A few days ago, I made a post about my build in a Fractal Terra. Of course, it’s a beautiful case, but I had a lot of trouble managing the temperatures on my Ryzen 7 9850X3D. So, I decided to give this case a shot the latest version of the Cooler Master NR200 series. To me, it’s very solid and has excellent aesthetics. It took me less than 30 minutes to finish the build. It supports a 240mm AIO liquid cooler and comes with a PCIe 5.0 GPU riser cable. On top of that, it fits massive graphics cards it's absolute perfection for me.
From the Cooler Master NR200P to the Fractal Ridge
After what felt like an eternity of experimenting with my Cooler Master NR200P and what I considered an optimally implemented GPU deshroud mod, I really wanted just one thing: a more console-like experience in the living room, with as little noise as possible and good temperatures at the same time.
The first two aspects were my priorities. When it came to temperatures, I was willing to accept compromises within reason, as long as all components remained within their thermal limits.
I had tried countless combinations of undervolting, different airflow configurations, and various CPU coolers in the NR200P. These included:
I tested each cooler in both intake and exhaust configurations.
My initial approach was fairly straightforward: throw as many heat pipes as possible at the little hothead that is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. However, this CPU tends to run hot regardless of whether you cool it with liquid cooling or a massive air cooler.
In my experience, the key is not necessarily achieving the lowest possible temperature, but rather how quickly the temperature drops again once the CPU is no longer under load.
During Cinebench, all the coolers I tested reached temperatures of almost 90°C. The main difference was how quickly the CPU cooled down afterward.
Despite all these experiments, I was never able to achieve a result that truly satisfied me when it came to the temperatures of both my Radeon RX 9070 XT and my Ryzen 7 5800X3D. All temperatures were within acceptable limits, but the overall result simply wasn't what I was looking for. Perhaps my expectations were a little too high, but I was never entirely happy with the setup.
So I decided to start over from scratch and simplify the entire build considerably.
To be honest, I also wasn't entirely happy with the NR200P's form factor in the living room anymore. With its console-like design, the Fractal Design Ridge simply fits better into our living space.
Initially, I wasn't sure whether a GPU deshroud mod would work as well in the Fractal Ridge as it had in the NR200P.
So I first installed two Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans in the case very close to the already deshrouded GPU as a test. I had already used these fans in the NR200P and wanted to see what was possible with the Ridge before committing to a new cooling concept.
And what can I say? The results were surprisingly good!
This prompted me to revisit the CPU cooling setup. Eventually, my attention turned to the Noctua NH-L9x65, a low-profile CPU cooler measuring just 65 mm in height.
At first glance, this seemed rather counterintuitive, considering all my previous efforts to keep the Ryzen 7 5800X3D cool by using as many heat pipes as possible. After all, I had already experimented with considerably larger coolers.
Nevertheless, I wanted to give the little Noctua a chance.
BIOS Settings
I had already configured a moderate undervolt in the BIOS, which, based on my experience so far, did not negatively affect gaming performance.
I set the Curve Optimizer to -25. With a setting of -30, the system actually crashed once, whereas it has remained completely stable at -25 so far.
I also used the following settings:
Setting
Value
Curve Optimizer
-25
PPT
100 W
TDC
70 A
EDC
100 A
These settings were already enough to reduce power consumption somewhat without sacrificing gaming performance.
Surprisingly Good Results with the NH-L9x65
And here's the real surprise: the tiny Noctua NH-L9x65 actually manages to keep the Ryzen 7 5800X3D below its thermal limit during Cinebench runs.
Temperatures were only around 2–3°C higher than with the larger CPU coolers I had tested previously, although those coolers were only used with the Curve Optimizer settings enabled.
During gaming, temperatures are naturally considerably lower.
An important part of this setup is the fan duct recommended by Noctua for the Fractal Ridge: the Noctua NA-FD1.
It attaches to the CPU cooler's fan and directs fresh air from outside the case straight towards the heatsink. This reduces the amount of warm air from inside the case that the cooler would otherwise draw in and recirculate.
The result is impressive: during gaming, CPU temperatures stay around 70°C, depending on the game.
With an appropriately configured fan curve, the CPU cooler is practically inaudible to me.
Considering all my previous experiments with significantly larger coolers, I was genuinely surprised by how well this compact solution performs.
2. GPU Deshroud: Less Effort, Better Temperatures
The graphics card also performed better than expected throughout this project.
I use the following settings for the graphics card:
Graphics Card Setting
Value
Undervolting
-70 mV
Power Limit
-10%
Zero-RPM Mode
Disabled
Initially, I mounted the fans as close to the graphics card as possible, using a temporary setup.
Even without any elaborate, custom-designed 3D-printed parts, the GPU performed significantly better in the Fractal Ridge than it had in the Cooler Master NR200P.
This was particularly surprising because I had previously invested a great deal of time and effort into optimizing the GPU deshroud mod in the NR200P.
Nevertheless, I wanted to explore the remaining potential.
I therefore added a 3D-printed frame made from ASA filament, designed to further optimize airflow around the graphics card.
Once again, the results surprised me: with a considerably simpler setup, I was able to improve temperatures even further.
The two Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans do more than just cool the graphics card. They also help ventilate the entire case.
Measurable Improvements in GPU Temperatures
To compare the two builds, I looked at the maximum temperatures recorded by my monitoring software for both the Cooler Master NR200P and the Fractal Ridge.
The results show that the Fractal Ridge achieves lower maximum temperatures across all the GPU sensors listed in the comparison.
GPU sensor
Cooler Master NR200P with Deshroud Mod
Fractal Ridge with Deshroud MOD
Improvement
GPU core temperature
63°C
60°C
−3°C
GPU memory junction temperature
90°C
88°C
−2°C
GPU VR VDDC temperature
60.1°C
53.4°C
−6.7°C
GPU hotspot temperature
90°C
86°C
−4°C
GPU VR SoC temperature
82°C
77°C
−5°C
GPU hotspot temperature (additional sensor)
94°C
88°C
−6°C
The most important point is that these are maximum recorded temperatures, not averages or idle temperatures.
These results are particularly satisfying considering that the Fractal Ridge uses a comparatively simple cooling setup with just two Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the graphics card, the fans also improve airflow throughout the case. This benefits the overall thermal environment instead of just one component.
For me, this is one of the most interesting findings of the entire project: a simpler cooling setup can deliver better results when airflow is managed effectively.
Fan Control: One Fan Setup, Two Functions
The two Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 PWM fans are still connected directly to the graphics card. This means that the GPU controls their speed, allowing them to perform two different tasks depending on the system load.
However, I disabled the graphics card's Zero-RPM mode.
During normal desktop use, the fans spin at just around 350 RPM. At this speed, they are practically inaudible while still improving airflow inside the case.
This is particularly beneficial for CPU temperatures, as the fans provide a certain amount of airflow even when I'm not gaming.
During gaming, the two fans handle both graphics card cooling and overall case ventilation.
Even at a maximum speed of around around 1,300 RPM, the system remains pleasantly quiet and is even quieter than my previous setup in the Cooler Master NR200P.
Importantly, I haven't configured a custom fan curve. Instead, I use the graphics card's built-in fan control and leave everything at its stock settings, with the exception of disabling Zero-RPM mode.
The improved temperatures are also reflected in the maximum values recorded by my monitoring software. While the GPU core temperature improved by 3°C, some of the GPU's other temperature readings decreased by as much as 6.7°C.
This improvement is noticeable not only in the temperatures themselves but also in the overall noise level.
3. The Results: Fewer Fans, Better Temperatures
What surprised me most about this setup is how well all the individual components work together.
My original goal was to achieve a more console-like appearance in the living room and build a gaming PC that was as quiet as possible. Naturally, I still wanted all components to remain within acceptable temperature limits.
With the Fractal Ridge, I ultimately found a solution that exceeded my expectations.
What I find particularly interesting is that I no longer need an especially large CPU cooler or a complicated cooling setup.
Instead, the entire system benefits from carefully directed airflow and a comparatively simple design.
The two Noctua NF-A12x25 G2 fans serve a dual purpose: they cool the graphics card while also improving airflow throughout the case.
Meanwhile, the Noctua NH-L9x65 benefits from having fresh air directed towards it through the NA-FD1 fan duct.
The GPU measurements reinforce this impression. Maximum temperatures decreased across all the listed GPU sensors, with improvements ranging from 2°C for the memory junction to 6.7°C for the VR VDDC temperature.
Even the temperatures of my SSDs have improved. In fact, temperatures across all the components and sensors I monitor have consistently decreased.
This experience has shown me that cooling a compact PC isn't necessarily about installing as many fans or using the largest possible coolers.
What really matters is how well the individual components work together and how effectively the available airflow is managed.
4. Conclusion: Less Effort, Fewer Fans, Better Results
Don't get me wrong. The Cooler Master NR200P is also a great case. However, for my particular living room setup, it simply doesn't deliver the console-like appearance I wanted. Ultimately, that was the deciding factor for me.
Looking back, I probably could have saved myself some of my earlier experiments. I spent a lot of time trying to improve the NR200P with larger coolers, different fan positions, and an extensively optimized deshroud mod.
In the end, a much simpler approach in the Fractal Ridge convinced me far more.
The Fractal Ridge looks better in our living room, requires fewer fans, and delivers lower temperatures while producing less noise.
What makes me particularly happy is that temperatures have dropped across practically the entire system, even though I'm using fewer fans overall than before.
The GPU results are especially encouraging: maximum temperatures have dropped by up to 6.7°C across the listed sensors, while the GPU core temperature itself improved by 3°C.
The SSDs benefit from the improved airflow as well. Temperatures across all the components I monitor are consistently lower than they were in my previous setup.
I'm especially impressed by how well the little Noctua NH-L9x65 handles the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
After all my experiments with significantly larger coolers, I didn't expect such a compact model to deliver results this convincing.
Of course, the outcome also depends on individual settings, the hardware being used, and ambient conditions. My setup won't necessarily work equally well for every system.
For me personally, however, this configuration works better than anything I previously tried in the NR200P.
Noctua's less is more approach has definitely paid off.
I simply wanted to share my experience. Perhaps this setup will be useful to others who want a quiet gaming PC with a console-like design for their living room without having to implement an elaborate cooling solution.
I built this to use on my tv :)
Complete PC parts list
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
GPU: ASUS PRIME RTX 5080 EVO OC 16GB
Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX B850-I GAMING WIFI
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB 32GB (2×16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30, AMD EXPO / Intel XMP, Gray
CPU Cooler: Noctua NL-LC1-24 240mm AIO
PSU: Corsair SF1000 (2024) 1000W Platinum
Storage: Samsung 990 1TB NVMe SSD
Storage: Samsung 990 2TB NVMe SSD
Case: Fractal Design Era 2
Case Fan: Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM 120mm
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