Performance
All tests were performed on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, the top processor from the latest AMD series. Additional components contain the ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene motherboard, KLEVV CRAS XR5 32GB DDR5-8000 CL38 memory kit, and DeepCool 850W 80+ Gold PSU.
The mixed load test is a PCMark 10 pass, so it is a simulation of various popular applications used daily. The maximum load test is an AIDA64 Stability Test, run with CPU+FPU. It causes the maximum heat in calculations based on AVX instructions.
Let’s take a look at the results.
New processors are harder to compare than the older series. The Ryzen 9 7950X is specified to work up to 95°C, and anything above will lower the maximum frequency. It doesn’t mean it will throttle, as the frequency will still exceed what we can see in the general specifications. It will simply perform slightly worse. Considering that, you can see a maximum temperature of 95°C on all the coolers in the comparison. However, depending on the test, there is a 150-200MHz difference between coolers on specific CPU cores.
The Fuma 3 cooler boosts up to the same 5.76GHz as 360 AIO coolers in the comparison. The DeepCool AK620 WH, a twin-tower cooler, boosts up to 5.65GHz. At the same time, maximum load tests with AVX instructions limit the frequency to about 5.2GHz on the Fuma 3 and AIO coolers, while DeepCool AK620 can’t go above 5.05GHz.
There was no thermal throttling on all listed coolers. The only difference is the average CPU frequency and its maximum boost frequency.
Once we added the third Kaze II fan, the Fuma 3 cooler performed slightly better. The average temperature dropped by 2-3°C in the mixed load test, and at the same time, all fans spun slower. It doesn’t sound so spectacular because of the used processor, but this is headroom for another 50MHz and lower noise.
The Ryzen 9 7950X doesn’t overclock well at standard voltages. Once we lower the VCore, then it boosts higher, but the gains are not worth the time spent on stability tests. It doesn’t change the fact that Fuma 3 delivers impressive performance compared to large, 360 AIO coolers. It also costs significantly less and doesn’t require a very large PC case.
The list of advantages is quite long if we consider a typical gaming computer. Many things are not considered before purchasing, like maintenance or a typical product life cycle. Once you install a cooler like Fuma 3, then you can forget about it for five or more years. AIO coolers have a shorter average life and are harder to clean.
The Fuma 3 cooler is clearly a successful product. The Fuma 2 wasn’t so spectacular, and I won’t hide I forgot about it quite fast. The Fuma 3 is another story. I already see it sells great in online stores like Amazon. We had a little delay with our review, so we already see how the market reacts to this new CPU cooler. On a very rich market with various options, most brands are bumping prices to the point their coolers become way too expensive. Scythe keeps affordable prices and improves products over time. It is really amazing how a Fuma 3 cooler can cost 25% of the competitive coolers at a comparable performance.
