While building a gaming PC, the cooler is an important thing to consider to get the best performance. You may have heard that water coolers are better than air coolers. But water coolers are too much expensive. In that case, the AIO cooler may be the easiest and most affordable way to cool down your PC. But are AIO coolers worth it?
AIO coolers may not prove as effective as water coolers but it is far better than air coolers especially if your PC has a low space for airflow. However, there are some facts that you need to know about the AIO cooler.
In this article, we have explained all the facts about AIO coolers including, the pros and cons, and the comparison with water and air cooler. So, let’s identify whether the AIO cooler is really worth it or not.
Facts About All-In-One Water Coolers | AIO Liquid Coolers
“AIO” stands for “All In One” and AIO cooler is an all-in-one closed-loop liquid cooling system. It uses water to cool down a CPU.
In this cooling system, there is a water block that is mounted on the CPU, a heat exchanger radiator under the fan, and a water pump. The pump cycles the cooling liquid through the water block and the heat exchanger radiator and the cooling fan constantly cools down the radiator.
It is different from the custom water cooler because they use “custom loops” which require maintenance. But the AIO cooler is never meant to be opened so it doesn’t require any maintenance. That’s why it is called the “Close-loop”
What Makes AIO Coolers Worth It?
The best part of AIO coolers is they use a water block on the CPU to cool it down and you don’t need to put the fan over your CPU. As a result, you can get more space in your case. It would be more beneficial while using a Mini ITX case where you have a congested space or in a place with low airflow.
In some cases, where traditional air coolers fail to show their performance, AIO coolers perform beyond your expectations. AIO coolers are definitely worth it if you require the best cooling system for your overclocked components.
AIO Cooler Compared to Other Coolers
Now, let’s see how is AIO cooler compared to other coolers below.
- AIO Coolers Vs Custom Water-Cooling Loops
Let’s have a quick look at the comparison table of AIO and custom water coolers first –
| Factors | AIO Coolers | Custom Water Coolers |
| Compatibility | Almost all computers | Almost all computers including ultra-expensive ones. |
| Thermal reduction | Good | Better |
| Components to Cool | CPU only | Can be used for CPU, GPU, RAM, and even the PSU. |
| Look | Good | Looks Better as you can customize it according to your preference. |
| Installation | Easy | Hard |
| Maintenance | Doesn’t required | Required |
| Price | Affordable | Expensive |
Here you can see that the performance and ability of the custom water coolers are far better than the AIO cooler. However, AIO coolers are easier to install, don’t require maintenance, and are cheaper than water coolers. So, after knowing the ability and disability of AIO and custom water cooler, you’ll probably prefer an AIO.
- AIO Coolers Vs Air Coolers
Let’s have a quick look at the comparison table of AIO and custom water coolers first –
| Factors | AIO Coolers | Air Coolers |
| Used For | CPU | CPU and GPU |
| Thermal reduction | Much Better | Good |
| Cooling Mechanism | Liquid + Air | Air |
| Look | Complex | Simple |
| Installation | Harder | Easier |
| Require Space | Smaller | Bigger |
| Price | Expensive | Affordable |
Suppose you’re sweating due to heat. Which one would you prefer – standing in front of a fan or jumping into a pool? Of course, a cold shower can cool you down faster. That’s the difference between AIO and an Air cooler. So, here also AIO wins. Let’s move to our next part.
Pros & Cons of AIO Cooler
Here we’ve pointed out the pros and cons of AIO coolers to help you justify this cooler according to your preference.
The Pros of AIOs are:
- AIO coolers are quieter than most standard coolers.
- Can provide better cooling performance than air coolers.
- It looks much better than air coolers as it has RGB on both – fans and the water block.
- It needs no maintenance upon installation.
- The cooling mechanism is simple and easy to manage.
- It is safer than custom water cooling as there is less chance of leakage from the closed loop.
- It is more affordable than a custom water-cooling system.
The Cons of AIOs are:
- AIO coolers are usually more expensive than air coolers.
- The installation process is slightly more difficult than air coolers.
- The big weakness of AIO is pump failure. If the pump stop working, then you have to replace the whole cooler.
- AIO offers limited customization compared to custom water coolers.
- The lifespan of the AIO cooler is too short. It can last up to 5 or 6 years whereas the air cooler can last for a decade without any issue.
Our Verdict: An AIO Cooler Worth It
The liquid cooling system offers the best performance for the PC components and the water-cooling system is the best among all of the coolers. But due to their higher price, air coolers are being used for most PCs. But the AIO cooler is a combination of both air and water cooler that can provide you with your desired performance at an affordable cost. Especially, if you are using overclocked chips on your PC and have a low budget for coolers, then AIO is the best option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Is AIO Single Fan Worth It?
Yes, AIO single fan is enough to cool down your CPU. However, there could be other components on your PC that generate heat and for that, you have to use at least one intake and one exhaust fan. But there is no doubt that AIO double fan is far better than an AIO single fan.
Do AIO Coolers Have A Lifespan?
Yes, the lifespan of AIO coolers is 5 to 7 years. It means the average lifespan of an AIO cooler is around seven thousand hours. However, it can last up to ten years in some cases. But after that, mainly the water pump of this cooler fails. But the AIO is still worth it as the lifespan of this cooler is similar to the lifespan of a motherboard.
Is An AIO Better Than Fans?
Liquid coolers are able to dissipate heat more effectively and as AIO coolers use liquid cooling systems, they perform much better than fans or air-cooling systems. However, in terms of price and longevity, AIO coolers can’t beat fans.
Is It Hard To Maintain AIO Cooler?
No, AIO coolers aren’t hard to maintain at all. The liquid of this cooler is securely sealed under a tube and it doesn’t require any maintenance. You just need to clean the radiators and fans sometimes and that’s all.
Conclusion
AIO coolers are much more powerful and effective than air coolers and can handle any overclocked CPUs. However, the performance of this cooler may be lower than custom water coolers. But you can have it at an affordable cost which will be worth saving the components of your PC. All the factors about AIO coolers are explained in this article and after reading this, we hope now you’ve got the answer to your question about whether AIO coolers are worth it or not. Thanks for reading.
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