You have two optionsair or liquid, and both have unique benefits and drawbacks.
We’re here to help you pick the right one for you.
RelaxedTech stacked up theNoctua NH-D15 air cooler against a few AIO coolers.
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The air cooler performed about the same as the AIOs in the same price range.
That said, high-end AIOs like theNZXT Kraken X63can beat almost any air cooler by a few degrees.
The heated liquid goes back into the radiator, cools down, and the cycle repeats.
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But that’s still not the whole story.
As for AIO liquid coolers, they’re always going to cost more than a comparable air cooler.
If you’re going after a minimalist design, you’ll appreciate the design of a classic AIO cooler.
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And then we have air coolers.
Their bold, in-your-face design with its exposed heat pipes and massive fins has nothing to hide.
Some have integrated displays similar to those found on AIOs, which take away from their industrial style.
Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek
Still, aesthetics are subjective, so it’s up to you to decide which style you prefer.
But regardless of the key in, size is another contributing factor.
But air coolers are a special kind of nightmare to install.
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It doesn’t help that there are all kinds of different mounting brackets and latch mechanisms.
Another couple of things you have to watch out for with air coolers are RAM clearance and height.
They have no moving components aside from the fans, which can last years and are easily replaceable.
My air cooler is over a decade old at this point, and it still fits my AM4 motherboard.
Liquid coolers also have fans, but the real problem is the pump.
Potentially system-wrecking leaks are very rare with AIOs as manufacturers have made plenty of advancements with liquid coolers.
Alternatively, just go all out and build a custom loop for maximum performance.
