An all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler not only guarantees quieter cooling for your CPU compared to a conventional air cooler, but can also facilitate in reducing temperatures to an extent that allows for overclocking. AIOs provide a straightforward method for water-cooling your PC without the hassle of dealing with messy components selection. We also advise considering a liquid cooler, especially if you already own or intend to acquire a high-performance processor like an Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD's Ryzen 7950x.
Most builds call for a 240mm AIO. However, you can go up or down depending on your PC build size or cooling needs, too, with various options available.
Note: Before diving in, you'll need to take note of your CPU socket before picking up an AIO water cooler. Every CPU cooler is a little different, so you'll need to know what CPU socket your motherboard has to see if the cooler supports it.
Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite
Best 240mm AIO cooler
- iCUE support
- Excellent socket support
- Great configuration options
- Reasonably affordable
- RGB fans would be appreciated
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200 |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4, sTRX4, sTR4 |
| Dimensions: | 277mm x 120mm x 27mm |
| Included fans: | Two Corsair AF Elite 120mm |
| Fan speed: | 400 to 1850 rpm |
The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is a minor update to the H100i RGB Pro XT, which has been our top recommendation for a while. It features an updated pump design with 16 RGB LEDs, and thanks to iCUE, you can sync up all of your various RGB accessories for a unified look inside your build. The software also allows you to check on your CPU and coolant temperature to make sure everything is running smoothly.
In addition to a 240mm radiator, the kit comes with Corsair's new AF Elite fans. These are high-performance 120mm PWM fluid dynamic bearing fans that combine a low-noise design with the company's 'AirGuide' technology for powerful cooling, quiet operation, and exceptional durability. They also support Zero RPM and Variable Pump Speed specialized cooling modes in iCUE to keep noise to a minimum when your system is idle or under light loads.
The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is an easy AIO to recommend. The company is behind some of the best desktop CPU coolers, and the cooler clocks in at about $140. Socket support is excellent, too, with mounting options for all recent Intel and AMD processors, including Threadripper.
Arctic Liquid Freezer II
Best 360mm AIO cooler
- Hefty 360mm radiator for extra cooling cooling power
- Great value for price
- Automatic adjustment based on CPU performance
- No RGB
- Pump block can be too big for certain motherboards
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA1151, LGA1150, LGA1555, LGA1156 |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4 |
| Dimensions: | 398mm x 120mm x 38mm |
| Included fans: | Three Arctic 120mm fans |
| Fan speed: | 200 to 1,800 rpm |
When it comes to raw thermal performance, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is the best 360mm AIO cooler on the market. It reaches similar performance of competing coolers from NZXT and Corsair while being very inexpensive. Currently selling for about $130, the price is comparable to and in some cases lesser than most competitive 360mm AIO coolers out there.
The pump on the AIO is controlled by PWM, allowing it to modulate with the workload rather than run at full speed all the time. The Liquid Freezer II also includes a 40mm fan next to the pump, set to sit over your motherboard's VRM chips. In more extreme overclocking sessions, this may improve stability. Otherwise, it includes three Arctic 120mm fans to keep air flowing.
This cooler is all about performance and price. It gets those two bits right, but not without some concessions. It doesn't feature any sort of lighting, and the design may not be to everyone's tastes. Still, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II hits a sweet spot that other coolers can't compete with. Socket support is a little limited, but the Liquid Freezer still supports most recent chips. On AMD, it supports AM4 CPUs, and on Intel, it supports all LGA115x sockets, as well as 2011-3 and 2066 with a square Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM).
NZXT Kraken X53 RGB White
Best AIO cooler for white builds
- Excellent thermal performance
- Compact, stylish design with mirror pump cap
- Good warranty
- May be too pricy for some buyers
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x,LGA1366 |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4, sTRX4, TR4 |
| Dimensions: | 230mm x 123mm x 30mm |
| Included fans: | Two Aer RGB 2 120mm fans |
| Fan speed: | 500 to 1,500 rpm |
NZXT's third-generation Kraken X coolers are well worth the asking prices. The cooler is now available in an all-white finish with two 120mm Aer RGB 2 fans making it perfect for your next white PC build. This 240mm model clocks in at around $145, which still isn't too expensive. The design is much more appealing than Arctic's offering while achieving similar levels of thermal performance.
For looks, the Kraken X's infinity mirror pump cap is a showstopper. It bounces light around inside the cap to create the illusion of infinite LED rings. Like nearly all NZXT products, the Kraken X53 is fully integrated with CAM, allowing you to monitor temperatures and tweak your lighting settings. Over the X52, the X53 also includes an NZXT Hue 2 connection on the pump, offering power for up to six Hue 2 accessories. If you want to trick out your rig with synced-up RGB, the NZXT Kraken X53 is for you.
Socket support is excellent, with support for TR4 and AM4 on AMD, and LGA115X, 1,700, and 1,200 on Intel. NZXT rates the Kraken X53 for six years of continuous use — 60,000 hours, technically — which is around what we'd expect for most AIO coolers. NZXT offers a six-year warranty, though, so you're covered from any defects for the rated life of the cooler.
Corsair H80i v2
Best 120mm AIO cooler
- Best 120mm AIO you can find
- Extra thick radiator for more cooling power
- Dual fan design
- May require an AM4 bracket for some builds
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1200, LGA115x,LGA1366 |
| AMD socket: | AM4 (requires bracket), AM3, AM2 |
| Dimensions: | 154mm x 123mm x 49mm |
| Included fans: | Two Corsair SP120L 120mm fans |
| Fan speed: | Up to 2,435 rpm |
Usually, 120mm AIOs aren't very good, but the Corsair H80i v2 is the best 120mm AIO around. Without proper surface area on the radiator, most 120mm coolers just aren't up to snuff when it comes to cooling power. The Corsair H80i v2 solves that problem. The radiator is twice as thick, clocking in at 49mm compared to the standard 25mm. The H80i v2 doesn't match the cooling performance of a 240mm radiator, but it gets a lot closer than a standard 120mm one.
To get through the extra thick radiator, Corsair includes two SP120L PWM fans, so it's easy to set up a push-pull configuration, but you'll need to factor in the extra thickness of such a configuration when mounting.
As for support, the Corsair H80i v2 comes with Intel mounting hardware for socket 1366 up to LGA1200 (Intel's redesign of LGA1151, designed for Comet Lake CPUs). Basically, if you have an Intel processor introduced after 2008, you're fine. AMD support is a little sparser. The cooler technically supports AM2 up to AM4, but the box only ships with mounting hardware for up to AM3. You'll need a separate AM4 bracket. Thankfully, Corsair sells them for only a few dollars. There's no RGB on this one, either, though you can control fan speed and monitor temperatures through Corsair's iCUE software.
Thermalright Frozen Prism 240
Best 240mm AIO cooler on a budget
- Excellent value
- Fast pump motor
- Great performance for the asking price
- Limited RGB
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x,LGA 1366 |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4 |
| Dimensions: | 276 mm x 120mm x 27mm |
| Included fans: | Two Thermalright TL-E12 V2 120mm fans |
| Fan speed: | Up to 1,850 rpm |
Thermalright might not be the most popular brand, but the company has been making some impressive value for money CPU air coolers and it also offers AIO liquid cooling solutions, like the Frozen Prism 240. Currently selling for just under $50, this is a very affordable AIO cooler, considering it is lower than a wide range of popular air coolers. The cooler promises great performance thanks to the powerful pump motor that can run up to 3300 rpm while the bundled two 120mm fans can go up to 1,850 rpm to offer an air flow of 70.4 CFM and air pressure of 2.64mm H2O.
It's pretty good choice if you don't want to spend a lot of money on an an AIO liquid cooling solution. It doesn't come with RGB fans and the performance isn't as goo das the top models, but it's still a great buy at this price.
Lian-Li Galahad II Trinity SL-INF 240mm
Best AIO cooler for RGB lovers
- Designed for maximum RGB
- Interchangeable pump covers
- 3200 rpm pump motor speed
- Limited socket support
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4 |
| Dimensions: | 277.5mm x 119.2mm x 27mm |
| Included fans: | Two Lian-LI SL-Infinity 120mm RGB fans |
| Fan speed: | 200 to 2,100 rpm |
Lian-Li introduced the new Galahad II Trinity series of AIO liquid coolers this year in a variety of models and configurations. If you are looking for something that offers great performance and sports plenty of RGB lighting, then the new Galahad II Trinity SL-INF 240 should satisfy your needs. This version comes with Lian-Li's SL-Infinity 120mm RGB fans that are just loaded with RGB lighting all around. It even comes with infinity mirror effects, on the main fan hub and both sides of the frame to give a unique look, and like most Lian-Li fans they can be daisy chained easily for better cable management. Even the pump-head can be customized with three deferent caps bundled in the box for a unique RGB look.
As for the performance, the pump motor speed goes up to 3200 rpm with a seven blade impeller for strong water flow. The AIO also includes a straightened coolant pathway to reduce water flow resistance, a larger copper plate fin spacing to prevent substance buildup over time and a larger tube diameter to increase water flow for faster heat dissipation. The radiator has also been updated which is now 27mm in thickness and features single-wave radiator fins with 20 fins per inch, which is less airflow restrictive and can result in improved thermal performance.
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora
Best refillable AIO cooler
- Refillable design for long-term upgrades
- Copper components for extra cooling
- Expansive RGB options
- No official support for Threadrippers
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x |
| AMD socket: | AM2, AM3, AM4 |
| Dimensions: | 400mm x 124mm x 30mm |
| Included fans: | Three Alphacool 120mm PWM fans |
| Fan speed: | 800 to 2,000 rpm |
The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora is a CPU cooler that you can refill. Unlike other AIO liquid coolers, you can swap out the fluid, upgrade the hoses and fittings, and even expand the loop. The most recent model supports digital RGB on the fans and CPU block, too, allowing you to trick out your lighting however you want.
The looks are right, but Alphacool didn't sacrifice thermals with the Eisbaer Aurora. 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. For CPU support, the Eisbaer Aurora supports most modern processors, though it doesn't officially support Threadripper chips.
NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB
Best AIO with LCD display
- Sharp and crisp LCD
- Improved performance over predecessor
- Variety of SKUs
- Fans feel cheap
- Cables could be simplified
- Doesn't come cheap
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Intel socket: | LGA1700, LGA1200, LGA115x,LGA1366 |
| AMD socket: | AM5, AM4, AM3, sTRX4, sTR4 |
| Dimensions: | 315mm x 143mm x 30mm |
| Included fans: | Two F140 RGB Core 140mm fans |
| Fan speed: | 500 to 1,500 rpm |
The NZXT Kraken Elite 280 RGB liquid cooler is an update to the popular Kraken Z63 featuring an all-new LCD display. It is now sharper thanks to higher 640 x 640 resolution and even offers a 60Hz refresh rate for smooth animations. The screen can be used to display custom images, animated GIFs, and system information with adjustable orientation. NZXT claims that the AIO also comes with an updated Asetek pump that offers the best cooling performance and up to 2,800 rpm whisper-quiet operation.
Bundled in the box is the radiator and two F140 RGB Core 140mm fans as well as an RGB Controller and a USB Y-cable. The single breakout cable makes the installation process a lot more simple, while the rubber tubing has been reinforced with nylon-braided sleeves to prevent leaks. The new Kraken Elite series AIOs are also available in 240mm as well as 360mm sizes in either black or white and you can even opt for the cooler with non-RGB fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most important part of an AIO CPU cooler is the radiator size. A larger radiator offers better cooling performance, but you need to make sure it can fit inside your case. Otherwise, look at the socket support to make sure you can use the cooler with your motherboard and buy from a reputable brand.
Most AIO coolers have a lifespan of six years, regardless of if they have RGB or not. You can expect an AIO cooler from a reputable brand to run for six years without issues, but every cooler is a little different. We recommend looking up individual AIO cooler reviews to see if others have had issues with reliability.
Before buying an AIO cooler, you need to know about the risks it may pose to your PC. Although failures are few and far between, every AIO cooler is still putting water dangerously close to your precious PC components, so there's always a risk that the cooler could leak or fail and damage your parts. The fact that AIO coolers are closed makes matters worse because you can't open the loop to see if there are any problems.
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. As long as you keep an eye on both, you can find most problems before they do any catastrophic damage.
In a typical setup, yes, liquid cooling is simply better at capturing and dissipating heat than an air cooling system alone — however, they aren't necessarily better than the best air coolers. AIO coolers are a popular option to add liquid cooling because they offer the whole cooling system in a premade package that's relatively easy to set up, and they tend to be very quiet.
That being said, AIO coolers may not be the best choice for every gaming station. As we mentioned above, not all PC cases have a lot of room to add a radiator, pump, and tubing. If you aren't interested in overclocking and your current system manages temperatures just fine, you may not see a lot of benefit from switching to an AIO cooler, either.
That depends on several factors. The pump that moves the liquid in the cooler is typically silent or at least inconsequential compared to other PC noises. AIO models usually have fans, which will get noisy if they operate at high speed or are dirty. You can decrease fan noise by keeping them free of dust and monitoring their settings via the BIOS if possible. The good news is that, with liquid cooling, fans usually don't have to work as hard and are less likely to make lots of noise.
Another source of noise can be gurgling from the liquid as it flows, especially at higher pump speeds. If your AIO cooler is chilling your PC just fine at lower pump speeds, you can easily keep noise levels down this way. If annoying gurgling noises persist, there could be air cycling in the system. Proper installation and pump placement can often help avoid bubbling issues like this, so it may be time to take a look at your mounting choices. You can also run the cooler through a process to clear out air bubbles.
If this is your first time installing an AIO model, you should find and follow a guide closely or use the included instructions and pay attention to the details. Corsair has a clear-cut guide on the two most effective mounting choices for the radiator (on the front or at the top of the case). The radiator should be at a higher position than the pump to help avoid air bubble problems, which means you don't want to install it at the bottom of the case.
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