Best AIO cooler in 2024

The MEG CoreLiquid S360 isn’t MSI’s first AIO cooler, but it’s certainly the best for three reasons: cooling, compatibility, and the extra considerations it makes. Not only does it balance impeccable performance with a low noise output even when the Silent Gale P12 fans spin at 2,000RPM, but it also supports Intel’s latest Alder Lake series of CPUs with an LGA1700 bracket right out of the box. It even packs a 60mm fan in the pump to make sure the motherboard’s VRMs remain cool – something that’s often overlooked by other AIO options.

MSI’s pièce de résistance is the built-in screen, which isn’t a new concept but none do it better than MSI’s MEG CoreLiquid S360. Alongside the usual images, GIFs, and system information others can display, this 2.4-inch IPS display does what most of its competitors can’t: play .mp4 files. You won’t need to tilt your head wherever you pop the radiator in your case, too, as the block twists 90 degrees so it’s always the right way up.

If money’s no object, no other AIO cooler hits all the same heights as the MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360.

So you want the most impressive cooling system around? While this will exceed the needs of many readers, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is easily the best AIO cooler we’ve come across. Even if you’re overclocking to the max, there’s no doubt that this product will be able to keep everything cool and healthy.

The fans are all pre-installed and assuming you have a PC case that’s big enough for it, it’s relatively quick and simple to get it up and running. Although one thing we were rather disappointed by was the lack of software as it’s always useful to get an overview of how your coolers are performing and to be easily able to spot any issues before they arise.

The thing is though, with a cooler of this potential, it is unlikely that you are going to encounter any problems. It’s great for cooling both your CPU and your VRMs, with the fan in the CPU block capable of moving quite a lot of air to the VRMs on the motherboard.

Depending on your stance on RGB lighting, you’ll either celebrate or lament the fact that lighting has been incorporated into the cooler rather subtly. I think it looks absolutely fine, but if you’re after something that with a great focus on the RGB lighter, you might be better off with something like the iCUE H100i RGB Elite Liquid CPU Cooler.

Overall, this is a fantastic choice and one that comes at a reasonable price. Though it will be too large for some readers if that applies to you, we recommend taking a look at the 240, 280, and 360mm models instead, as they’re also great.

NZXT’s “New Krakens” build on top of the fantastic infrastructure established through previous models like the Kraken X63, with the most appealing addition being the new 2.36-inch LCD display. Though this isn’t the only AIO cooler with a display screen, it is a particularly great screen, offering 640 x 640 resolution that makes it easy to check temperatures at a glance.

While the display screen is handy, that’s not the only selling point. This is still an excellent AIO cooler, offering great thermal performance (a marked improvement over NZXT’s earlier models) and fairly quiet operation even when running at the highest RPM. It’s not the quietest ever, but it’s quieter than a lot of the competition.

It does carry a larger price tag, and of course, part of that goes towards the screen, so if you see that as a frivolous extra, you might find it hard to justify the price. We also wish that NZXT had done a better job with wire management, as like earlier iterations of the model, you’ll still have a lot of cables to contend with, which is especially problematic for smaller setups. Nonetheless, no suit of armor is without its cracks, and the issues with this cooler are all relatively minor and do not outweigh its merits.

Typically speaking, bigger is better when it comes to AIO coolers, but bigger aren’t always practical. A cooler can boast all the most impressive specs in the world, but it won’t make a difference if it doesn’t fit in your setup. The Corsair H55 Liquid Cooler is the best choice for anybody who needs a slightly more compact.

As a 120mm fan, it never stood the chance of being quite as powerful as any of its larger counterparts, but it still gives you all the benefits of liquid cooling. Despite its size, it still manages to inch itself ahead of the options on our list of the best CPU coolers. On top of that, it’s also quiet and one of the cheaper AIO coolers – there’s a lot to love about it.

Silence is golden, and if that’s the kind of gold you’re mining for, this is the AIO cooler for you. Of all the coolers we’ve seen over the years, none of them offers such quiet performance levels as this one. We know that that along will be the selling point for some readers, but on top of that it also has a brilliant Software Suite and some charming RGB lighting.

Though it takes up an annoying 3GB (which feels a bit too chunky to us), the amount of customization that it gives you makes it easy to forgive. You can adjust sound levels, set alerts, adjust RGB lighting, preset profiles, and more. If you like to be in complete control and make sure everything is running optimally, then this is the one to go for.

Although it has two 120mm fans and is by no means bad at cooling, but we understand that some readers are going to want to go for larger fan sizes. That aside, there’s little to dislike here.

If you want the most powerful AIO cooler that money can buy, then this is the one for you. Keep in mind that this is more expensive because it’s so powerful, and for most readers, a weaker cooler will be fine, however, if you’re someone who wants to push their PC to the limit. This is the option for those who want to play the latest 4k games or render high-quality videos.

With a massive 420mm radiator, you’ll have a bit of a harder time fitting this into a lot of setups – but then, generally speaking, anyone who’s got a powerful, overclocked gaming PC that needs a AIO cooler like this, probably also has the space for it. We do recommend double-checking that you have a compatible case before ordering though.

So if you need it, and can afford it, it’s going to rock your socks off. If you’re someone who plays smaller (or older games) and doesn’t use their PC for anything more taxing, it’ll be hard to justify the expense.

We used to have the original CoolerMaster MasterLiquid ML240L model on this list, but times change, and so must we, and now the V2 has taken its place. What’s the difference compared to the original? Well, it has an upgraded pump, so it has improved flow, and it’s generally quieter too. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same.

This is a cost-effective AIO cooler that one that looks brilliant too. There are loads of RGB lights, which enable tons of customization options, and it’s pretty darn powerful too (more than any air cooler). At this price point, it’s a pretty admirable piece of kit.