RGB lighting is hardly a new phenomenon for PCs, with multiple PC vendors toying with the idea and its implementations as part of a push to make PC gaming and hardware more appealing to users. Moreover, PC gaming has become an increasingly larger industry with demand for performance PC hardware and better aesthetics often going hand in hand when it comes to the latest gaming rigs.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black
CPU coolersare one such beneficiary of the constant revisions gamers get in terms of design and aesthetic with what was once a standard stock cooler is now a much more complex choice, with performance being gauged by cooling capacity, noise, RGB lighting, and its ability to sync with the rest of a gamer or creator’s PC hardware with ease.
Picking An RGB Cooler For Gaming PCs
Picking an RGB cooler, whether it is a liquid-based AIO or an air cooler comes down to some very basic tenants for most users to follow to get the right product for the job:
Performance: The primary function of a CPU cooler is to ensure that thebest CPUscan be pushed to its stated limits or higher. As modern CPUs become increasingly power-hungry, this proves to be a significant challenge for most low-end to mid-range CPU coolers which often have limited TDP cooling and can not dissipate heat effectively in some cases. Therefore, knowing the CPU’s thermal requirements and the capabilities of an RGB cooler is a key aspect of determining what to pair with one’s gaming PC while also considering aesthetics.
Lighting: When looking for a PC cooler that has RGB, the lighting is probably a primary concern for most users, especially for what is arguably the most visible component of the desktop sans the monitor for most users. RGB coolers come in all shapes and sizes, but the lighting is based on support for fine-grained ARGB control versus static RGB support in addition to the different kinds of effects some ARGB coolers support in addition to some high-end units sporting dedicated LCD/OLED displays.
Pricing: Modern RGB CPU coolers no longer cost under $100 in many cases. With expensive displays, unique lighting effects, and major aesthetic upgrades, some of these can run upwards of $300 at times. Deciding on a budget range before attempting to choose one seems to be a smart way to go about things to avoid overspending while aiming to get all the features and performance one expects to get for a certain price.
Cooler Type:With the entry of newer and higher-end CPUs from Intel and AMD, it’s crucial to select between an air cooler and an AIO cooling solution. While air coolers are generally cheaper, they are mostly ideal for budget and mid-range CPU coolers. On the other hand, AIO coolers are available in various types, depending on the length of the radiator. From basic 120mm to 360mm radiators, users can buy one according to their CPU requirements.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best RGB PC Coolers in 2024
The team at GameRant has made a list of some of our top ARGB (Addressable RGB) CPU cooler picks that consist of both liquid-cooled and air-cooled options.
ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler
Superior RGB Cooling At A Premium
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is ASUS’s latest premium tri-fan AIO that offers better cooling, an upgraded LCD, and a new Asetek 8th generation pump as some of its salient features. Thanks to a thicker radiator and a new cold plate, it can reduce temperatures drastically versus both its predecessor and its competition.
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler replaces the older Ryujin II with many cosmetic upgrades in tow. It offers larger tubing, a much better LCD display, and a massive aesthetic upgrade to its fans to retain Ryujin’s position as one of the best AIOs in the market. It offers a dedicated VRM fan, a new cold plate design that helps with temperature control, and a significantly thicker radiator than its predecessor. The biggest cosmetic upgrade it offers is its new ARGB fans that are daisy-chained to work off only a single wire while using magnets to keep them attached to each other.
The ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler promises and delivers lower temperatures. As per several independent testing benchmarks, the ROG Ryujin competes with the top AIO cooling solutions from popular brands such as Cooler Master, EK and Corsair, which include the popular EK Nucleus CR 360 Lux and Corsair H150i Elite. With the fans put at 2000+ RPM, it simply owns most 360mm AIO coolers even if the CPU is overclocked and pushed to 100% usage.
The primary issue with the ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 ARGB AIO Liquid Cooler is its price point, but as the competition increasingly becomes more expensive, and the Ryujin III only competes at the highest tier, it seems to be one of the best options in terms of performance and aesthetics, simultaneously for gamers and enthusiasts alike. This earns it a position as both, the best overall and the best high-end AIO cooler that Game Rant can currently recommend to its readers.
DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler
Cooling With Style On A Budget
The DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler is one of the best-looking ARGB liquid coolers available on the market, and it delivers excellent cooling that can handle some of the most powerful CPUs on the market without costing the part as some of the more premium ARGB liquid coolers.
The DeepCool Liquid Cooler LS720 360MM ARGB Liquid Cooler is a tri-slot ARGB liquid cooler that does an adequate job of cooling some of the hottest chips in the market from both Intel and AMD while looking and feeling like a much more premium cooler than its price thanks to both its extensive attention to detail in terms of design and the daisy-chained fans it comes with.
Apart from gorgeous ARGB fans that have a fantastic airflow of up to 86 CFM, the CPU block has its own personality. With two loops of ARGB LEDs and the infinity mirror pump face, users can not only customize the LED colors and effects but can also display a custom logo with a blank plate pre-included. With popular RGB software, every LED zone can be synchronized with other ARGB parts of the build, illuminating the rig from the inside in a distinguished way.
While the fans can get loud during sustained stress loads, the cooler itself is solid and if you desire better fans with the same cooler, users cansimply add on a pair of your favoriteswith ease to the existing configuration. All in all, the LS720 is a capable AIO cooler and while it isn’t one of the best performers, it does hold its own against the competition and edges many higher-priced coolers in terms of aesthetics handily.
CoolerMaster MasterAir MA612 Stealth ARGB CPU Air Cooler
ARGB Stealth Mode
The Cooler Master MasterAir MA612 Stealth ARGB CPU Air Cooler is an excellent CPU cooler that is compatible with all the latest Intel and AMD sockets in the market. It has a 6 heat-pipe design complimented by a nickel base and a painted black brushed aluminum finish. With two Cooler Masters Sickleflow ARGB fans in tow, it provides excellent cooling while remaining quiet almost to a fault for an air-cooled solution.
The Cooler Master MasterAir MA612 Stealth ARGB CPU Air Cooler is one of many capable mainstream entries by Cooler Master that are in contention for the best ARGB CPU air cooler. What makes this edge most of its competition is its strong, silent performance and subtle ARGB lighting that is the hallmark of a high-end Cooler Master air cooler when done right.
With a durable and big aluminum heatsink and dual fan configuration, the push-pull configuration helps the cooler dissipate heat quicker than regular single-tower air coolers. Also, the six copper heat pipes that are embedded inside the base, leave no surface uneven, letting the cooler make perfect contact with the CPUs for better heat absorption.
What is an excellent product, albeit at a relatively high price for an air cooler is somewhat undone on smaller motherboards as, despite assurances by Cooler Master, it can easily cover the first ram slot at times thanks to its push-pull fan configuration’s space requirements. To run the latest Intel CPUs, you might need to also buy thestandalone upgrade kit by Cooler Masterfor the LGA 1700 platform if your cooler does not come with one bundled in the box.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is the upgraded edition of the regular 120 SE that is unparalleled in price-to-performance ratio. The cooler is incredibly cheap even after providing a dual-tower dual-fan configuration for cooling high-end processors from the latest Raptor Lake and Zen 4-based families. The ARGB version brings two 120mm ARGB fans, controllable via various RGB software to create mesmerizing effects.
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB has no competition whatsoever. With its surprisingly low price tag of $34, the cooler is one of the rarest air coolers out there with dual-tower heatsinks. Apart from having well-grooved aluminum heatsinks, the cooler comes with two 120mm ARGB fans for a push-pull configuration. Users can add another fan on the other side if clearance is of no issue. All it takes is attaching the clips and the cooling performance will be affected drastically.
The ARGB fans are pretty bright and can be configured withpopular motherboardRGB programs. The cooler may appear entry-level, but it’s incredibly durable and features a total of six copper heat pipes and a pure copper nickel-plated base for making good contact with the CPUs. Having the capacity to cool over 200+ watts, the Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB is ready for overclocking, keeping thermal-throttling at bay.
Corsair H100x RGB Elite Liquid CPU Cooler
Corsair H100x RGB Elite brings a gorgeous 240mm AIO design with customizable ARGB lighting on both fans and the CPU block. With flexible tubing, the block can be installed in any orientation and poses no clearance issues. Compatible with the latest intel and AMD platforms, the H100x RGB Elite serves as a wonderful mid-range AIO cooler for overclocking.
One of the most notable features of Corsair devices is their versatility in customization through the Corsair iCUE software. It’s hands down the best software to customize Corsair components and peripherals from a single place. This is why the Corsair H100i Elite is going to blow users' minds through its limitless RGB customizations with simple clicks. Choosing from the various presets and mixing them up with manually created effects will creategorgeous RGB lighting modesthat will illuminate the rig from the inside.
As each fan blade consists of eight ARGB LEDs, there are a total of 24 LEDs in each fan, which makes customizability highly versatile, and considering that the CPU block too has an RGB LED loop, users can synchronize both the fans and the block. Nonetheless, the H100i Elite isn’t limited to appearance but is also one of the quietest AIO coolers. While not meant to overclock flagship CPUs to their limits, it’s certainly going to be sufficient for most mid-range and high-end chips.
Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280 A-RGB continues to enjoy the success created by the Freezer II 280 but now brings an upgraded VRM fan and mesmerizing ARGB LED lighting effects. It’s the best-value AIO cooler when compared to other AIOs for its price tag and brings Intel and AMD contact frames for making good contact with the CPUs.
The Liquid Freezer II series continuouslydominated the AIO coolerindustry for more than a year and the Freezer III has just entered the market with some major and minor improvements over its predecessor. Even though every size has its own advantages, the 280mm ARGB edition works best for mid-range and high-end PC builds, and is capable of cooling Intel Core i9s and Ryzen 9 CPUs from the latest generation.
One of the most important enhancements it received is its new VRM fan, which now has a wide range of operating speeds. This results in a decrease in the VRM temperature by several degrees, enhancing the stability of the clock speeds of the CPUs. Similarly, the pump and fans have also received a wider speed range to either go in full performance mode or quieter mode. Both the fans and CPU block feature ARGB functionality and are fully controllable via Arctic’s RGB Control Master software.
The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black blends stunning looks with outstanding cooling performance at an attractive price for all PC builders. The Halo Black improves on Cooler Master’s super popular Hyper 212 series with enlarged fan blades, and a black aluminum top cover design that fits in with almost any PC rig. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Halo Black offers dual-loop ARGB lighting effects, complimenting the most stunning-looking gaming PCs. The Hyper 212 Halo Black is compatible with AMD Ryzen AM5/AM4 and Intel LGA1700/1200 chipsets.
Based on the iconic Hyper 212 design, Cooler Master is back again with an improved heatsink construction along with mesmerizing ARGB lighting in the Hyper 212 Halo. While its performance might not be the best considering a plethora of budget air coolers for a similar price tag, its ARGB lighting will definitely attract many consumers. A fully black aluminum heatsink with a sleek top cover gives it a minimalistic and modern look.
The ARGB MF120 Halo fan is highly effective at dissipating heat as its blades are designed to improve air pressure, delivering approximately 2.89 mmH2O air pressure, which is one of the best in the industry. With an operating speed range of 650-2050 RPM, the fan can be put into silent mode or high-performance mode according to the users' requirements. With a fast-rotating fan,the RGB LEDsexhibit a smooth and fluid transition to different colors and can be customized with MasterPlus+ software.
Should You Get A Liquid Cooler Versus An Air Cooler?
Liquid coolers are considered significantly more premium than their air-cooled counterparts for PCs. Not only are they more aesthetically pleasing than some of the larger, often monolithic air coolers that they compete with but they operate a lot more silently while delivering performance that is superior to most air coolers.
Air Cooler Tradeoffs
Exceptions do apply obviously and there are air coolers that simply outperform the competition at least at the lower-end price pointssuch as the Noctua NH-D15but they do require giving up a lot of central motherboard surface area and often clash with RAMs that often come with extended heatsinks and RGB effects, covering or obstructing your view and often making it a tighter fit than one would like, especially on mATX motherboards.
Noise is another factor you might need to consider when using an air cooler. Fans when running at full throttle, which is often the case for performance PC parts when under load can get noisy fast, and unlike most liquid-cooled AIOs, most CPU air coolers have much less leeway before maximum fan speeds are engaged, making cooling a noisier affair than one would like in a modern PC.
Again, exceptions such as the excellentbe quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 CPU coolerbut they do end up costing nearly as much as most entry-level AIOs, making it a tradeoff that you might not like at times.
Liquid Coolers Leading The Way?
Liquid coolers allow much better maneuverability while building PCs, are more versatile at cooling higher-end chips, and run quieter while recent competition in the sphere has seen some excellent low-end and mid-tier options emerge including ID Cooling’s FrostFlow X 240MM Snow CPU Cooler which we covered above.
They are also arguably more aesthetically pleasing and can be customized easily with standard 120 or 140-mm fans depending on the variant of the cooler you are using.
That being said, they are prone to pump failures and tend to have a lower lifespan than most CPU air coolers. While most AIO liquid coolers are safe to use, incorrectly installing or damaging one could result in fluid leakages which could damage the entire PC, making it a very costly affair when not handled properly.
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between RGB and ARGB Coolers?
While many end users use the words RGB and ARGB interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between the two with ARGB allowing every single LED connected to it to have a different color compared to RGB lighting which can support only one color at a time.
Q: Is Liquid Cooling a CPU Superior to Air Cooling?
While higher-end liquid coolers in the PC spectrum tend to outperform their air-cooling-centric competition, this is not always the case. Sometimes high-end CPU air coolers considerably outperform liquid coolers in the same price bracket, making them a better purchase for PC gamers, content creators, and enthusiasts alike.
