X, the V360 Lite manages to keep temperatures incredibly stable, allowing the CPU to boost to its maximum potential without thermal throttling. It offers enthusiast-grade cooling performance that rivals $200 units, but at a fraction of the cost. If you don't care about brand hype and just want raw results, get this.


Technical Specifications


  • Type: AIO Liquid Cooler (360mm)

  • Radiator Dimensions: 397 x 120 x 27 mm

  • Tubing Material: EPDM (Increased durability)

  • Pump Speed: Max 2800 RPM (PWM)

  • Fans: Valkyrie X12 / B12 (High Static Pressure)

  • Fan Speed: 800 - 2150 RPM

  • Airflow: ~80 CFM

  • Static Pressure: 3.14 - 4.0 mm H2O (depending on revision)

  • Noise Level: Max 29 dBA


Conclusion


So, there you have it! Four excellent solutions that prove you don't need to go broke to cool a modern processor like the Ryzen 7 9700X.

If this guide helped you save some money on your next build, make sure to leave a comment below.


Which side are you on? Team Air Cooling or Team Liquid Cooling? 

Let us know your thoughts!


Note: Prices and availability are subject to change. This article contains affiliate links that help support the blog.

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