Introduction
Choosing the right AIO Liquid Cooler is not as easy as you may think. some AIOs are rebadged products from an OEM, some AIOs are not well known but really good, or that rare occasion where it wants to leak. In this article we will guide you on how to get an AIO Liquid cooler that has great performance, great looks a nice feature set, and most importantly something that won’t leak and kill your PC.
What to look for
Fans: You should always look for an AIO that comes with great performing fans
Reliable: An AIO should be reliable we suggest looking at reviews for AIOs which aren’t listed here
What to avoid
Bad Mounting: In general avoid AIOs with bad mounting mechanisms and make sure it is always making direct contact
Quality Control Issues: Always avoid AIO’s which has had a lot of bad reviews about it especially when it comes to QC like pump failures and etc.
If you want to get help choosing an AIO you can always ask in our discord server.
Disclaimer – Noise information comes from the manufacturer’s site
120MM
Now, 120MM AIOs in a lot of cases are a bad buy due to their cost being so high when some air coolers can outperform them at a lower price tier but there are some cases where 120MM Liquid Coolers are the only option to cool a CPU like in the case of SFX PC’s where space is really limited and where most AirCoolers aren’t viable for cooling the CPU properly or won’t fit.
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120mm
Specifications
Fans: 120mm Arctic P12
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 22.5 dBA
OEM & Pump: Arctic
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Simple Design
Included VRM fan
Packaged with the Arctic P12
Killer Value
Reasons to avoid
Design may be a turn off for some people
The exit of the tube may cause clearance issues in SFX cases
BeQuiet! Pure Loop 120
Specifications
Fans: Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM High-Speed
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 18.9 – 36.1 dBA
OEM & Pump: KD Industrial
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Refillable
Built in White LED
Cheapest amongst this size bracket
Reasons to avoid
One of the loudest in this bracket
EK-AIO 120 D-RGB
Specifications
Fans: EK-Vardar S 120ER D-RGB
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 36.4 dBA (Max)
OEM & Pump: EK
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
The most aesthetically pleasing amongst the others in this category
comes with one of the best RGB fans on the market
A-RGB/D-RGB on the fan and the CPU Block
Reasons to avoid
Loudest amongst this bracket
Doesn’t come with any built in RGB Controller
240MM
ID-Cooling Zoomflow 240x ARGB/Snow
Specifications
Fans: 2x120mm ARGB Fans
Fan Bearing: HDB
Noise: 18-26.4dBA
OEM & Pump: ID-Cooling*
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011-V3 |115X | 1200 | 1366
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Cheapest amonst the bracket
Comes pre packaged with D-RGB/A-RGB
Includes an RGB Controller
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
Performance isn’t the best
Overpriced for what it is when its regulalarly priced
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240MM /RGB
Specifications
Fans: 2x120mm Arctic P12
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 22.5 dBA
OEM & Pump: Arctic
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Simple Design
Included VRM fan
Packaged with the Arctic P12
Killer Value
Best performer amongst all the 240
Reasons to avoid
Design may be a turn off for some people
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
BeQuiet! Pure Loop 240mm
Specifications
Fans: 2xPure Wings 2 120mm PWM High-Speed
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 19-39.5 dBA
OEM & Pump: KD Industrial
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 |115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Refillable
Built in White LED
Cheapest amongst this size bracket
Sleek industrial design
Great performance for the dollar
Reasons to avoid
Loudest amongst the pack
The pump built in with the tubes may make people look away at this cooler
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
The pump in tube design may cause problems with some people
MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R
Specifications
Fans: 2x120MM RGB fans
Fan Bearing: DBB
Noise: 14.3 – 34.4 dBA
OEM & Pump: Apaltek LE02
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011-V3 |115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+ | AM2+ | AM2 | FM2+ | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Second cheapest AIO with RGB
Decent cooling performance
Reasons to avoid
Gamery Design may be a turn off for some poeple
no included RGB controller
loudest amongs the bunch
DeepCool Castle 240EX
Specifications
Fans: 2xTF120S
Fan Bearing: FDB
Noise: 32.1 dBA (max)
OEM & Pump: Deepcool
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: TRX4 | TR4 | AM4 | AM3 | AM3+ | AM2+ | AM2 | FM2+ | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Can be found for cheap
Comes with an RGB Controller
Threadripper Ready
interchangable logo on the pump block
Best looking Infinity Mirror application
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
a bit loud compared to the other ones
Lian Li Galahad 240 RGB
Specifications
Fans: 2xST120
Fan Bearing: FDB
Noise: 32dBA
OEM & Pump: Lian Li
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011x | 1366 | 1200 | 115X | 775
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3 | AM2 | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Built in RGB Controller
Removable Magnetic Cap
Most Aesthetically pleasing amongst the pack
Comes with an RGB controller
rotatable block
Reasons to avoid
The price competes with AIOs in the 280mm range
EK Basic 240mm
Specifications
Fans: 2x EK-Vardar S 120 Dark Edition
Fan Bearing: n/a
Noise: 33.5dBA
OEM & Pump: EK
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066| 2011 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Great industrial design
can be found for cheap
great option for an Anti-RGB build
Reasons to avoid
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
280MM
BeQuiet! Pure Loop 280
Specifications
Fans: Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM High-Speed
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 36.4 dBA (Max)
OEM & Pump: KD Industrial
Supported Sockets:
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Refillable
Built in White LED
Cheapest amongst this size bracket
Sleek industrial design
Great Performance for the dollar
Reasons to avoid
Loudest amongst the pack
The pump in tube design may cause problems with some people
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280
Specifications
Fans: 2x140mm Arctic P12
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 22.5 dBA
OEM & Pump: Arctic
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Simple Design
Included VRM fan
Packaged with the Arctic P12
Killer Value
Best performer amongst all the 280’s
Reasons to avoid
Design may be a turn off for some people
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
Deepcool Castle 280EX
Specifications
Fans: 2xTF140S
Fan Bearing: FDB
Noise: 39.8 dBA
OEM & Pump: Deepcool
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: TRX4 | TR4 | AM4 | AM3 | AM3+ | AM2+ | AM2 | FM2+ | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Can be found for cheap
Comes with an RGB Controller
Threadripper Ready
interchangable logo on the pump block
Best looking Infinity Mirror application
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
a bit loud compared to the other ones
Pretty loud compared to other options
EK Aio 280MM D-RGB
Specifications
Fans: 2xEK-Vardar S 140ER D-RGB
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 36.4 dBA (Max)
OEM & Pump: EK
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
The most aesthetically pleasing amongst the others in this category
comes with one of the best RGB fans on the market
A-RGB/D-RGB on the fan and the CPU Block
Reasons to avoid
nothing
360MM
ID-Cooling Zoomflow 360x ARGB/SNOW
Specifications
Fans: 3x120mm ARGB Fans
Fan Bearing: HDB
Noise: 18-26.4dBA
OEM & Pump: ID-Cooling*
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200 | 1366
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Cheapest amonst the bracket
Comes pre packaged with D-RGB/A-RGB
Includes an RGB Controller
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
Performance isn’t the best
not the quietest
BeQuiet! Pure Loop 360
Specifications
Fans: Pure Wings 2 120mm PWM High-Speed
Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise:
OEM & Pump: KD Industrial
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+
Reasons to buy
Cheapest amonst the bracket
Comes pre packaged with D-RGB/A-RGB
Includes an RGB Controller
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
Performance isn’t the best
not the quietest
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
MSI MAG CORE Liquid 360R
Specifications
Fans: 3x120mm RGB fans
Fan Bearing: dbb
Noise:14.3 – 34.3 dBA
OEM & Pump: Apaltek LE02
Supported Sockets:
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3+ | AM2+ | AM2 | FM2+ | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Second cheapest AIO with RGB
Decent cooling performance
Reasons to avoid
Gamery Design may be a turn off for some poeple
no included RGB controller
loudest amongs the bunch
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
Specifications
Fans: 3x120mm Arctic P12
Fan Bearing:Rifle Bearing
Noise: 22.5 dBA
OEM & Pump: Arctic
Supported Sockets
Intel:LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Simple Design
Included VRM fan
Packaged with the Arctic P12
Killer Value
Reasons to avoid
Design may be a turn off for some people
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
Deepcool Castle 360EX
Specifications
Fans: 3xTF120S
Fan Bearing: FDB
Noise: 32.1 dBA (max)
OEM & Pump: Deepcool
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2066 V3 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: TRX4 | TR4 | AM4 | AM3 | AM3+ | AM2+ | AM2 | FM2+ | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Can be found for cheap
Comes with an RGB Controller
Threadripper Ready
interchangable logo on the pump block
Best looking Infinity Mirror application
Always on sale
Reasons to avoid
a bit loud compared to the other ones
Lian Li Galahad 360 RGB
Specifications
Fans: 2xST120
Fan Bearing: FDB
Noise: 32dBA
OEM & Pump: Lian Li
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011x | 1366 | 1200 | 115X | 775
AMD: AM4 | AM3 | AM3 | AM2 | FM2 | FM1
Reasons to buy
Built in RGB Controller
Removable Magnetic Cap
Most Aesthetically pleasing amongst the pack
Comes with an RGB controller
rotatable block
Reasons to avoid
Loudest
Most expensive AIO in the list
EK AIO 360 D-RGB
Specifications
Fans: 3xEK-Vardar S 120ER D-RGB
Fan Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Noise: 36.4 dBA (Max)
OEM & Pump: EK
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066| 2011| 2011-V3 |115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
The most aesthetically pleasing amongst the others in this category
comes with one of the best RGB fans on the market
A-RGB/D-RGB on the fan and the CPU Block
Reasons to avoid
nothing
EK Basic 360
Specifications
Fans: 2x EK-Vardar S 120 Dark Edition
Fan Bearing: n/a
Noise: 33.5dBA
OEM & Pump: EK
Supported Sockets
Intel: LGA 2066 | 2011 | 2011-V3 | 115X | 1200
AMD: AM4
Reasons to buy
Great industrial design
can be found for cheap
great option for an Anti-RGB build
great bang for the buck
Reasons to avoid
nothing
downside can be the lack of RGB to some
