AMD Wraith

Lore & Background

The original Wraith cooler features a square body with copper fins and a white-illuminated AMD logo on the side. It was bundled with the socket AM3+ AMD FX 6350 and 8350 CPUs, as well as the socket FM2+ A10-7890K APU, and is rated for a 125W TDP. Its two-pronged clamp mounting mechanism makes it forwards-compatible with Socket AM4 and AM5 motherboards.

The Wraith Stealth (product code SR1) is the most basic cooling solution, with a circular body and extruded aluminum fins. Bundled with Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, and certain Ryzen 7 (5700G) CPUs, it has a 65W TDP rating and uses mounting screws, making it compatible only with Socket AM4 or AM5. The Wraith Spire (SR2a) shares a similar circular design but with taller extruded aluminum fins and a cylindrical vapor chamber through the center; the vapor chamber was removed on Spire coolers bundled with Ryzen 3000 CPUs. It was offered with or without a programmable RGB LED ring, usually bundled with Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 CPUs, and rated for 95W TDP. The LED ring variant was discontinued with the Ryzen 3000 launch. Starting 1 August 2025, the Wraith Spire was declared end-of-life and replaced by the Wraith Stealth in boxed CPU shipments.

The Wraith Max is an enlarged version of the original Wraith with a square body, copper base, four heat pipes making direct contact with the CPU, and a programmable RGB LED ring. It uses a two-pronged clamp for backwards compatibility with AMD CPUs dating back to Socket 754/Socket 939, and is rated for 140W TDP. It was available only as an aftermarket upgrade or from OEM system integrators, and was discontinued with the release of the Wraith Prism. The Wraith Prism (SR4) debuted with 2nd-generation AMD Ryzen (Zen+) CPUs, featuring a copper base, four heat pipes (not making direct contact), a programmable RGB LED ring, and a transparent fan lit by RGB LEDs. It was bundled with some Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 CPUs, rated for 140W TDP, and declared end-of-life on 1 August 2025, after which affected boxed units included no cooler.

Reader's Guide

The AMD Wraith family represents a significant shift in AMD's approach to stock CPU cooling, moving from basic aluminum heatsinks to more capable designs incorporating heat pipes, vapor chambers, and RGB lighting. The lineup spans from the entry-level Wraith Stealth (65W TDP) to the high-performance Wraith Max and Wraith Prism (both 140W TDP), allowing AMD to offer appropriate cooling for different Ryzen and FX processor tiers. The Wraith Spire and Prism models introduced programmable RGB LED rings, aligning with the aesthetic trends of the Ryzen era. Notably, the Wraith Max and original Wraith retain backwards compatibility with older AMD sockets via a two-pronged clamp, while the Stealth and Spire use mounting screws limited to AM4/AM5. The coolers were supplied by multiple manufacturers including Cooler Master, Foxconn, and Delta Electronics. The end-of-life declarations for the Wraith Spire and Wraith Prism on 1 August 2025 mark the conclusion of these models' inclusion in boxed CPU shipments, with the Spire replaced by the Stealth and the Prism not replaced by any cooler. The Wraith Max was discontinued earlier upon the Prism's release. The family's legacy lies in providing capable, often visually distinctive cooling solutions as standard equipment for a wide range of AMD processors, with the exception of the highest-end Ryzen CPUs.

Did You Know?

• The original Wraith cooler is forwards-compatible with Socket AM4 and AM5 motherboards due to its two-pronged clamp mounting mechanism.
• The Wraith Spire's vapor chamber was removed on all coolers bundled with Ryzen 3000 CPUs.
• The Wraith Max is backwards compatible with AMD CPUs dating back to Socket 754/Socket 939.
• The Wraith Prism's fan is transparent and lit via RGB LEDs, in addition to its programmable RGB LED ring.