AIO water coolers are all the rage right now, and there’s a good reason for that fact. That’s because these products do a better job at cooling modern processors than CPU fans alone. Which is especially crucial with performance components that are not only faster than they ever have been, but also run much hotter than they ever have in the past. This makes water cooling an important consideration for any PC enthusiast, especially those who intend on overclocking their rigs.

The increase in the popularity of these water cooling systems has resulted in an absolute flood in the number of commercial models available. And this can make it difficult for people to find a model that’s best suited for their computer. To help with that burden, we’ve included what we consider to be the top ten models that are now available. We believe any of the following systems to be a worthwhile consideration for anyone looking to keep their gaming rigs cools.

Best Aio Water Coolers – Reviews

10DeepCool Gamer Storm Liquid Cooler

The Captain 240 liquid coolers is a water-cooling system that’s gone through several different versions and is now one of the better coolers on the market. They have kept the unique steam-punk inspired design that previous versions had and updated the whole system with a high-density water micro-channel, anti-explosion rubber tube, and a double-blade fan. Another key innovation is its new mount, which fits most mainboards. This product is also now completely tool-free and is easy for most people to install. And since it has an upgraded high-density micro-channel, this product is more efficient than previous versions of this model had been in the past.

9Thermaltake Floe Triple Riing 360 TT

Equipped with a modern 360mm radiator that has a push/pull mounting system and is designed to be highly efficient, this product is suitable for anyone looking to cool down a compatible Intel or AMD processor. This cooler has three different fans and has 12 separately controlled RGB LEDs which give the user’s system a nice lighted look to it. Almost everything is customizable in this unit including fan speeds, light modes, light colors and will even support AI voice control in iOS and Android devices. Other great features include a fan speed of up to 1400 RPM, a performance water block and a decibel level of 24.7-decibels or less.

8NZXT Kraken M22 120mm Cooler

Although this cooler only uses a 120mm fan, it delivers great cooling thanks to its performance pump. Water is pumped through this unit quickly and efficiently, which allows the CPU to cool down much faster than it would with non-performance enhanced pumps. This product also can be controlled through innovative CAM software which allows the fan and pump’s performance to be independently tuned for optimal performance. This ultra-quiet unit is designed to provide the user with the maximum performance level possible and do it with a very low noise profile. All of which makes it a decent budget-level AIO water cooler.

7Arctic Liquid Freezer 240

The Liquid Freezer 240 has a number of features which make it a useful water cooler for budget gaming rigs. It only consumes about 2-watts of power, yet is capable of cooling down compatible Intel or AMD sockets quickly and efficiently. This product uses two fans which push air through its high-performance radiator, which draws heat away from the processor and dissipates it efficiently. This system isn’t just powerful, however. It’s also fairly quiet. Other cool features which can be found on this unit include CFD software for optimal thermal efficiency, 4 F12 fans and dynamic bearing that helps prevent lubricant leakage.

6Rosewill CPU Liquid Cooler

Rosewill isn’t a name very well known among many PC enthusiasts, but that’s about to change thanks to this high-quality closed-loop water cooler. This product uses a performance copper clad CPU base for better thermal conductivity, a 120mm fan that has 4-pin pulse width modulation that gives the user control over fan speed and noise, and a high-quality aluminum water for maximum thermal dissipation. All of these units come together in this reasonably-priced water cooler that can cool down just about any compatible Intel or AMD processor. It’s a product by a company destined to eventually be a household name.

5upHere Technology All-In-One

This extremely simple to set up system has everything you need to cool down your PC. It has a 129mm radiator, a PWM fan, an instruction manual and an installation kit. This system can be used with a variety of Intel and AMD CPUs, including Core i3-i5 processors, AM2, AM3+, AM4, FM1, and FM2. It uses a medical grade rubber hose which prevents the pre-filled coolant from leaking out of it and ruining your PC. Other features which can be found on this unit include a smart cooling fan and a copper micro-fin water-block which efficiently removes heat from the CPU.

4Deepcool Captain 360EX

This water-cooling system is not only powerful but is also visually impressive as well. Its innovative pump has an RGB light and a glass tube that shows off the coolant as it circulates through the system. This 360mm radiator isn’t just eye-candy, however. It also offers the maximum amount of water circulation possible, which keeps the copper-clad CPU plate nice and cool. This product will fit on a variety of Intel and AMD processors including the Intel LGA115X, LGA20xx, and AMD processors from AM2 through AMD 4. All of which makes this system ideal for anyone looking for a powerful and visually stunning water cooler.

3Corsair Hydro Series H75

Although this product is designed to fit inside of small cases and only has a radiator core that’s 25mm thick, that doesn’t mean that it sacrifices power to do it. In fact, this product is one of the more powerful closed-loop coolers currently available. It’s compatible with a wide range of Intel and AMD products and it easy to mount without having to use tools. It has a fan speed of 2,000 RPM and has an ultra-quiet ceramic bearing pump that’s pretty powerful. It also has a copper micro-fin cold plate that helps to draw heat quickly away from the CPU. All of these features come together to make this a great option for water-cooling just about any PC.

2EVGA CLC 120 Liquid CPU Cooler

A number of innovative design features all come together in this liquid CPU cooler to make it one of the better-designed ones currently available. This product has fully-sleeved tubing which connects the radiator to the CPU block, new and improved fans that are equipped with Teflon nano bearings, and EVGA control software which enables the user to have full control over the cooling process. And since it has a high-performance cooling block, it delivers exceptional heat dissipation. It’s a system that also has a nice looking design and is able to complement the look of just about any gaming rig.

1Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme S

Designed to be simple to install, to have a low-profile and to be virtually maintenance-free, this water cooler is one of the best AIO water coolers available. It has a large 240mm aluminum radiator, two 120mm curved fans that have a fan speed of 2,000 RPM, and a highly efficient pump that keeps water circulating to the copper plate continuously. Other features include a smart fan controller, sleeved cables and universal socket that allows it to be used with both AMD and Intel processors. All of which allow this water cooler to keep just about any personal computer nice and cool, even if it’s overclocked.

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Buying And Installing An AIO Water Cooler

Cooling your personal computer with water might seem like a dangerous proposition, the fact of the matter is that AIO water cooling is one of the safest and most effective ways a person can cool their computer. These systems are designed to transfer heat from the CPU to the liquid via a copper plate to keep the CPU running as cool as possible. And it can do it without leaking or causing damage to the computer it’s being used on.

As long as a person does their homework, buys the best AIO water cooler available, and then installs that cooler into their computer properly, they should have no problems whatsoever. That’s why we’ve decided to help all of our readers by not only listing the models that we feel are the best but giving them solid information on what to look for when buying one of these systems as well as how to properly install one. We have a lot to unpack, so let’ get right to it and start with buying a new AIO water cooling system for your computer.

How To Choose An AIO Water Cooler

Before you can install one of these devices on your computer, you have to make sure that you do your research and find the one that will work the best with your PC. Towards that end, we’ve listed some of the things that you’re going to want to consider before purchasing a new AIO cooler.

Check The Cooler’s Size

The first step in finding the right cooler for your computer is to find one that is going to fit. You’ll have to make sure that you have the proper clearance for not only the radiator but also the tubing as well. While the radiator can usually be installed inside a case in several different positions, the tubing can take up quite a lot of space and can be bulky to deal with. Therefore, it’s important to determine whether you can uninstall unused drive bays or cages and how much space you have to work with.

Check The Unit’s Cooling Performance

You should also make sure that you take some time and find out what type of cooling performance the cooler delivers. Compare the cooler’s performance with known configurations of CPU and system temperatures to see if the cooler is going to provide the type of cooling that you’re going to need for your system.

Consider Cooler Features

You are also going to need to find out what features the cooler has and how they match up with your needs. Some of the features that many coolers have included double or triple fan blades, lighted fans, low-noise fans, and whether there are safety measures built-in to prevent leaking.

Consider The Cooler’s Warranty

Probably one of the most important things to consider when buying a new AIO cooler is the warranty that comes with it. Some coolers have relatively short warranties, while others have warranties up to 5-years. You should also check to see if the warranty covers just damage to the cooler itself, what circumstances the warranty can be used, as well as whether the warranty covers water damage to secondary computer components in the event of a leak.

Installing An All-In-One Cooler

Now that we’ve covered some of the things worth thinking about when purchasing one of these coolers, it’s time to turn our attention to installing that cooler properly. Although it’s beyond the scope of this guide to give directions on how to install every major type of AIO cooler, we can give you a general overview of the process. As is the case with any major computer upgrade, be sure to read the product’s directions, protect your computer against electrostatic discharge, and use best practices. The following is only an example of how a cooler might be installed. You should default to your unit’s specific instructions for proper installation.

Step One: Prepare The PC

The first step in our process is to get the PC ready for the upgrade. Since you’ll need access to every side of your case, and in some circumstances even the top, you’ll want to remove all access panels and any components that might get in your way. This includes drive cages, RAM, or GPUs.

Unplug the CPU fan, loosen all retaining pins that hold the heatsink onto the CPU, and remove the heatsink to expose the CPU’s top. Clean off the top of the CPU with a lint-free cloth and 90% isopropyl alcohol to remove any residual thermal paste.

Step Two: Install The Backplate

The next step is to install the cooler’s backplate on the motherboard’s rear and behind the CPU. This backplate will be used to secure the pump assembly on top of your CPU. Insert the mounting points through the four holes surrounding the processor and then move to the other side of the motherboard. Secure those with four screw-in standoffs.

Step Three: Install The Radiator Fans

The Next step is to connect the radiator fans. Install these on the radiator, if they aren’t already installed on it. Make sure to position the fans according to the directions and in a way that enables them to fit properly into the case. Make sure to keep an eye on how the fans are positioned in relation to the motherboard headers to ensure that their cables are going to reach them.

Step Four: Install The Radiator

If you’re using a modern case, then there should be mounting points to attach your radiator. Carefully add the radiator to the case and be sure to thread the cables to the fan around any obstacles and through any slots as needed. Once the radiator has been positioned properly, use the supplied screws to secure it into place.

Step Five: Install The Pump

The next step is to secure the pump to the CPU and to the motherboard. The pump should have an integrated retention bracket that allows it to properly fit over the standoffs that were threaded through the motherboard in Step Two. Once secure, the pump is then placed on the CPU and the standoffs are threaded through the retention bracket holes.

Step Six: Inspect The Radiator Tubing & Connect Cables

Now’s the time to check the radiator tubing and make sure there aren’t any kinks or potential blockages. Once that’ done connect the unit’s power and control cables to the motherboard. When everything is set up, do a test, and make sure everything is working. Once everything turns out to be alright, you can then install any software that came with the unit. Congratulations! Your AIO cooler has now been installed.