Friday, March 29, 2024

10 Best CPU Liquid Coolers To Get For Your Gaming PC In 2023

Choosing the suitable CPU cooler should be on top of your priority list once you get a system with a high-end build. Your graphic card mustn’t be forced to lower its performance to prevent burnout due to temperature intensity. The same thing applies to your CPU, as when there is a need for extreme performance, such as during long gaming sessions, it will tend to drop clock speed to keep the system’s sensitive components from being damaged by the heat build-up. This guide will go over some of the best CPU liquid coolers you can buy in 2023.

The better your system is protected from heat, the more sustainable its overall functions will be; a good PC cooler is a must-have, mainly when gaming PCs deal with a heavier load than ordinary computers.

Why Should You Opt For CPU Liquid Coolers?

When looking for PC coolers, you can choose from two sorts. There are air coolers with a metal heat sink and large fans to pull air away from the processor. However, suitable for cooling, these fans won’t precisely be silent. And keep in mind that increasing the number of fans won’t mean the cooling efficiency will increase.

The second option is liquid cooling. This can get pretty expensive as you need a coolant, radiator, pump, and tubing. You are also going to need water blocks for your CPU or GPU. This can add up to be pretty expensive. You must take off the cooler on your graphics card and install a particular water block. You will also need to install a water block for your CPU. You will also need to plan the coolant flow and deal with tubes, whether they are hard or soft.

The perfect middle ground is AIO liquid cooling. These coolers are known as all-in-one liquid coolers and what makes them different from air coolers is that they vent out the heat by sending cooling liquids from the processor to the fans in a constant loop helping to dispel the intense temperature. Although a bit on the expensive side, this option will give you efficiency and a silent function, which is certainly a more appealing choice to make.

Best CPU Liquid Coolers

The benefits include a lower cost as compared to custom liquid cooling. AIO liquid coolers are also easy to install. It only takes a few minutes to install one of these coolers. They are silent when compared to air coolers. They come in unique designs. AIO liquid coolers are much safer if you need to move your PC around or travel with your PC.

Air coolers can be beefy and put stress on your motherboard during travel. AIO liquid coolers are compact and will not rip out the CPU socket if your PC moves around during transportation. As AIO liquid coolers are compact, RAM clearance will not be an issue either.

What you finally select will depend on your budget and system compatibility, but it is essential to be aware that if you can invest in a decent cooling system, then you will be settled in the long run as your PC, whether high-end or a budget build, will be able to give you the optimal performance if it has a smooth airflow. Also, note that apart from a cooling system, your PC case should be chosen wisely to keep your system from overheating.

10 Best CPU Liquid Coolers To Keep Thermals In Check

Now that we have all the details, we will move on to our list of the 10 best liquid coolers you can get in 2023 for your gaming system.

The followings are all the best CPU liquid coolers that we are going to look into in this article and some of their main features that you might be interested in learning about at a glance:

ManufacturersProductFeatures
CLCEVGA CLC 240
  • Dual 120 mm fans
  • Noise level: 16-40dBA
  • Fan Speed:500-2400RPM
  • RGB Pump Head
Cooler MasterCooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R
  • 360mm radiator
  • Triple 120 mm fans
  • Noise Level: 6-30dBA
  • Fan speed: 650-2000RPM
  • RGB lights on pump and fans
NZXTNZXT Kraken X62
  • 280 mm cooler
  • Dual 140 mm fans
  • Infinity mirror lighting design
  • Noise Level: 500- 300dBa
  • Fan Speed: 300-1,600 Rpm
  • CAM app
CorsairCorsair H115i RGB Platinum
  • 280 mm radiator
  • 140 mm fans
  • Noise Level: 28-50dBA
  • Fan speed: 360-2200RPM
  • RGB on fans and CPU block
CorsairCorsair H60 (2018)
  • 120mm radiator
  • 120mm PWM fans
  • Noise level: Up to 28.3dBA
  • Fan speed: 600-1700RPM
  • White pump head with LED
ThermaltakeThermaltake 240 Water 3.0
  • 270 mm radiator
  • 120 mm fans
  • Noise Level: 25.8 dBA
  • 500-1500 R.P.M
  • RGB pump and fans
DeepcoolDeepcool Captain 240Pro
  • 290 mm radiator
  • 120 mm fans
  • Noise Level: ≤30 dBA
  • Fan Speed: 500 – 1800 RPM
  • RGB Sync with motherboard or controller
ArcticArctic Liquid Freezer 240
  • 272mm radiator
  • Four 120mm fans
  • Noise Level: 0.3 Sone
  • Fan Speed: 500 – 1350 RPM
AlphacoolAlphacool Eisbaer 240
  • 278mm radiator
  • 120 mm fans
  • Noise Level: 29 dBA
  • Fan Speed: 550 – 1700 RPM
  • Expandable and potential for customization
ThermaltakeThermaltake Floe Riing 360
  • 360mm radiator
  • Triple 120 mm fans
  • Noise Level:19.8 -24.7 dB-A
  • Fan Speed: 500-1400RPM
  • Fans come with 16.8 million colors LED ring and 12 addressable LEDs

Now that we have the basic specs out of the way, we can look into each of these CPU liquid coolers, and you can figure out which one will be the best option for you.

EVGA CLC 240 

The first on our list is EVGA CLC 240, the latest in CLCs liquid coolers. This very affordable cooler gives you the same level of performance as an NZXT or Corsair cooler but with a great difference in the price range.

The cooler has the same sleeved tubing, and the pump head sports a single RGB light.  Although you will not be getting any additional fancy features with this cooler, such as fully-encompassing RGB lights, if efficiency is what you are looking for, this is the cooling system for you.

EVGA CLC 240 

A negative aspect of the CLC 240 is that its fans can get noisy when functioning at full speed. But this would not be making that much of an impact as the cooler gives a good performance without having to reach max speed all the time.

Pros

  • Pump head with RGB
  • Good performance at affordable price
  • Dual fan control
  • Durable and flexible tubing
  • Clean waterblock design

Con

  • Can get loud when running at full speed

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R

The MasterLiquid ML360R is next on our list, and it is one of the best options in liquid coolers you will have when out looking for one in the market. Its size is quite huge, but when it comes to effective performance in liquid coolers, a radiator with a large surface area can provide you with the efficiency you need.

The ML360R features a 360 mm radiator, triple 120 mm fans, and fully customizable RGB lights on the pump and fans. The design is beautiful, and the lights provide attractive flair. To summarize, this cooler is a complete package with its awesome look and commendable performance.

Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R

Pros

  • Efficient performance
  • Cool design
  • Runs quietly
  • 360mm
  • Easy installation
  • Major overclocking potential
  • Controller works well

Cons

  • Lacks Software for the RGB
  • Takes up space due to the size
  • Is a bit expensive in comparison to a 120mm liquid cooler

NZXT Kraken X62 – Best Design

Our fourth contender is the Kraken X62, which despite being on the market for quite a while now, is still a recommendable option for PC coolers. The Kraken X62 is a 280 mm cooler with dual 140 mm fans. NZXT is known for making some killer PC products, and the X62 is an iconic AIO liquid cooler. We love the cooler’s design, which is why this is on our list, even though it is older than some other products that we have on this list.

Regarding looks, the pump head has an infinity mirror design, making this cooler a stunning centerpiece for your system. It also comes with a CAM app that allows you to adjust the performance settings to keep noise at a minimum, even during extreme loads. However, this app does not work as well as it should, affecting the cooler’s noise level.

NZXT Kraken X62

Pros

  • Good performance
  • Infinity mirror design
  • High quality

Cons

  • The CAM software does not work as it should

Corsair H115i RGB Platinum – Best 280mm AIO Liquid Cooler

The Corsair H115i RGB Platinum is one of the strongest contenders on this list for being the best liquid coolers in the market. Although the Kraken X62 by NZXT quickly has the most incredibly stunning RGB light implementation, the H115i Platinum is a sight to behold.

Moving on to the more important stuff, though, the cooler gives an excellent performance, with its 280 mm radiator giving it ample cooling surface area and dual 140 mm fans with RGB. The noise level is low the installation process is relatively tool-free.

Corsair H115i RGB Platinum

Pros

  • Great Performance
  • RGB lights on CPU block and fans
  • Is even available in white
  • Impressive value for money

Cons

  • Is not compatible with all cases

Corsair H60 (2018) – Best Budget Option

As mentioned, liquid coolers are expensive if you work under a tight budget. However, the updated Corsair H60 is an exception, as you will find it relatively affordable compared to any other liquid cooler. Do not think that the performance level suffers at a lower cost.

The cooler has Corsair’s latest 120 mm PWM fans, a 120 mm radiator, and a white pump head with LED. The H60 is capable of providing maximum airflow with minimum noise. Its performance is so good that it exceeds the level of any other 120mm coolers and can even equal the 140mm and 240mm liquid coolers in the market. Also, the installation process is considerably easy, as it comes with a tool-free mounting bracket, and it has compatibility with all LGA 2066, LGA 1151, and AM4 sockets.

Corsair H60 Best CPU Liquid Coolers

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Impressive performance
  • Compatible with most sockets
  • Easy to install
  • Clear instructions
  • Simple design

Cons

  • Single LED on the pump head

Thermaltake 240 Water 3.0

Thermaltake Water 3.0 is another, in comparison to Thermaltake’s other coolers, affordable cooling system for your gaming system. The cooler comes with improved features, which lead to better performance.

The 120 mm radiator and dual 120 mm PWM fans maintain efficient cooling with low noise. They also come with a fan and lighting control, allowing lighting to adjust, and you can switch between low noise or normal performance mode. However, if you are planning on some mild clock speed tuning, it would be quite capable, but if you wish to do something a bit more intense, this might not be a good choice.

Thermaltake 240 Water 3.0

Pros

  • RGB lights
  • Easy to use controller
  • Silent function
  • Impressive cooling performance

 Cons

  • Might not prove to be as efficient if you prefer intense clock speed tuning
  • Software needs to be improved

Deepcool Captain 240Pro

DeepCool is known for coming out with great hardware products in the market, and Captain 240Pro is not an exception. With a 240mm radiator, a powerful pump that emits next to no noise, and dual 1200 mm fans, you get all the efficiency you need to prevent your system from overheating no matter how long your gaming sessions turn out to be.

The 240Pro can also support external management software by connecting your motherboard via a cable. Complete with addressable RGB lighting and a controller, it has the style and function to make it on the list of best liquid coolers.

Deepcool Captain 240Pro

Pros

  • Efficient performance
  • Silent cooling
  • Unique waterblock design
  • Comes in white
  • Impressive cooling performance
  • Easy installation
  • Wires have black sleeves

Cons

  • Not all cables are braided, which creates a bit messy appearance
  • Tubing is a bit stiff

Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240

The Liquid Freezer 240 is another one of the budget-friendly coolers we have on our list of Best CPU Liquid Coolers. This cooler promises additional efficiency with four 120 mm PWM that create a full push/pull configuration. Due to all these extra fans functioning in your PC, the Liquid Freezer 240 provides excellent cooling for your price.

The cooler sports a PWM-controlled, copper-based pump, enabling less power usage and silent operation. The extra fan beside the pump prevents the motherboard‘s VRM chips from overheating and helps your system bear heavy loads.

Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240

Pros

  • Functions well with overclocking and heavy loads
  • Unique waterblock design
  • Aesthetic tubing
  • waterblock has a small fan

Cons

  • Lacks RGB lighting
  • Tubes can be a bit longer

Alphacool Eisbaer 240

The Eisbaer 240 is a genuinely remarkable cooling system by Alphacool. It has the things necessary for making it a recommended cooler: quality performance and affordability. Its standard ¼ inch connectors and refillable loop allow the cooler an added lifespan and room for an upgrade in the long run.

The Eisbaer 240 does not come with any fancy RGB lights, but it has a no-nonsense design with dual PWM 120 mm fans, sleeved fan cables, an integrated pump, and a CPU block with G 1/4” fittings which enable easy customization and expansion.

Alphacool Eisbaer 240 Best CPU Liquid Coolers

Pros

  • PVC tubes with anti-kink coils
  • Expandable
  • Affordable
  • Refillable

Cons

  • No RGB lights

Thermaltake Floe Riing 360

The last cooler on our list of Best CPU Liquid Coolers is the Thermaltake Floe Riing 360. This is admittedly a rather hefty cooling system with a 360 mm radiator and weighing 3.5 pounds overall, but this added surface area does the trick when it comes to dissipating heat.

Although the performance of the Floe Riing 360 is quite similar to several other 280 mm coolers, it does boast a 30% lesser noise level as the triple 120 mm fans do not have to take that much pressure with the big radiator to assist.

Thermaltake Floe Riing 360 Best CPU Liquid Coolers

If you are a fan of added flair in your hardware, this cooler won’t disappoint you in that area either, as the fans sport 16.8 million colors LED rings and 12 addressable LEDs. The RGB controller hub is included. The Riing Plus RGB Software even has the added perk of real-time fan warning alerts to inform you of any issues in the performance.

Pros

  • Triple fans with 16.8 million colors LED ring and 12 addressable LEDs
  • Great performance with less noise
  • Includes RGB controller hub
  • Can be controlled with supported motherboards

Cons

  • Quite bulky and heavy
  • Software needs to improve

Here is our list of the best liquid PC coolers in 2023. Whether you need a budget-friendly option or looking to rig up an overclocked high-end PC, we have summed up some of the most excellent products you can find in the market.

Jake
Jake
Hey there! I'm Jake, and for the past eight years, I've been diving deep into journalism and whipping up video game guides. Big-time Pokemon fanatic? That's me. Obsessed with RPGs? Guilty as charged. When I'm not jotting down the latest game tips or hunting for that elusive Pokemon, I'm geeking out with fellow gamers and sharing my latest adventures; 2500+ articles and still going! Dive into my world and let's game on!
Ad
spot_img
Ad

What's Hot