CPU cooling can be done in two ways, air cooling and liquid or water cooling. Air cooling makes use of big and noisy fans for transporting CPU’s heat, while water cooling incorporates the use of less noisy fans paired with a more efficient heat transfer setup. All in one cooling refers to the liquid cooling of the CPU. The best AIO cooler is the one that keeps your CPU and GPU well-ventilated. When your CPU and GPU are breathing sufficiently, you can get the best result out of them.
The water block is connected to the motherboard or GPU to dissipate its heat to the flowing liquid. It has been proved that liquid CPU cooling is much more efficient than air cooling, as water has a much greater heat transfer coefficient than air. Water cooling also allows you to get rid of noisy fans running at higher RPMs. Another advantage of using water cooling is that you get better clocks. The AIO cooler consists of a water block, tubes, fans, radiator, fittings, and a pump. Its tubes connect radiators to the water block. A pump pumps the fluid throughout this closed cycle. The heat is rejected at the radiator, which acts as a heat sink.
Quick Shopping Tips:
Following are the key points to provide your PC with the best cooling:
Radiator Size: First of all, you shall choose the AIO cooler that fits your case. The most common sizes are 92mm, 140mm, 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, and 360mm. The larger the size, the greater it will remove the heat. But the larger the size of the radiator, the more space it will need. So it would help if you choose accordingly.
No. of fans and RPM: The loudest component of a PC is the CPU cooler. Coolers with large diameter fans are quieter than coolers with small diameter fans. It is well understood that an increased number of cooling fans or using fans with higher RPMs will increase the heat transfer, but increasing noise is a turn-off here. We can use more fans having less RPM to accommodate the noise issue. So it would help if you chose your water cooling accordingly.
Efficiency: If you need to overclock your PC, you need a high-end liquid cooler to meet your requirements. But if you are a casual gamer, a mid-range CPU cooler will do. Overclocking can make your PC push its limits and deliver you the maximum output. But not every user feels a need for it. So that is why you need to choose the best CPU cooler for your PC.
TDP Rating: The maximum amount of heat generated by a CPU or GPU needs to be removed by the cooling system. To facilitate your PC with the best cooling solution, you need to have a cooler with a higher TDP rating than your processor. The best liquid CPU cooler for your system would be the one having more TDP rating than your processor. Therefore, having a good margin between your CPU and your fan’s TDP is a turn-on.
CPU Socket: CPU coolers come with different sockets, and manufacturers mention this in their respective catalogs. You have to make sure that the CPU cooler you are going to buy is compatible with your motherboard-processor combination. It would be the best go-to for the cooler, which is perfectly compatible with your CPU socket.
Best Liquid CPU Coolers at a glance:
- Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro
- Lian Li Galahad
- Deepcool Captain 240 Pro V2
- NZXT Kraken X53
- EVGA CLC 280mm
- Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix
- Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage
- Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora
The Best Liquid CPU Coolers You Can Buy Today
Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro
Best Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 276mm X 120mm X 27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 4.38 lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: Intel 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066 AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4, sTR4 | Warranty: 5 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Corsair iCUE software
✓ Great fan speed control
✓ Whisper-quiet operation
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No flexible housing
✗ No AMD socket sTR4/sTRX4 bracket
Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro is a high-end model of corsair, balancing performance and looks. Bright RGB LED pump adds to its beauty. It is a premium model offering high-end customized liquid cooling; that is why it is known as the Best Liquid CPU Cooler. H100i Pro’s magnetic levitation-bearing PWM fans deliver maximum airflow and static pressure with minimum noise levels. It offers a wide range of speed control with PWM fan speed control to make the fans exert their requirements. You can adjust the speed between 400 and 2400 RPM.
Corsair iCUE software enables you to control your RGB LEDs and fan speeds using a single interface, which is highly user-friendly. Corsair iCUE software supports six fans and six Corsair RGB devices. Zero RPM control allows fans even to stop when the coolant temperature reaches 40 degrees celsius and below, which adds to the quietness of this cooling unit. The black braided coolant tubes are used to give it a more incredible and fresh look. It has tool-free mounting brackets to facilitate installation. It comes with a five years warranty period to support product longevity and customer support.
Lian Li Galahad
Best Budget Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 240mmx273x123.5x27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 3.2 lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: LGA 115X, LGA 1366, LGA 775,LGA 1200, LGA 2011, LGA 2066, AM4 | Warranty: 5 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Removable aluminum cap
✓ 400m double-braided tubing
✓ Triple-chamber designed water pump
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Complex wiring
✗ No software management UI
Lia Li Galahad is not only the best AIO cooler as far as cooling and budget are concerned; that’s why it also famous for being the Best Budget Liquid CPU Cooler. It has a high static pressure fan with variable speed. You can control speed in PWM or DC mode. The removable magnetic aluminum cap allows switching between two different looks. There are 47 addressable RGB LEDs to ensure a brighter lighting effect. The CPU block provides a properly aligned logo, which adds to its aesthetics.
It incorporates braided tubing. It is easier to bend and strengthens the tubes, which ensures the leak-tight performance of the cooling water pressure-regulating double-blade radiator more central unit. It also features multi-chamber technology, which enhances heat transfer efficiency. It has aluminum metal sheets on both sides of the radiator to give it a metallic look and support the radiator. To add another brick to the wall, it is worth mentioning that Lian Li Galahad comes with a superb five-year warranty period, making it the best package as far as cooling water solutions are concerned.
Deepcool Captain 240 Pro V2
Best Ultra Cheap Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 282mm X 120mm X 27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 3.75 lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: Intel LGA 2066, 2011-v3, 2011, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1366, AMD TR4, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1 | Warranty: 3 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Anti-Leak technology
✓ Pressure-regulating radiator
✓ Easy RBG and PWM control
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No 4-pin pump connector
✗ Noisy operation under heavy load
Deepcool Captain 240 Pro V2 is the best liquid cooler when we talk about price and performance. It is why it has been awarded the Best Ultra Cheap Liquid CPU Cooler award. Its stainless steel structure adds to its aesthetics and sturdiness. It offers anti-leak technology, which solves a big deal of problems associated with water cooling. Automatic pressure regulating radiator releases excess pressure in the system, preventing leaks and making it safe to use. The base plate is made of copper to facilitate efficient heat transfer.
The updated design incorporates the usage of ultra-silent TF 120 double-blade fans. Double-blade fans are much more silent than conventional single-bladed fans. Double-bladed fans offer efficient liquid cooling with a high flow rate with lesser noise. Sleeved coolant tubing gives a sleek look. It is pretty easy to install, which is a remarkable after-purchase feature. Assembly plates are sturdy. A mighty motor powers the pump. It boasts its TDP of 250Watt, which is consistent with most high-end motherboards/processors. It comes with a three years warranty period.
NZXT Kraken X53
Best 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 275mm X 123mm X 30mm | Base Height: 30mm | Weight: 4.1lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: Intel LGA 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, 2066, AM4, sTRX4, TR4 | Warranty: 6 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Multi-language manual
✓ LCD infinity effect on the block
✓ High-performance Asetek pumps
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No direct fan control
✗ No Thread Ripper bracket
The KRAKEN company recently refreshed their X series with this masterpiece. X series of the NZXT is a family of the best liquid cpu coolers, offering a balance between price and performance. NZXT Kraken X53 has been given the award for Best 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler. With this size radiator, it provides much better cooling for casual gamers. Its new design offers a larger surface area for the CPU block.
Asetek pump offers excellent cooling with low noise levels. In whichever direction the pump is moving, the NZXT logo will remain in its place. CAM can customize the lighting effects. The LED ring is 10% bigger and makes the RGB more vivid. RGB fans are exceptionally good at pushing air through fins. Nylon mesh sleeve tubing makes it easy and safe for handling. It features two Aer P 120mm fans and is ideal for small and mid-sized cases. The best part of this set of remarkable features is that it comes with a warranty of 6 years.
EVGA CLC 280mm
Best 280mm Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 312mm X 140mm X 27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 2.6 lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: Intel LGA20XX, 1200, 115X, 1366, AMD TR4, AM4, AM3, AM2, FM2, FM1 | Warranty: 5 Year
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Onboard fan control
✓ High operation on low noise
✓ Teflon Nano Bearing technology
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Heavy and bulky
✗ No LGA 2066 support
EVGA CLC 280mm is a high-performance, cost-effective cooling solution product by EVGA. It is the best value for money and is the best AIO cooler when we talk about price VS performance. The product is trusted for being Best 280mm Liquid CPU Cooler because of delivering outstanding performance. It is based on the latest generation Asetek pump. Asetek pump offers excellent liquid cooling with lesser noise, which makes this product effective and silent. The cooling block has improved design for increased heat transfer area. The copper base plate increases heat transfer. The bottom plate of the block comes with a thermal paste.
Talking about aesthetics, a unique fan design with square blocks and round edges adds to a cooler’s beauty. It is one of the best products of EVGA. Teflon Nano-bearings contribute to a longer lifespan of a unit. It comes with braided tubing, used by most of the high-end coolers in the market. EVGA believes in grabbing and retaining its customers by giving attractive warranty figures. This model comes with a five-year liquid warranty period, which adds trust and confidence to this liquid cooler unit.
Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix
Best 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 397mm X 120mm X 27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 2.42 lbs | Fans: 3 | Socket Support: Intel 115x, 2011, 2066, AMD AM3, AM2, AM4, sTR4 | Warranty: 5 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Excellent heat dissipation
✓ iCUE commander software
✓ Tool-free mounting bracket
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No sTRX4 socket support
✗ No motherboards sync software
Corsair is one of the oldest PC parts manufacturing companies. Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix is a 360mm model, the largest one that the company makes. It has also been known as the Best 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler. It has a considerable capacity for heat removal, thanks to its big radiator size. The radiator is sized such that most high-end games will run at full settings without any heat-up issues and lags. The cold plate design has 128 micro-scived FIP, which facilitates heat transfer. It also allows overclocking, which makes it the best pick for gamers and other high-end GPU users.
The LED count has already been increased. Its cooler pump contains 33 ultra-bright RGB lights. It is compatible with all the current sockets, and the installation is relatively easy and quick with tool-free mounting brackets. The pump has two different caps that add to the shine of RGB lights. It also features a new iCUE commander core for convenient and smooth control of fans and pumps. This customized software makes it the best liquid CPU cooler. The excellent build quality is a plus point, especially of tubing. Tubing is more flexible and also coated. It comes with a warranty of 5 years, ensuring long-time customer support and enhancing product reliability.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage
Best RGB Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 277mm X 120mm X 27mm | Base Height: 27mm | Weight: 3.63 lbs | Fans: 2 | Socket Support: Intel LGA 2066, 2011-v3, 2011, 1200, 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, 775 AMD TR4, AM4, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1 | Warranty: 2 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Thread ripper support
✓ Transparent Pump Design
✓ PWM motor with a silent driver
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Extra bright RGB
✗ No graphene Coating
Cooler Master is a leading brand in cooling solutions due to its high-end sophisticated cooling mechanisms. Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240P Mirage is proof of it. Cooler Master focuses on aesthetics in this model; that is why this cooler has been given the Best RGB Liquid CPU Cooler award. The redesigned cap and larger infinity mirror ring LED adds to its beauty. Transparent pump design adds aesthetics to it. It lets you see the impeller moving inside the pump. Its design incorporates double tubing, which gives it durability and a premium look.
The tubing and fitting on the side of the pump can be rotated for ease of routing. To reduce noise, it has anti-vibration rubber pads. The square outer casing of the fan makes the blade rotate smoothly with less noise. The radiator is designed to allow low resistance and higher flow rates. It increases the heat transfer rate and provides better cooling. It comes with a warranty period of 2 years, which is not reasonably sufficient for customer satisfaction and trust-building.
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora
Best Refillable Liquid CPU Cooler
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 397 x 124 x 30 mm | Base Height: 30mm | Weight: 3.36 lbs | Fans: 3 | Socket Support: 775, 1056, 1155, 1150, 1151, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 AMD AM2, AM2 +, AM3, AM3 +, FM1, FM2, FM2 + , AM4 | Warranty: 2 Years
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Copper made radiator
✓ Flexible pump housing
✓ Digital RGB LED controller
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No threadripper support
✗ Installation is a bit difficult
This brand of AIO coolers is quite extensive, offering multiple designs that give users copper as a smooth cooling alternative. Refiling is its most convenient feature; that is why we entitled it as the Best Refillable Liquid CPU Cooler. Using copper as a radiator material increases the heat transfer significantly compared to aluminum. There is a big difference between aluminum and copper’s heat transfer coefficient, but copper takes the lead. Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora has a standard-sized radiator of 360mm. It offers much lower fin spacing, that is, 15 FPI, compared to the other counterparts (which offer 21 fins per inch roughly).
It offers flashy RGB LEDs to pumps and fans. It has an illuminated pump block, which gives back an illuminated view. The build quality is also quite good and up. It offers a warranty period of 2 years. Overclocking produces a considerable amount of heat, which would damage the components of the CPU if not dissipated. It generates a fluid rather than an air cooler and much more efficiently cools heat. Thus, water cooling increases the overclocking potential of your PC and takes it to a higher level. Water cooling is also better suited for warm climatic conditions.
Conclusion
If you have decided to go for liquid cooling, then Corsair Hydro Series H100i Pro is the most suitable option for you as it is the king of liquid coolers. Corsair iCUE software enables you to control your RGB LEDs and fan speeds using a single interface. Zero RPM control allows fans even to stop when required. It is a high-end model targeting high-end gamers and by far the best AIO cooler in the market. It can overclock and push your PC to reach its fullest potential. EVGA CLC 280mm is the best budget-friendly CPU cooler in the current market. The build quality is also very much appreciable. It was the overview and highlighted specifications of the most budget-friendly cooling solution.
But if we talk about the blend of both these products, Lian Li Galahad leads the way. It is the best liquid CPU cooler as far as cooling and budget are concerned. It has a fan speed control mechanism controlled in PWM or DC mode. It also allows overclocking to an extent. It also features multi-chamber technology, which improves heat transfer efficiency. So here I will conclude with my buying suggestion to go for a cooler with a balanced price/performance ratio. The best liquid cooler is having a blend of all the features necessary for gamers. It is the best combination of features that you can get within the mentioned price range. It is the best trade-off between performance, aesthetics, and budgeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AIO Cooler 2021?
Cooler Master Master Liquid ML240P Mirage is the best cooler of 2021. The reason behind this is a blend of excellent build quality and features. Transparent pump design adds aesthetics to its design. The double tubing design gives it durability and a premium look. The tubing and fitting on the side of the pump can be rotated for ease of routing. It is a silent water cooler due to the anti-vibration rubber pads and the square outer casing of the fan. This type of casing makes the blade rotate smoothly with less noise.
Is a liquid CPU cooler worth it?
It depends upon your needs and requirements; liquid cooling is entirely worth it. It takes up less space than fans. Efficiently cools CPU and GPU, increasing its life. They are less noisy as compared to air cooling. If you are a high-end GPU user who Wants to overclock his/her processor, water cooling is the best cooling solution. Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix offers extraordinary and budget-friendly cooling.
What is the best CPU cooler for 2021?
NZXT Kraken X53 is the best CPU cooler of 2021. With this size radiator, it provides much better cooling for mid-range gamers. The surface area for the CPU block is increased. It increases the CPU heat transfer and adds to the life of the processor. Cooler’s Asetek type of pump offers excellent flow with low noise levels. Nylon mesh sleeve tubing makes it safe for handling and routing. It comes with a warranty of 6 years, which is proof of excellent build quality and the long life of this product.
Which is better, AIO or Air cooler?
AIO coolers are better than air coolers in many aspects. They are pricier than air coolers but are more effective; for example, Deepcool Captain 240 Pro V2 is a liquid cooler providing all the perks of liquid cooling at such a reasonable price tag, even if compared to an air cooler. Water cooling offers better heat transfer capabilities than air coolers. They produce less noise than air coolers. They are more energy-efficient but high heat dissipaters. They provide a more significant margin of overclocking for high-end gamers/users.
