Having an overpowered processor is good, but you still need to be able to cool it effectively. We have chosen for you the best compromises between cooling and silence in this comparison of the best AIO coolers and watercooling.
Cooling a CPU properly isn’t as simple as it sounds. And with the generalization of modes boost » automatically adjusting the processor frequency, the choice of a good cooling system, whether it is a cooler or a cooling system water cooling AIO, is more important than ever to get the most out of your processor, ideally without going deaf.
Above all, these devices are very useful when you use your PC in unspeakable heat. This is undoubtedly the time for you to make an investment to preserve your computer.
Most processors have consumption peaks well above the TDP, the theoretical maximum consumption of the chip. This is especially noticeable on the higher end chips. Thus, a Ryzen 7 5800X announced at 105 W easily exceeds 210 W at maximum load. And a latest generation Core i9-12900K even reaches peaks of 330 W! Their cooling should therefore not be neglected to obtain optimal performance.
We have therefore chosen for you the best coolers and cooling systems. water cooling AIO depending on your processor.
If you are in the process of building a new PC, do not hesitate to consult our dedicated guides:
Cooler Master TX3 EVO: unbeatable value for money
For a small processor like an Intel Core i3 or an AMD Ryzen 3, the cooler ” stock » delivered with the processor will usually do the trick, but for less than thirty euros you can offer yourself greater operating silence and a little leeway for a possible overclocking with the Cooler Master TX3 EVO.
There is compatibility with most sockets on the market as well as simple assembly. Its small size means that it will fit in all cases and will not interfere with RAM modules with large heatsinks.
On the performance side, the gap with a stock radiator is not monstrous, but it allows frequencies to be maintained. boost stably with less noise. Although released in 2011, the TX3 EVO therefore remains the reference for small budgets.
Be Quiet! Pure Rock 2: the right compromise
When you enter the mid-range, with an Intel Core i5 or an AMD Ryzen 5, the cooler is no longer necessarily delivered with the processor. Above all, the TDP often exceeds 100 W, which requires a slightly more advanced cooling solution. The Pure Rock 2 perfectly meets these needs thanks to its 4 heat pipes capable of dissipating 150 W.
In practice, however, this value will only be tenable with the fans at maximum and frankly unpleasant noise pollution. For a CPU around 100 W on the other hand, it is capable of performing its function in remarkable silence. The mounting system is simple to use and there are no compatibility issues with RAM or motherboard heatsinks.
Given its price, we have one of the best quality-price ratios on the market. Note that, for aesthetes, a black version is available for a few euros more.
Cooler Master MA612 Stealth: performance and silence
With its dual 120 mm fan and 6 heat pipes, the Cooler Master MA612 will be able to cool the most powerful processors, both Intel and AMD. It can indeed support a TDP of up to 180 W. Its two fans can spin up to 1800 revolutions per minute and therefore provide the necessary cooling, even for i9 SoCs.
The manufacturing quality is at the top and the installation is particularly easy, in particular not to interfere with the RAM. It also has the advantage of being compatible with a large number of sockets (Intel: LGA 2066/2011-v3/1200/1366/1156/1155/1151/1150 and AMD: AM4/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1). Finally, it even has LEDs, so you can match it with the rest of your RGB setup if you want – but there’s also a non-RGB version.
Noctua NH-D15: the extreme cooler
Have you fallen for a very high-end CPU like the Ryzen 5800X or a Core i7-12700K? Congratulations, but we’re going to have to step up a gear to fully exploit them without going deaf. To cool such monsters, we strongly recommend that you choose a dual-tower model with two fans like the Noctua NH-D15.
Weighing no less than 1.3 kg and boasting an impeccable finish, it is quite simply the best cooler on the market. The Austrian manufacturer still offers the most practical mounting system we have come across and the supplied fans are a model of silence. Be careful though: its height means that it will not fit in all cases and its size may pose some compatibility issues with certain motherboards. Take the time to check its compatibility before buying.
The performance is worth the price: this monster manages to cool the most greedy consumer processors in silence as long as we stay within the limits of the TDP.
Admittedly, the price may make you pale, but Noctua has one of the best after-sales services on the market and will even send you a new mounting system for free if you change your configuration in a few years! For lovers of black, a version chromax. black exist.
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360: affordable AIO water cooling
If you have a very high-end CPU and want to push it to its limits, no miracle: you will have to switch to liquid cooling. That said, the water cooling has come a long way from its DIY beginnings with aquarium pumps. AIO (all-in-one) systems are reliable and efficient, although obviously less flexible and scalable than a custom solution.
Among the plethoric offer available on the market, it is the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 360 that caught our attention. It’s not the prettiest or flashiest on the market (no RGB LEDs here), but the performance is top-notch. You will be able to get the most out of a very high-end processor or even overclock without too much noise.
The 360mm triple-fan radiator won’t fit in all cases, however, and the bill is high. An AIO will also have a shorter lifespan than a more classic cooler, around 5 to 7 years. If you’re looking for something more compact, the 240mm version also offers solid performance. And if your case is gigantic, go for the 420 mm version.
Please note if you have a 12th generation Intel Core, the mounting kit must be purchased separately.
NZXT Kraken Z53: the top of the AIO
NZXT’s Kraken are real references in terms of AIO, as much thanks to their efficiency as to the presence of an LCD screen on the pump.
The latter is capable of displaying a very wide range of colors (perfect for matching with the rest of your RGB), and is capable of displaying, via the small CAM software, personalized images, GIFs, as well as information such as than CPU temperature. The build quality of the latest model, the Kraken Z, is top notch. The operation, in particular of the pump, is particularly silent, even when the Kraken is pushed to its limits.
The Z53 model is the dual fan version in 240mm, but there are of course different sizes, to choose from depending on the size of your case. An all-RGB version is also available.
old models, Kraken X-seriesare also excellent — and less expensive.
For us, the Kraken are clearly the best AIO watercoolers on the market from a performance / style / price point of view. But there are also valid alternatives such as the kit Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix. If you are fans of all RGB, it will make you happy since the fans, in addition to the pump, also benefit from LEDs over their entire surface. You can find the iCUE H100i watercooling in 240 mm for 159 euros, as well as in 360 mm for 199 euros.
How to properly cool your processor?
Cooling fan or AIO watercooling, which one to choose?
Formerly reserved for the most do-it-yourselfers (you had to use aquarium pumps…), the water cooling has become more popular in recent years, with AIO (all-in-one) models requiring no particular technical knowledge and relatively simple to set up. Using the best thermal conduction of water to transport heat from the processor to a heatsink which dissipates it, the loops of water cooling are on paper more efficient than the good old coolers.
In practice, however, things are not so simple. A bad system water cooling can be beaten by a good cooler. And these have the great advantage of being simple to install while costing much less. A system ofwater coolingAIO also has a limited lifespan, around 5 to 7 years.
A good cooler is almost indestructible and can be recycled on a new machine. Your servant has been using his Noctua radiator for about ten years. In case of fan failure, the latter can be changed for ten euros.
If they have their uses for silently cooling very high-end processors dissipating several hundred watts, AIO systems areoverkillfor the vast majority of users. That’s why we recommend choosing a cooler in most cases.
Which thermal paste to choose?
If the thermal paste delivered with the heatsink is more than enough for an entry-level processor, we strongly recommend that you invest a few euros in a more efficient version. There are a multitude of references, but it is the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut that caught our attention with its performance and ease of use.
For the application, there are a multitude of schools, but we advise, from experience, to simply apply a small dab of paste on the processor and let the pressure of the assembly do the rest. Avoid putting too much, it would be counterproductive.
How to maintain your cooler?
Contrary to what one might imagine, a cooler requires a little maintenance. As always, dust is a component’s worst enemy. Start by regularly vacuuming the fins to extract the dust that accumulates there very quickly. While you’re at it, clean (gently) the rest of the PC to remove all these dust bunnies and vacuum the filters of the case if it has one.
Finally, don’t forget to change the thermal paste from time to time. The latter dries out over time and therefore loses performance, which will ultimately have an impact on noise and the life of the processor. A renewal every 3 years will be sufficient. This disassembly allows the passage to clean more thoroughly the radiator and the fans if they are clogged.
How to position the fans?
When installing the heatsink fan(s), be careful to respect the general airflow created by the case fans.
On a classic assembly, this generally means that the outside air will be taken from the front of the case by a first fan, then propelled towards the rear face of the case where it will then be extracted by one or two fans. If your radiator has two fans, position them correctly so that they blow in the same direction.
Most fans have an arrow indicating the direction of airflow across the edge. When in doubt, the logo or brand name is always placed on the front of the fan, where the air is drawn in.
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