CPU Heatsink Makers Ready for AM4 Cooler Incompatibility Issues

Despite early rumors, we now have confirmation that Socket AM4 will not be sharing cooler compatibility with previous AMD sockets. As we’ve since found out, while the fundamentals of the cooling system are really close, the dimensions are off by a significant margin. To remedy the problem, several CPU heatsink manufacturers have stepped forward with solutions for their respective lineups.

The main issue with the AM4 socket is the new backplate dimensions. Compared to the age old AMD mounting backplate, the new one is slightly shorter and slightly wider. Since most companies use their own mounting backplate, simply having a new mounting mechanism resolves the whole issue. Noctua, Phanteks, and Cryorig and be quiet! are all offering free cooler upgrade kits for Ryzen. Cooler Master has gone a step further in that many of their latest coolers are already Ryzen compatible and even some current ones provided they are some of the more later shipments.

For those of you using the nice AMD stock heatsinks like the Wraith, it will be compatible as well. While the company hasn’t confirmed this, it is highly likely that the current lineup of AMD stock heatsinks will continue to soldier on with AM4. Funnily enough, it looks like Ryzen is cool enough to not require the Wraith cooler at all though it would provide better temperatures and noise.