If you are a hardcore gamer, hardware enthusiast, or an overclocker then you must have a good aftermarket CPU cooler for your processor. Also, most of the top-end unlocked processors do not come with any cooler or heatsink & fan and you have to buy a CPU cooler for them separately. A good aftermarket cooler can keep the temperature of your processor down to safer levels even during gaming or heavy CPU-intensive tasks.
Good Traditional Air CPU Coolers or Coolers with Heatsink and Fan (HSF) can also provide you good performance in keeping the processor temperature down but if you are a heavy overclocker or a hardcore gamer and have got a high-end processor then you must go with CPU Water Cooler or Liquid CPU Cooler. A CPU Water Cooler uses a special liquid (coolant) in a radiator connected by the pipes to the processor base plate. The liquid or coolant continuously flows through the cooler base plate (for processor) by a pump and it takes away the heat to the radiator where it is cooled down by a fan or fans. A liquid CPU cooler is very efficient and has relatively greater performance compared to even a good Air CPU Cooler.
On CPU Water Cooler you can easily overclock your processor to much higher frequencies without worrying too much about the temperature. On the flip side, some liquid coolers have some disadvantages too. They need regular maintenance and they can mess up your components or PC if there is a leak. But in general, they are pretty safe, and very rarely do such incidents happen. Here in this post, I am going to list down the best liquid coolers starting from budget to high-end for your Intel or AMD processor.
Must Read: AIO vs Air Cooler Comparison
Best CPU Liquid Coolers for Intel & AMD Processors [AIO CPU Coolers]
Here are the Best Liquid CPU Coolers or AIO (All-in-One) Water Coolers that support almost all Intel and AMD Sockets. Some of these CPU water coolers also support the latest AMD AM4 Socket, so that you can use them with AMD Ryzen Processors. All the below-mentioned CPU coolers are closed-loop liquid coolers which means they come pre-filled with the coolant or liquid and do not require any kind of maintenance.
LEPA AquaChanger 120 Liquid CPU Cooler
This is one of the best budget CPU water coolers that you can get for your Intel or AMD processor. LEPA may not be a popular brand but it does offer a very good budget liquid CPU cooler which is LEPA AquaChanger 120. This liquid CPU cooler has a small form factor but it still offers very good performance in keeping your processor temperature down to lower levels. It supports almost all the Intel and AMD CPU sockets including AM4. For AM4 Socket you have to mail LEPA to support@enermaxusa.com with a sales receipt to get the free AM4 bracket.
The liquid cooler comes with a 120mm PWM fan and a radiator. The fan is not so quiet but you can replace it with other fans if you are not satisfied with its noise, otherwise, the performance of the fan is more than satisfactory. The base plate of this cooler is made up of copper for better dissipation of heat from the processor. LEPA calls it Central Diffusing Passage Cold Plate (CDP). It has got anti-leak tubes which ensure that liquid always remains inside it and never spills out. It is a closed-loop liquid cooler which means you cannot remove the tubes from the cooler. There is also a Red LED on the pump to indicate that the cooler is on or off. Being small in size this is a great choice for mini-ITX cases too. Also, this liquid CPU cooler is dirt cheap and you can but at the price of a traditional HSF cooler or Air CPU cooler. Highly Recommended for users on a budget. The exact model number of this liquid CPU cooler is LPWAC120-HF.
Check out: Best Aftermarket 120mm Cooling Fans
LEPA AquaChanger 120 Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 775/1150/1151/ 1155/1156/1366/2011 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/ AM4/FM1/FM2/FM2+ |
Radiator Size | 120mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 1 |
Fan Speed | 500 – 2300 RPM |
Features | LED Light, Copper base plate, Anti-Leak pipes, |
Buy LEPA AquaChanger 120 Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H60 High-Performance Liquid CPU Cooler is also a smaller liquid CPU Cooler that comes with a 120mm Radiator and one 120mm Fan. It is a bit expensive than the LEPA AquaChanger 120 Liquid CPU Cooler but it does offer some extra benefits over it.
Corsair Hydro Series H60 CPU Water Cooler comes with a full copper base plate for better transfer of heat from the CPU. The cooler supports all the major CPU sockets from Intel and AMD including the latest AMD AM4 Socket. The fan and pump are relatively quiet and they do their job very well in keeping the temperature down. The performance of this water cooler is much better than your stock cooler or an average air CPU cooler. This liquid CPU cooler requires less space for installation and can be used in SFF cases too. So if you are looking for a branded and budget liquid CPU cooler then you must get this one.
Corsair Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, and 2011 / AMD Sockets AM2, AM3, AM4, FM1, and FM2 |
Radiator Size | 120mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 1 |
Fan Speed | 2000 RPM |
Features | Copper base plate, Tool-free magnetic multiplatform mounting bracket kit |
Buy Corsair Hydro Series H60 Liquid CPU Cooler
Deepcool CAPTAIN 120 EX CPU Liquid Cooler
Deepcool CAPTAIN 120 EX Gamer Storm is another smaller liquid CPU cooler that requires lesser space in your PC case and can also fit in almost all of the mini-ITX cases. This is a great-looking cooler that comes with a reactor-styled pump. It supports almost all the modern-day Intel and AMD Socket types.
The cooler comes with a 120mm radiator and a 120mm silent TF 120 double-blade fan. The fan is very quiet even under full load. The performance of this CPU water cooler is very good and you can use it with top-end processors. Various features of this liquid CPU cooler include a copper base plate, LED light, anti-explosion rubber tube, anti-corrosion, and crush resistance thermostable material.
Deepcool CAPTAIN 120 EX CPU Liquid Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2011-v3/LGA2011/LGA1366/ LGA1156/LGA1155/LGA1151/LGA1150 and AMD:FM2+/FM2/FM1/AM3+/ AM3/AM2+/AM2 |
Radiator Size | 120mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 1 |
Fan Speed | 500 – 1800 RPM |
Features | LED light, anti-explosion rubber tube, anti-corrosion, crush resistance thermostable material |
Buy Deepcool CAPTAIN 120 EX Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 is one of the best high-performance dual-fan liquid CPU coolers that you can buy for your processor. It comes with a big 240mm radiator and two 120mm fans for much better cooling performance.
The liquid cooler has a copper base plate for excellent heat dissipation. The thermal compound comes pre-applied with the cooler. It also comes with an in-built Corsair Link using which you can customize the cooling performance, change the color of RGB LED light, and monitor coolant and temperatures. The cooler supports major Intel and AMD Sockets including AM4 Socket. For the AM4 Bracket, you need to contact Corsair. The SP120L PWM fans on the radiator offer great performance but they may be a bit loud for some users. This is a high-end liquid CPU cooler for users with top-end processors and overclockers. Highly Recommended by me.
Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3 and AMD sockets FM1, FM2, AM2, AM3 |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 2435 RPM |
Features | RGB LED Light, Corsair Link sensors & software |
Buy Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H110i Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H110i is the bigger brother of Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2. It has all the features present in Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2 Liquid CPU Cooler. The only difference is that it has a bigger 280mm Radiator and comes with dual 140mm fans. Also, this Liquid CPU Cooler comes with AMD AMD4 Bracket included. The performance of this CPU water cooler is almost similar to that of Corsair Hydro Series H100i v2.
Corsair Hydro Series H110i Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3 and AMD sockets FM1, FM2, AM2, AM3 and AM4 |
Radiator Size | 280mm |
Fan Size | 140mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 2100 RPM |
Features | RGB LED Light, Corsair Link sensors & software, Mounting kit for all CPUs |
Buy Corsair Hydro Series H110i Liquid CPU Cooler
NZXT Kraken X52 240mm AIO Cooler
NZXT Kraken X52 is one of the most reliable and popular AIO CPU Coolers around. This is a 240mm Radiator AIO Cooler and comes with two 120mm Aer P radiator-optimized fans having speeds in the range of 500 to 2000 RPM. The build quality of this CPU Liquid Cooler is top-notch and it comes in black color. The pump of this AIO cooler has got RGB LED lighting (Logo and boundary) that can be controlled using the CAM software. You can also control and monitor other parameters like fan speed, pump speed, view graphs, and other settings using the NZXT CAM software.
The performance of this AIO Cooler is excellent for the price and you can do a moderate amount of overclocking on this CPU Liquid Cooler. It is very easy to install and supports most of the present generation Intel and AMD CPU Sockets. In the silent mode, the cooler is very quiet in operation but can get a bit loud in the performance mode at full load. So, if you are looking for a good-performing and silent AIO cooler with some RGB lighting to it then I highly recommend this.
Note: The AIO cooler is also available in bigger dimensions or form factors which are NZXT Kraken X62 (280mm) and NZXT Kraken X72 (360mm). You can check them all by going to the link given below.
NZXT Kraken X52 240mm AIO Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel Socket 1151, 1150, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 and AMD SocketTR4, AM4, FM2+, FM2, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2 |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 (Aer P Radiator fans) |
Fan Speed | 500 – 2000 RPM |
Features | RBG LED Pump, CAM software support, Copper CPU Base, Sleeve tubes, RGB Lighting Effects |
Buy NZXT Kraken X52 240mm AIO Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO RGB Liquid CPU Cooler
This is a newly launched AIO Liquid CPU Cooler from Corsair that has got some RGB lighting to it. The radiator size is 240mm and it comes with dual Corsair ML120 PRO 120mm PWM Premium Magnetic Levitation Fans that exert a good amount of static pressure at 4.2mm H2O. These fans use Magnetic Levitation bearing and are one of the top quality and high-performance fans from Corsair. They spin at speed in the range of 400 – 2400 RPM and can be loud at full speed due to their higher RPM.
The AIO cooler uses an aluminum radiator and it has an RGB logo on the pump, and the lighting and effects can be controlled using the Corsair iCUE software. Using this software, you can also monitor CPU and coolant temperatures, and adjust fan speed and pump speed. It is simple to install and comes with sleeved tubes for extra protection and durability. However, the cables are non-braided. This is a high-performance AIO cooler and its cooling performance is almost equivalent to the Corsair H150i Pro and NZXT Kraken X72 which are bigger 360mm AIO Coolers. Also, you can perform quite a bit of overclocking on this cooler and it also supports a majority of Intel and AMD CPU Sockets including the AMD TR4 and AM4 sockets. The only downside of this Liquid CPU cooler is that it is a bit on the louder side but it should not be an issue for gamers as they use gaming headsets or use loud volume during gameplay. So, if you are in search of a powerful 240mm AIO cooler that can match the performance of 360mm AIO Coolers then you should go for it.
Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO RGB Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel 115x, Intel 1366, Intel 2011/2066 and AMD AM3/AM2, AMD AM4, AMD TR4, AMD FM1/FM2 |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 400 – 2400 RPM |
Features | RGB LED Logo on Pump, Sleeved Tubes, Corsair iCUE software support |
Buy Corsair Hydro H100i PRO RGB Liquid CPU Cooler
Thermaltake Water 3.0 Riing RGB 240 Liquid CPU Cooler
Thermaltake is a big name in cooling solutions, cases, and power supplies. Here we have Thermaltake Water 3.0 Riing RGB 240 Liquid CPU Cooler. This is a high-performance CPU water cooler for serious overclockers and for top-end gaming systems. It is a fancy-looking cooler that comes with dual 120mm PWM Riing 12 RGB LED Fans and a big 240mm Radiator. The cooler supports major Intel and AMD CPU Sockets.
This AIO RGB CPU Cooler cooler comes with a Smart Fan controller that allows you to switch between 5 LED modes including solid colors of red, blue, white, and green or disable and cycle through 256 colors. This is a high-quality liquid CPU cooler having excellent build quality, sleeved cables, and a pure copper base plate. So if you are looking for a stylish, feature-rich, and high-performance liquid CPU cooler then it will not disappoint you.
Thermaltake Water 3.0 Riing RGB 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 2011-3/2011/1366/1156/1155/1151/1150 and AMD FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2 |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 800 – 1500 RPM |
Features | PWM Riing 12 RGB LED Fans, Smart Fan controller, sleeved cables, Tt LCS Certified |
Buy Thermaltake Water 3.0 Riing RGB 240 CPU Cooler
Arctic Liquid Freezer 240 CPU Water Cooler
Arctic is a reputed company that is known for its high-quality cooling solutions whether it is CPU coolers, Graphics Cards Coolers, Fans, or Thermal Paste. Here we have Arctic Liquid Freezer 240 CPU Water Cooler which is a silent and high-performance Liquid CPU cooler for high-end gaming PCs equipped with top-of-the-line processors. It is compatible with all the major Intel and AMD Sockets including AM4.
The cooler comes with a big 240mm radiator and four 120mm fans. It offers great cooling performance and even with four fans, the cooler remains silent in operation. The base is all copper which allows better transfer of heat from the processor to the coolant. It comes with a pre-applied MX4 Thermal Compound which is one of the best in the business. The cooler is very well priced and is relatively cheaper than the other brands like Corsair, Thermaltake, etc. So if you want a high-performance liquid CPU cooler at a great price then you must get this one.
Arctic Liquid Freezer 240 CPU Water Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel Socket 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 2011, 2011-3 and AMD Socket: AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, AM4, FM1, FM2, FM2+ |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 4 |
Fan Speed | 500 – 1350 RPM |
Features | Four Fans, MX4 Thermal Compound Pre-applied |
Buy Arctic Liquid Freezer 140 CPU Water Cooler
Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 EX WHITE CPU Liquid Cooler
Here we have a modern-looking and affordable dual-fan liquid CPU cooler from Deepcool which is Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 EX Gamer Storm. The pump of this water cooler resembles the appearance of a reactor-styled pump which looks very cool. The cooler comes with a 240mm radiator and two silent TF 120 double blade fans. It is the bigger version of the CAPTAIN 120 EX liquid CPU cooler mentioned above.
The performance of the Deepcool CAPTAIN 240EX liquid CPU cooler is very good and comparable to the water coolers of top brands like Corsair, Thermaltake, and Arctic. The cooler supports all the major Intel and AMD sockets and comes with a copper base plate, anti-explosion rubber tube, LED lighting, anti-corrosion, crush resistance & thermostable material. If you want a stylish, cool-looking, and budget liquid CPU cooler then you cannot take your eyes away from it.
Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 EX WHITE CPU Liquid Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA-2011-V3/LGA2011/LGA1366/ LGA1156/LGA1155/LGA1151/LGA1150 and AMD FM2+/FM2/FM1/ AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2 (AM4* with AM4 Ready Sticker) |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 500 – 1800 RPM |
Features | anti-explosion rubber tube, LED lighting, anti-corrosion, crush resistance & thermostable material |
Buy Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 EX CPU Liquid Cooler
EVGA CLC 240 Liquid / Water CPU Cooler (RGB LED)
EVGA is a computer hardware company that is mostly known for its top-notch Nvidia GPU-based graphics cards. It also makes power supplies, intel chipset motherboards, computer cases, gaming laptops, accessories, and CPU & GPU cooling solutions. Here we have EVGA CLC 240 Liquid / Water CPU Cooler which is a high-quality AIO cooler that supports almost all the latest Intel and AMD CPU Sockets.
This liquid CPU cooler from EVGA has got 240mm radiator and dual 120mm fans. This is a pretty solid and well-built closed-loop liquid cooling solution and it comes with sleeved tubes and a copper base on a water block. The RGB LEDs on the water block can be synced with other EVGA components inside your computer case. The EVGA Flow control software gives you full control over this CLC liquid cooler and you can customize RGB lighting, monitor and adjust fan speeds & pumps, monitor temperatures, and save custom profiles. This is a great liquid cooler for your high-end CPU and a treat for gamers, overclockers, or enthusiasts.
Note: If you want more performance then you can go for the EVGA CLC 280, which is one of the best AIOs for Core i9 9900K.
EVGA CLC 240 Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA2066/2011/2011-v3/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366 and upcoming variants and AMD AM2/AM3/AM4/FM1/FM2/TR4 and upcoming variants |
Radiator Size | 240mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 2 |
Fan Speed | 500-2400RPM |
Features | RGB LED Water Block, Pure Copper Base Contact, Low Noise Fans, EVGA Software support, Sleeved Tubes |
Buy EVGA CLC 240 Liquid CPU Cooler RGB
Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB is the latest AIO Liquid CPU Cooler from Corsair that comes with a big 360mm Radiator and supports almost all the modern-day CPU Sockets. However, it does lack support for the AMD TR4 Socket for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Processors, which I think should be there for a new AIO CPU cooler of this size. This AIO CPU cooler has got a big 360mm aluminum radiator and it comes with three low-noise 120mm ML Series magnetic levitation PWM fans, that are very silent and produces a maximum of only 25dBA noise at full speed.
The pump is pretty compact and it has got a copper base plate for CPU and dynamic multi-color RGB Lighting. This liquid CPU cooler can be linked with the Corsair LINK software via included USB cable, and you can control all the aspects of this AIO water cooler that including pump speed, RGB lighting, fans speed, monitor CPU & Coolant temperatures, and more. The installation of this cooler is a breeze and the unit has got great build quality and comes with sleeved tubes. The performance of this liquid CPU cooler is top-notch and it is great for gamers, overclockers, and PC enthusiasts. Recommended by me.
Check out: Best 360mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers for Overclocking
Corsair Hydro Series H150i PRO RGB Liquid CPU Cooler Specifications | |
CPU Socket Supported | Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3 and 2066 / AMD AM2, AM3, AM4, FM1, and FM2 |
Radiator Size | 360mm |
Fan Size | 120mm x 3 |
Fan Speed | 1600 RPM |
Features | RGB LED Pump, Copper Base Plate for CPU, Corsair LINK Software Integration, Easy Installation, Zero RPM Mode, ML Series PWM 120mm high-performance fans, Sleeved Tubes |
Buy Corsair H150i Pro RGB 360mm Liquid CPU Cooler
See also:
- Best 120mm AIOs for Small Form Factor & Mini-ITX Builds
- Best 240mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers for Gaming and Work PC
- Best 280mm AIO Liquid CPU Coolers for Gaming & Work PC
- Best Budget CPU Coolers for Intel & AMD Processors
- Best CPU Air Coolers for Overclocking and Gaming
- Best Low Profile CPU Coolers for SFF PCs or HTPC
- Best Quiet CPU Coolers with Silent Fans [120mm/140mm]
- Best TR4 Socket & LGA 2066 Socket CPU Coolers
Final Words
In the end, I would like to say that if you are a hardcore gamer, performance enthusiast, and an overclocker then you must get a good liquid CPU cooler for your high-end Intel or AMD processor. The performance of CPU water coolers or liquid CPU coolers is far better than the Stock coolers or aftermarket Air CPU coolers. Also, they are less noisy than the CPU air coolers. If you have any queries then feel free to ask me by leaving a comment below.
(*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!)
Dear Akashat,
I appreciate people like you, & your efforts for classifying pc hardware.
We no-tech people are to much depend on your product knowledge & recommendation.
I requested you to add the below format for cpu cooler recommendation.
Cooler Name: XXX
1. Best for OC Upto Intel 9900K & Ryzen 3950 X
2. Good for stock speed Upto Intel 9900K & Ryzen 3950 X
3. Good for casual uses
Thanks for the suggestion.