It won't suit a high core count or overclocked processor, but then you shouldn’t expect it to. It's affordable and should outperform most low-profile air coolers and doing so without having to resort to unreasonable noise levels. The Corsair H60 V2 is perfect for a compact system. It becomes clearly audible at that point. Corsair includes its SP PWM fan, which operates at speeds of between 600 RPM (at which level it really is silent) up to 1700 RPM. Heat is the enemy of an SFF system, so the H60’s ability to eject hot air outside the case will benefit the whole system. Sure, it will be beaten out by a decent tower cooler or AIO with a larger radiator, but their dimensions often rule them out of SFF builds. The H60 V2 is well suited to processors under about the 95w level. Notably, it lacks RGB, though there is some white lighting around the head. The 120mm AIO form factor won’t suit everyone, but those who require a compact cooler to suit something like a small volume ITX build will find it can perform as well as a decent mid-range air cooler. Over the years it's seen its tubing, fan, pump and mounting upgraded. The Corsair H60 has been around for some time. Sure, it’s noise levels can get high if you push it hard, but at this price it comes highly recommended. If you’re after a 240mm AIO that’s inexpensive and quiet under less demanding loads, then the Deepcool Gammaxx L240 is a great choice. Under load, the fans can and do ramp up quite a bit. Our 5800X CPU with PBO enabled is about the maximum we’d consider appropriate for a 240mm cooler. As you’d expect, you will start to see an increase in temperatures and noise levels with high TDP processors, especially when overclocking.
But it keeps the rest running with remarkably low noise levels, which is one of the main reasons we recommend it.Īt idle the L240 is effectively silent. The Gammaxx 240 is capable of cooling most processors, too, though like many of the chip chillers on this list it draws the line at AMD's Threadripper beasts. Deepcool likes to talk about its ‘Anti leak technology’ which seeks to maintain an optimal pressure balance inside the loop.
There’s a more expensive ARGB version should you really want it. The Gammaxx 240mm features basic RGB lighting on the pump head and fans. That makes it a great option for users looking to step up from air cooling into the world of AIO cooling. Best AIO coolersĭeepcool is well known for its capable AIOs at affordable prices, and the Gammaxx L240 V2 is one of the cheaper 240mm coolers on the market. Some AIOs even come with LCD or OLED screens atop the pump, so you can really tailor your own unique look.
#ASETEK 550LC 120MM LIQUID COOLING CPU COOLER INSTALL#
Once you’ve settled on a list of criteria, then you can consider things like whether you want RGB or not or whether you have other components from the same manufacturer (so you don’t have to install yet another control app). Do you overclock? Are low noise levels you priority or is cooling ability your main concern? You’ll want to look at the fan specifications and noise ratings. A 120mm cooler is a no-no with a AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or Intel Core i9 11900K. Can it house larger radiators? You’ll also want to choose a cooler that can handle the TDP of your processor. Perhaps most important consideration of all is choosing one that will fit in your case. There's a lot to consider there's the radiator size and case compatibility, the cooling capacity, value for money, noise levels, reliability, and yes, looks are important too. Which one you go for will depend on your particular needs. We know our readers have different wants and needs, so we’ve picked a range of options to suit all budgets and use cases.īut if you've made the decision to go for an AIO cooler, ask not what the best AIO cooler is, ask what is the best for you and your partnering components. What follows is a list of our favourite AIO coolers, all of which have been tested by us.