Best 420mm AIO for Intel and AMD CPU [Budget Models]

When it comes to all-in-one CPU water Coolers, the most popular sizes are 240mm and 360mm. A 360mm AIO has a 360mm radiator and three 120mm fans. It offers excellent cooling performance and is supported by most modern-day mid-tower and almost all full-tower PC Cases. A good 360mm AIO is enough for most high-end and flagship Intel and AMD processors. You can also do a decent amount of overclocking without overheating your processor. However, if you want even better cooling for your flagship Intel/AMD CPU or wish to achieve higher overclocking, then you can go with a good 420mm AIO. A 420mm AIO has a 420mm radiator and three 140mm fans. Most mainstream PC Cases do not support a 420mm AIO; only big and spacious PC Cases (mid-tower or full-tower) can fit a 420mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler.

Generally, the performance of a 420mm AIO is better than that of a 360mm or smaller-sized AIO cooler because of the bigger radiator and fans. 420mm AIO CPU Coolers are also becoming quite popular among gamers and overclockers because of increased cooling performance and lower noise levels. Moreover, the price difference between 360mm and 420mm AIO is not much. If you have a PC Case that supports 420mm AIO, I highly suggest getting a 420mm AIO instead of a 360mm one for your high-end gaming PC or workstation. Here, I will list some of the best 420mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers that are big on performance but very affordable.

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB AIO CPU Cooler

[Silent, Excellent Price to Performance Ratio, ARGB Lighting, Universal Fan/RGB connectors, VRM fan on Water block]

Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB is unarguably the best 420mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, offering an excellent price-to-performance ratio. If you have a big PC Case with 420mm radiator support and enough clearance for other components, then this AIO CPU Cooler is made for you. Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB is quite a big and bulky AIO Cooler with a 38mm thick radiator, a big round water block, and 450mm long braided tubes. The AIO supports all the popular Intel and AMD Sockets, including Intel LGA 1851/1700/1200/115X and AMD AM4/AM5. The support for Intel LGA1200/115X processors is through the LGA1200/115X Mounting Kit, which you have to buy separately. The AIO includes a Contact Frame for Intel LGA1700 and LGA1851 to solve the issue of Intel’s Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM) deforming the CPU by pressing it into the socket at two points with over 40 Kg. Moreover, the AIOs AMD’s mounting socket is lightly offset by 5mm to solve the hotspot issue with AMDs latest Ryzen Processors having multi-die chiplet design where the hotspot on these processors is not on the center but slightly offset. Arctic MX-6 thermal paste comes pre-applied on the copper base plate or cold plate of the AIO water block.

The AIO comes with three 140mm P14 PWM PST A-RGB fans with RPM in the 200 to 1900 RPM range. The fans are pretty silent, generating airflow of 69.90 CFM and static pressure of 2.0mmH2O. Unlike most top-branded AIOs, Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB does not come with proprietary connectors for fan speed and ARGB lighting. It uses a 4-pin PWM connector for fans and a 3-pin 5V connector for ARGB lighting. Universal or non-proprietary connectors make the fan replacement easy, and you can also replace the original fans with aftermarket fans with higher airflow and air pressure. The CPU Water block has a 60mm fan on the top to cool down VRM components on the motherboard. Apart from fans, ARGB lighting is also present on the VRM Fan. The AIO offers two control options to control the speed of fans and pump: one independently using three different 4-pin PWM connectors and one collectively using only one 4-pin PWM connector. The AIO also features integrated cable management where the fan cables are hidden within the tube sleeving.

Regarding performance, your high-end processor will see reduced idle and load temperatures. Even with maximum CPU load or high overclocking, the AIO does a great job keeping your CPU temperature within the ideal range. The water block features a Split-flow copper cold plate with micro-skived fins (128 fins/in) for better heat transfer. Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 A-RGB AIO has also received awards from well-reputed technical websites or publications. Aesthetically, the AIO looks beautiful and modern and is available in black and white colors to suit your PC Case color scheme.

Buy Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 ARGB AIO Cooler

Corsair iCUE LINK H170i RGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler

[Zero RPM Mode, Corsair iCUE Link support, Great Performance, ARGB Lighting, Tool-free mounting bracket]

Another very good 420mm AIO offering that offers a great price-to-performance ratio. Corsair iCUE LINK H170i RGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler supports all the latest Intel and AMD sockets, including Intel LGA 1851/1700 and AMD AM4/AM5. It has three QX140 RGB fans with 34 LEDs per fan and exclusive Time Warp lighting mode. The ARGB LEDs are also on the CPU Water block or pump head. For connectivity, Corsair iCUE LINK H170i RGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler uses the Corsair iCUE link ecosystem to reduce cable clutter and uses a single connector for all iCUE LINK devices. Each component connects directly to the next, creating a chain of devices. The 140mm QX140 RGB fans are quiet and spin at 400 to 2000 RPM. The fan generates airflow of 82.5 CFM and air pressure of 3.5 mmH2O, which are pretty good figures. The fans support Zero RPM mode for an almost zero noise operation at low CPU loads or temperatures.

The AIO looks nice and comes with 450mm sleeved tubes. It supports a tool-free mounting bracket for both Intel and AMD CPUs. Corsair XTM70 Extreme Performance thermal paste comes pre-applied on the cold plate from the factory. Corsair iCUE LINK H170i RGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler’s cooling performance is excellent, and it can cool even 250W or higher TDP ( processors without any issues). Overall, it is a very good 420mm AIO for your high-end gaming or workstation computer.  

Buy Corsair iCUE LINK H170i RGB AIO Cooler

Other Budget 420mm AIO CPU Coolers

• GAMDIAS CHIONE E4 420mm AIO CPU Water Cooler

Final Words

Well, 420mm AIOs are uncommon among the masses, and only a handful of models are available from select manufacturers. It is because of their huge size and not many PC Cases support them. However, if you have a big enough PC Case that supports a 420mm AIO, getting one would be a wise choice for future-proofing or power-hungry high-end processors. If you have any questions regarding 420mm AIO compatibility or selection, then let me know in the comment section below.