All-in-one (AIO) coolers let you add new features to your home or work PCs while still preventing them from overheating or fan damage. AIOs are highly efficient in heat dissipation, produce little to no noise, and are easy to install. Some even give you control of adjusting fan speeds and RGB lighting, so let’s take a look at the best AIO coolers to keep your PC nice and cool.
MSI
MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
Best Overall
$228 at Amazon
Arctic
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
Best Mid-Range
$91 at Amazon
EK
EK Nucleus CR240 AIO
Best Budget
$130 at Amazon
Corsair
Corsair H60x RGB Elite
Most Compact
$80 at Amazon
CoolerMaster
Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240
Most Stylish
$163 at Amazon
Best AIO cooler Overall: MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
The MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler is a good and reliable option for home and work environments and is packed with the latest features. The cooler integrates coveted Silent Gale P12 fans engineered with full silence in mind to give you a cool, comfortable working space. It also comes with a pump embedded in the radiator that keeps everything clustered and keeps noise and vibrations down.
It is quite effective in its cooling performance, a feature made possible by its powerful 2,000RPM. The 60mm fan placed within the water block disperses heat for the M.2 solid-state drive (SSD) and the surrounding components. The cooler's MSI Centre adjusts key features like fan speed and Addressable RGB (ARGB) lighting to the in-plane switching (IPS) display to ensure total control in your hands.
A 2.4-inch IPS display screen allows you to observe a wide range of hardware information and customizable graphics. This cooler is simple to install, giving you an easy time setting up your system.
MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
Best Overall
$228 $280 Save $52
The MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler goes above and beyond when it comes to performance and coverage. Not only does it tackle the latest AM5 and LG1700 sockets, but it also cools nearby components like your VRM and M.2 SSD.
Pros
- Amazing cooling performance
- Customizable IPS display screen
- Easy to install
Cons
- The fan is quite loud in Game Mode
$228 at AmazonSee at Walmart
Best Mid-Range AIO Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360
The ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 punches well above its weight class, which isn’t surprising considering the generation before, the LF II series, did the same. The ratio between performance and noise is undoubtedly its most impressive aspect. Even when pushed to its limit, it’s hardly above a whisper.
One thing to be mindful of is the radiator is on the thicker side. At 38mm, you’ll need to ensure your case has the headroom to fit the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360. It’s worth it, though, as that extra surface area provides more efficient cooling. It's also very easy to install, with all the necessary wires hidden in the jacket of the hose.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360
Best Mid-Range
With its integrated cable management, easy installation, and quiet under heavy loads, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 isn't pulling punches. Its efficient cooling has no qualms over cooling a Ryzen 9 3950X or an i7-14700K.
Pros
- Excellent performance-to-noise ratio
- Simple installation
- Compatible with LGA1851, LGA1700, AM5, and AM4
- Also has an A-RGB option
Cons
- Might be too big for some setups
$91 at Amazon
Best Budget AIO Cooler: EK Nucleus CR240 AIO
The EK Nucleus CR240 is a welcome improvement on EKWB's Basic AIO in every sense of the word, right down to the EK-branded badge. It even carried over its universally compatible water block, which works with the latest AMD5 and LGA 1700 sockets.
The EK Nucleus CR240 is incredibly straightforward to install. The manual is well-written, the AIO's design is user-friendly, and all the components are labeled, so you won't have much trouble even if you are new to PC building. Once installed, the EK Nucleus CR240 gets right to business. Using a full-frame design, which helps plug up escaping air, the two 120mm fans have a consistent airflow and impressive cooling for the 240mm radiator.
EK Nucleus CR240 AIO
Best Budget
The EK Nucleus CR240 is as simple as it gets with AIOs, so if you aren't looking for something fancy, look no further. Spinning at 2300RPM (on max), the CR240 is a great way to keep your PC nice and cool.
Pros
- Simple installation
- Viable budget AIO
- Available in 240mm, 280mm, and 360mm (and RGB)
- Can rotate the pump top
Cons
- Noisy enough to notice but still relatively quiet
$130 at Amazon
Most Compact AIO Cooler: Corsair H60x RGB Elite
Compact, aesthetically pleasing, and efficient—the Corsair H60x RGB Elite 120mm AIO hits all three with ease. If you're looking for an AIO that's going to keep your tiny build nice and cool, it's tough to find anything better for the same price.
The Corsair H60x RGB Elite AIO runs a 27mm-thick radiator, providing plenty of heat dispersion without pushing the limits of your case. The fan itself is 25mm with a max RPM of 1500 and max airflow of 47.73CFM, all of which create a solid cooling system that's well worth the move if you're ditching a stock fan cooler. It supports the latest AMD and Intel CPU sockets, AM5 and LGA 1700, respectively. As a bonus, the RGB on the copper block and fan are pretty snazzy.
Corsair H60x RGB Elite
Most Compact
Whether it's space or budget that's a concern, the Corsair H60x RGB Elite doesn't disappoint. It's also surprisingly compatible with a wide variety of sockets from Intel and AMD.
Pros
- Supports AM5, AM4, LGA 1700, 1200, 115X, and 2066 sockets
- A solid choice for smaller builds
- Includes pre-applied thermal paste
- Looks great
Cons
- No physical manual
- A 240mm option is better if budget and space allow it
$80 at AmazonSee at Newegg
Most Stylish AIO Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240
While aesthetics don't offer any benefit in terms of performance, there's something special about highlighting the best components in your rig with a splash of color. Well, in the case of the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240, you're splashing a lot of color.
The Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 highlights both the fans and the pump block with gaudy RGB lighting, which you can customize. It's all meant to highlight the stars of the show: the 120mm SickleFlow fans and the pump. What's special about the fans is how the Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 uses a combination of interconnected fan blade rims and beveling to improve airflow. When you push your rig, the fans are going to be far better at consistently cooling the radiator.
Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240
Most Stylish
The Cooler Master MasterLiquid PL240 isn't just built to pump liquid at high speeds but to move air through the radiator at a more consistent rate thanks to a dual-chamber pump and SickleFlow fans. It does that all while looking quite snazzy with its striking white finish and RGB.
Pros
- Flux fans offer improved airflow
- The radiator is slim enough to fit smaller builds
- Includes a USB ARGB controller if you lack a connector
- Also has a 360mm option
Cons
- Look elsewhere if you have a high-end CPU
$163 at AmazonSee at Newegg
FAQ
Q: What does "AIO" stand for, and why is it called an "AIO cooler?"
On the topic of computers, "AIO" is an acronym for "all in one." Though it can refer to all-in-one computers, we're talking about liquid coolers here. As for why they're called "AIO coolers," it's used to differentiate from custom loops. All-in-one liquid coolers almost always have everything needed to keep your PC cool.
Q: What is the average lifespan of an AIO cooler?
Pushing aside differences in durability and quality, your AIO cooler can last a good 5 to 7 years. Of course, heavy use can shorten an AIO's lifespan, as well as the lack of maintenance.
Q: Can AIO coolers run out of water?
Unless there's a leak, then no, your AIO cooler won't run out of water. Since an AIO is a closed system, it just continuously cycles the same water, over and over. And don't worry about evaporation, either; so little evaporates over time, it would take years to notice a difference.
Q: What liquid is used in an AIO cooler?
There are a few camps when it comes to liquid cooling, but it falls into one of two options: distilled water and coolant. If you're feeling particularly wild, you can mix distilled water with anti-freeze, but unless you know what the ratio is (and know what you're doing), we don't recommend it.
