Most air coolers are simply not powerful enough to dissipate all the heat generated by these high-wattage processors. And as such, PC builders resort to AIO liquid coolers to get the best cooling performance for their CPUs.
However, finding a suitable AIO can be tricky, as you’ll need to consider multiple factors. So, here, we’ll discover the top specs to check when buying a new AIO cooler.
1. Radiator Size
Besides the price, radiator size is the most important factor you need to consider when purchasing an AIO liquid cooler. The radiator’s length should give a rough idea of the AIO’s cooling performance. The bigger the radiator, the more air it can push through, allowing it to dissipate heat quickly.
Radiators typically come in 120mm, 240mm, 280mm, and 360mm sizes. Although bigger is better in this case, a bigger radiator also requires more space in your PC case, and sometimes, it may not be compatible.
Typically, a mid-tower PC case would fit a 240mm radiator just fine, while an ITX case would need to settle for a smaller 120mm or 140mm AIO cooler. More often than not, you’ll need a full-tower PC case to fit a 360mm radiator or larger.
Besides the length of the radiator, you should also consider its thickness. Most AIO liquid coolers come with a standard radiator thickness of 27mm, but some models, like the Arctic Liquid Freezer AIO, feature a thicker 38mm radiator.
Again, if you opt for an AIO with a thicker radiator for better cooling performance, make sure you have adequate space in your case because you may encounter clearance issues with your RAM, especially on mid-tower and ITX PC builds.
2. Fan RPM
The fans that push (or pull) the air through the radiator should be powerful enough for optimal cooling performance. And as you may know by now, the faster they spin, the better, but that’s not all.
The fan speed is rated in RPM (revolutions per minute), and typically, the fans that come with your AIO cooler are PWM-controlled, meaning you can control its speeds with software. Regardless, you should look at the fan’s maximum speed in the spec sheet.
Most radiator fans can spin upwards of 1,500 RPM, but you’ll find high-end AIO coolers surpass the 2,000 RPM mark. And although you may be inclined to buy the fans that spin at 2,000 RPM, you need to consider another critical factor: noise level.
The faster the fans spin, the louder your AIO cooler will be. Sure, you’ll get better cooling performance, but that could come at the cost of unbearable noise, meaning you’d have to lower the speed. So, don’t forget to check the noise levels of the included fans in the spec sheet, rated in dB. The lower this value, the better, and anything below 40dB is optimal.
3. Pump Manufacturer
A loud pump is as annoying as the loud fans in your AIO liquid cooler. So, you should make sure the pump in your AIO cooler is from a reputed manufacturer.
Most mainstream AIO liquid coolers from Corsair, ASUS, and Gigabyte use an Asetek pump, meaning pump performance will remain mostly consistent across their product lineups. However, some companies like Lian Li and EK Water Blocks manufacture their own pumps, so you’ll need to look into the reviews for the model you plan to get.
Newer generations of pumps are typically better in cooling performance. In addition, they have safety parameters to prevent any liquid leakage, allowing your AIO liquid cooler to last longer than old-gen models.
4. Software
The software that comes with your AIO isn’t as important as the hardware itself, but it will still determine your overall experience with the cooler.
Most mainstream brands have their own software—for example, Corsair has iCUE, whereas NZXT has CAM—to control the AIO’s fan speed, pump speed, RGB lighting, etc. However, some manufacturers don’t offer any software, and you’ll need to rely on your motherboard’s software to control the RGB lighting or enter the BIOS to adjust the pump and fan speeds. Or, you could install third-party programs that let you do so.
While this may come down to personal preference and the rest of the components in your PC, you should always prefer minimalistic software that doesn’t hog your system resources while running in the background.
To get a consistent experience, ensure your other components, like your case, fans, RAM, motherboard, etc., are also from the same manufacturer. This minimizes the amount of software you need to install on your system to control them, thereby reducing your background CPU usage.
5. RGB Bling
Performance should be your top priority when buying a new AIO liquid cooler, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the aesthetics department. Nowadays, most PC cases come with tempered glass side panels to show off your hardware in all its glory, so why not add some RGB flair?
Several AIO liquid coolers today pack RGB fans to give you some decent lighting inside your cabinet, and they don’t cost much more than their non-RGB counterparts. However, make sure the one you choose has addressable RGB fans, as these allow you to control the color of each LED individually.
And if you can afford the premium prices for high-end AIO coolers, try to get one with an LCD screen. While you may quickly shrug it off as an unnecessary gimmick, it can be convenient to monitor your CPU temperature and clock speed while playing games instead of using your PC monitoring software.
Ready to Buy Your First AIO Liquid Cooler?
Now that you know all the specifications you need to consider, you’re all set to buy your very first AIO liquid cooler. However, don’t forget to factor in the price, as your budget will ultimately decide what AIO you get.
If you’re building a mid-tower PC on a budget, a 240mm AIO cooler would be a logical choice, but if you can afford the best of the best, don’t settle for anything less than a 360mm liquid cooler, provided your case can fit it—save the 120mm AIOs for ITX builds.
