When it comes to raw thermal performance, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is the best 360mm AIO cooler on the market. The radiator is twice as thick, clocking in at 49mm compared to the standard 25mm. If you're creating or upgrading such a system and the case doesn't have room to add a water cooler, you might be tempted to give up and just rely on the stock cooler that your CPU came with. Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. 
Basically, if you have an Intel processor introduced after 2008, you're fine. Cooling high-power, high-end-desktop (HEDT) processors like Intel's Core X series or AMD's Ryzen Threadrippers with an air cooler is a formidable task. In iCUE, you can also configure a profile to turn the fans off when temperatures are low. This is a high-quality liquid cooler, which is why it gets our top spot. They're designed to push air at a rate of 71.6 cubic feet per minute while generating up to 29.7dBA. Its job is to push air directly onto the heat collector, spreading airflow over other important components nearby including the motherboard's VRMs. (We've seen this cooler easily keep an Intel Core i7-9700K running at full tilt, well under 50-degrees Celsius.) This 240mm cooler has a RGB "infinity mirror" embedded in the water block portion that creates an optical illusion of a bottomless abyss regressing down into the core of your PC. The Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360 features a full-cover CPU block sizable enough to fully cover Threadrippers ample surface area, although it supports mainstream sockets like AM4 as well. Asus' ROG Ryujin II water cooler isby dint of its wild-looking water blockthe most far-out cooler in this collection, and arguably the biggest lust item for PC modders reading this guide. This makes it an even better buy than our budget 240mm cooler option, despite packing a larger 360mm radiator and three 120mm fans.
It runs quietly and efficiently when your CPU is running cool, and it tops out at 37dBA when running at maximum (75CFM). That said, a few companies do produce coolers for HEDT processors. With a firm handle on your system's size, case design, and motherboard and socket type, you're ready to choose a cooler. Like nearly all NZXT products, the Kraken X53 is fully integrated with CAM, allowing you to monitor temperatures and tweak your lighting settings. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The company's NH-D15 is well-known as one of the best-performing air coolers money can buy. This cooler is mostly white, with RGB LEDs packed into the two fans and the water block. This 240mm model clocks in at around $130, which still isn't too expensive. It cools even better than the mighty NZXT Kraken X72. Read: Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360 review. AMD support is a little sparser. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). These pipes also snake their way through a bulky aluminum heatsink, which is actively cooled by a Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 PWM fan. The cooler technically supports AM2 up to AM4, but the box only ships with mounting hardware for up to AM3. A radiator of this size and potential allows for this kind of load because of the quality design and engineering that went into building it. AIO coolers typically come in three sizes, defined by the dimensions of the radiator and the fans the radiator is designed to fit: 120 (one 120mm fan), 240 (two 120mm fans), or 360mm (three 120mm fans). You can control fan and pump speeds from within Corsairs iCUE software right on your PC, and monitor CPU temperature to make sure your settings are giving you optimal performance. MSI's MEG CoreLiquid S360 delivers top-notch cooling performance, quiet(er) cooling fans and an excellent implementation of a simple-to-use MSI Center UI and a brilliant display above your CPU to deliver system performance stats, or even your favorite photo or animated GIF. The best way to mitigate risk is to keep an eye on your cooler to see if there are any signs of leaking and to monitor your CPU temperature to see if the pump is failing. Note: Before diving in, you'll need to take note of your CPU socket before picking up an AIO water cooler. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. Supported AMD Sockets: AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2, FM1Supported Intel Sockets: LGA 1200, 20xx, 115x (LGA 1700 bracket sold separately). The H80i v2 doesn't match the cooling performance of a 240mm radiator, but it gets a lot closer than a standard 120 mm one. Looking for an all-in-one liquid cooler with a 240mm radiator, wide compatibility, RGB options, and a low price? Even those able to push a CPU hard enough to require 100% fan speed will find its hushed murmur less than half as noisy as the H100i Pro. Keep an eye on your inbox! PC Cooling 101: How to Buy the Right Air or Water Cooler for Your Desktop CPU, How to Choose the Best Laptop Processor in 2022, First Look: All the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Cards So Far, First Look: All the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Cards So Far. Both fans sport RGB light rings and the pump includes a transparent window with RGB lighting inside. Read on to find our list of the best liquid CPU coolers. It can be used to showcase a variety of things including system temperatures, custom artwork, GIFs, videos, and more. For more on how these tend to perform (and how good they look), check out our Blue Shift build feature. (Most of AMD's stock line are dubbed Wraith coolers, while Intel's very newest stock coolers, on its 12th Generation "Alder Lake" chips, are dubbed the Laminar line.). Socket compatibility: Intel: GA1151, LGA1150, LGA1555, LGA1156, LGA2011-3, LGA2066 The shorter design will let this cooler fit in many cases for which a big beast like the NH-D15 is simply too large. Also don't forget to consider thermal paste or another thermal interface material (TIM) to use with your AIO cooler. Supported AMD Sockets: AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2Supported Intel Sockets: LGA 1200, 20xx, 1366, 115xCooler Height: 154mm. For everyday use, the stock cooler or a slightly stepped-up air cooler will suffice, unless the CPU maker flat-out recommends a liquid cooling solution.
Each of these sockets also has a customized mounting platform with a set of holes or brackets onto which you attach the CPU cooler. The EK-AIO 240 is a better option due to the fact that it's inexpensive. The radiator is made out of copper for a little extra cooling potential, and the nickel-plated copper CPU block has been slightly enlarged compared to previous versions. To boost performance, it would be beneficial to pair this cooler with some case fans or a third-party fan. The Liquid Freezer II also includes a 40 mm fan next to the pump, set to sit over your motherboard's VRM chips. That's something many other air coolers struggle with. This can be done with Corsair's iCUE software which also offers additional information about the cooler. Both of these factors have vastly expanded the options available for keeping PCs and chips cool. In addition to a 240mm radiator, the kit comes with two Corsair ML120 fans. The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Pro XT is an easy AIO to recommend.
This air cooler is an unusual entry in our listthe only one not built by a familiar industry leader. It has 8-bit color depth for millions of color options. With an enormous 3x 140mm radiator, this kit allows for enough thermal expansion of the loop to include a graphics card waterblock (or even two), if desired. John Wick 4 arrives in theaters on March 24, 2023. Many very small chassis, however, lack room to add a water cooler, forcing you to rely on a low-profile air cooler even if the PC doesn't allow for great internal airflow. If you're looking to build a PC that's as quiet as possible, Noctua's NH-P1 is one of the few modern CPU coolers designed to be entirely passive. For a large 360mm water cooler, Cooler Master's Master Liquid ML360 is surprisingly affordable at around $100 depending on reseller. In particular, the pump is controlled by PWM, allowing it to modulate with the workload rather than run at full speed all the time. Considering the cost associated with most of the CPUs and motherboards alone supported by the Eisbaer Pro Aurora, system builders in this realm of performance usually draw from a unique set of criteria, which a frequent aim for the best at any price.' The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora offers just about everything you could want in an AIO water cooler. Noise production is rated at 28.2dBA, which makes it fairly quiet overall. Socket compatibility: Intel: LGA1200, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, LGA2011, LGA2066 The Corsair H80i v2 solves that problem. AMD: Am4, Am3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1, Dimensions (length by width by height): 157mm by 119.6mm by 27.2mm, Included fans: Two Sickleflow 120RGB 120mm fans. As long as you keep an eye on both, you can find most problems before they do any catastrophic damage. The latter is particularly colorful, with an optional translucent top that makes the water block look like one large RGB light field. Cooler Master pairs the dual-chamber radiator with two MasterFan MF120 Halo fans (also translucent), which have a total of 24 ARGB LEDs each, and you can customize your look from the included ARGB controller, so you dont need to have motherboard RGB controls to make use of it. NZXT took a balanced approach when designing its Kraken X53. The fans and water pump housing also feature RGB lighting, and the kit includes thermal paste, meaning youll have everything you need to get up and running. The bright 2.1-inch panel comes with a 480x480 resolution making it sharper than most AIO LCD displays. Power users, gamers, system builders and overclockers in the market for a new large CPU cooler should take note. Additionally, the software allows you to check on your CPU and coolant temperature to make sure everything is running smoothly. Before going any further, if you're a PC-building beginner, you'll want to read our deep-dive PC Cooling 101 guide to learn everything you need to know about CPU coolers. When it comes to raw thermal performance, EK beats the Corsairs and NZXTs of the world. The 360mm option is only $125, while the NZXT Kraken X73 another 360mm AIO clocks in at nearly $200. Cable / controller management could be better, Best 360mm Closed-Loop Liquid Cooler Alternative, Dripless disconnects for simple expansion using Alphacool components, Best 360mm Closed-Loop Liquid Cooler With a Display, Boxed unit ships with pump and fans managed by single PWM splitter, Lack of RGB lighting (for those looking for the option), iCUE software suite allows for customized cooler and lighting control, Awkward, small screws used to secure fans to radiator, $99.99 price is higher than other 120mm AIO solutions, RGB controls only apply to CPU block face, CAM software sends data to NZXT cloud services, No RGB or LED lighting on fans (might be a plus, for some), Built with DC-LT pump and copper radiator water cooling components, Tubing length could be longer to allow for more diverse installations, Pump has coolant top-up port, but coolant must be purchased separately, Very good value for a full watercooling kit, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. In the Liqtech 360 TR4 OC, Enermax has graced the Threadripper world with a cooler that covers these large enthusiast processors in full, providing performance similar to custom liquid cooling with the easy installation and moderate cost of an AIO cooler. Both of these factors contribute to more efficient cooling.\, The size of your desktop system will end up playing a decisive role when picking a CPU cooler. Socket compatibility: Intel: LGA775, LGA1056, LGA1155, LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA2011, LGA2011-3, LGA2066 I wrote for the well-known tech site Tom's Hardware for three years before I joined PCMag in 2018. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cpu-coolers, Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac. Noctua's background is in industrial and commercial fans, and its familiar maroon and beige fans for PC builders have long been a mark of quality for modders and upgraders in the know. Corsair is a well-known and respected brand, and there is a reason for that. The Lian Li Galahads fans can generate 2.79mmH2O of air pressure and 72CFM of airflow. The Gamer Storm Captain 240 Pro makes up for in low noise what it lacks in cooling power compared to Corsair's H100i Pro, to the point that the Captain 240 Pro has a significantly better cooling-to-noise ratio. Running the most powerful components (or overclocking those parts) can cause them to run hot, which can lead to hardware throttling and even failure. Socket compatibility: Intel: LGA 1700, LGA 1200, LGA 1150, LGA 1151, LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA 1366, LGA 2011, LGA 2066 The Deepcool Captain 240 Pro V2 is the complete package, and you can set it up with a wide variety of builds thanks to extensive socket compatibility (including AMD's AM4 and TR4 sockets and Intel's LGA20XX and LGA1200 sockets). However, the ML240L clocks in around $50 cheaper than most competing 240mm AIOs. Whether you intend to run it as is, or expand into a custom cooling loop, you won't be let down by this versatile piece of cooling kit. You can expect an AIO cooler from a reputable brand to run for six years without issues, but every cooler is a little different. Don't look for RGB lights or anything else to make this solution stand out, but it's one of the lowest-cost water coolers you can buy, tempting for any budget build. One of our favorites is made specially for the AMD Threadripper lineCooler Master's Wraith Ripper. The design is much more appealing than Arctic's offering while achieving similar levels of thermal performance. The Cooler Master ML240L comes with nearly universal socket support, too. Otherwise, look at the socket support to make sure you can use the cooler with your motherboard and buy from a reputable brand. You mount them around the heatsinks, with one set between the two heatsink towers and one on the exterior of one of the heatsinks according to the airflow path you desire. Cooler Master offers a range of "lite" AIOs, which are basically previous iterations of Cooler Master's MasterLiquid line with increased socket support and double FEP tubing. Of course, that would somewhat defeat the purpose of buying a passive cooler. You do get some ARGB illumination in the cooler's water block, which (like that of the NZXT Kraken cooler above) features an ARGB infinity mirror optical-illusion panel. Quality-milled components and attention to detail are seen on each and every piece within the kit. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. This gargantuan cooler, among the largest air coolers we've ever seen, is designed to work only with AMD's older TR4 and newer sTRX4 Threadripper sockets and their giant CPU dies. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Hardware. The pump that moves the liquid in the cooler is typically silent or at least inconsequential compared to other PC noises. It's perfect for buyers who lack the time to assemble, purge, and leak test their own scratch-built component systems, as well as those who have more cash than self-confidence. But to make sure you're getting the most efficient thermal transfer between your CPU and cooler plate, check out the many products we thoroughly tested to find the best thermal paste for your CPU. Now, as a full-time PCMag staffer, I'm focusing on reviewing processors and graphics cards while dabbling in all other things PC-related. Whether you're shopping for one of the products that made our best CPU coolers list or one that didn't, you may find some savings by checking out our list of Newegg promo codes or Corsair coupon codes. The two fans employ magnetic levitation bearings and the cooler comes with Corsair's iCUE Commander Core fan and light controller for extra control over these devices in your PC. It reaches similar performance to competing coolers at NZXT and Corsair while being very inexpensive. The Wraith Ripper comprises seven heat pipes that pierce two bulky heatsinks, with a 120mm fan sandwiched between them. As an added bonus for those interested in cable management, the hoses are very flexible , so you can bend them easily to fit even in smaller cases. For looks, the Kraken X's infinity mirror pump cap is a showstopper. And while $160 isnt exactly cheap, there are plenty of competing products that cost more while delivering less-impressive performance. Given the larger die size and ample power consumption of today's HEDT processors, there simply isn't much room for HEDT air coolers to grow much bigger. Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. The fans are designated as "SickleFlow 120" models and don't have any LED illumination. It's an ideal air cooling solution for a large PC case with a lot of vertical clearance. At around $80, the Cooler Master ML240L v2 is the best budget AIO available. This AIO cooler has a sizable 240mm radiator and dual 120mm fans. But because you can shop for and hunt down the quietest fans on the market, the Noctua still has a lot of potential if you're planning an ultra-quiet build. And that, quite simply, is what the Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360 exemplifies. Supported AMD Sockets: AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2, FM1Supported Intel Sockets: LGA 20xx, 1366, 115x, 775Cooler Height: 117mm. Youll need to make sure theres room to install an AIO cooler in your case as well, preferably in the top or rear, exhausting your CPU heat out of the case. Alphacool offers wide range of factory-filled companion parts, from additional radiators to GPU blocks, to suite nearly any expansion need. A pump of this pedigree pushes coolant like few others are capable. The NZXT Kraken M22 is an incredibly compact, high-performance liquid cooler that delivers sleek styling and vibrant RGB lighting options, while offering support for current AMD and Intel processor sockets. Two 140mm Noctua NF-A15 fans are included with this cooler. It's also worth noting that air coolers tend to benefit more from having extra case fans and strong ventilation to supplement the cooling action of the heatsink and the fan or fans mounted on the cooler. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) or check out his show on Twitch (The Platformers). Thankfully, Corsair sells them for only a few dollars. An all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler not only ensures a more silent operation over a traditional air cooler, but it might even lower temperatures enough to let you overclock further. The display contains important information like the CPU and GPU temperatures, but you can also have it display animated GIFs and other things, letting you truly personalize your setup. More exotic are water coolers, also known as closed-loop liquid coolers or all-in-one (AIO) CPU coolers. Supported AMD Sockets: AM4, sTRX4, TR4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2Supported Intel Sockets: LGA 1200, 20xx, 1366, 115x (LGA 1700 bracket sold separately). So your rig will stay cool and look cool. For the price, it's hard to beat the ML240L. Most coolers will come with some kind of paste, either in a small syringe or pre-applied to the metal cold plate. Socket compatibility: Intel: LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1366, LGA2011, LGA2011-3, LGA2066 You can control the fans directly through your motherboard, but if youre short on spots, you can pick up an EK-Loop Connect controller for another six PWM connections. Imagine a glow stick dancing in the middle of your PC while its running, and youll have a good idea. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Most builds call for a 240mm AIO. Wheres the EK series of AIOs and custom kits? Thermaltake's more premium TH120 ARGB 120mm water cooler packs a considerable amount of flair into a relatively small cooling device. For CPU support, the Eisbaer Aurora supports most modern processors, though it doesn't officially support Threadripper chips. Liquid coolers do have some undeniable advantages, but a specific cooler's design is critically important, and some air coolers perform better than some water coolers. This is the one for you. The device comprises an enormous aluminum heatsink with six copper heat pipes and a nickel-plated copper base plate. On Intel, the EK-AIO 240 supports LGA115x and LGA20xx, as well as LGA1200. 120 mm AIOs usually aren't very good, but the Corsair H80i v2 is the best 120 mm AIO around. Measuring just 58mm tall, the Shuriken 2 is roughly the same size as one of AMD's or Intel's stock coolers, but it features a solid copper base plate and four heat pipes that help to transfer heat through its aluminum heatsink for better cooling performance. Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. AIO coolers are far more convenient and affordable than custom liquid cooling loops, and can generally deliver lower CPU temperatures with less fan noise than air coolersalthough thats not always the case these days.
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