The Ryzen 9 5950X with liquid nitrogen cooling, overclocked to 6.36 GHz

Ryzen 5000 series processors , enthusiasts began testing and overclocking them. With all 16 cores active, the Ryzen 9 5950X was able to reach 6.36 GHz. To achieve this, Taiwanese overclocker Hicookie used liquid nitrogen cooling.

Boost clock frequencies achieved with liquid nitrogen cooling

Ryzen 9 5950X processor achieves impressive overclocking frequencies. Two Taiwanese users managed to exceed 6.3 GHz. TSAIK, using an MSI X570 Godlike motherboard , achieved a maximum switching frequency of 6.35 GHz . Hicookie, meanwhile, reached a boost clock frequency of 6.36 GHz Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master motherboard .

Swedish overclocker Elmor, using a ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero motherboard, reached a frequency of 6.1 GHz . Meanwhile, Der8auer managed to push the Ryzen 9 5950X processor to 5.85 GHz. This Ryzen 9 processor is very fast when overclocked and outperforms the Ryzen 5 5600X. The latter reached a frequency of 6.12 GHz according to tests conducted by Indonesian overclocker LUCKY_N00B. These enthusiasts all used liquid nitrogen cooling . Other overclockers also achieved quite high frequencies. You can find the frequencies they reached, along with their respective scores, on the hwbot website.

For those who overclocked with conventional air cooling , the frequencies obtained were around 4.5 GHz.

The cooling system during overclocking

The cooling system is extremely important in overclocking . To achieve maximum operating frequency, it's crucial to prevent the processor from overheating, given its millions of integrated transistors that switch at very high frequencies. Here are some extreme cooling solutions you can use for overclocking.

Liquid nitrogen cooling is very popular in overclocking. It allows for temperatures as low as -196°C, enabling extremely low sub-zero temperatures. It's the cooling system that achieves the lowest temperatures. While it would be useful for occasional testing, this cooling system is quite difficult to maintain because the liquid nitrogen evaporates relatively quickly, requiring periodic refills. Furthermore, some components don't function properly at such low temperatures. This issue is known as the "cold bug.".

Other types of extreme cooling for overclocking

You can cool the CPU using extreme liquid cooling systems called water chillers or DODs (Deep Oven Cooling). These systems use water cooling to cool the CPU and employ the same thermodynamic principle as refrigerators (compressed gas mixed with ethanol for water chillers and compressed gas without mixing for DODs). A temperature of -50°C can be achieved. However, the drawbacks of this system are the space occupied by the rather bulky compressor and the relatively high price: it can range from $350 to $1500.

The most accessible and least restrictive solution for everyday use is dry ice cooling . This system can easily reach -60°C. Dry ice does not evaporate as quickly as liquid nitrogen, so frequent refills are unnecessary.

The various extreme cooling systems each have their respective advantages and disadvantages. For occasional use and record attempts, you can use liquid nitrogen cooling . The other systems are suitable for everyday use.