cpu coolers with lcd display free sample
An all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler not only ensures quieter cooling than a traditional air cooler, but it might even lower temperatures enough to let you overclock further. AIOs are a super simple way to water-cool your PC without any mess or the headache of choosing components. We also recommend investing in a liquid cooler if you have or are planning to buy a high-performance processor like the new Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD"s Ryzen 7950x.
Most builds call for a 240mm AIO. To that end, we recommend the Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite, thanks to its solid software integration, excellent included fans, and good price tag. You can jump up or down depending on your PC build size or cooling needs, too, with various options available.
Note: Before diving in, you"ll need to take note of your CPU socket before picking up an AIO water cooler. Every CPU cooler is a little different, so you"ll need to know what CPU socket your motherboard has to see if the cooler supports it.
The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is a minor update to the H100i RGB Pro XT, which has been our top recommendation for a while. It features an updated pump design with 16 RGB LEDs, and thanks to iCUE, you can sync up all of your various RGB accessories for a unified look inside your build. The software also allows you to check on your CPU and coolant temperature to make sure everything is running smoothly.
In addition to a 240mm radiator, the kit comes with Corsair"s new AF Elite fans. These are high-performance 120mm PWM fluid dynamic bearing fans that combine a low-noise design with the company"s "AirGuide" technology for powerful cooling, quiet operation, and exceptional durability. They also support Zero RPM and Variable Pump Speed specialized cooling modes in iCUE to keep noise to a minimum when your system is idle or under light loads.
The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is an easy AIO to recommend. The company is behind some of the best desktop CPU coolers, and the cooler clocks in at about $140. Socket support is excellent, too, with mounting options for all recent Intel and AMD processors, including Threadripper.
When it comes to raw thermal performance, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is the best 360mm AIO cooler on the market. It reaches similar performance to competing coolers from NZXT and Corsair while being very inexpensive. Currently selling for about $130, the price is comparable to and in some cases lesser than most competitive 360mm AIO coolers out there.
The pump on the AIO is controlled by PWM, allowing it to modulate with the workload rather than run at full speed all the time. The Liquid Freezer II also includes a 40 mm fan next to the pump, set to sit over your motherboard"s VRM chips. In more extreme overclocking sessions, this may improve stability. Otherwise, it includes three Arctic 120 mm fans to keep air flowing.
This cooler is all about performance and price. It gets those two bits right, but not without some concessions. It doesn"t feature any sort of lighting, and the design may not be to everyone"s tastes. Still, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II hits a sweet spot that other coolers can"t compete with. Socket support is a little limited, but the Liquid Freezer still supports most recent chips. On AMD, it supports AM4 CPUs, and on Intel, it supports all LGA115x sockets, as well as 2011-3 and 2066 with a square Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM).
NZXT"s third-generation Kraken X coolers are well worth the asking prices. The cooler is now available in an all-white finish with two 120mm Aer RGB 2 fans making it perfect for your next white PC build. This 240mm model clocks in at around $145, which still isn"t too expensive. The design is much more appealing than Arctic"s offering while achieving similar levels of thermal performance.
For looks, the Kraken X"s infinity mirror pump cap is a showstopper. It bounces light around inside the cap to create the illusion of infinite LED rings. Like nearly all NZXT products, the Kraken X53 is fully integrated with CAM, allowing you to monitor temperatures and tweak your lighting settings. Over the X52, the X53 also includes an NZXT Hue 2 connection on the pump, offering power for up to six Hue 2 accessories. If you want to trick out your rig with synced-up RGB, the NZXT Kraken X53 is for you.
Socket support is excellent, with support for TR4 and AM4 on AMD, and LGA115X, 1700, and 1,200 on Intel. NZXT rates the Kraken X53 for six years of continuous use — 60,000 hours, technically — which is around what we"d expect for most AIO coolers. NZXT offers a six-year warranty, though, so you"re covered from any defects for the rated life of the cooler.
120 mm AIOs usually aren"t very good, but the Corsair H80i v2 is the best 120 mm AIO around. Without proper surface area on the radiator, most 120 mm coolers just aren"t up to snuff when it comes to cooling power. The Corsair H80i v2 solves that problem. The radiator is twice as thick, clocking in at 49mm compared to the standard 25mm. The H80i v2 doesn"t match the cooling performance of a 240mm radiator, but it gets a lot closer than a standard 120 mm one.
As for support, the Corsair H80i v2 comes with Intel mounting hardware for socket 1366 up to LGA1200 (Intel"s redesign of LGA1151, designed for Comet Lake CPUs). Basically, if you have an Intel processor introduced after 2008, you"re fine. AMD support is a little sparser. The cooler technically supports AM2 up to AM4, but the box only ships with mounting hardware for up to AM3. You"ll need a separate AM4 bracket. Thankfully, Corsair sells them for only a few dollars. There"s no RGB on this one, either, though you can control fan speed and monitor temperatures through Corsair"s iCUE software.
Cooler Master offers a range of "lite" AIOs, which are basically previous iterations of Cooler Master"s MasterLiquid line with increased socket support and double FEP tubing. At around $85, the Cooler Master ML240L v2 is the best budget AIO available. It comes with a 240mm radiator, two RGB fans, and a small RGB controller. Thermal performance isn"t great, and the noise level is higher than some more costly options. However, the ML240L clocks in around $50 cheaper than most competing 240mm AIOs. Plus, you can always swap the fans out later for more lighting options and slightly better noise levels.
The Cooler Master ML240L comes with nearly universal socket support, too. On Intel, it supports LGA1200, LGA20xx, LGA115x, and LGA1366, and on AMD, it supports AM2 to AM4, as well as FM2 and FM1. For the price, it"s hard to beat the ML240L.
If you want the best RGB AIO cooler, the EK-AIO 240 D-RGB goes off the deep end. Short of a small black strip where the tubes connect, the mounting block has a translucent, slightly diffused surface, washing out the lights inside into a beautiful display of color. EK is the place for custom water cooling, and the EK-AIO 240 shows why.
This is Corsair"s first all-in-one liquid cooler with a built-in LCD on the pump block. The iCUE H100i Elite LCD is a step beyond the older H100i RGB Pro XT and an excellent choice if you care about RGB lighting and customizations. The bright 2.1-inch panel comes with a 480x480 resolution making it sharper than most AIO LCD displays. It can be used to showcase a variety of things including system temperatures, custom artwork, GIFs, videos, and more. This can be done with Corsair"s iCUE software which also offers additional information about the cooler.
The AIO comes with two 120mm Corsair ML RGB ELITE magnetic levitation fans for great cooling performance while maintaining quiet operation. There is also support for a zero-RPM cooling profile that allows the fans to stop entirely at low temperatures thus eliminating any fan noise. Expect excellent thermal performance thanks to the custom cold plate that features a high-density stack of 128 micro-skived fins per inch providing highly efficient cooling.
Apart from the 240mm option, the Corsair Elite LCD AIO is also available in 360mm and 420mm configurations and there is support for all modern CPU sockets including the latest Intel LGA 1700 and AMD"s upcoming AM5.
The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora is a CPU cooler that you can refill. Unlike other AIO liquid coolers, you can swap out the fluid, upgrade the hoses and fittings, and even expand the loop. The most recent model supports digital RGB on the fans and CPU block, too, allowing you to trick out your lighting however you want.
The looks are right, but Alphacool didn"t sacrifice thermals with the Eisbaer Aurora. The radiator is made out of copper for a little extra cooling potential, and the nickel-plated copper CPU block has been slightly enlarged compared to previous versions. For CPU support, the Eisbaer Aurora supports most modern processors, though it doesn"t officially support Threadripper chips.
The most important part of an AIO CPU cooler is the radiator size. A larger radiator offers better cooling performance, but you need to make sure it can fit inside your case. Otherwise, look at the socket support to make sure you can use the cooler with your motherboard and buy from a reputable brand.
Most AIO coolers have a lifespan of six years, regardless of if they have RGB or not. You can expect an AIO cooler from a reputable brand to run for six years without issues, but every cooler is a little different. We recommend looking up individual AIO cooler reviews to see if others have had issues with reliability.
Before buying an AIO cooler, you need to know about the risks it may pose to your PC. Although failures are few and far between, every AIO cooler is still putting water dangerously close to your precious PC components, so there"s always a risk that the cooler could leak or fail and damage your parts. The fact that AIO coolers are closed makes matters worse because you can"t open the loop to see if there are any problems.
The best way to mitigate risk is to keep an eye on your cooler to see if there are any signs of leaking and to monitor your CPU temperature to see if the pump is failing. As long as you keep an eye on both, you can find most problems before they do any catastrophic damage.
In a typical setup, yes, liquid cooling is simply better at capturing and dissipating heat than an air cooling system alone — however, they aren"t necessarily better than the best air coolers. AIO coolers are a popular option to add liquid cooling because they offer the whole cooling system in a premade package that"s relatively easy to set up, and they tend to be very quiet.
That being said, AIO coolers may not be the best choice for every gaming station. As we mentioned above, not all PC cases have a lot of room to add a radiator, pump, and tubing. If you aren"t interested in overclocking and your current system manages temperatures just fine, you may not see a lot of benefit from switching to an AIO cooler, either.
That depends on several factors. The pump that moves the liquid in the cooler is typically silent or at least inconsequential compared to other PC noises. AIO models usually have fans, which will get noisy if they operate at high speed or are dirty. You can decrease fan noise by keeping them free of dust and monitoring their settings via the BIOS if possible. The good news is that, with liquid cooling, fans usually don"t have to work as hard and are less likely to make lots of noise.
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Whether for gaming, video editing, or other complex processes, modern CPUs from AMD and Intel are becoming more and more powerful. The complex microarchitecture of today"s computers enables faster calculation and more complex processes than ever before. But the higher the computing power, the more important a proper cooling becomes.
Finding a suitable CPU cooler can quickly become confusing and frustrating due to many different sizes, shapes, and terminology. That where we from ARCTIC want to offer a hand.
Simply put, a CPU cooler cools the CPU by removing the heat generated during operation. For this purpose, a cooler has a contact surface that connects the cooler with the CPU. The heat is conducted into a heat sink and is thus conducted away from the heat source. This heat sink is typically made of metal with good thermal conduction properties such as aluminum or copper. High quality thermal compound, like ARCTIC’s MX-4 improved this contact again and significantly increases the cooling performance.
There are two types of air coolers: radial and tower. In the case of radial coolers, the heat sink sits directly on the processor (example: Alpine 12), in the case of tower coolers, (example: Freezer 34 eSports DUO & Freezer 35 Series) the heat sink and base plate are connected to one another via so-called heat pipes. Inside is an extremely fast-boiling liquid that maximizes the speed of heat transfer within the pipe.
With liquid coolers, the heat generated by the components is pumped by means of a pump over water into a heat exchanger, which is cooled by fans. In the field of water cooling, a distinction is made between closed systems -- so-called "AIO coolers" such as our award-winning Liquid Freezer II Series series-- and complex "custom liquid cooling".
This is principally a matter of taste. Water cooling systems are often more powerful, but they also have a pump, which makes these coolers more complex. This means that, in addition to the fans, they have another source of noise and a potential weak point, which is why many enthusiasts still swear by air cooling.
There is no definitive answer to this question. Basically, the selected CPU cooler must be able to keep the CPU at moderate temperatures. The higher the temperature, the higher the power consumption, which also means higher potential loss of lifespan and performance. Keeping the CPU temperature as low as possible protects your components and ensures stability.
Ein Low-Profile Top-Blower ist für einen kompakten HTPC ideal, während er in einem High End System mit Overclocking-Ambitionen überfordert wäre. Ebenso ist ein großer Tower CPU-Kühler oder eine AIO-Wasserkühlung für Gaming-PCs oder andere leistungsstarke System angemessen, für einen kleinen Bürorechner aber überdimensioniert. A low-profile top blower is ideal for a compact HTPC, while it would be overkill in a high-end system with overclocking ambitions. Likewise, a large tower CPU cooler or AIO water cooling is appropriate for gaming PCs and other high-performance systems, but oversized for a small office computer.
As cooling experts, we at ARCTIC offer a comprehensive selection of varying types of CPU coolers; this means we are able to provide exactly the right cooling solution for every requirement. High quality and innovations at an excellent price-performance ratio have always been our trademark. We also regularly have our products tested by independent tech experts and hardware enthusiasts worldwide and confirmed by awards. This year, for example, the Liquid Freezer II 240 was additionally awarded the "European Hardware Award 2020" for the best liquid cooler after receiving numerous awards.
In a pure office PC a small low-profile cooler or possibly even passive cooler is usually sufficient. However, if demanding tasks like gaming or video editing are intended, a powerful CPU cooler is essential.
Will the system be overclocked? Then a big tower CPU cooler or a water cooling is needed. If a silent PC is the goal, something like a multimedia HTPC in the living room? Then a passive cooling would be ideal or a low-profile cooler a good alternative.
With big- or midi- towers there is enough space for powerful tower CPU coolers or AIO water coolers. In a compact system with small dimensions, the space for bigger cooling solutions is probably missing.
It is essential to ensure the compatibility of the CPU cooler with the processor and socket used. Many ARCTIC coolers are multi-compatible with various sockets from AMD and Intel: Intel"s LGA 775, 1150/1155/1156, 1366, 1700, 2011, 2066 or AMD"s AM2(+), AM3(+), FM1 /2 and AMD AM4 Ryzen.
There are a variety of methods for installing CPU coolers. The installation process varies depending on the type of cooler. Generally, the motherboard should be removed - if there is no recess for installing coolers.
CPU fans and heatsinks help ensure that your PC works efficiently at all times. When you use heavy applications, such as video games and video editing software, the CPU can produce excess heat, which may cause your computer to freeze. It may also shorten the life of your CPU, or cause immediate damage. If you like to overclock your processor to get the most out of it, having an efficient cooling system is essential. Luckily, modern CPU heatsinks and other cooling systems are effective at dissipating heat, keeping your expensive processor in tip-top conditions.
There are two types of cooling systems among CPU computer accessories: air coolers and liquid coolers. Liquid CPU coolerS are efficient at dissipating heat, which makes them a suitable choice for busy working establishments. For this reason, they are the preferred choice of many serious gamers and overclockers. They"re also quiet because they have few fans. A liquid cooling system consists of a pump with tubes that end with a metal plate, which sits on your CPU. When the liquid reaches the metal plate, it absorbs excess heat from the processor. A PC radiator expels hot air, usually using one or more fans. Liquid coolers can be challenging to install, but many brands offer pre-built, all-in-one systems. These coolers undergo several quality assurance tests at the factory, so they"re not likely to leak. Many all-in-one liquid coolers come with clear tubes and a colorful coolant to create a fashionable look inside a window-panel computer case.
If you plan on using your PC for general computing tasks, like browsing the internet or working on spreadsheets, then a CPU air cooler is a suitable choice. Consider DIY cooling systems when you shop. Coolers work by moving hot air from the CPU to a heatsink using fans. High-end air coolers feature strategically-placed fins and copper plates, which are effective at conducting heat. Since coolers rely on fans to perform their job, they may be noisier than a liquid cooling system. Also, advanced models can be bulky, so they won"t fit into smaller computer cases.
Like many modifiable computer accessories, a CPU air cooler requires minimal maintenance. For example, it"s advisable to clean the fans every once in a while, as dust and debris can obstruct their movements. Another advantage of using an air cooler is that there"s no chance of dangerous leaks. U-type air coolers feature curved pipes in the shape of a U. This type of construction makes air coolers very efficient at dissipating excess heat. C-shaped coolers have C-shaped pipes, allowing the installation of multiple fans in the same unit. This makes for increased cooling performance. Low-profile coolers have a smaller form to fit most laptops. All coolers will maintain the efficient operation of your PC.
The last article has introduced to you what an AIO liquid CPU cooler is, if you still don’t understand it, go and make up the progress.Is a Liquid CPU Cooler Better Than the Air Cooler? Things You Need to Know Before Buying a CPU Cooler.
Today, I want to share with you how to install an AIO liquid CPU cooler after purchasing it. What should you pay attention to during the installation process?
In an AIO liquid CPU cooler, there are many parts besides the cooler itself, such as brackets, screws, and various wires. So the first thing you do is pick up the manual and make sure all parts are there or you may not be able to install smoothly! The following is a demonstration using T-FORCE SIREN GD240E All-in-One ARGB CPU Liquid Cooler.
When you see an AIO liquid CPU cooler for the first time, the first question most people have is how do I install this? The first thing you need to pay attention to is the fans on the water cooling row. Depending on the design of each case, there may be more than one place to install. Different installation locations have different installation methods for fans. The following two installation positions are more common in the market and have been tested to have more effective heat dissipation.
The AIO liquid CPU cooler alone can’t cool down the entire PC. The PC itself must be equipped with other fan products to achieve an effective cooling effect. A quick tip, if you really forget which side is air intake and which side is the exhaust, try pushing the blades hard to feel the wind flow.
Before installation, select the appropriate bracket. Take the 1700 socket of INTEL’s latest 12th generation CPU as an example, the installation steps are as follows:
Then, after placing the CPU on the motherboard, remove the protective cover and apply thermal paste. There are millions of ways to apply the thermal paste. I found that the following 5-point method can be applied most evenly.
When installing the CPU, in addition to paying attention to the installation direction, remember not to remove the protective cover of the CPU first. When the CPU is properly placed and the latch is press down, the protective cover will pop open automatically. This also better protects the pins on the motherboard.
Remove the copper bottom surface protection sticker on the water block of the SIREN GD240E All-in-One ARGB CPU Liquid Cooler. Take the appropriate screws and screw them on the motherboard. The screwing method is the same, following the order of X and do not screw it too tightly at once. Lock all the screws and then tighten them in the same order, so that the water block applies force to the CPU evenly, making the CPU less likely to be damaged.
Corsair finally released an AIO liquid CPU cooler that has an LCD. Meet the CORSAIR ELITE LCD CPU Cooler series. As one of the top AIO CPU cooler manufacturers, it’s a bit a headscratcher for me as to why they didn’t adopt the technology to their AIO coolers yet. There is NZXT’s AIO cooler, then Asus’ Ryujin (II) series, followed by MSI’s CoreLiquid K series, and there is also Gigabyte’s Aorus WaterForce. Perhaps, Corsair was just waiting for new motherboard sockets to be released and also to perfect their technology. Moving on, the Corsair ELITE LCD CPU coolers include the new ML RGB ELITE series fans. More details can be read from the official news release below.
CORSAIR® (NASDAQ: CRSR), a world leader in enthusiast components for gamers, creators, and PC builders, today announced new, highly customizable additions to its ELITE line of all-in-one CPU coolers: iCUE ELITE LCD Display Liquid CPU Coolers. With a vivid 2.1” LCD screen on the pump head to display anything from system vitals to animated GIFs, ELITE LCD coolers offer a unique window into both your PC’s performance and your style and personality. The ultra-bright LCD screen is also available as an upgrade kit for CORSAIR iCUE ELITE CAPELLIX coolers, letting you add a digital dashboard to your existing cooler.
The new H100i ELITE LCD, H150i ELITE LCD, and H170i ELITE LCD are also equipped with new ML RGB ELITE Series fans, delivering powerful concentrated airflow with the performance of magnetic levitation bearings and AirGuide technology, illuminated by eight individually addressable RGB LEDs per fan. ML RGB ELITE fans are also available separately in both 120mm and 140mm sizes and either black or white frames, so you can take advantage of their high performance to cool your entire system as well.
The new ELITE LCD coolers shine with a gorgeous, ultra-bright 2.1” IPS screen able to show off your PC’s stats such as fan speeds or system temperatures in a wide variety of graphical themes and styles. If you’d rather put your spin on your cooler, the screen can also display images and animated GIFs, giving you endless possibilities to show off a team logo, your favorite meme, or unique animations at the heart of your PC. The LCD is encircled by a ring of 24 individually addressable RGB LEDs, programmable in CORSAIR iCUE software to link with animations and synchronize with the rest of your iCUE RGB ecosystem.
In addition to their eye-catching screen, the CORSAIR H100i, H150i, and H170i ELITE LCD offer everything you need to keep your CPU running at peak performance, including fans, coolant, and radiator, in a single maintenance-free closed loop. Multiple radiator sizes of 240mm, 360mm, or a massive 420mm ensure that you’ll find a cooler that will fit your case, whether you’re building a compact PC or a full-tower behemoth. Each cooler comes equipped with new ML RGB ELITE Series fans, boasting CORSAIR AirGuide technology and magnetic levitation bearings for concentrated airflow and improved low-noise performance. A thermally optimized copper cold plate with a pre-applied thermal compound and low-noise pump ensures quiet performance in an accessible all-in-one cooler, while an included iCUE COMMANDER CORE controller makes it a breeze to direct your fan speeds and lighting with iCUE. ELITE LCD coolers provide everything you need to fit them into a modern PC, with full support for the latest CPUs via mounting brackets for LGA 1700, LGA 115x, LGA 2066, AM4, and sTRX4.
Also launching as standalone offerings, ML RGB ELITE fans build upon the ML series’ renowned performance with the addition of CORSAIR AirGuide technology and radiant RGB lighting effects, delivering a winning combination of great cooling and lighting. Their magnetic levitation bearings provide reduced friction, lower noise, better performance, and long-lasting durability. Eight individually addressable RGB LEDs put on a vibrant light show, while AirGuide technology channels airflow into a concentrated cone for superior cooling. PWM control enables precise fan speeds from 450 RPM to 2,000 RPM (for ML120 RGB ELITE) or from 400 RPM to 1,600 RPM (for ML140 RGB ELITE), providing plentiful airflow when mounted to the ELITE LCD radiator or used as intake or exhaust case fans. ML RGB ELITE fans are available in multi-fan packs with an included iCUE Lighting Node CORE controller, or as single fans to further expand your system’s cooling.
Whether you’re keeping a close eye on your PC’s performance or showing off your style, ELITE LCD coolers equipped with ML RGB ELITE Series fans offer a unique upgrade to both your system’s aesthetics and cooling capabilities and put a digital dashboard at the heart of your system.
The CORSAIR iCUE ELITE LCD Display Liquid CPU Coolers and ML RGB ELITE Series fans are available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors. The CORSAIR iCUE ELITE CPU Cooler LCD Display Upgrade Kit will be available from the CORSAIR webstore in North America and Europe. Below are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for each product:
The CORSAIR ELITE LCD CPU Coolers are backed by a five-year warranty, and the ML RGB ELITE Series fans and ELITE LCD Upgrade Kits are backed by a two-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.
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