Best Overall AIO CPU Cooler for Overclocking 10900K / Upcoming Zen3 5950X

[urawzrd]

According to GamersNexus, arctic freezer ii 360mm and EK 360mm AIO are top contenders, but he didn't really seem to compare it to a lot of other brands that I heard some good things about.. (e.g. Alphacool Eisbaer 360 or Swiftech h360x, etc)...

Can anyone shed some light?
Thank you

 

[Th3pwn3r]

I can just say that I got the 280mm from Arctic since the 360mm was out of stock and I'm very happy with it. Build quality is pretty good but I did notice the screw holes weren't tapped that will on the radiator but luckily they all worked.

 

[harm9963]

I will slam my Enermax Liqmax lll 360 on my 5900x

Enermax LIQMAX III ARGB 360 AIO Review

Enermax looks to assert its dominance in the all-in-one liquid cooler market with its LIQMAX III ARGB 360 mm offering. It offers exceptional cooling performance, acceptable noise levels, and a plethora of lighting modes. As such, it manages to deliver in more ways than one.

www.techpowerup.com

 

[John Naylor]

1. If looking for quality reviews, youtube is best avoided. reading PCPer and other text based articles and then making videos about what you read isn't all that informative.

2. A $50 air cooler will outperform almost every 2 x 120 AIO and many 3 x 120s on the market.

3. To hit desired price points, AIO vendors generally use cheap aluminum radiators which also succumb to galvanic corrosion after the useful life (18 - 24 months) of the corrosion inhibitors expire) ... this requires the use of extreme speed fans. Pump rate are also inadequate, especially if expanding the loop.

4. The Swiftech H360 is basically a collection of Swiftech's custom loop products pre-assembled at the factory. The pump is easily capable of handling the addition of more radiators and blocks tho with 2 rads and more than 2 blocks id want a dualie like the Swiftech 35x2.

So if it's an AIO that ya want w/o corrosion issues and capability for expansyion, great performance and onlt about twice as loud as an air cooler (H100i is 11 times as loud) ... I have installed a half dozen Swiftechs, I have changed the coolant twice. To make that latter job easier ... I installed a G-1/4 MxM 10mm fitting on th e side port, then a F XF Valve, another MxM and finally a G-1/4 Tee F x F x F tee (branch up) with plugs on top and remaining side port..

When you need to add coolant, take off the plug at top of tee, put a thick book under front of case, open valve a bit and sloely fill thru tee top port ... when ya want to drain, take of the side port on the tee , connect a G-1.3 M x compression fitting attached to 3 feet of flex tubing, open valve and drain.

Some references on aluminum rads (if upou can't click links, copy paste into url window then delete the 2 spaces after the // ... I didnt wanna clog the post with big blocks.

https:// martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/corrosion-explored/
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1kzO_gIp4
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=a_r4tWpMHHI

 

[xkm1948]

$50 air cooler > any 240 or 360 AIO? Care to back up your claim with our own TPU reviews?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

A lot of it will depend on the fans it comes with and how much noise you're willing to tolerate. Price wise you will not beat the Arctic coolers when compared to other AIO but their warranty is pretty short. I would go with something that comes with a 5 or 6 year warranty which typically means the manufacturer actually has confidence in their product. I really like the new h150i elite from Corsair but literally any
360 AIO will get the job done on a 5950X. The 10900K will be more of an issue and it will sorta depend on what voltage yours requires to hit whatever frequency you're trying to hit although from reviews I have seen you don't gain as much performance as you do heat from overclocking it.


According to AMD the 5900X/5950X will be no different than the 3900X/3950X power/heat wise and my 3900X is cooled by a h115i platinum easily.

 

[sneekypeet]

According to AMD the 5900X/5950X will be no different than the 3900X/3950X power/heat wise

Agreed, but the CCD are smaller no? Could be a difference in the way they cool, but without one in hand, I am just guessing. (you know, more heat in a smaller area might make it slightly tougher to cool as efficiently as the 3-series?!?!?!?!)

 

[Vya Domus]

A $50 air cooler will outperform almost every 2 x 120 AIO and many 3 x 120s on the market.

No it wont.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Agreed, but the CCD are smaller no? Could be a difference in the way they cool, but without one in hand, I am just guessing. (you know, more heat in a smaller area might make it slightly tougher to cool as efficiently as the 3-series?!?!?!?!)

Good point but given that they are on an identical process it shouldn't be too different.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

$50 air cooler > any 240 or 360 AIO? Care to back up your claim with our own TPU reviews?

Maybe not a $50 one but a D15 would give them a run for their money imo

 

[FinneousPJ]

If you can fit a D15 in your case I really don't see the point in an AIO.

 

[harm9963]

This is one of the reason why got my AIO.

 

[FinneousPJ]

This is one of the reason why got my AIO.View attachment 172661

According to the review, the Enermax 360 mm AIO is 4% better than NH-D15S and 3% better than NH-D15, while the NH-D15S offers 20% better value and the NH-D15 offers 8% better value. Nope, I still don't get it. And the 360 mm AIO is way bigger than the air cooler.

https://tpucdn.com/review/enermax-liqmax-iii-argb-360-aio-liquid-cooler/images/relative_perf.png

https://tpucdn.com/review/enermax-liqmax-iii-argb-360-aio-liquid-cooler/images/perf_dollar.png

 

[Deleted member 24505]

According to the review, the Enermax 360 mm AIO is 4% better than NH-D15S and 3% better than NH-D15, while the NH-D15S offers 20% better value and the NH-D15 offers 8% better value. Nope, I still don't get it. And the 360 mm AIO is way bigger than the air cooler.

https://tpucdn.com/review/enermax-liqmax-iii-argb-360-aio-liquid-cooler/images/relative_perf.png

https://tpucdn.com/review/enermax-liqmax-iii-argb-360-aio-liquid-cooler/images/perf_dollar.png

For 3 degrees load i would still prefer the D15 myself

 

[Turmania]

I agree get a d15 if it fits, and you never have to worry about a cooler ever. I have nzxt x62rev2. Loving it, neber had a problem with it. But still next pc will be air cooled,jon rgb, no nore cable clutter. Just going simple.

 

[freeagent]

Maybe not a $50 one but a D15 would give them a run for their money imo

Thermalrights True Spirit 140 Power is 50 bucks, and is as good as D15..

 

[Deleted member 193596]

as much as i respect highly scientific testing methods.

i had almost every single Corsair AIO (even the coolit pump models) and the liquid freezer 280 (awful dirt cheap quality but decent performance)

and now i have the kraken X73.
Put the Pump to 85% (inaudible) and it beats every single AIO by a Lot.

in my case with a h150i with a gen 6 asetek Pump at 100% Pump speed the kraken ran almost 10°C cooler.

my 10850k runs at 5.1 GHz and it is not easy to even reach 70°C as a peak in CB R20 (need several runs in a loop)
the h150i peaked at around 80 at the first run.

 

[Tatty_Two]

From my own experience having used AIO's for over a decade without any failure (on my 3rd as my CPU's get more power hungry) I would recommend artic cooling simply because they compete with pretty much the best but tend to be a bit cheaper, I currently have the Freezer II 280mm (£79.99 or $89.99) and it is really good, there appear to be only a couple of 360mm AIO's that can better it (by a small margin) but are a fair bit more expensive, the Noctua NH D15 is a brilliant air cooler and gets within 5 degrees of it, if those 5 degrees are within acceptable limits and the D15 is significantly cheaper then it could be the way to go, other than that, I can't imagine how much better Artic's 360mm would be,...…..

i9 9900K @ 5Gig 1.35v

Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 liquid cooler review

Today, we are reviewing an AIO cooler from Arctic: the LIQUID FREEZER II 280. The series has been introduced on the 9th of December this year. Arctic is no “newbie” in the AIO segment of the mark... Core i9 9900K OC at 5000 MHz 1.35 volts

www.guru3d.com

 

[kapone32]

According to GamersNexus, arctic freezer ii 360mm and EK 360mm AIO are top contenders, but he didn't really seem to compare it to a lot of other brands that I heard some good things about.. (e.g. Alphacool Eisbaer 360 or Swiftech h360x, etc)...

Can anyone shed some light?
Thank you

I can vouch for the Eisbear, especially the Aurora . Unfortunately Alphacool is not popular in English on Youtube. Watch the KitGuru review of the Eisbear Aurora. You don't need to change the fans and with a little effort you can add your GPU. There is also the fact that the rad and CPU block are copper. I started with 1 Eisbear and now have a few Alphacool products.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

1. If looking for quality reviews, youtube is best avoided. reading PCPer and other text based articles and then making videos about what you read isn't all that informative.

2. A $50 air cooler will outperform almost every 2 x 120 AIO and many 3 x 120s on the market.

3. To hit desired price points, AIO vendors generally use cheap aluminum radiators which also succumb to galvanic corrosion after the useful life (18 - 24 months) of the corrosion inhibitors expire) ... this requires the use of extreme speed fans. Pump rate are also inadequate, especially if expanding the loop.

4. The Swiftech H360 is basically a collection of Swiftech's custom loop products pre-assembled at the factory. The pump is easily capable of handling the addition of more radiators and blocks tho with 2 rads and more than 2 blocks id want a dualie like the Swiftech 35x2.

So if it's an AIO that ya want w/o corrosion issues and capability for expansyion, great performance and onlt about twice as loud as an air cooler (H100i is 11 times as loud) ... I have installed a half dozen Swiftechs, I have changed the coolant twice. To make that latter job easier ... I installed a G-1/4 MxM 10mm fitting on th e side port, then a F XF Valve, another MxM and finally a G-1/4 Tee F x F x F tee (branch up) with plugs on top and remaining side port..

When you need to add coolant, take off the plug at top of tee, put a thick book under front of case, open valve a bit and sloely fill thru tee top port ... when ya want to drain, take of the side port on the tee , connect a G-1.3 M x compression fitting attached to 3 feet of flex tubing, open valve and drain.

Some references on aluminum rads (if upou can't click links, copy paste into url window then delete the 2 spaces after the // ... I didnt wanna clog the post with big blocks.

https:// martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/corrosion-explored/
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1kzO_gIp4
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=a_r4tWpMHHI

I'm pretty sure Gamers Nexus is far more credible and knowledgeable than you and I put together. Not to mention the crazy testing they actually do and not just talk on forums.

Maybe not a $50 one but a D15 would give them a run for their money imo

A D15 is $100 give or take. They also don't perform nearly as well.

If you can fit a D15 in your case I really don't see the point in an AIO.

Because you lack knowledge. For starters COMPATIBILITY, those huge air coolers can really block ram among other things, then there's the sag that does/can/might happen over time. That's the scary one, I have a D15 installed and I should learn how to post pictures because that thing is sagging like a lead GPU would. There's also something called heat transfer/heat soak to consider.

I agree get a d15 if it fits, and you never have to worry about a cooler ever. I have nzxt x62rev2. Loving it, neber had a problem with it. But still next pc will be air cooled,jon rgb, no nore cable clutter. Just going simple.

Fitting a D15 is no easy task and just the thought of doing a build and having clearance issues sucks for anyone building their first or only machine. AIOs generally fit much easier although I will admit I had to mod my case to fit my Arctic 280mm cooler into my mid tower and I had a pretty large CoolerMaster heatsink 410(?) I think that fit just fine.

Thermalrights True Spirit 140 Power is 50 bucks, and is as good as D15..

I didn't even know Thermalright was still in business. Do you have any proof of your claim? If that's true I may recommend it to my cousin who is about to do a build and may not want an AIO.

Anyhow, the big reasons to stay away from AIOs are if you're worried about failure, leaks, pump wine or things of that sort. AIOs have come a long way and usually outperform air coolers easily and for less money. The Arctic 280mm AIO is $100 give or take and will beat the brakes off of just about anything else performance per dollar.

 

[FinneousPJ]

Because you lack knowledge. For starters COMPATIBILITY, those huge air coolers can really block ram among other things, then there's the sag that does/can/might happen over time. That's the scary one, I have a D15 installed and I should learn how to post pictures because that thing is sagging like a lead GPU would. There's also something called heat transfer/heat soak to consider.

I thought I said "if you can fit it [in your case]", yes, and on your mobo. My D15 does not sag at all. Perhaps you have made an error installing or using it. As for performance, I already posted a chart showing it within 3% of a 360 mm AIO.

However, the sag discussion reminds me: if you're transferring your PC often, an AIO is probably your best option.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I have tallish RGB pro ram in my PC and there was no clearance issue at all, also fitting a D15 is a breeze and certainly no more difficult than fitting a AIO or custom waterblock.

 

[urawzrd]

I can vouch for the Eisbear, especially the Aurora . Unfortunately Alphacool is not popular in English on Youtube. Watch the KitGuru review of the Eisbear Aurora. You don't need to change the fans and with a little effort you can add your GPU. There is also the fact that the rad and CPU block are copper. I started with 1 Eisbear and now have a few Alphacool products.

What cpu you paired with it? Mind sharing temps of any overclocking that you may have? Trying to get a rough comparison of that with the EK AIO, swiftech etc

 

[kapone32]

What cpu you paired with it? Mind sharing temps of any overclocking that you may have? Trying to get a rough comparison of that with the EK AIO, swiftech etc

I started with a 1700 and then 2600 and none of those CPUs went past 45 C on load. My theory for OC Ryzen is try to get all cores within 100 MHZ of the boost so the 1700 was 4.0 GHZ @ 1.25 V and the 2600 was 4.2 GHZ@ 1.25 V. The idle would usually be 2 or 3 degrees above ambient. The best thing about using a 360 RAD (I have a 420) is you don't have to run your fans at high RPMs as an example I used Noctua Redux and those would run at around 650 RPM (300-1700 RPM) which means you can't even hear them. I tried to use the Eisbear with my TR4 setup but because it did not cover the entire IHS it didn`t work well. I ordered a block and ended up using a GPU block with a pump installed on the block. I was able to use the rad (420) to cool the CPU and GPU but I added an Eisstation to improve flow and volume (and another Vega 64). The Eisbear Aurora has been reviewed by KitGuru and it is near the top in their charts. If you are conflicted look at the price and reliability history of this vs the EK but I do know that Alphacool rads are very high quality. The best thing though is the Alphacool is G1/4 so you can easily expand this to RAM, NVME, those cool new rectangular reservoirs and GPU(s).

 

[freeagent]

I didn't even know Thermalright was still in business. Do you have any proof of your claim? If that's true I may recommend it to my cousin who is about to do a build and may not want an AIO.

Anyhow, the big reasons to stay away from AIOs are if you're worried about failure, leaks, pump wine or things of that sort. AIOs have come a long way and usually outperform air coolers easily and for less money. The Arctic 280mm AIO is $100 give or take and will beat the brakes off of just about anything else performance per dollar.

Probably not the kind you are looking for.. but still informative.

Cooling - Thermalright's TRUE Spirit 140 "Power" - New Air Cooling King? Mini Review

Introduction I've been wanting to write a comparative review for some time now and I hope that this will be of use to some of you. With so many AIO...

forums.bit-tech.net

I have both True Spirit 140 Power and Le Grand Macho RT, and the both perform similarly. TPU has one on LGMRT, they have a TS140D in that review, I would avoid that cooler personally.

Thermalright Le Grand Macho RT Review

Thermalright's Le Grand Macho RT is massive in size, weighing in at 1060g with the fan. Capable of being used passively, it offers users a near-silent operation and top-tier performance when paired with the TY-147B fan. The competition should take note as Thermalright looks to steal the...

www.techpowerup.com

Steve at GN is one of the few toobers that I watch, hes a good kid.