🖱️️ The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best 360 mm
3. Best 420 mm
4. Best budget
5. Also tested
6. Where to buy
7. FAQ
The best cooler for your PC could well be an all-in-one (AIO) unit. Offering many of the benefits of liquid cooling, which can be more capable than air, an AIO cooler is easy to set up and provide an ideal balance of performance, convenience, and price. And they generally don't leak, either, before you ask.
We've tested and personally used many different models, but the best over AIO cooler right now is the Arctic Liquid Freezer III. It comes in four different sizes, and there are two options for colors and RGB lighting. The cooling performance is superb and it's great value for money. If you're looking to spend as little as possible, but still want great cooling, then the Deepcool Gammaxx L240 V2 is the best budget AIO cooler in our opinion.
But if liquid coolers aren't right for you, then check out the full best CPU coolers list to see else might be more up your street.
Nick's been slapping coolers on CPUs since the early 1990s, when he tried to overclock an Intel 486 and found that it got a tad on the toasty side. Since then, he's tested, and broke, countless different models of air and closed-loop (AIO) coolers, so he knows exactly what's hot and what's not.
The quick list
The best overall
Arctic's successor to the popular Freezer II is more than a simple update. It's by far the best overall AIO cooler you can buy right now, even if it is quite fiddly to install in many PC cases.
The best 360 mm
As the name suggests, Lian Li's Galahad II Trinity Performance is all about outright cooling, and it delivers this flawlessly.
The best 420 mm
Huge name, huge radiator, huge cooling. The H170i Elite Capellix XT is all these things and more, but pleasingly, the price isn't all that huge for such a massive cooler.
The best budget
There are cheaper coolers and there are better coolers, but the Deepcool Gammaxx L240 hits the right balance between performance and price tag.
Recent updates
This page was updated on April 05, 2024 to streamline and update our AIO cooler recommendations. We also added in some buy if/don't buy if sections to make it even easier to make the right choice on which cooler is the best one for you.
The best overall AIO cooler
✅ If you need serious cooling: Even though it's only 280 mm in scale, the chunky radiator and quality fans deliver outstanding cooling performance.
✅ If you want to keep the VRMs cool too: The fan in the CPU block might look like a gimmick, but it moves a decent amount of over the motherboard VRMs.
❌ If you have a compact case: The extra thick radiator means it won't fit properly in lots of cases, even if they're supposed to fit 280 mm coolers. And the water pipes aren't very flexible, too.
❌ If you want flashy looks: Despite having addressable RGB lighting, there's no software to control them and the main pump looks a bit cheap.
The best overall AIO liquid cooler is the Arctic Liquid Freezer III series. Its predecessor, the Liquid Freezer II, was (and still is) very popular, thanks to its low price and superb cooling performance. It wasn't the flashiest of coolers, but it did come with a tiny fan in the main pump to help cool the motherboard's VRMs (voltage regulation modules). The Freezer III, has retained all these elements and improved them all substantially.
Available in four sizes of radiator (240, 280, 360, and 420 mm), two color options, with or without RGB lighting, the Liquid Freezer III covers just about all possible use scenarios, with some important exceptions. The first of which happens to be Intel CPU socket support. Where the Freezer II will fit on just about any Intel processor, the Freezer III only works on those using the LGA1700 socket (12th Gen or newer).
That's because the cooler uses a proprietary mounting system that requires you to remove the default ILM (independent loading mechanism)—the new bracket ensures the pump block sits firmly on the CPU's heat spreader for optimal cooling.
And thanks to an extra deep radiator, the Freezer's cooling performance is superb, with the 280 mm version easily better most of the competition, even larger ones. The additional heft and unique mounting system does make it very fiddly to install in some PCs, especially if there isn't much room between the top of the motherboard and the case.
If it does fit, you'll be treated to outstanding cooling, all relatively quietly thanks to the use of Arctic's P14 140 mm fans in the 280 model. Even at full speed, the noise levels are acceptable, as the pitch of the sound is quite low. That's even with the additional VRM fan system, which is much larger than that in the Freezer II. It shifts a decent amount of air around it, which is great for keeping those vital motherboard components cool.
The addressable RGBs require you to adjust them yourself, either via the motherboard's UEFI or a third-party application, as Arctic doesn't offer any software package. On the plus side, the fans come pre-installed in a push configuration, for top PC case mounting.
Alongside the fantastic cooling performance, the other great aspect of the Liquid Freezer III is its price. The series starts at $105/€104 for base non-RGB 240 model and tops out at $164/€150 for the white A-RGB version, and it's frequently on sale for a lot less than that.
There's nothing else as good as the Freezer III at those prices and provided it will fit your PC, there's little else to touch it for keeping everything cool.
The best 360 mm AIO cooler
✅ If you need to shift lots of heat: Sure it's noisy at full speed, but the amount of heat transferred will cool even the most power hungry of CPUs.
✅ If you don't like fan noise: The fans are really quiet on the Low setting, but once they ramp up with on the High setting, they get pretty loud.
❌ If you want the bling included: The pump unit comes with RGB lighting but the fans don't, and it's an extra cost to get the full kit. Which doesn't look all that great, either.
❌ If you want flashy looks: Despite having addressable RGB lighting, there's no software to control them and the main pump looks a bit cheap.
If you're looking for the best 360 mm AIO cooler, then the Lian Li Galahad II Trinity Performance is the one to pick. Lots of PC gaming enthusiasts have desktop cases large enough to house a 360 mm AIO cooler. But which to choose—which one offers fantastic cooling performance, at a very reasonable price, and even has a spot of RGB lighting? The answer is this exact cooler.
This is a meaty version of Lian Li's standard Trinity model and the three 120 mm fans have two settings: Low and High. With the former, the cooler performs no better than many other 360 mm setups, but switched to High and it'll blast heat away from your CPU like nothing else.
There is an obvious downside to this, of course, and it's fan noise. In normal conditions, they're fine—not great, but not bad, either. But at max rpm with the High setting, they're very loud and the pitch might be a little uncomfortable for many folks. But if that doesn't bother you and you need to cool a CPU spitting out 300 W or more of heat, then the Trinity Performance will certainly have no problem with that.
With such outrageous performance, it's a shame that the cooler is somewhat bland looking. You can swap the pump head's cover to one of three different setups (Duo-Infinity, Dazzle, Sink Hole) and they do look very nice, but the supplied fans have no LEDs whatsoever.
You could replace with some of your own or buy Lian Li's separate RGB kit, that attaches to the radiator, but given how cheap RGB fans are, you'd be right in thinking that it's a little unfair that such a premium cooler hasn't been given the full lighting treatment.
If that's no concern to you, and you're happy to put up with the fan noise, then you won't find a more powerful 360 mm cooler on the market right now.
The best 420 mm AIO cooler
✅ If you need all the cooling you can get: Three 140 mm fans strapped to a massive radiator will cool anything you have. Even the odd fusion reactor. Maybe.
✅ If you want classy RGB lighting: Lots of AIO coolers overdo it with LEDs and Corsair has been guilty of this in the past. Not so here, as the overall setup is very tasteful.
❌ If you don't have a big case: It's not just a question of having room for a 420 mm radiator, but sufficient space for the tubes and fans. It's a lot bigger than it looks in pictures.
❌ If you're looking for a low price cooler: While the price is very good for an AIO this size, it's still a big step up from the average 240 mm cooler.
When it comes to outright performance, the best 420 mm AIO cooler is the Corsair iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT. This isn't just a cooler with a massive name—it's massive full stop. With three 140 mm fans on a 420 mm radiator, this thing absolutely towers over most other coolers. Pictures really don't do the size any justice at all.
And herein lies the H170i Elite Capellix XT's strength and weakness. Starting with the former, a decent 280 mm cooler like the Arctic Liquid Freezer III, will perform just as well as any 360 mm model. So it doesn't take any scientific understanding to appreciate just how much better a 420 mm version is going to be. But rest assured, it absolutely is—it will easily cope with any CPU you can strap it to.
But such a monstrous cooler requires lots of room inside a PC case to mount it. Relatively few chassis models support 420mm radiators and even those that do, might not have sufficient room for the lengthy tubes.
If you do have room for it, then the payback isn't just outstanding thermal performance, but superb noise levels. Bigger fans don't need to spin as fast as smaller ones do, to shift the same amount of air, and this particular H170i can be set to be whisper quiet, even under heavy load.
There are smaller sizes available with the same fans and cooler setup as this 420mm beast. The most popular of the lot is perhaps the 240mm version, which should fit most modern PC cases, but there are better options to be found at this price point.
This is why the 420 mm version of the iCUE H170i Elite Capellix XT is the one we recommend. Absurdly long name aside, you're getting cooling performance like nothing else, for a reasonable price, and with tasteful RGB lighting.
The best budget AIO cooler
✅ If you want great value for money: Even though you can buy cheaper coolers, few will touch the Deepcool for it's balance of heat shifting speed and price tag.
✅ If you want a quiet PC: When idle or under a light load, the fans and pump are barely audible. Perfect if you hate noise.
❌ If your PC regularly works hard: If you have a high power CPU and it's used at full load a lot of the time, the fans have to spin extra fast to cope and they're not very quiet at full speed.
❌ If you want more bling: Sure there's plenty of RGB, but beyond that the cooler looks rather cheap. Because it is.
The best budget AIO cooler is the Deepcool Gammaxx L240 V2. Well known for making capable coolers with presentable price tags, this model by Deepcool fits the bill perfectly, being one of the cheaper 240 mm coolers on the market. You get the usual level of features, such as basic RGB lighting in the pump head and fans, and if you want addressable LEDs, then there’s a more expensive version with this feature, should you really want it.
The ‘anti-leak technology’ is heavily promoted by Deepcool, the idea of which being to maintain optimal water pressure, inside the loop, for the lifespan of the cooler. If you're new to AIOs and worried about leaks, then this feature may well appeal.
Despite the low price, the Gammaxx L240 is capable of cooling most processors, though Intel's 14th Gen i9 chips are too much for the little cooler, when drawing full power. Pretty much everything else will be fine, running with remarkably low noise levels, which is one of the main reasons we recommend it.
At idle the L240 is effectively silent but as you’d expect, you will start to see an increase in temperatures and noise levels with high TDP processors, especially when overclocking. Under heavy loads, the fans ramp up quite a bit, unless you configure them not to, but then they it won't cool so well.
If you’re after a 240mm AIO that’s inexpensive and quiet under less demanding loads, then the Deepcool Gammaxx L240 is a great choice. Its noise levels can get high if you push it too hard, but at this price it comes highly recommended.
Also tested
Where to find the best deals on AIO liquid coolers
Where are the best AIO cooler deals?
In the US:
- Amazon - Regular savings on the best AIO coolers
- Walmart - Usually some good savings on liquid coolers
- Newegg - Big brands with big savings, AIOs for all budgets
- Best Buy - Great place to look for a cheap liquid cooler
In the UK:
- Overclockers - Plenty of AIO coolers to choose from
- Scan - Over 150 liquid coolers to browse through
In Australia:
- Mwave - Lots of big brand AIO coolers to find savings on
- Computer Alliance - Liquid coolers to suit every budget
- Amazon - Keep an eye out for some steep discounts
FAQ
Is an AIO better than an air cooler?
The first question people have is usually this: Air or water? Air cooling is generally cheaper and simpler. High end air coolers are better than ever but they're very bulky, and good quality AIOs generally outperform them. Water cooling is more efficient, as water is a better thermal conductor, which means it's better at transferring heat away from your CPU. There remains a tiny risk of leakage, but this is becoming exceedingly rare.
Noise levels are highly dependent on the fans used, but other than outliers, such as comparing a 120mm AIO to a twin tower/fan combo, a good quality AIO will be quieter than an air cooler when presented with a high heat load.
In terms of actual peak cooling performance there's not a lot in it between the best of each category, but AIOs are generally quicker at getting from peak to idle temperatures than a straight air cooler is.
Is an AIO cooler worth it?
If you really want to go all out, you’re maybe better off with a fully custom water-cooling loop, but they are complicated, expensive, require maintenance, and have far more points of failure. AIOs are simple, they’re all but maintenance-free, they're cheaper, and they cool almost as well—the 360 mm and bigger ones do, at least.
Do you need to refill AIO coolers?
The reliability of AIO coolers has come a long way. AIO leaks are exceedingly rare. Like any other mechanical device, there’s always the low possibility of a pump failure, but luckily, modern CPUs have protection built in should it get too hot. The bottom line is that you can run an AIO in your system with peace of mind. Coolers can 'degrade' over time as coolant slowly evaporates or falls out of the solution. Still, these kinds of things are becoming less of a concern as manufacturers learn new tricks and methods after years of testing and feedback. A modern AIO should serve you well for many years.
Can you use an AIO on any CPU?
For the most part, yes, though there are some things to be aware of.
All of the best AIO coolers support AMD and Intel's latest desktop CPUs—in other words, those that use the AM5 socket for the former and the LGA1700 socket for the latter. However, not all of them support Intel's older chips (e.g. 11th Gen core uses LGA1200) so it's important to check the vendor's website to see what's supported. It's also worth nothing that if you plan on sticking with AMD's AM5 platform, any cooler you get now will be good for a couple of years, at the very least.
Intel will be switching to a new socket, LGA1851, later this year so there is a chance that a new cooler might not fit this, if you're planning on a full system upgrade in the next year or so. Again, check with the vendor to see if future support for the forthcoming socket will be available.
